superhappyjohi: December 2011

It is already a few days back, but my fascination didn't fade since then... I still so happy about the fact that i could run my first half marathon in a good time and have so much fun during the race...

After some oatmeal for breakfast - I must eat after I wake up- we drove off at 6 in the morning to the north. It took us an hour and a half to get to the area of the run. At the last 15 kms we saw a bunch of cars with runners... I drove Sh. crazy with my excitement to get to pick up the runners' package. (But all in all I stayed quite calm on the way.) We got there exactly as we planned and headed to the hall where i could pick up my number (which included the chip) and blue new balance t-shirt (the last one in size s). I ate a home made gel (this recipe with some extra chia seeds) and did some warm up jumping...

jumping around

on the way to the starting line - Gan Ha Shlosha National Park

Sh. came with me to the starting line, i did some running up and down, put my music and kissed him goodbye. I really go emotional, even almost started to cry - i just couldn't grasp it that i made it so far and I am running my first Hm today... It was time to align with the other 2500 runners. I put M.I.A: Paper planes and started to get really excited... few more minutes and we started.

I tried to keep my pace slow, but it was really hard in the begging, so even that i was slow I started too fast (5:35 per km) at the 3rd km i found my perfect pace and could keep it all over the race. The place was amazing ( in the middle of a beautiful valley, surrounded by hills and some lakes, kibbutzim). The weather was perfect (even that we expected rain) perfectly sunny! I just listened to my music and connected to the people around me and enjoyed the run. Picked up some water at the first station and felt some stitches at km 5, but they disappeared as i continued... I saw a guy with terrible muscle cramps, laying next to the road at km 5 (that's what happens when you run put too fast - i though - i hope he is ok now). I ran the next kms next to a girl in a blue shirt with a steady pace. I passed a few people, and a few people passed me and I was excited to see where I will be at 10 km. I passed the 10k line at 56:55 or something, which was great (i run 6 month ago the TA 10k in 56:45) so I was more than happy, since the half of the road was ahead of me and I told myself I can make it around 2 hours if everything goes great...

looks like I am having fun at 10 km (the guy behind me was with me for about 5kms and then I flew off :)

I ate a gel, had some water and run up the biggest hill on the mostly flat terrain. At km 14 we arrived to Beit Shean ( a very small town), and I saw a sign with the name of my husband (which was a sign for me that he is thinking of me... actually he was sleeping in the car and dreaming of me). I passed the girl in the blue t-shirt for the last time, got some cheering from cute kids and I though, wow it is almost over, enjoy every moment!

I was not tired, I kept my power for the last kms (as Evi told me - such a great tip!) kept my steady pace (5:55 per km) and started to run off my butt from km 19. It was hurting, yes it was, but i couldn't care less, I just wanted to give my best. Took a last zip of water (it was really hot already). Got a lil disappointed seeing some other runners who finished much before me and were running the way back to cool down, but it also meant, that I was almost there... I saw the gas station where we turned left, passed a few people and was running the last 700 meters. Sh. surprised me at the entrance to the park (he managed to wake up on time) took some pictures and ran the last 300 meters with me. (Actually to cheer me up he sprinted like crazy... I couldn't keep up with him)

here I come and somehow still look happy

I saw the finish line and gave everything - look at these amazing finish line photos. :) Yes, the guy in the gray hat and with the huge smile is my husband... he took all the fame from me :)

Sh. checking his time

I stopped my watch and it said 2:04:40 (the final results gave me 2:04:29 - which I am more than happy with!) and continued to run forward to the tables where they hanged a medal in my neck and got some water. Later I grabbed a grapefruit and walked around the park. We went to the car. I changed in to flip flops (another great suggestion I got from the internet) and we took our food and i took a shower in the freezing cold water (but it was felt sooo good afterwards) and had a picnic at the lake. I got a feet massage and stretched for half an hour...

proud

food!!!

resting...

We got into the car, drove home ( a lil rain pour on us) - me with a runner's high... and I went to the swimming training to move my muscles... it was hard and after 800ms I jumped out of the pool and told my trainer that that was it for me and I am going to eat the entire fridge at home... I went home and ate two entire meals and dessert and went to sleep, the next morning I woke up ate breakfast and went back to sleep. Woke up at 12 and ate a huge brunch and dessert and that was the first time since the race that I felt full... :) What an amazing experience!

My next big chaalange is comin up on the 30th of March: the Tel Aviv Marathon!!! I still can´t belive it...

put on this album and enjoy!

We started a special way of giving in my big family (6 kids) a few years ago at christmas. Few weeks before the holiday, everybody picks a name from a hat and each one of us gives only to the person he picked... this year we are going to have a no budget christmas, which means, we can only give self made gifts to the person we picked. I think it is so good to give much more thought to the person and give something with a meaning. I thought to share a few really cool do it yourself projects for christmas.

Home made granola
my favorite recipes are this, this and this one. Pack it in a nice jar with personalised stickers.

Nutbutters
These are are sooo good (may favorite is almond), you must try if you have a food processor!!! This is another favorite.

Snowman Gingerbread Cookies
Make these super cute cookies and packed them in a small transparent bag or jar.

Home made Twix-bars
I definitely gonna veganise and try these.

Lipbalm
Try these or these amazing home made lipbalms

Body moisturizer

No sew totebags
Find an easy to make and cute totebag here.

Friendship bracelets
These remind me of my childhood - so cool and colorful.

Christmas gift tags