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Navy-Air Force Half Marathon

September 16, 2018 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Comments:
I guess this is click bait for whoever is clicking on this thinking I ran 13.1 miles this morning.
I woke up at 7am feeling very well rested which was already a good start to the morning! I drove down to Georgetown and met my mom at mile 7 of the Navy-Air Force Half Marathon. She had been going at about a 7:20 pace for the past 7 miles and she immediately sped up as soon as she saw me. I hopped in and we began running together. Less than half a mile in (and 7.5 in for my mom) I saw Maddi cheering. The best surprise! My heart was very full. I had no idea she was coming and it just made me so happy to see her.
My mom had told me that miles 7 - 11 would be the hardest part of the race for her so that's what I decided to do. It was also the hilliest part of the race. I was definitely struggling to keep up but I tried to hide it because I wanted to be strong and encouraging for her. I talked and encouraged her through all 3.5 miles which was seriously hard for me. Not conversational pace but a one-sided conversational run. After we climbed the huge hill at Rock Creek and began downhill she picked up the pace to 6:50. I was so unbelievably proud of her. Two miles later we saw Maddi again!! Cheering so loudly! Seeing Maddi for the second time and running alongside my mom goes down in the books as one of my happiest running moments. My mom ended up finishing in 1:36:00, averaging just under a 7:20 pace. Not one of her fastest races, but I think she's happy with it.
Next year I want to run the whole 13.1 miles. Maybe I'll even be able to run with her?