i ran 13.1 miles…

…and accomplished a years-long goal.
…one glorious saturday morning in santa barbara.
…in one hour, forty eight minutes and forty eight seconds.
…and i can honestly say i loved every second.

pre-race nervous-and-excited:
we all channeled our spirit animals. don’t worry about it. i’m a horse. obviously.

post race exhaustion-triumph-and-revelry:
  
the spirit animals come out again:

this was pretty much the view for the last two miles:

i’ve had a goal to run a half marathon for years and years. kelsey, steph, jodee and i drove down the coast to santa barbara to conquer those thirteen-point-one miles. it was the most beautiful day. i was part of a big crowd of people. i had great music in my ears and blood and adrenaline pumping through my whole body and muscles that worked and worked and worked. i prayed as i ran, and thought as i ran, and sang out loud with my music as i ran (and danced a little here and there), and maybe i teared up as i started the last half mile where the course was lined with american flags. and i sprinted at the end. and i just felt so alive.

seriously, i loved every second.