Saturday I completed my first half marathon. The Earth Day Half Marathon was held on a beautiful spring day in central Minnesota.

My goal was to cross the finish line. I did not have a specific time I was hoping for. Secretly I figured it would take me about 2hrs and 20 minutes, but I told myself I was not running against the clock, I was just running to finish. But somehow all that changed on race day. My plan to have frequent scheduled walk breaks (a.k.a. the Jeff Galloway method) went by the wayside. I was either too proud, or too into the moment to stop and walk. So I got to mile 10 and basically hit the wall. My leg muscles were killing me and I basically did not feel good.

I walked much of mile 10. My son joined me on mile 11 and together we ran the last two miles. His presence really helped me out and was a source of motivation not to stop. I finished with a time of 2 hrs 20 minutes and 57 seconds.

Although my time was about what I expected, there a voices telling me how bad I did. (Ok, not actual 'voices'). I found myself comparing my time to others that ran the half marathon. My time was in the bottom 20 percent. Heck, I almost got beat by a 78 year old man named 'Francis'.

But then I realized what was happening. It is so true that "comparison leads to discontentment". So I've decided not to listen to myself and be proud of my run. Proud that I finished. Proud that I made a goal and met it. And excited that I am one step close to Grandma's marathon, June 17th 2006.