First Step Fitness: Hershey Half Marathon

It's amazing the people we reconnect with in our life. I went to high school with Kelly, but had lost touch with her over the years. Facebook brought us back together again. This was a big year of change for Kelly. She started on her weight loss journey and got hooked on running. Her cousin was supposed to run her first half marathon (the Hershey half) with her, but ended up not being able to, so Kelly asked if any of her friends would want to run it with her. I told her I would - even though I had just ran the DIVA 4 weeks prior, the Ragnar 2 weeks prior, and the Baltimore half the week before - I still said yes. I think I was feeling a tad half-crazy at the time!
Chris wanted to come along, so we got the kids up super early on race morning and drove the 2 hours up to Hershey from Ft Meade. They had a really good time!

I had a pretty great time too!! Kelly told me several times I should leave her, but I told her I didn't drive all the way up there to run the race by myself, I was running it with her. She did amazing!!

Her husband snagged this shot of us!

Kelly pulling me in for a hug as we crossed the finish line...

All smiles! The clock behind us wasn't that far off. Kelly's goal was to finish under 3 hours. I got her across the finish line in 2:30. So proud of her!!! She's planning a full for 2014...I really think the running bug has bitten her pretty good.

Our goodie bags had giant cookies, and they were super delicious. This race as a whole was pretty great. Lots of course support, beautiful scenery, free chocolate mini bars around mile 10 or 11...just a ton of fun. I would highly recommend this half marathon to any of my running friends.

We could not leave Hershey without taking the kids through Chocolate World, and of course they loved it!!

Then on the way home they both passed out. I think they had a pretty exciting morning. Chris said they spent the entire time on the grass at the finish just playing and dancing.