Last year I ran my 7th half marathon after a decade long hiatus from longer distances. I shared that experience here, as well as why I stopped running all together, and how I came back into it. Since that race I have been enjoying running races again, and I have run a few throughout the past year.
Running had been going well for me, so back in November I decided to sign up for half marathon number 8. I’ve had this idea in my head that I want to try and run at least one half marathon per year, but this year things didn’t go according to plan. In fact, things went pretty rough the final seven weeks of training all the way into race day.
But before I get into that, let’s talk about the day before the race.
One of my favorite things about running half marathons is choosing a new destination to visit. I had been to Wenatchee before, but I had never been to the area where the race was. Wenatchee is about 3.5 – 4 hours from where I live, in a much sunnier area of Washington. I was excited to get out of town for the first time since I went to Banff last September, even if just for one night.
Duncan and I left our area early enough to have some time to walk around Wenatchee, check into the hotel, get my race bib, and relax. Going into the race I took two days off work to rest my legs, but I ended up walking over 12,000 steps the day before the run because we were exploring. Oops.
While walking the historical downtown we passed by a pet store, and just as I was planning to walk by I noticed something inside.
Carlos the shop cat drew me in, and he was so precious I had to pet him. The store was adorable, and in the back they had a closed off room with a cat available for adoption. I had to say hello to her too. She was so sweet and I wish I could have taken her home. Put me in a shop with two cats and I am a happy gal.
This was clearly the highlight of the day before the run. We grabbed some food from Safeway, visited a natural food shop that was right across from the hotel, and walked part of the course before retiring for the evening. The following morning I woke up early enough to ensure I had a BM, coffee, and a banana before heading down to the race.
I had two pals running this race as well, one was my coworker, and one was a girl I went to high school with. Neither of them trained much for this, but both decided to YOLO and go for it. Having pals there to relish in the running spirit makes things more fun.
As I mentioned before, going into this race my training started to drag. I couldn’t get my long runs in without having to walk, I struggled to finish mid week runs due to fatigue, and my mindset was hogwash. I was not having a good time, my body was flaring up, and I was getting frustrated by how difficult it felt to run a very slow paced run.
By the time race day came around I had zero goals, and zero expectations. My only goal was to finish, and there was a moment during this race I didn’t think that was going to happen. I am usually in a good place mentally with my body and my autoimmune issues, but once in a while I get really angry at the lack of control I have over how I am going to feel.
This came to a head during the run, and it took me a week to accept that this was still a successful run even if it didnt go how I wanted it to.
I wish I could tell you what exactly happened, but that’s just it – there is never one specific reason why things go awry. I knew when this run felt hard at half a mile in that it was going to be a very long 13 miles. I definitely started the race too fast, but no faster than I have started every other race I have done the last year. By the time I got to mile 6 I was seriously contemplating a DNF.
The reality is that running is supposed to be fun. I am supposed to enjoy the challenge it brings, and for eight weeks I was dreading everything about it. I was struggling far more than I should have after three months of training, and I just didn’t want to do it anymore. I texted Duncan that I was having a rough time, and like the gem that he is he offered to come get me anywhere I needed.
I decided instead of quitting, I was going to allow myself to walk instead. I spent the entire second half of the race running and walking, running and walking.
I think had I not had two friends running this as well I just might have quit. I may never know, but having them there pushed me to keep going. The upside of walking is having the ability to take photos of the beautiful course. This really was an amazing area to run, and I would like to have a redo someday when my mindset is better.
My ego really hated the run/walk method, but there is no way I would have finished without it.
By the time I saw mile 13 I was beyond excited. I have never wanted something to be over so badly in my life, and I was so close to being done I could have cried. Duncan was there to welcome me across the finish line, and although this was a race I didn’t feel proud of initially, I think this should be the one I am the most proud of.
When I got back into running I was simply thankful I could run without having constant flare ups. I was thankful to be moving my body in a way that allowed me to quiet my anxiety, and to give a middle finger of sorts to my autoimmune disease. I never want to give up the things I enjoy, but I have to remember this means I need to keep my boundaries in place.
I let my boundaries slip while training for this race. My stress levels were through the roof, my heart wasn’t in it, I was fueling poorly, and I wasn’t listening to my body when it told me I needed to slow down. My biggest takeaway from this is that I need to remember why I run. I don’t run to PR in races, or to be fast (that will never happen), I run for longevity both physically and mentally.
After the race I met up with my pal from high school for brunch at Pybus Market. This was like a mini Pike Place and the food was great. Duncan and I spent the rest of the day driving around, and found our way to Leavenworth for a couple hours before heading home.
After this race I told myself running needed to take a back seat for a while, but of course that was short lived. I feel the need for a redo on this years half marathon, but not because I want a better time. I want a redo so I can actually enjoy the race even if I am walking. Who cares if I am the last one to cross the finish line, the point is to enjoy myself!
I wasn’t disappointed because I was slow, I was disappointed because I allowed myself to get so worked up mentally. There are going to be more runs/races in the future where things don’t go well, but that’s life and it’s ok. I can’t predict how I am going to feel everyday, but a finish is a finish. Being able to run or jog is a gift, and I don’t want to forget that.
I now have another shiny medal to add to my collection, and a happy memory of a furry friend named Carlos.
Q: Who else has had a pity party like this for themselves? Anyone…anyone…just me?
Blissfulbritt 
46 thoughts on “Wenatchee Half Marathon”
StoryhengeArt
What an inspiring post! Love the photos of Wenachee – it can look awesome in spring! Keep running and keep posting!
Life is good!
Brittany
Thank you friend! I agree, this entire area is so beautiful in spring. The yellow wildflowers are what keep me coming back!
Josh del Villar
Way to see it through amiga. Those hard runs are HARD. And we’ve all had pity parties for ourselves.
Strong work.
Brittany
Thank you! Always means more coming from those who get it, and I know you GET IT.
pausesandclicks
congrats on finishing Brittany! I ran my one and only marathon after having to take six weeks off due to a hip injury and ran/walked all 26.2! But I finished it! And I agree, overcoming the mental blocks made that medal all the sweeter. It was the year I turned 40 and I also had a friend who had joined me from out-of-town (he was much faster so we didn’t actually stay together during the run) and that is what kept me going. It was the Marine Corp Marathon in DC and no one was waiting for me at the finish line because it was before cell phones and they all just figured I had DNF’d and taken a metro home! Thankfully, I did catch up with them at the car before they left. I met a young 19-year-old Marine along the way who was also struggling and we got each other through the last 6 miles. My finishing photo is of the two of us crossing the line hand in hand! So yes, finishing this particular half is an accomplishment you can be very proud of!
Brittany
Oh my gosh, your finishing photo makes me want to cry. What a beautiful story. I don’t know if I will ever be able to convince myself to run a full marathon, but if I do I will absolutely be run/walking. That’s a requirement for me with that distance. HAH! And well warranted for going that far.
It’s a bummer your friends and family couldn’t see you finish that accomplishment, but what a wonderful memory to have finding a stranger who knows exactly what you were feeling in that moment. Thank you for sharing.
mjeanpike
I can’t relate as I never run (at all) if possible. But I’m proud of you, Britt! You finished what you started, saw some beautiful scenery (and cats!) and had a lovely time with friends. A successful race, indeed 🙂
Brittany
Thank you! It was a beautiful day in hindsight.
camilla wells paynter
Ha ha! I broke a rib seven weeks ago yesterday (but who’s counting?) and believe me, I pity-partied like it was 1999.
But in the end, these experiences help us to not take the good stuff for granted. Like you say, “a finish is a finish. Being able to run or jog is a gift, and I don’t want to forget that.”
The photos are great — I’m in western Washington, too. It’s been decades since I’ve been to Wenatchee. You make it look cool. 🙂 (Plus what’s not to love about a classic Cat Butt photo? 😉 )
Brittany
OH MY GOSH!!! I am so sorry about your rib. What an AWFUL bone to break!! This reminds me of when I slipped a disc in my back a few years ago and was in pain for a full year. Somehow I adapted to living with it, but in the beginning I was bed bound.
I am sending you FAST healing vibes. I know exactly what you mean by making Wenatchee look cool. Overall the city is not one I would travel to outside of maybe going to this race. HA.
Rootchopper
Last summer I had major pity parties on my bike tour. You could hear my whining echoing off the mountains of southwestern Virginia and eastern Kentucky. Whaaaaah!
Brittany
AHH I would have absolutely been pity partying right there with you. You had a rough go. It’s incredibly frustrating when your head says yes, and your body says no. Or when the dogs become too scary.
Rootchopper
That’s what you need to run a half marathon: VICIOUS ATTACK DOGS!
Brittany
Now THAT would get me a PR no doubt.
lornaroberts99
Very cool medal. I had a 10k once where I imploded like that. Felt horrible, was near tears. Was all because my training was off/non-existent. You’ve just got to roll with the punches and learn from it. which it appears you have. So onwards and upwards for you!
Brittany
Oh man, I think my last four training long runs were filled with tears. I totally get it. Onwards and upwards indeed, and lessons have been learned! I will now walk anytime I need to!
The Omil
Any race that you finish is a win – the ones where you really didn’t feel that you could finish count double.
Brittany
I agree with this wholeheartedly, especially after having one of those runs I had to scrape by to finish. Thanks for the confirmation, always means more coming from others who have been there.
niall
They say it’s at least 50% mental and you showed it all in that race – ups and downs! No shame in pulling out but I’m really glad you managed to get to the finish. Well done and looks like you had a great time around the race too 😊
Brittany
Man is that true. Somedays it certainly feels more like 80% mental. I’m glad I kept going too, I think I would have been really bummed if I quit.
C.A. Post
In life, it is never how one starts and never about speed. It is ALL about how we finish.
Grace and peace from Him who finished best, Jesus, the Messiah.
❤️&🙏, c.a.
Brittany
Amen friend!
Peg
You said it yourself, “a finish is a finish”. So proud of you for finishing! No way I could ever have done that in my entire life. I do, also, get into a pity party every now and then since my accident (fell a year ago and broke kneecap & arm), but I try to shake it off and do something else to take my mind off of it. So you are not the Lone Ranger in that respect!
Brittany
I can’t believe the accident you’ve had. I think I would be living in pity party mode. When I slipped a disc in my back a few years ago I was feeling quite sorry for myself for a while. I can’t imagine breaking what you broke. It’s human nature to feel that way, but I think the key is not living there for too long.
Peg
What I learned from my ordeal was this: I should have been more proactive with my healthcare and gotten a bone density scan earlier, then I would have known to be more careful. I would say I am 90% back to where I was before falling, but I doubt it gets much better. Still, I can do everything that I need to do so I am okay with it.
Sarah W
Well done you! I found so much inspiration in this post. I am very new to running and did my first 10k back in March. Since then, for no reason that I can discern (other than the weather being warmer), I have gotten so much slower. I have ended up walking at distances where I could have carried on running before. And, like you, my ego HATES it and I beat myself up as I felt that I should be better than this. Anyway, to cut a long story short, I gave myself a good talking to, I have slowed right down and the net result is that I am enjoying running again even if I am slow.
So a huge well done to you showing enough grit to keep going. I can totally relate to everything you wrote. Thank you for sharing so openly🥰
Brittany
Thank you for such a kind comment. I think there are a lot of us runners in this boat of wanting to push more than our bodies can go at times. It can be hard to accept we might need to neck it back. I’m glad you have been able to slow down and enjoy running again. I know exactly what you mean.
Duncan
I cant even begin to describe how intensely proud I am of you for pushing through a bad race! Adversity comes into everyone’s life more often than most of us would like, and you constantly manage to overcome it. You are truly an inspiration to me and no doubt many of your readers.
XOXO
Brittany
😭❤️ love you. Thank you for all your support. XxoO
Amy
I’m so proud of you — both for finishing the race and for the hindsight perspectives that you gained and shared. The fact that you’re even running ANY distances again is truly inspiring!! You’re incredibly strong, mentally and physically and emotionally, and such an amazing role model for all of us, Brittany! ♡
Brittany
Thank you Amy. You make me want to cry. You are too good to me, thank you for these kind words. Love you.
Amy
Oh gosh… I really hope they’re happy tears! Love you right back, Brittany!!! ♡
Brittany
YES, definitely happy tears!!
clubtmb
I’m having a pity party for 1 now because today was the second race in a row where I had to DNS. 😦
Brittany
I’m so sorry!! I know this sucks big time, but when you get to the next race it will be all the more special! Sending you good vibes, take care of yourself!
clubtmb
Thank you 🙂
Grace @ Cultural Life
Oof, that sounds like a really tough race. I admire your persistence and determination. Well done for keeping going! While there’s no shame in bowing out when needed, you did the most important thing for you by listening to your body’s signals.
Brittany
I agree there is no shame, and I know one day that could be an option and that is ok!! I’m glad this one is behind me, and hope the next one is a littttllleee more fun. LOL.
Grace @ Cultural Life
I hope that for you, too! Onwards and upwards 🏃♀️
stewedpears.com
Good for you! This was a months’ long commitment to the training and the race. You can’t discount the months before and the months to come 🙂 My daughter did a half-marathon trail run through the mountains last month (yay!). But it was the six months’ commitment to training prior to the race I think I’m most proud of.
Brittany
In the running community they say the race itself is the reward after all the hard work of training! It’s absolutely true, most of the time. 🤪
Congratulations to your daughter for finishing! Trail running is extra tough!
stewedpears.com
I like that saying!
gpavants
Brittney, I was ten minutes from the very top of Shasta. But I was wiped out and frozen so I turned back.I wish I made it but better to be alive. Thanks, Gary
Gary Avants Forbear Productions * *garyavants66@gmail.com garyavants66@gmail.com
Brittany
Ohhh man, that is tough to be SO close! I have had a few hikes like this (never of this magnitude though.) Better to be alive indeed, when you’re wiped and frozen it’s easier to make mistakes. I’m glad you made it down safely.
gpavants
Amen to that.
Gary Avants Forbear Productions * *garyavants66@gmail.com garyavants66@gmail.com
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