13.1 miles. It’s not superhuman — millions of people do it every year. But for me, finishing my first half marathon was a genuinely big deal. And not because I crushed it. I didn’t. I finished well below the average time, my knee was a question mark the whole way, the weather was absolutely miserable, and I almost needed an emergency bathroom stop at mile nine.

In this episode, I’m breaking down everything — the good, the bad, and the embarrassing. We talk training mistakes (I definitely violated the 10% rule), fueling experiments that almost went sideways, the mental war of the final three miles, and what I’d do differently if I could start over.

This isn’t a story about being elite. It’s a story about being a regular person who signed up for something hard and showed up anyway. If you’re thinking about doing your first half — or any race — this one’s for you.

In this episode:

• Why I crammed my training into 8 weeks (and paid for it)

• The honey and banana pre-run fueling strategy that actually worked

• What happened when I almost didn’t make it to a bathroom at mile 6

• How race energy is completely different from solo training runs

• The mental trick that got me through the final 5K

• My official finish time and what I’m taking into the next race

Key Takeaway: Give yourself more time than you think you need, train in conditions that match race day, practice your nutrition, and don’t skip the mental prep!

Until Next Time: Just Keep Running