My introduction to road racing was completely backwards.
Man I hated running.
But race day morning, I pulled out my Nike's, which I had worn around for at least a good two years (hey, they still looked nice!) and toed the start line next to my sisters. Now, Cathy, the youngest sister and equally as unprepared as I was, had a theory that she could not stop running. If she stopped, she would never start again, and so she took off. We never saw her again. Holly and I, on the other hand, took the "run/walk" approach, which really worked well for me. I felt great.
We ran/walked along having a great time. Somewhere around mile 10, I really needed a port-a-potty stop. I saw one about 300 yards ahead so I told Holly I was going to sprint ahead, but when she got there, she would wait for me. I ran, used the porta-potty (ah welcome to the world of racing!) jumped out and looked for Holly. NO where to be seen. I waited. And waited. And waited. Nothing. So I did what anyone looking for a lost pal would do...I started to backtrack on the course searching for her. I got about 15 "you are going the wrong way!" shouts from well meaning spectators (did they really think I didn't realize that?) before a helpful volunteer stopped me. "Hey, are you looking for Holly?" (I knew these customized shirts Holly made us would come in handy!) I told the man yes, and he told me "Oh yeah she passed by here a long time ago".
And so I ran. Those last 1.1 miles hurt. BAD. But I finished my very first half marathon, and thus, created my very first horrible finishing line photo. Please enjoy for your entertainment:
2005 Myrtle Beach Half Marathon Finisher! 
Look at that face! I look like a fish out of water gasping for breath. I crossed the finish line, barely, and was given my very first finishers medal (if only I knew then what an addiction that little piece of metal and ribbon would be). 2:41:01 I found my little sister, standing completely nonchalantly on the side of the finishers chute, wearing her medal and holding a Gatorade for me. By the looks of it I would have guessed she finished hours a head of me and not just 3 minutes earlier. We waited for Holly, who finished 3 minutes after I did.
We hobbled (well, I hobbled) over to get some post race food, and all I can remember is the overwhelming urge to take my shoes off ASAP. eventually we made it home, where I encountered the stairs to my third floor apartment, that now looked something comparable to mount Everest.
I couldn't walk very well for a week after that. My boss, whose wife had properly trained for the half marathon that year, made fun of me and shook his head in that "you are an idiot" way for the entirety of the week.

But I finished my first half marathon. I certainly did not get hooked on running that day, that week, or even that month. But a tradition had started, one that would eventually fuel a passion I never knew I had. A tradition more fun to the Gannoe girls (well, at least 2/3 of us) than a yearly weekend in Vegas or on a cruise ship.
Holly and I have participated in the half marathon every year since. Some years we have added in the 5k on Friday or the bike rides on Sunday, and some years Cathy has jumped back in to join the fun (although I don't really think she finds this stuff as "fun" as we do, but she is certainly a good sport!). I can promise you I won't live in Myrtle Beach forever. But I have a feeling that no matter where we are in the country, Holly and I will find our way back to Myrtle Beach every February for our race!
2006-about 2 months pregnant with Rowen (surprise!) Holly had hurt her knee, and I was feeling less than stellar, so we walked....with our custom made "I'm knocked up" and "I'm broken" shirts. We got a few comments for those ones, haha
2007-Holly and I ran the 5k and the half marathon together. We had a blast as usual

2009 - Post baby Kain. Well if you didn't read that story....you can read it here. As you can tell by my face it was, uhh, less than ideal, haha
So here we are, approaching the 2010 Myrtle Beach half marathon. Year #6 for us. My training was sidelined for the month of January with a foot injury, so hopes of a P.R. are certainly gone. Hopes of a really fun time are not. I get more and more excited for this race every year. I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve waiting for Santa!






oooh ahhhh sooo preettty! Nike Free 5.0 V4's. I've been coveting a pair for a while now, so I was thrilled when the fed ex man finally dropped them off at my doorstep. Now I'm certainly a glutton for punishment for putting these puppies on and attempting an hour long run in them on their first day out of the box. I promised myself I'd stop if I felt even a twinge of pain. I never did. As expected, the minimal shoe caused me to step lighter, and it was nice to not have the normal "clunk clunk" of heavier shoes on the treadmill.
And I had to go to class like that. My super sensitive skin assured that this condition lasted a good hour or more post swim. I could feel everyone staring, but no one saying a word. Probably because they had no freaking idea what I had done to myself. I giggled on the inside. My triathlon adventures have begun :) 
Stephanie C @



