Alright, as any good lawyer knows, everything must have rules. So, now for the rules of this endeavour...obviously we must complete 50 half marathons in each of the 50 states by the time I am 50, which gives us 10 years - actually under 10 years now:( Other than the rules inherent in that premise, the following are the governing rules that Michele and I came up with:

1) We must both do the same event at the same time (although we do not need to remain together during the race nor do we need to finish together);

2) Each of us must finish the race for it to count;

3) For every 2 races Missy selects, Michele gets to select 1 - and she is fully aware of why this is the case so direct all inquiries on this subject to her:);

4) For each race Michele selects, she must either make certain that audio devices are permitted OR she must stay with Missy for the entire race to entertain her;

5) We must do something cool/memorable at each race venue;

6) The race MUST have a finisher's medal;

7) We must race at least one theme race where we both must fully participate in the theme;

8) We must race at least one "Rock n Roll" race;

9) We must race at least one "green" race;

10) We must race at least one race that permits us to have our four legged babies run with us;

11) Bella gets to join us for at least one race;

12) Jessie gets to join us for at least one race;

13) Baby Clabaugh (currently 24 weeks in utero) gets to join us for one race after birth and
Michele and I will take turns pushing the baby jogger;

14) Regardless of who chooses the race, we must be able to have access to the race course description and elevation charts prior to registration;

15) We can choose to convert 1 half marathon per year to a full marathon by mutual agreement;

16) In the event of a half ironman, this will count toward a 1/2 marathon for that state a) if both of us complete the entire event or b) if one of us completes the entire event and the other relays at least the running portion of the event or c) if one of us completes the entire event and the event also has a separate half marathon that the other completes; AND FINALLY

17) If either of us qualifies for Boston or NY, the other must do everything in her power to qualify for Boston or NY and both then run that event - if the other does not qualify, she still must go with the one that did qualify and be support staff.

As if the challenge of 50 half marathons in 50 states in 10 years isn't challenging enough...this should really make it a challenge!!!

Gearing up for the first "race" taking place in 20 days...can't really call it a race for me since the doc won't allow the heart rate above 140 which puts me at about 4.6 miles per hour - I can only assume it will be slower by the time of the race as I will then be 27 weeks pregnant, but we shall see:)

First Run Planned!

Well, it sure took awhile to start this process. Missy and I decided in July, 2010, that we were going to run 50 half-marathons in 50 states in 10 years, hence 50-50-10. July 5 was Missy's 40th birthday, so the time began running from July 5, 2010. She will have run 50 half-marathons in 50 states by the time she is 50. The goal doesn't work quite the same for me in terms of age, but I am happy to tag along!

Missy and I have each run half-marathons in the past, some together, some separate. We both ran the Sioux City Half-Marathon in October 2009. It was our first. After that race, I scheduled a couple more. I ran in the Route 66 Half-Marathon in Tulsa, OK, in November 2009, and in the Canyonlands Half-Marathon in Moab, Utah, with my good friend Kyla in March 2010. But I haven't run one since!

Missy ran the half-marathon in Okoboji in July 2010. That was a mistake. Too hot. I did the tri at that event and was much better off because of the heat. I think we will agree that we will NOT be running half-marathons in 90 degree heat and humidity (or at least that will be my protest).

So, as far as these separate half-marathons go, they don't count towards our total, because we didn't do them together. We have to do each half-marathon together (or at least start together...). We were ready and raring to go in September, after our regular races scheduled in August were finished.

BUT, Missy was also trying to conceive in 2010. The trial became a reality in September, 2010...which is very exciting! Missy is due in May, 2011. She is an author to this blog as well, so I will let her elaborate on that.

So...that has thrown a bit of a wrench into the first year of this process (in terms of time). We figured we had to run 5 halfs a year to make it in 10 years. Now, we are six months behind, so we need to pick it up in 2011!

Now that Missy is out of the woods a bit, the doc has cleared her to run, at a very slow pace for her (no heart rate above 140). Missy is determined to run, so she's agreed to run at the slower pace. I have to take advantage of this, because once the baby is born, she will blow me away at each half. She is a gifted runner who trains a LOT. She will be kicking my butt very soon.

All this being said, we have finally scheduled our FIRST half-marathon. The Arizona Marathon, February 20, 2011. It is in Phoenix (Avondale, I think technically). www.thearizonamarathon.com. The stage is set, and now we have to train. Needless to say, with the weather as it has been, running has not been my strong suit. I absolutely hate the thought of running on the dreadmill (I stole that from someone...I think it's great), especially 13 miles, but I think I'm going to have to start. I have just over a month to get some good hard runs in, and have to get the distance down (or close to it) pretty quick here.

Running a half is kind of like riding a bike, to the extent that my body just falls back into it. It's a good distance, without too much challenge to the body overall (as opposed to a marathon, where there is a lot of challenge, just because the distance is so far). BUT, even though I think I can run that far, I need to practice, or run the risk of being injured. I did have a knee injury in 2009 after Tulsa, which continued to cause problems for me for four months. The only way to keep that at bay is to train, train, train.

So, I guess to the dreadmill I will go. But as soon as the weather gets above -20 degrees, I am outside.

I am excited to start this challenge and see how far I can make it, and hopefully finish it out to the end. I am also excited to take this journey with my friend. As in any relationship, we have been through a lot, and this will definitely give us an opportunity to be closer. Or kill each other. :)