I'm a Girl on the Run

For the past couple of months, I had the awesome opportunity to co-coach a team for Girls on the Run Salt Lake.  Girls on the Run is a program to empower young girls with lessons and get them ready to run a 5K when the program is over (December 1st-Reindeer Romp).  Our team consisted of about 8 girls, each of whom had a different personality and a uniqueness about them.

Running activity where we had them write
something on the poster each lap they completed.

At first I had a hard time.  I had another coach thank goodness, but we were both new to the experience.  After a few weeks though, it didn't seem so hard.  And luckily we bonded with the girls very quickly.  I loved every moment with those girls.

One of the activities where we had outlined each girl and
everyone wrote down positive things about each other.

The hardest part was sometimes getting the girls to pay attention and focus.  We were working with 3rd-5th graders and I'm sure the last thing they want to do is sit and listen to someone talk.  But we made the lessons fun and found that the girls did listen and did participate.  Some were more shy than others, but once the program ended I could tell the girls had changed, even if just a little.

I wanted to get the girls to love running.  At that age, running 3 miles is quite the distance.  We started with little running activities and eventually built them up to longer distances.  They were amazing!  The first time they ran a 5K I was SO proud.  They all made it.

When the actually race day came I was happy to see the girls ready to go and excited!  Our team was the Pink Panthers.  We made panther ears and my mom kindly made paw print gloves for each girl.  They were adorable.  

Pink Panther Coach!

Neither of the coaches ran in the race, but we cheered when we saw the girls running.  Then at the finish line I was able to hand out the medals and give each girl a hug.  Another moment where I was super proud of each girl.

Race day.  Go Pink Panthers!

Coaching for this program is an experience I will never remember.  It made me realize how much I love/miss coaching and how talented the younger generations are.  I feel like I made at least a bit of an impact on these girls and hope they enjoyed the whole experience and learned something new about themselves.

I'm not sure if I will coach for the Spring program, but I might consider being a running buddy instead.  I would love to be able to run with a girl and motivate her throughout the race.  I definitely recommend coaching or volunteering another way to anyone who might be interested.  It was worth every moment.  :)

Running is something anyone can do if they put their heart into it.

Runaway Girl

51 Seconds

On October 27th, 2012, I ran the Provo Halloween Half Marathon.  This was also my very first half marathon!  I finally did it.  I've been wanting to run a half for a long time, I just never knew if I could get myself to actually do one.  I love running, but racing for 13.1 miles?!  That's crazy.

That's what I thought until I signed up, started training, and finished.  I felt amazing.  I didn't really have a specific goal for the race, except that I would prefer to get under 2 hours.

Since it was a Halloween run, I dressed up.  My costume: A Scuba Diver.  And I must say.....it was creative and awesome.  I ran with the foam flipper for about the first couple miles.  then I trashed them (they got a bit annoying).

Super early morning waiting for the shuttle buses

The morning of the race my sister Tierney drove me to the University mall where we had to wait for our shuttle buses.  The sun hadn't risen yet, that's how early it was.  I waited in the cold line with a blanket around me for what felt like forever.  I made a friend though.  She was also running her first half marathon.  Unfortunately I forgot her name. :(  But we rode on the bus together and talked and then stuck together until the start of the race.  I was in the wave before her and went on my way to start.  I was nervous and excited.

GO!

I ran.  The first three miles were pretty much downhill so I was quite speedy.  I think I ran the fastest three miles I have ever ran.  But the downhill wasn't so nice the whole way.  Around mile 7 my knee started to feel the pain.  I was unhappy and kept telling myself, I don't care if my knee blows out after the race, but it better not do so now!  I had to run through the pain.

Not only that, but I was worried about my time.  I was scared that I was even slower than I thought.  I saw the 2:10 pacer which was way behind me, but I didn't see the 2:05, so I was starting to worry.  I knew this was my first half, but I expected more of myself.  Especially after training for 13 weeks.

I crossed the finish line sprinting and just hoping to finish with a decent time. I FINISHED!  My friend Ashley was nice enough to come find me when I finished.  It was nice to see a friendly face when I was done.  My sister met up with us a little later.  I was really happy to have them both there.  :)  

My super supportive sister!

I felt great and didn't bother to think about my time.  I was thinking between 2:05 and 2:10 though.  Oh well.  I finally checked that item off my bucket list.  And it was a fun race.  The course ran down provo canyon, which was beautiful.  I wish I had a camera while I was running.  The leaves and the colors.  I was reminded of how much I love running outside in the beauty of nature.

The infamous herse and the dead scuba diver

When I finally checked my time a little while after the race I was nervous.  I scrolled down the list of people and realized I was faster than I thought.  Then I came upon my name.

Tiegan Hatch 2:00.51

51 Seconds over the two hour mark.

Honestly I was a little angry at first, but I soon laughed about it.  51 seconds could have been made up anywhere!  And I can blame my knee all I want, but that doesn't change the time.  So that's that.  And I'm still proud of myself.  Because I ran.  And I didn't stop running.

Until after the race, when I let my body take a rest from running and training strictly.  I think I finally ran again about 4 weeks later.  A good four mile run which felt amazing.

Now, about two months later, I have signed up for another half marathon.

2013 Canyonlands Half Marathon.

This time I have a goal.  I WILL get under the two hour mark.

Let's run.

Runaway Girl