Note: This is a mishmash of both the 2017 and 2019 races – Yes, it’s that good that we continue to go back every year possible!

With three half marathons behind me, and finding myself in the middle of training for my first marathon, I made the very last minute decision to sign up for the Wineglass Half Marathon with my friend Heather, aka Meatball, and her family. 

It was so last minute in fact, that the race was already sold out and I was put on a wait list.

Their family has been running various distances at this race weekend for years, and assured me most people end up clearing the wait list, so I would likely make it in. 

I knew absolutely nothing about this race other than “it was super fun, and you get glass medals at the end”. Um, okay. Sold!

I feel as though I should mention that I had already signed up for the Baltimore Half Marathon that was only 21 days later. Anyone who knows me now, knows I wouldn’t even bat an eye at this scenario currently, but back then, this might have been one of the dumbest things I have ever done.

If you have read the formerly posted piece, Runners On Your Mark, you may already know that never in my life did I think I would run “competitively” (I use that term loosely) again after college, let alone a half marathon. I was more of a mid-distance runner, maxing out at the 6k in college cross country (which was admittedly a bit short for me) and ran 800m and 1500m on the track. Runs over 4-5 miles were complete torture to me, so the thought of doing 13.1 was near impossible.

After a 7-ish year hiatus from regular running, and my weight hitting the highest it’s ever been, something needed to change. On a group text with a couple of friends from college, it was jokingly suggested that Jana and I who live in Pennsylvania should go visit Matt who lived in California at the time and run a half marathon while there.

Ha! I won’t even run a 5K for fear of embarrassing myself, a half marathon flat out isn’t happening! But after many discussions, I reluctantly agreed and we all signed up for the Monterey Bay Half Marathon in Monterey, California, which was taking place November 8, 2015.