Lifestyle

Teenage Girl Accidentally Runs a Half Marathon Instead of 5K

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Tony Maples Photography

 

It sounds improbable to accidentally run a half marathon, but LeeAdianez Rodriguez-Espada did just that.

The Flower City Half Marathon is a prime race to join in upstate New York. Rodriguez-Espada woke up in the morning planning to run in the 5k portion of the race. However, upon arriving at the starting line, a man told her she could just hop in with a group of runners and go.

That group of runners, however, were out to run a half marathon, a full 13 miles compared to the 3 miles of a 5k. LeeAdianez told WHAM that she asked her pacing buddy, who she had met during the race, how long the race was. “She said, ‘Like 13 miles,'” and Lee knew she had to finish the race no matter what.

Brendalee, her mother, was watching runners finish the 5k and kept looking for her daughter, but to no avail. Finally, she heard an announcer call her daughter’s name, and Lee began sprinting toward the finish line.

She successfully completed her very first half marathon and got the medal to prove it. Finishing in 2 hours and 43 minutes, she didn’t do that terribly, either.