first half marathon=completed

I did it, I made the jump by setting off to do my first half marathon.  It was a lot of pressure on me at first because last year at this time, I was set to do my first half, and I ended up having knee surgery on the day I was supposed to run it.  This year, I not only signed up for my first half, I signed up for a trail one in another state... So lots of pressure there.  I woke up the day of the race at 5AM, so I gave myself time to get there on time to start.  Wisconsin trails are not like Nebraska trails, more like Maui trails, one false step and into Lake Michigan you go.  I wasn't expecting that type of trail nor did I train on trails much.  I did however train in the middle of the afternoon this summer so the extreme heat that Milwaukee is saying was tough to deal with, made running it a little easier.  At mile 9, my feet were completely numb, I have a huge blister on my toe, and heel from the too small size of shoe that Dick's sporting store sold me even though I did train in those shoes with my longest run in those shoes being 10 miles.  I loved this race, and even though I was expecting to be last as it was a Boston qualifer, I did not get dead last, 3rd from last though.,... I know what I need to do, to kick it's ass next year.  Well I am signing up for another half next Sunday for 9/11, and it's a flat run so no hills or one lane trails.  Also eyeballing a 21 miler but it's in October and I don't know if I can do that much with little time to train.