Post Marathon

The marathon was last Saturday May 17th. Some of the most amazing things have happened in May. Seven years ago, I married my love on May 25th. This year I did what I thought was impossible, I ran a marathon.

For the first 8 miles Justine and I had our fellow running buddy Jennifer along for the ride. We kept up with a run 2 min and walk 1 min with a 11:30 average pace. After that I told Justine that we need to slow down, we still had 18 miles to go. After that we change to run 1 min and walk 1 min. We felt pretty good and I got to see my mom and my baby girl at mile 12 by the Boise Zoo. We had to pass the finish line...that was pretty hard. We could hear the music and the party that the half marathoners were participating in. But off we went for another 13 miles to go. Just past 14 miles we got to see Justine's family. Her husband Chris brought us cold water and more GUs, the essentials. At mile 18 we got to see my mom and daughter again. We ran to the 19.5 mile turn around. At mile 20 my mom was still there. We had a 10K to go and we were on our own. It was a very long 6.2 miles. We even had a water station that closed up on us. Our feet hurt, we were tired, but we knew that a little 6.2 miles would not stop us. Our next stop was 26.2 and all of our family. We crossed the finish line at 6:44:58. As soon as I saw my husband I cried. I cannot believe that I did it. I finished a marathon. What a fantastic day.

I went home iced my feet and then my legs. I also took a two and a half hour nap. Thanks baby. In the end I was smiling when I crossed the finish line. I was also smiling the next day and I felt better at work after my marathon than I did after my first half marathon.

26.2 Finisher

The back of my shirt had my inspirational quote.
"There will be days you don't think
You can run a marathon.
There will be a lifetime of knowing you have."

The Road to Boston

About a month ago I decided to set a goal. Not a small goal, but a giant goal that will take months maybe even years to complete. I am a mother of 2 little munchkins am going to train to qualify for Boston.  Here is the kicker. I am currently running at a 12:30 mile pace and I need to get to a 8:30 pace. Not only have I never run a mile in under 9:30 minutes, but I have yet to complete my first my marathon. I am estimating that I will finish in about 6 hours and 30 minutes.

I sit here on the eve of the eve of the marathon and I am scared out of my mine. All of the what ifs are running through my head and talking with my running partner has added more. What if I get leg cramps, stomach cramps, or I get sick? What if I cannot finish? This is the biggest question mark. What would I tell everyone and there sisters if I cannot finish. So with all of this going on I have already set myself on an even bigger goal.

Here is my plan to date.
*Lose weight - I am about 30 lbs heavier than I would like to be.
*Workout in the mornings - I have done really we the last two weeks.
*Eat right - I know what to eat and when to eat. I need to remember that I am important and to do it.
*Sleep - This is so important. Get it in!!!
*Plan my runs - get my short runs in during my morning workouts and get my long/hill runs in on the weekend.

I know that this is not an easy goal. It is a good thing that I love challenges and I love to feel my hard work. I have my husband and kids cheering me on every step of the way. Here's to Boston 2016/2017.

My babies and I at Orioles Park at Camden Yards 

My saga continues...

During this 10 week training I got to run in my first 5K. When I say run, I mean run. I started and finished at a running pace. For my first one I was happy with my time of 37 minutes. I remember years ago, I was in the middle of the couch to 5K and I was not up to running the full 3 miles yet. My mom bless her heart because she did not mean anything mean about it. Said "You did not run the whole race." Years later now I realize that had a big impact on me. After that race I stopped running because I thought I would never be able to run for 3 miles.

Here I am before my first race. 

Here I am after with my son Calvin.

I kept on training and I could tell I was getting better with each run. At this point I was not hurting after runs and the foam roller was one of my best friends. I still did not feel like a runner. I joined a great group with a couple of my sorority sister, Moms Run This Town. It was great to be apart of a group of women trying to juggle mommy, work, and me time.

Next, came the High Desert 10K Trail Run...Thanks to MRTT. I got a free entry since I was the only one other than Justine close to this milage. It was a tough race all on dirk, which I had never run on. It was mostly down hill turn around and go back up hill for the last 3 miles. I did not run this one. I would not have been able too. It was a little over the 10K mark because the flags kept getting moved. I ended up going almost 7 miles in 1 Hour and 21 minutes. I just wanted to be under 1:25:00. Did I mention we were in the middle of nowhere, i.e. Pearl, ID.

Me after the race and getting some food!!

A sweet surprise from my husband.

Running Mamma of 2

About two months ago I came to the hard truth, that I was no longer present in my own life. So I dug deep and pulled myself out, by my shoe laces, my running shoe laces!!!

I started running because it was something I enjoyed years ago and I thought it was free. Wow that was a misconception. But at the time I already had my Ease into 5K and a good sports bra. So off I went for my first 60 sec run and 90 walk for 3.1 miles. Each time I ran I thought that my lungs were going to burst. I continued this for a few weeks. Every other day I would put on my shoe and hit the side walk.

A few weeks passed and I was up to run 3 minutes and walk 60 sec. I remember passing a neighbors flower bed and thinking one day I will be able to run to this spot. Her flower bed was less than a mile from my house. I would walk across the street and head down Wright St. Here I would think, it would be great to be able to run this whole street.

A few more weeks pass. I have know purchased an extremely expensive pair of running shoes, because my knee was telling me new shoes or I am leaving. I have also scoured every thrift store in town looking for cute and cheap running clothes. The sweats and 3 year old tank tops were no longer cutting it either. But I remember the day that I ran for a full mile. This was such a triumphant day. I remember thinking that this could not have really happened and yet there it was and I could not wait to get home.

It was the next week that I did something stupid. I agreed to run a half marathon with some girls from work. My longest run was 3.5 miles. I was never going to last 13.1. But I had that wild thought. What if I did something great before my 30th Birthday. I already have 2 great kids and a wonderful husband. But this would be something that I would have to do all by myself. Could I really do this? Would I die in the process? Is it responsible to leave my huband a widow at 29? But the truth is I took it one day at a time.

So thanks to Katie and Laura, I started my 10 week training schedule for the See Jane Run (I like that I am going to get Chocolate and Champaine at the end) Half Marathon.