Anything is Possible.
(Disclaimer: This is my marathon journey/race recap. It’s very long - 6 1/2 pages, single spaced, to be exact. It is written this way so that down the road I can relive my experience.)
Some people never want to run a marathon. I’m not one of those people. I started C25K in October 2009. When I started the program I set goals for myself: 5K & 10K before the end of 2010, half marathon in 2011, and full marathon in 2012. From day one any time someone asked about my running, racing plans or goals I gave them this same layout. While the actual timeline may have changed the end result never did. I would one day be a Marathoner.
Running is not easy, at least not for me. Every race I have run has been a big undertaking mentally and physically. I had to train for them all. I had to push my body to levels it didn’t know it was capable of reaching. I had to fight the same fears. Can I really do this? Will I finish? What if I’m last? What if I get injured? Every race has been a big deal and left me a bundle of nerves the night before and morning of. Every race was approached with its own goals whether it was to finish, PR or just plain have fun. Every race has been its own incredible experience. These experiences have led me to become the person I am today, a Marathoner.
This is my journey to 26.2.
It was a great day for 13.1!
… until that last mile. Then DOWNPOUR!
I used this as my last training run before the full marathon next Sunday. It went so well for me that I feel TONS better about how the 26.2 is going to go. The fact that I had company helped, but also I REALLY paced myself and I think that made a HUGE difference. Slight achy knees around mile 12 and a weird cramp that I started feeling about mile 8 in the arch of my foot, but nothing excruciating.
The miles flew for me. I couldn’t believe we were already at the finish when we got there! I love runs like that. I didn’t know anything about the route or area so it was all new scenery for me. I thought it was a pretty great course. The weather was cool with overcast for the most part which was pretty perfect. BUT that last mile in the rain was COLD.
The only goals for this race were to have fun, encourage other runners, thank the volunteers and, of course, stay with Katy. I did all these things. WINNING!
As for pacing Katy… I kinda got lucky. We started with some pacers and kept them in our sight for most of the run. I know she thinks I helped get her through it, but it was all her doing. She’s was the only one in control of those legs. It was awesome to see her PR by 19 minutes and I am so proud of her. She fought through the pain and self-doubt and did a GREAT job!
Now, I enjoy the rest of this vacation and try not to freak out too much about next weekend. Which is doubtful.
Winter Warmth 5K
Well, my plans went out the window this morning. I had wanted to run to the 5K, run home after the 5K, and finish 6 more miles in my normal running route. Didn’t happen.
The race started at the fairgrounds. I drove there because I thought you had to have identification to register and I didn’t want to carry a bunch of stuff on my run. After I registered I never ended up leaving. I got talking to some people I graduated with and the husband of my old babysitter that has taken up running. I didn’t have any pre-race jitters. It was just another run for me. Only 31 runners! Smallest race I’ve done!
Not a bad run for me. I started a little too fast. Hit the first mile at 9:01. My lungs felt like they were on fire and my legs felt like lead (which they normally do the first couple miles). I just couldn’t maintain it. I slowed it down after that to about 10:00 per mile. My finish time was 29:56. Not my best, not my worst. I’m still happy with it.
I drove back home and developed a cough. A congested one. I decided to hold off on the remaining 9 miles I want to do today until it goes away. I had pneumonia earlier this year while training and don’t want that to happen again so close to two big races. Hopefully it will clear up quickly. I think it came from pushing so hard and it being so chilly out this morning. Plus, I didn’t run all week and my body was like, WTF?!?!
So, now I’m doing school work instead. Lobsters and clams for lunch. I’ll think about running again later this evening.
Official 5k times are in!
Drum roll….
28:15
Yay! I did it! PR, sub 30 5K!
Pace, 9:06, holy wow!
Me = One Happy Girl
Part 3 - Hi, My Name is Heidi and I’m a Half Marathon Runner!
It feels weird writing that… and what I’ve accomplished this weekend has not sunk in. 13.1 miles!
It’s all coming to a close. Reflection time.
Here it is 5:15AM 6:00AM (can’t believe it took me so long to write this…). I’ve been up for about a 1/2 hour an hour and a half. Blame going to bed at 9. Blame nerves. Blame whatever you want, but sitting here this morning has me reflecting about my journey.
It’s like the title says, I feel like today everything comes together for some kind of grand finale. (I know this is crazy because I already have my eyes set on another half in April, another in September and thinking maybe some 5 & 10Ks in between.) I guess this has something to do with the fact that when I reach that finish line it will symbol so many things for me. This race isn’t just about months of hard work and training paying off. It isn’t just about completing my first half marathon (the longest distance I will have EVER run - HOLY CRAP). It isn’t even about being able to cross another item off the 2011 list.
It’s about me!
I’ve spent the last 20 months of my life working on me. I’ve shed pounds, gained muscle and most importantly gotten happy and healthy. One of the greatest contributors to this is running. It has improved my strength and fitness 100 fold (it has done quite a bit for my mental health too). What started in October 2009 as an “I think I’ll try that” attitude about running has blossomed into an ”I love it” attitude. C25K works wonders. I can’t believe my whole running history starts with a 60 second jog / 90 second walk. If anyone had asked me in June 2009 (non-runner and 210 lbs) if I thought I would ever run a half marathon or reach a goal weight of 125 my answer would have been a confident “Hell no”. Now, I’m 3 lbs from this goal weight and embarking on my FIRST half marathon (with dreams of a full in my future).
It’s amazing what our bodies are capable of doing if our minds let it! As we get close to facing or reaching our limits, doubts and fears we learn to push them a little further away and create new ones. As we reach our new limits, doubts and fears we do it again. It’s a continuous cycle. For me though, today is the day when the walls come down. There are no more limits. There is no more room for doubt, and there is nothing left for me to fear. When I reach that finish line it will symbolize all the changes I’ve made in my life from June 2009 to February 2011: the pounds gone, the strength gained and most importantly - becoming a happy healthy Heidi. I’ve reached my weight loss goals and I’ve reached my running goals. I’m feel like I am right where I want to be in life: literally, physically and mentally.
Yes, today is going to be a great day.
