I was reading an article titled "11 Keys for a successful marathon journey" http://www.active.com/running/Articles/11-Keys-for-a-Successful-Marathon-Journey.htm?cmp=1747 and in it it suggested keeping a journal or blog. So here we go.
Well to start at the beginning I started running in the winter of 2007. I was working at the local CBS affiliate as a photojournalist. I had lost 30lbs by working out at the gym and was getting bored. A co-worker suggested I train for a half marathon. I had literally not run a step. (though I ran the Steamboat 4mile race in 2003). It sounded like a nice change and so I did it. I registered. I had no idea what I was doing back then. All I did to train was print off a running schedule I had googled and put the daily miles on my refridgerator calendar. Every day I religiously stuck with it. I can vividly remember the terror I felt inside when I got to the day with the number FIVE on it. How could I ever run 5 miles? I had made a loup in my subdivision (that I still run!) and that loup is 1 mile. I did it once, twice, three times... the most I had done up to that point... as I kept on going I eventually finished my 5 mile "long run" for that week and I knew I could do the half marathon! The rest of the runs I did for that race don't particularly stand out in my memorie. But the feeling I had that day that I ran 5 miles is the feeling I am constantly chasing. 4 years later I'm after that same sence of accomplishment. That ability to show myself just what I CAN do.
Later that year I ran my second half marathon. My first half I had a finish time of 2:29:58. I had wanted to come in under 2 and a half hours and I just made it. My second finish was faster - though to this day I can't remember or find what it was. And it was then that I was blessed by my very first pregnancy. After I had my son Grant I was eager to get back into running. Knowing full well just how great running is for weight loss I wanted to run to get rid of the weight I gained during my pregnancy. (a shameful 60lbs, lol). Well I did it. I lost the weight and I ran my third half marathon in May of 2009, almost a full year after having my first baby. My finish time for that race was 2:21. Shortly after that I was blessed with pregnancy number two!
After I had my daughted I was even more obsessed with getting my running shoes on again. I hadn't gained as much weight so this time it was just all about my love for running. I realized its how I cope with stress the best. My daughter is stressful (God love her!). So I needed it badly, especially in those first few months after she was born. I decided of course that I would run the Lincoln Half Marathon again. I signed up for my fourth half marathon and began training in the winter of 2011. I found a few new running buddies (some are also mom's like me, who also work, go to school, etc). And I even ran a 10k in under one hour! I had never been concerned with my time. In fact, I was just extatic to finish. What my pace was was completely insignificant to me. So when I ran that 10k with under a 10min/mile pace I was asstonished. Another little running high was born and now a fast pace is something I am chasing. I was extra motivated to be fast for my fourth half marathon. I was able to reach a major PR (personal record) with a finish time of 2:08:16! That's a avg of 9:45min/mile!
As soon as the 2011 Lincoln Half was completed I was googling races like a lunatic. What should I run next? Should I do my 5th half and shoot for an under 2 hour finish time? Or is it time to finally do a full? I wanted to sign up for the Wine & Dine Disney Half Marathon on Oct 1st but it's expensive as all hell. (though, i will do that one when my kids are older). There's a half in Peoria (my hometown) in August. I would love to run on my home turf but I will have JUST gotten back from Jamaica the sunday before. I do not like the idea of getting back in the car to leave my children again. (mommy guilt is a bitch). There is the Vegas half & full in December and I toyed with doing that race. But I'd have to bring my children to Las Vegas with me. I'd also have to be a burdon (again) on my entire family - husband, kids, in-laws. I decided this wasn't the right fit either. I found about 20 marathons/half marathons around the time frame I wanted to run. I had to widdle them down by course. The Omaha Marathon would have been ideal but it's a hilly bastard that has actually been labled "brutal". (omaha is very hilly if you didn't know). There is a race in Northern IL that might work but yet again it just didn't feel right. Then boom I stumbled upon the Twin Cities Marathon. I had noticed it before but hadn't really focused on it. But when I read it I realized it had everything I wanted. It got incredible reviews online. Someone said they had run 17 marathons and this is their favorite. Someone else said it should be on every marathoner's bucket list. Someone else said they are trying to do all 50 states (a marathon goal I've heard ppl talk about) marathons so they can't do this one again anytime soon but if they were to do ANY of their marathons again... this would be it! Add to all of that lots of comments about amazing race support/crowd support, it's well organized, has great accomidations and the runners expo is apparently amazing. So I decided this was it. My answer was to run a full and not another half. This really is the perfect time for me to do a full. I can use the momentum I have built up from the Lincoln half and go with it.
I registerd for the Twin Cities Marathon this morning. I was actually shaking when I typed in my CC info. I'm incredibly nervous. How the fuck am I going to run 26.2 miles? How? Well I ran 5 miles 4 years ago. If I can do that, I can do anything right? So I will remind myelf of Kara Goucher's (olympic marathoner) mantra.. "I am not afraid". I am not afraid... I am not afraid... I am not afraid...
Training starts on Monday.
