I DID it!!

Well, I can happily report that I survived my first Half Marathon!!!  The whole thing was so much fun, mostly because I did it with some great people!  One of which reminded me so much before the race to just soak it all in, the beautiful day, the beautiful city, the beautiful weather!  Really put my mind in the right place to start the race!  Thanks Jude!!! 

It took us at least 25 minutes to cross the start line...super annoying, maybe it was because of these 20,000 people running the race...

but we finally did and about 100 steps later I got my first glimpse of my cheering squad (these beautiful people +my dad)!
 

Here's their view of seeing me for the first time!

What a jolt to get the race started.  We did the first 5 miles through downtown Philly.  Beautiful and it went by fast because we kept turning and there was so much to look at. (I'm not in this picture, just people running back out of downtown)

 Me running past before the.....

longest 4 miles of my life.  I had to walk some here.  Mostly through water stations, but I was SO disappointed I was walking.  Seriously, I had been training for SO long and I was angry I was walking.  The next 4 miles were a little better, some down hill so that helped. I just kept willing myself to keep going and eventually I saw mile 13 and had to just concentrate on the finish line to keep from sobbing my eyes out!  What an emotional rush. All of those people cheering and hearing the announcer cheering specific people in that he picked out from the crowd.  SO much fun.  My mom kept saying afterward that she thought that the finish was what is was gonna be like in heaven!  The angels cheering us in while someone announces our names.  Some sprinting to the finish, some just powering through, some walking, some being carried through on stretchers and some not being called at all.  Deep mom, a cool parallel

Walked through the post race runners area.  Got my awesome finishers medal and some MUCH needed cold water, cytomax a banana and some fruit and then found my family.  I really wish I had a camera with me on the course to take pictures of what I saw.  maybe next time I will!

Cheesy picture of me with my medal

This is how I found my sweet sissy girl...sleeping through the loudest music on earth!!

Me and my sweet boy!  I loved seeing that face throughout the race!

So that's it, I'd do it again.  Maybe after the next baby.....maybe bofore. Already planning on an 8K in November.   I have a long way to go in my weight loss journey..before we have another baby :) but I'm getting there!!!  This was a great accomplishment along the way!

T-minus one day

So I leave in four hours for Philly to pick up my packet for the half marathon tomorrow.  If I sound obsessed, its because this training has been all consuming.  I have appreciated the incentive to get out and run everyday, but it has been overwhelming at times.  But it has also been amazing.  I have really regained a love for running.  To challenge yourself and put your mind in charge of your body is fun.  To tell yourself you CAN do this and continue on.  It makes the verse in the Bible "I beat my body and make it my slave" have new meaning.  And it also challenges me in my daily walk, to "beat my body " in other ways.  If I can force myself to run 12 miles, why can't I force myself to control my tongue, etc.  So, running has been a spiritual challenge as well as a physical challenge. 

I am looking forward to the race.  Hoping I sleep tonight and am not too nervous.  I am also nervous about leaving my kiddos.  This is the first time leaving Leah.  I'm not really worried, but this is the first time since I have had kids, I am leaving by myself.  Weird!  Pray they sleep tonight for their daddy since he's gotta go to church in the morning! 

Ok, I'll report how it goes to all you (haha ) faithful readers when I get back!!

Its coming

My race is offficially ONE WEEK away!!! Ahh, I'm scared and excited all at the same time!  I feel like I'm ready, and REALLY trusting my schedule that I am ready.  I'm so excited for this accomplishment and ready for this to be done.  To actually run when I want and how much I want to.  I think it will be more fun from now on, becuase I know I can push myself harder than I have before!  Awesome feeling!  Pray for me though, I'm sick.  I haven't been sick in A LONG time and now, of course, one week before running a half marathon, I'm sick.  Popping the vitamins drinking the water and trying to get as much sleep as I can with a 16 month old and a 4 year old running around.  Sometimes I swear they are conspiring to NEVER let me sleep well. 


I digress....back to the race.  If your curious what race it is, it is this one!!!! Heard it was awesome!  My family is coming to watch me run and I'll be there with a TON of people!.  Ok, now I think I am babbling!  I'll keep you posted!!

12 miles

Another week of training has passed.  And while the week itself was bad, after two days rest on Saturday I was able to run 12.35 miles!!!!!!!  Believe it or not I felt better on this run than any run before.  I am pretty sure I could have kept going!  That is until Cindi, who I was running with, ran back to me after finishing and made me sprint to the end!  It was great to be pushed!!!  This past week I found myself not wanting to do the race at all, but after Saturday, I am excited!  It will be a huge accomplishment!  I have lost a few pounds, (25 total so far) and a toenail, and I am in MUCH better shape!  Feels good!  Here's to running friend!!!

Training

So I don't know if I've mentioned it before but I am training for a half marathon.  Have been for the last 12 weeks or so.  I need to lose all this baby weight (and then some) and I do for the most part enjoy running.  But let me tell you, this has been hard!  Very rewarding in a lot of ways, but it takes a lot of time.  I am running 4 times a week anywhere from 3 miles to today's longest distance so far of 10 miles.  Yeah that right.....10 miles.  Two weeks ago I ran 9 miles and then when I tried to run for the next Monday I looked and felt like a 90 year old woman and had to take the rest of the week off.  At least til Friday.  My legs started to feel better but its just been SLOW going since then.  I had 3 very unsuccessful runs this past week my 6 was cut short by daylight and my 5 was cut short by my brain.  I hit a WALL!  I couldn't get past it.  But I was determined to get 10 in today.  So I put my mind to it.  I had to stop and walk 3 times, but I gave myself a goal to start again and only ended up walking less than .25 of a mile. The route was actually almost 10.5 so I probably ran at least the 10 miles.  No matter how many times I say it, it still sounds cool.  I ran 10 miles! 

Bring on the race!