My 13.1 Milestone

I don't have a lot of time so this will be quick.  It's not really the race recap I had planned for the run of my life, but I want to get this down before I forget about it.  Ha!

Saturday morning started early.  Let's back up just a little bit.  You  know that little fitness competition I did, right?!  Well, I ate some cheat meals last week and didn't stay as clean on my diet as I should have been.  I said goodbye to those abs real quick.  It wasn't fat, I was just so bloated.  You're welcome!  Anyway I was not feeling the best even though I didn't go crazy.  I was still eating my main meals and clean stuff, but there was left over birthday cake and a little ice cream. I felt like crap!  I was more tired than I've been in a long time.  The food really does matter.

Anyway I got up early and we hit the road.  I had asked Dale to make sure he was near the finish when I was done because I was going to need him.  I pictured an emotional basket case at the finish line with the completion of these 2 huge goals. 

I didn't give myself enough time to get there and get settled.  It was pretty much fight traffic, walk forever, then squeeze through a tiny gate to get to my corral and to find my friend from work who was also running.  I had to go to the bathroom again, but there was no way, I was just going to have to go for it and hope for the best. 

Mile 1 - 13 = HILLS!  Long, never-ending, horrible hills.  The end. 

No really, there were a lot of long gradual hills.  I was ahead of the 1:50 pacer until around mile 6 I think.  I was feeling ok.  Not good, but ok.  It wasn't one of those high five the trees and run with my hands up yelling, "THIS IS AWESOME!" kind of runs.  Have I not told you all I do that?  Oh, well, I might do stuff like that when I'm running. 
Before I knew it the pacer was next to us and that is when the self doubt crept in.  I thought I was running faster and we made some distance.  Apparently not! 

At one point I think the conversation in my head was, "I hate running.  Why am I even doing this?"

I just told myself to shut it and started singing Our God is An Awesome God over and over and over to myself.  I told myself to forget about everyone else out here and run my race.  Look at the beauty.  Thank God for having the ability to run.  I looked at my leg and started chanting the names of the ones getting me through this race.  They all are fighting much bigger, long, gradual hills than I am.  I can surely just keep moving.  So I did. 

I had my time at 1:54:12 and I was late stopping it. The chip timer said 1:56:07, so I really don't get that.  I was a little bit down on myself because my real goal was 1:50 or better.  I did not give this course much credit.  It was hard.  Really, really hard!!!  You can see from above that mile 11 and 12 were horrible.  2 miles up hill.  It was horrible!!!  Do you get they were horrible?!  If I would have gotten my rear movin faster up that last hill I would have had my goal.  I also walked just for a little while at the aid stations to get my chomps down with water.   

I'm not taking anything away from myself.  I never thought it would have been that hard.  I was so sore, so I know I pushed my limits.  I was also chaffed.  That felt nice the rest of the day!  I lost my chomps around mile 8.  Thankfully I chewed a little more than normal early on.  That was a lesson learned!  I need a good pair of running shorts that will hold my fuel and not allow chaffing!!!  I will definitely run another one on a much flatter course to see how I really do.  Maybe I'll officially train for that one too. 

Just looking back at the splits makes me feel better though.  They weren't as bad as I was thinking they were.  Despite all of that it was amazing.  I did what I could and I praised God for it and allowed those people to keep my spirits up.  I'm so glad I thought to write their names down where I could see them and focus my attention there.  I'm thankful for each one of them and I continue to bring 110% and give back as much as possible for others. 

Once we got up the 2 mile hill we turned a corner and there was an extremely steep shorter hill where Elvis stood giving everyone high 5's.  I'm surprised he never got punched.  Once I was over it we went down a long hill and I knew I was almost done.  I didn't pay any attention to my times and splits along the way, btw and I was really ok with that.  I was heading around the corner when the emotions hit me.  I knew the finish line was just up ahead but I had to bear down and finish with all I had, which was close to nothing.  Right before I saw the finish line I heard "MOM".  My boys were right there and all I could do was smile! 

I didn't cry until I was in the car on the way to get some breakfast.  I was so thankful for being able to do what I set out to do.  It was over and I didn't feel that let down about what is next.  I was expecting a little grieving, but it didn't come.  I was just so happy to be done and to succeed.  The tears flowed silently over my cheeks and were dried by the sunlight through the passenger window.  I was happy and thankful and hungry and sore!!

My crew!

Our awesome jackets and my big butt. : ). 

I'm so thankful for Christa!  She's a new friend of mine and of course it was running that really brought us together.  She's about the only female from work that I can talk crazy run talk with and she loves it!  She helped me believe I could reach my goals and was right there with me.  She ran awesome and I was sad that I lost sight of her before those hills, but so happy with how well she did!

Confession - I have yet to get a workout in since the race.  I'm craving one like no one's business, but things keep getting in the way.  That is probably for the best.  I was going to try to sneak in a quick morning run this morning and only remembered as I was shampooing my hair.  I'm not as sore, but my form on the stairs still isn't pretty! 

I can't wait to get back to it.  I did clean up my diet again and those abs I thought I said goodbye to are starting to peek back through.  Thank goodness I didn't ruin them forever!  Food matters!  Did I already say that?

Yesterday on a whim I created a group on facebook.  I've wanted to get some people together for a really long time because so many people have reached out to me for advice and help, but the FB group was new.  I originally wanted to start it for people in my area to use as a way to communicate and schedule workouts that we could meet up and do together, but it took off.  I was a little overwhelmed.  It is now open to anyone who is interested in being their best selves.  I will still use it to schedule workout meet-ups about once a week, but we will also post as much motivation and support for each other as possible.  People are already responding and I absolutely love it!!!  We plan to post what we did together on there and anyone can pick them up and do them for themselves.  I'd like to share encouragement, recipes, and tips about exercises as much as possible.  If you are interested in being an ACTIVE part in that let me know and I will get you added.  It has been amazing so far.  The group is called Journey To The Best Me. 

Saturday we are meeting up at the city lake if you are local and want to join 7:15am.  I'm not a personal trainer and I don't plan to be but I have been an athlete all of my life.  We will workout together and support each other as much as possible.  I have a great team of resources as well if you are looking for something more specific and personal.  I can hook you up.  All fitness levels are welcome and all ages.  We all have to start somewhere.  I just ask that you are serious about it and not waste any one's time. Those that have responded are on board 100% even though they are a little scared.  They are willing to start making the endless excuses challenges that they are going to dominate!  We can do this!!!!  And I'm extremely excited about it!!!! 

That wasn't too quick and I'm completely out of time.  I'll update soon...