2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Well it's finally over! Last Sunday, March 18th I ran my first half marathon. We've ran quite a few races in the past 6+ years including one full marathon in 2006. However, we don't really talk about the painful memories of that day...
We started training this past August non-stop for 4 races, 3 down (10 miler, 5K and half-marathon) and 1 to go (10K, April 14). Physically, I had completed 85% of the training schedule for the half (180 miles within 12 weeks) and had absolutely no reason to be nervous... The night before we went to bed around 8pm and woke up at midnight to a pretty wicked thunderstorm. From then on, I was awake tossing and turning (due to anxiety) from 12am until 4am just waiting for the alarm to go off. Once the alarm went off, breakfast was quite a challenge to get down and could only force down a banana and if you know anything about me I am NOT fond of bananas (just see my love for bananas in the image below, thank you Joe for taking that picture. Sigh...). For you runners, you know that one banana isn't going to do justice when running long distances.
I have moderate crowd anxiety so you an imagine what races (and many other things) do to me. Joe walked with me through thousands of people and stood with me trying to calm my anxiety. As the crowd grew larger and forced into a tighter corral, Joe could see the look of sheer panic in my face. I sat there with my eyes closed, my music on and my loving husband rubbing my shoulders trying to ease my tension. Seriously, what do I have to be worried about? My body is physically trained to do this... The gun fire went off and the race began and 13.1 miles later my husband crossed the finish with me. He decided to run the entire thing with me and forgo his own time. What a supportive and awesome husband!
I missed my goal time by 6 minutes, but you may think what is 6 minutes when you are running 13.1 miles? The frustration lies within my mental state and that my body could have beat those 6 minutes with no problem if my nerves wouldn't have gotten the best of me...
I want to send a special Thank You to my husband for ALWAYS sticking by my side...
Official Time
2hours 17min 03 seconds @ 10:34 pace
You can see the sheer love for bananas in my eyes at 5am in the parking lot...
I might add that it was 5:30am...
(Hubby is in the blue shirt to my right)
and done...
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Well it's finally over! Last Sunday, March 18th I ran my first half marathon. We've ran quite a few races in the past 6+ years including one full marathon in 2006. However, we don't really talk about the painful memories of that day...
We started training this past August non-stop for 4 races, 3 down (10 miler, 5K and half-marathon) and 1 to go (10K, April 14). Physically, I had completed 85% of the training schedule for the half (180 miles within 12 weeks) and had absolutely no reason to be nervous... The night before we went to bed around 8pm and woke up at midnight to a pretty wicked thunderstorm. From then on, I was awake tossing and turning (due to anxiety) from 12am until 4am just waiting for the alarm to go off. Once the alarm went off, breakfast was quite a challenge to get down and could only force down a banana and if you know anything about me I am NOT fond of bananas (just see my love for bananas in the image below, thank you Joe for taking that picture. Sigh...). For you runners, you know that one banana isn't going to do justice when running long distances.
I have moderate crowd anxiety so you an imagine what races (and many other things) do to me. Joe walked with me through thousands of people and stood with me trying to calm my anxiety. As the crowd grew larger and forced into a tighter corral, Joe could see the look of sheer panic in my face. I sat there with my eyes closed, my music on and my loving husband rubbing my shoulders trying to ease my tension. Seriously, what do I have to be worried about? My body is physically trained to do this... The gun fire went off and the race began and 13.1 miles later my husband crossed the finish with me. He decided to run the entire thing with me and forgo his own time. What a supportive and awesome husband!
I missed my goal time by 6 minutes, but you may think what is 6 minutes when you are running 13.1 miles? The frustration lies within my mental state and that my body could have beat those 6 minutes with no problem if my nerves wouldn't have gotten the best of me...
I want to send a special Thank You to my husband for ALWAYS sticking by my side...
Official Time
2hours 17min 03 seconds @ 10:34 pace
You can see the sheer love for bananas in my eyes at 5am in the parking lot...
I might add that it was 5:30am...
(Hubby is in the blue shirt to my right)
Ahh congrats! You did a great job, very inspiring!
ReplyDeleteWell done! I'm running a 10k race in July and started training today. Started with a leisurely 5k, but will need to practise on a more regular basis soon :P xx
ReplyDeleteWow congrats!! That's amazing.. I could never be able to do half of what you did! xo
ReplyDeletehttp://dreamingenfrancais.blogspot.com/
Girl, I am SO PROUD OF YOU! I ran a 10k in October and I kept thinking the whole time that I would die if I had to run DOUBLE that, ha ha! You did amazing in spite of your anxiety and not being able to eat and get enough energy in you!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, your hubs is the sweetest!
Congrats on finishing this half marathon. I've thought about training for a half marathon, but that's a far as I've gotten with that idea. Your story is motivating though. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletenew follower :)
Whooo hoo!! Congrats girl!!! (^_^)
ReplyDeleteAw I didn't realize he ran with you. He is such an awesome husband! You did a great job and finished strong {with NO sleep and NO food}. So proud!!
ReplyDeletecongrats on the marathon--doubt i could accomplish something that big!!! that's pretty impressive
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness you did awesome! That is really impressive!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! That really is amazing. Way to push through your nerves!
ReplyDeletehttp://theclosetintervention.blogspot.com/
Massive congrats - that's an excellent achievement!
ReplyDeleteEmma xo
www.fluffandfripperies.com
Regardless of your disappointment, I think it's an amazing achievement. You've stuck to your exercise plan and trained for it. You look so fit! Ah yes, bananas. I hate them with a passion...
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting, I am glad I found your blog. We seem to have a lot in common! Great time for the marathon! I will have to keep that in mind as my goal time for my first race.
ReplyDeleteNICE work!! That's awesome! xoxo, morgan
ReplyDeleteAMEN TO THAT ! :D I ran my first half marathon 2 years ago- awesome experience! Congratulations :)
ReplyDeletexo Rachel
glamhampton.blogspot.com
wooh good job! I can't even hardly run a mile... but I am working on it, haha. So awesome you did this!
ReplyDeleteawesome job dear!!
ReplyDelete-wHiT