Winners

Thanks to everyone for all the Congratulations in regards to the 1/2 marathon. All those Congrats makes me feel the need to let you know I don't think I'm something special just because I ran the 1/2 marathon. It was a great personal accomplishment, but around 8,000 other people accomplished it as well. I'm just one of many. I was hoping maybe my husband might think I was more athletic than I am, but I think the impression I've left on him the last eight years is going to be hard to shake.

I also wanted to show you some winners. Out of the small list of people I mentioned on this here blog, these cute sisters, Sami and Katie (my sister-in-law), beat us all. They finished in just under 2 hours, even with a pit stop. Great work ladies and I hope your up coming marathon will be a lot kinder to your toes!

Thanks to ...

Just in case you were wondering, I finished the Lincoln Half Marathon in 2 hours and 14 minutes and 56 seconds! I was 1,870 out of 3,944 women, and that's just like winning to me. It was a fabulous day for running, and I have lots of thanking to do.

I would like to thank...

...Jill for giving me a free CASNR tshirt even though I didn't wear it in the race and wasn't apart of CASNR in college. I will wear it much more than the neon shirt (see above picture) I also got for running.

...Brad, my husband, for watching the kids during all my training runs.

...my family and extended family for being there to cheer and encourage.  It was so good to know you were all going to be cheering along the race and at the finish.  Can't you tell my kids were thrilled with being up early to watch?

...all the other fabulous cheerleaders known and unknown along the way. The ones who yell are especially great, much better than the ones that look at you with a blank stare.

...Shauna for being great conversation for the first part of the race. (She ran the whole thing after being extremely sick less than 12 hours before the race. Quite remarkable!)

...Charles, my cousin, the most eligible bachelor in the Midwest. Honestly people, some woman is going to be spoiled like non other when he finds them. If you'd like me to help him find you, just let me know. He stuck with me for the race, or better put he made me stick with him. I think he may have a gift for motivational speaking as he pushed me to run the fastest I ever have in my life for the last half of the run. My last mile I actually ran in 9 minutes!

...Herbert, the man in the GPS watch, who gave me a reason to ask Charles how long a mile took us every time we passed a mile marker. Herbert was an excellent running partner.

...whoever had the waiter at the restaurant box up the cinnamon rolls for me since I was in no condition to be there eating them with you. Isn't that the pits? I ran 13.1 miles, burned a ton of calories and couldn't join in the celebration feast. I felt like I look in the following picture, which is similiar to how I felt at certain points when I was in labor. I don't know if I'll try to run a 9 minute mile again.

...God for giving me health , legs to run with and making my ankle a non factor. I never once thought about it during the race.

...my anniversary coming up for giving me an excuse to buy some new pants to run in which I really love (even though I'm probably not supposed to love things that don't love me back). Brad did actually buy me something else too, but I didn't know that when I bought them so it was still a valid excuse.

...one of Brad's contractors for having work for him to do in Lincoln on Monday. That made it possible for me to not have to sit in the car four and half hours the same day as the race. The day after the race I could barely walk after sitting in the car for two hours. 

...the Lincoln Track Club for letting me keep my timing chip. I'm going to keep it on my shoe for a while because I'm a geek like that. 

...Dad. I'm thankful he brought me a new water bottle and ran with me for one of my training runs, but I really just added him for a reason to add this picture.

Thank You All!

And now for my motivational speech.    I can run a half marathon and am what you can easily call a "Non Athlete." so if you're thinking about it, you should sign up and go for it. It's a great, addicting experience! 

 

Ten Miles in Numbers

1 yellow poncho I started wearing because of the threat of rain but ended up stuffing it in my pocket because at was completely obnoxious

2 cars passed me and I was even running a main road around here. No kidding.

3 miles with rain

4 toppings I added to my ice cream without any worry or guilt

6 blisters on my toes since I wore my waterproof hiking shoes instead of my running shoes

8 miles where the wind pushed me to help me run 10 minute miles

9 points Grammar Girl told me about how to leave blog comments

12 minutes miles when almost being blown over by the side wind

31 mile an hour wind

38 minutes I kept my brain distracted by listening to a thought provoking, well presented sermon. Very convicting. I would highly recommend listening to it. 

105 total minutes

Next Sunday here I come and let the wind be always at my back!

Monster Month - Updated!

 In the next 2 weeks, I'm supposed to run a total of something like 29 miles. I'm not sure if that's going to happen or not.

I had a great 5 mile run this morning. I stepped on something in the middle of it and twisted my ankle. It hurt but I ran through it and the pain went away until about 2 hours later. Then I went to 'town' to mail something for my favorite electrician, limped through the park, made a painful emergency potty stop for the 2 year old at the local restaurant and started for home. The pain go so bad I had to pull over, put my head down and crank the air, or I would've passed out. For real.

I made it home, popped pills as fast as I could (and I usually avoid medication like the plague), lost my cool with my overly fussy 2 year old who clearly didn't understand I was in pain and unable to meet her every need right when she needed it met, and hopped and crawled around until relief came (from the meds and from my favorite electrician.)

Now I sit here with a great excuse to blog and sit in front of my computer through all of nap time. 

I will be running that race on May 2nd. At least that's what I'm telling myself now. How long can a sprain last? All advice is welcome.

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I think you need a big update on the people I know running this race. It's drastically different from the last time I told you about it.


Ashley - she's still in!
Brooke - works full time, mom to 2 kids, afraid she wouldn't be able to train
Dennis - lives up north where the sidewalks were ice covered for the first several weeks where we needed to be training, got a big promotion (we're very proud of him) and goes to work hours before the sun comes up and might make it home an hour before it goes down.
Jill - SHE'S PREGNANT! Instead of having her as a running partner, I gain a new niece or nephew! I'm ecstatic!
Katie - she's still in!
Luke - I'm not sure what his excuse is but I bet he has one.
Rob - one of the many who didn't get signed up in time.

Two out of the seven are still in. That's something. Thankfully I've learned of more runners since then.

Annie - Brooke's sister. She will finish well before me with a pace of 9 - 10 minute miles and a focus well beyond mine. Watch for red, curly hair, and an ipod.
Charles - my cousin - remember him, the most eligible bachelor in the Midwest? He's still eligible as far as I know.
Julie - a fellow SLP! She actually ran it pregnant last year. 
Katie - my sister-in-law, (who nicely provided me with a wrap for my ankle today). Her and her sister are training for a full marathon in Oklahoma.  
Sami - Katie's sister. I think she's another one of those crazy fast runners that will finish well before me.
Shauna - she's a new blogger and a great college friend. If I run with no one else, I know I'll be running with her. As far as I know, she's still an 11 minute mile friend.

Any one else out there?

Now to just hope that I can walk in the morning.......


UPDATE:
It's morning, and I can walk! It's amazing. I promise I was in MAJOR pain 24 hours ago. Now I'm walking almost normal without any pain medication. Can anyone explain how that could be to me? I think we should call it a miracle. Why not? It's still tender but I'm at least hopeful I'll run on it this week!

Thankful Thursday

I'm so thankful to be training for a 1/2 marathon. If you think that's strange, let me give you a little glimpse into my brain and explain why.

I have a fear of becoming fat that controls me. That's basically what it boils down to. God's made a lot of progress with me in that over the last 13 years, but it's still there. Exercising decreases my fear, but that means if I don't get to exercise what I've decided is the adequate amount for me in a week I start to feel fat, worry more about what I'm eating and get crabby.

It's actually something I have to trust God about. He actually pulls through even for a silly issue like this. Here are some examples.

• I was concerned how I was going to fit exercise in on these recent weeks where I've had to work four days a week. One of those weeks in January the weather was gorgeous, and I was actually able to go outside and walk after work.
• Another week in January I was too tired and was able to let it go that I didn't get my appropriate quota of workout.
• Now this week, the weather's been bad, I've had long days; but my stomach has been way out of whack and I didn't even feel the need to workout since I couldn't hardly eat anything. I don't think it should set me back in preparing for the big day.
• Where I would exercise in the winter was actually a big concern for me for moving out to the country away from my mall to walk in on cruddy days. Turns out God's helped me on that one too. We've had so much less snow here, and I've been able to go walk on these great snowless gravel roads a lot this winter.

Point is: We can surrender our control issues to God, and He helps!

So usually I'm feeling guilty for trying to figure out how I'm going to workout, which during the winter includes bothering Brad to help, especially when it's too cold to take the kids out and I can't bring myself to workout with a DVD.  That all changes now that I'm training for a half marathon. I don't feel guilty about trying to fit a workout in because it actually has a purpose other than just me trying not to feel fat. Brad actually says things like, "Now how much do you need to run this week?" and "If I come home at 11 for lunch will it work for you to run then?" I love hearing things like that!

On top of not having to feel guilty about trying to get my exercising done, I also get the great feeling of getting a really good workout in and I have an exercise schedule all set up for me until May. It's why I'm very thankful to be training for this run. I may not be making progress with my control issue but I sure am worrying less!

1/2 Marathon

The UPS man came twice to our house last week. The first time I was home and didn't even get to see him, and if you live in the country you know disappointing that is. The second time he brought me my new tennis running shoes. Perfect timing since this week I start training for the Lincoln half marathon. I'm excited! (I'd be even more excited if I wasn't considering how many layers to wear for running outside in the cold!) 

I'm especially excited because of the people I know that are also going to be "lightening up" at the Lincoln 1/2 marathon. See the list over there on the side of they blog? Let me introduce you to them in alphabetical order.

Ashley - my cousin - It has nothing to do with running, but Elliana's going to be a flower girl in her wedding in September.
Brooke - my SLP friend - she's starting to think she might wimp out, but I'm keeping her on the list so she doesn't.
Dennis - my dad! - It's his first half. If he runs with my sister and I, I'm afraid I'll laugh because of his commentary the entire time! Unfortunately, I have a feeling he'll be faster.
Jill - my sister - She was my faithful coach and running partner in September. I can't wait to run again with her.
Katie - a friend from way back -  I bet she'll be faster than us too, but it'll be fun to see her and to watch for her family cheering her on.
Luke - my brother - I have yet to be convinced he's going to actually do it, but I sure hope he does because I know he can. Let me know when you start training Luke!
Rob - Ashley's fiance - He's actually training for the full. He's crazy.

Anyone else I know thinking about running? I really want to add you to my list too. The more people I know to watch for when I'm running, the faster and funner the race will be. I know a few of you who are considering. Let me know when you decide to run and I'll add you to my list. You should do it!