And...SUCCESS!

It has been a bit between blog posts.  I planned to do my last long run before my Half last Sunday and it was a dismal failure.  As in, I had to call my husband to come get me after 4 of my scheduled 12 miles because I was on the brink of an asthma attack.  I was really disappointed and wasn't ready to share about that yet, so I just didn't.

Today, on the other hand is a day that I must share.

This morning, after several weeks of training and hard work, it was finally time.  The Capital City River Run Impression 5 Half Marathon....13.1 miles between me and the finish line.

  

Flat Mama photo the night before the race

We woke up at 5:30 and were on the road to Lansing by 6:15.  We rolled into town around 7:45 and I headed over to pick up my number and shirt.  It was almost time to go!

 

The number of people at the starting line was amazing, and the air felt electric with anticipation.  I thought about all of the work that I had put in and how amazed and humbled I felt to be there.  Then I got a text from a friend, as she said a little prayer for me and the other runners to have a good race...and I got a little teary.  The whole race ended up being a little emotional for me, but I'll get into that later.  Here is a shot waiting to get going... 

 



I started my music and got going.  My 2nd song was Eye of the Tiger...it seemed fitting as a song to start the race.  As it turned out, my music was somehow set to play in a shuffled order instead of the set order I had chosen.  This ended up interesting as the race progressed. 

By the time I was 2 miles in, I was warming up and took off my long sleeved shirt.  I was much more comfortable in the tank top, even if I did get cool a few times.

As I was running, songs would pop up that I had intentionally put on the list for inspiration...

Mile 3...Just Give Me a Reason (Pink) - Keely

Mile 4 - Gangnam Style (Psy) - Leo

At right about mile 4, I encountered my cheering crew for the first time.  Seeing them there cheering me on made me teary again.  I know that even though my running means time away from them, it is also giving them the gift of a healthy mom and a great example to follow as they grow. 

Mile 5 - Girlfriend (Avril Lavigne) and Who Says (Selena Gomez) - Hallie

Mile 6 - I Gotta Feelin' (Black Eyed Peas) - Lucy

It started to rain lightly somewhere during mile 6.  It actually felt pretty nice and lasted on and off through the rest of the race.  Overall, I didn't mind it.

Mile 7 - Super Bass (Nicki Minaj) - this song always makes me smile and reminds me of a friend.  If she reads my blog, she'll know its her.

Mile 8 - The Way I Am (Ingrid Michaelson) - Cory

That song made me feel emotional too.  Cory has been such a big supporter of this running thing.  He has done long runs with me (even though he wasn't really in the shape to do so), has bought stuff to fuel my running gear addiction, and has made the time to help me ensure that I could do the training needed for this race.  He really does love me the way I am, and he supports me unconditionally.  I could have never done this without him behind me.  And not too long after that song came on, I happened to see my gang of cheerleaders again!  This time, they tried to take pictures.  Here I am, running on by...

I saw them again around mile 10....and they took more pictures.  At this point I was sort of feeling my inner Forrest Gump come out.  "I was running...and running...."  I was still feeling okay at this point, but it was definitely getting to be a little more slow going.  My knee had started to hurt around mile 5, and it got progressively more painful as the race progressed.

 

 

At mile 11, I almost lost it.  From the start of this running journey, Mumford and Sons "I Will Wait" has been on my running playlist.  When it came on at mile 11, when my muscles were screaming at me, it instantly brought me back to that first few weeks of running.  I could see myself struggling through those short intervals, barely able to run for 1 minute...and here I was 4.5 short months later running my first Half Marathon.  The tears came then, and I think a few actually fell.  I heard the lyrics...

"Raise my hands
Paint my spirit gold
And bow my head
Keep my heart slow.."

...and even though my legs hurt, and my body was tired, I KNEW I could do this thing.  I would finish.  I read somewhere that the last 3 miles of a half marathon are run with your heart, and that was definitely true for me.  I kept telling myself, "It's less than 5k left.  I can do this.  I know I can do this!"  I also took my earbuds out and finished the race without music.  I needed it to be me and the road for that last few miles.

The last mile was hard.  I probably walked as much as I ran, because that is what my body would let me do.  I just needed to finish.  And when I came to the bridge and the track volunteer proclaimed, "You are almost there!  Just two tenths of a mile and then you are done!  You've got this!" my heart started to sing.  I ran the rest of the way with a smile on my face.  I did it.  I really did it!



 My gang was waiting for me at the finish line...and you guessed it, I cried.  I cried with relief that I had made it, and with incredible pride in myself for sticking with it on this journey. 



 

Five months ago, if you would have told me that I'd be running 13.1 miles in September, I would have laughed you right out of town.  I never in a million years would have thought that I would ever be capable of doing something like this....but I did.  I'm so very proud of myself and the changes that running has brought to my life.  As my best friend Marcie posted today, I went from couch to crazy!  And, I wouldn't have it any other way!  

 

I am officially a Half Marathon Mama!  My sister has a lovely 13.1 magnet for the back of the Mommy Van, and I'm slapping that little lovely on there as soon as I get it.  I did it, people!  I know I have posted this here before, but I think today more than any other, it is a very appropriate ending for my post.   



 

So very true...and I'm so proud that I went crazy and took on the challenge of Couch to 5k in April.  I never could have known that it would take me to where I am today, but I am so glad that it did. 

 

OH!  I almost forgot!  My "realistic" goal time for my Half today was 3 hours.  I finished in 3 hours and 42 seconds....so I'm calling that a goal realized.  SUCCESS!!

 

Just keep swimming...I mean, running!

The reality of this half marathon is staring me in the face right about now.  I have 13 days until race day.  Part of me feels like I'm ready and I can totally do this thing, and the rest of me feels like I might just throw up thinking about it. 

 

 

This past week was not my best for miles.  I had so much planned, but then I got this painful, unexplained bruise on the top of my right foot that sort of sidelined me a bit.  I got in 2 short runs - 2.5 miles and 3 miles - during the week and that was it.  Kind of a bummer since those were supposed to be 5 miles each.    The 3 mile run was actually the 1st ever Reeths-Puffer Adventure Run, which I did with my nieces Alexis and Krista, my daughter Hallie, and my son Leo.  I think we look pretty good here!

Yesterday, I decided it was time to suck it up and get back out there.  My supportive husband came along as I knocked out 10 tough miles.  I felt good, but we were slow, because most of the run ended up feeling like a trail run instead of a road run.  It was hot and humid, and I somehow got a blister on the bottom of my left foot.  It started around mile 5 and by mile 8 it was really starting to hurt.  I was determined to finish those 10 miles though.  We took a few little walk breaks here and there, but the important thing is that I got the miles in.  My sore right foot wasn't too bad, and that was encouraging too.

This morning, I was supposed to run the Labor Day 5k here in town, but decided to give my legs a rest and did the 4 mile walk instead.  It was a good choice, and gave my muscles a chance to get some of the kinks out from yesterday night's run.

This weekend is kind of a big deal for me, when it comes to running.  I read somewhere that it takes 21 days to make something a habit, and 4 months for it to become a lifestyle change.  4 months and 1 day ago, I started the Couch to 5k program.  I think people think I am being funny when I say this, but C25K changed my life.  And now, 4 months later, I've officially made a lifestyle change.  I'm a runner.  I made the choice to get up off my butt and DO SOMETHING to become a healthier person.  I did it for my kids, and more importantly for myself.  I am so proud of the progress that I have made over these months, and can't wait to see where the future will bring me.  It has also been 2.5 weeks since my last coke...or any type of pop for that matter.  Eventually I'll let myself have it as a treat every now and then, but I know it was an unhealthy habit that needed to go. 

So, in celebration of making it 4 months into this running adventure, I have new progress photos.  the scale may only say that I'm down 7lbs (on a good day, LOL), but my body definitely looks better, and feels better too.  Here goes nothing...

 

Front view...these are different pants because the others ones are just too darn baggy anymore.
And here is one with the shirt pulled tighter, so you can see the belly shrinkage.  It is funny because even though I don't feel like its smaller, when I look at these photos, I can see the progress.  I should also add that 4 months ago, I would never even have entertained the idea of wearing pants like this in public...so that is some progress too!

 

 
The back view...I feel like the 18 week picture makes me look bigger because it was taken closer up and the shirt is bunched funny.  Trust me when I say that the back fat is still shrinking. 





And the side view.  I pulled the shirt tight again for this one, because the one with the baggy shirt didn't show the progress like I wanted it too.  My butt looks huge without the shirt hanging over it though.  Darn muscles...my ass used to be flat before I started this running thing.

It may be slow progress, BUT it is progress. Plus, I swear I read somewhere that slow progress is more likely to be a permanent change, so I'll take it.

For now, until September 15th my mantra is like Dory's.  I've got to "just keep running!"  Even when it is hot or I am tired, or the kid's schedule seems crazy.  I can't let myself slack off now.  In 13 days, I'm going to cross the finish line knowing that I put forth my best effort...and I can't wait!