A crazy little thing called RUN

Remember this?

Remember this?

Remember this?

You better have clicked on those!

Well now remember this:

 

1/2 Marathon = complete! 

 

It's funny because as I was looking up those old links, I actually was reading the previous posts.  My feelings the day before the 1/2 were exactly the same.  In fact I used those exact words - I feel like I'm about to ride a rollercoaster!

 

So how did it go down this time? 

Mile 1 - Easy, but I realized I was running WAY to fast and wouldn't be able to maintain that pace for 12 more.

Mile 2 - SLOW DOWN, Dana

Mile 3 - Still more than 30 seconds ahead of pace. 

I had a mentally stated goal and a verbally stated goal.  I kept my eyes on the 2:10 pace runners, trying to reach my mentally stated goal.

Mile 4 (I'm at the Harley Museum now), still too fast, and time for music.  Eh, the music didn't do much for me and I was messin' around with my phone for too long.

Mile 5 - Still about 20 seconds ahead of pace - I'm getting bored

Mile 6 - I get confused about the route it's not what I thought it was.

Mile 6.8 - STOP at water station and drink 2 cups of water - all part of the plan.  Eat some energy goo.

Mile 7 - Where did the 2:10 people go?  I don't care because I don't see the 2:20 pacers and now that's ALL I care about. I get an encouraging text from Andy.  The smile helps me run the 35th street bridge, but I'm literally bored and HATING my music, but needing it.

Mile 8 - A surprise face in the crowd cheers me on - My friend Linsey's husband was running too.  You have NO idea how much hearing my name cheered got me going.  At this point I've started walking all the water stations. My knees - both of them, are burning.  Crap? What's that all about?

Mile 9 - My friend Sara joins me for about .25 miles.  I tell Sara to tell me a story because I'm loosing stem.  FAST.

Mile 10 - WTF - Isn't this over yet?  And why do my knees hurt so bad?

Mile 11 - No really?  We aren't done yet?

Mile 12 - HI ANDY!!  Andy joins me.  Tell me a story Andy (shut up Andy).  Run with me Andy (go AWAY Andy).  I was miserable.  We hit the water station and I told Andy, "I'm going to say mean things to you, I'm going to hit you, but DO NOT let me walk anymore."  What a good sport that Andy!

Mile 12.7 - I hear someone cheer on the 2:15 pacers.  Where did they come from?  I WILL NOT let them pass me. But really, I have so little to give.  And then I hear the little voice - Go Mommy, Go!  I look up and there are Eleanor and my sister.  My eyes well up and tears stream down my face.  I have to keep going for Eleanor.

Mile 12.8 - we enter Miller Park and that's pretty cool.  Literally too.  The roof is closed and it feels nice in there.  I'm on the field of Miller Park and I kind of want to just stop and look around.  But I can't stop - my legs keep moving.  I can't die here.  I can't die on the jumbotron of Miller Park. 

Mile 12.9 - Run past a puker - keep running, Dana, almost done.

Mile 13 - my knees are burning, I have nothing left to give.  I'm done.  I see the finish line, I want to stop.

Mile 13.1 - OMG.  I did it.  I'm done.  I can stop running!

EUPHORIA!

I trained.  I did it.  2 hours and 14 minutes.  In between my personal goal and my stated goal. 

And it was amazing. 

 

So why was this time different?

I can only think of one thing. 

Andy.

I couldn't have made this dream come true without him.

From day one he supported me.  He encouraged me. And some days, he even pushed me out of bed to make sure I got a run in.  He cooked dinners for us when I needed to get a run in after work. He picked me up, in tears, only once, at mile 7, when I couldn't go any further.  He reminded me that Eleanor didn't miss me THAT much when I left for 2 hours on a Saturday for a long run. He got out of bed to get me Advil on the nights I would wake up screaming in pain from back spasms.  He won't really look at my bloody, blistered toes - and he will not watch me wiggle my loose toe nails.  But I guess a guy has to draw the line somewhere!  I think I'm only going to loose 4 this time. 

AND

He knows I'm serious about doing another one.

AND

He thinks it's a good idea.

He just won't do one with me!  Fair enough. 

Running is an independent sport.  It's just me - and the road.  Trying to beat the goal time I set in my head.  Only racing against myself.

But it's a team that gets you there.  I couldn't have done with this without a lot of people - I need a special shout out to Sara for helping me on several training runs.  My sister and daughter - thanks for making it work.  It meant the WORLD to have you at the finish line.  To have Eleanor at the finish line.  For her to see how mom felt after accomplishing something she trained so hard for.   For her to see why mom was gone for 2 hours on Saturday mornings.  It was the reason I signed up for this in the first place.  To show "them" that "they" wouldn't take running away from me. I won't be afraid to put my family at the finish line of a race. 

And thanks to Team Dave for sticking around long after Dave ran by to cheer for me and take pictures of me and encourage me.  To the crazy man that just seemed to be every where I was - who was hoarse at the end of the race from yelling and encouraging all of us runners. 

 

Will I really do it again - Yes.  I'm already looking at my next race.  But I have a few other things I want to cross of the list before my next 1/2 marathon. 

 

Will I ever run a full?  Never say never...but I'd really need to think about what I was going to think about for 4.5 hours.

 

I've taken it easy this week, but will get back out there - toenails depending - this weekend - I have a 15K in 3 weeks!

 

Run on!!

 



Thanks for cheering me on!!




Smiling!  Girls who run get beer