Well...Here is my first post... on my first blog... on the first day of 2012. I wanted to start blogging about this crazy thing we call life... Life on the run, figuratively and literally speaking...
7 Weeks from today I will run my first marathon with one of my best friends TP. So over the next 7 weeks, I am going to blog each run, the ups and downs, preparation, diet, my inner thoughts, etc...
Each day, I will post about my run and people who helped get me here... There are many people that I need/want to recognize and what they have done for me.
Up first... Miss CW
(I am going to abbreviate names as this is a public forum and don't know that they want to be published all over the web)... She is the one that sacrificed her own running goals to help get me going. We started running together in May/June. For those of you not familiar with Missouri weather... HOT & HUMID. I could barely make 2 miles without thinking I was dying. She encouraged and never made me feel like a burden to her and her running. It was so hot during our weeks/months of running, that we were sometimes running after 10 or 11 PM each night.
For those of you who REALLY know me, you know that things come up about 2 miles in...well, CW taught me something I never thought I would do. (To be shared in another blog) She taught me a lot about being true to yourself, being strong, being an example to her children and accepting who you are...
In late September, early October, I accomplished 8 miles with her, at that time, it was my farthest distance. I cried like a baby and hugged her neck.
We only ran together for a few months before schedules and families got a little hectic... But I will forever be grateful for her support and dedication to me...
1/1/2012 - Run Down of 10.5 Miles (supposed to be 14)
Due to the holidays, I have not shown much discipline in my eating habits... The last two weeks of Christmas food got the best of me. Last night JB and I went to some friends house to ring in the New Year 2012. I had 3 glasses of wine (I have pretty much eliminated wine or any alcoholic drink from my diet).
We got to bed about 1:00 AM and supposed to be up and in Springfield by 9:00. Woke up at 8:15. I text TP to see if he still wanted to go... I knew I needed to run, but deep down hoped TP would cancel for several reasons... 1) Diet was horrible this week 2) Lack of Sleep and 3) Not prepared and guess what...TP DID NOT CANCEL!!!
If you are a new runner and reading this, my first word of advice to you is.... ALWAYS prepare for the next days run, the night before. I did NOT do that and I was scrambling to get my things together. Fuel Belt w/ Fluids (my pink water was not mixed), Pink Medicine, Clothes laid out, CLIF bars were not purchased or my Gatorade Prime... ALWAYS be ready when you go to bed.
JB got his bike loaded and we were on our way to Springfield. It was sunny, SO WINDY today and a cold wind at that. We met at one of TP's friends and ran from there. JB is always so patient to ride behind us and take the beating of the cold wind...much colder for him. He carries all of my necessities... He is such a trooper.
We went down to the Galloway Trail and headed towards 60/65 and back, went through Southern Hills and back up to where we parked. Unfortunately, there were 3 stops during this run which didn't allow me to get in 'the zone'. We were barely a mile in, 4 miles in and about 8 miles in during these stops. UGH!!!! TP never complains...just laughs.
About 10 miles in, I was the quitter (first time in a long time) and had to call it. We were supposed to do 14 miles today and I just didn't have it. However, I still feel good about the run because it was very hilly and challenging. If you have time...go walk, run, bike and if you must...drive through Southern Hills. Great homes, great view and just relaxing.
Before I picked up running, I never realized the beauty that surrounds us. We just don't see it because we are always in a hurry to get where we are going. The beauty you see that is 'off the road' is unreal at times. When I run, I am not in a hurry and I soak up what God has put on this earth for us to enjoy. I love passing other runners... The running community is an amazing experience. Runners are some of the nicest, supportive, passionate and craziest people you will ever meet.
Tomorrow is a non-running day... I am hopeful for a better run on Tuesday evening.
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