Marathon!!

Why hello blogging world!! Did you miss me?? Sorry I haven't posted in FOREVER! It's been a long few months with hard, hard training! But, now that I'm done with the marathon and BOTH my kids are taking naps, I have a few minutes to share a quick summary of my marathon.

I woke up early Saturday morning to get ready. I walked down to the bus loading zone to meet some friends. After finding a few of them we loaded up and rode the bus to the start. With there being nearly 7400 people running I didn't get to sit next to anyone I knew. I felt lonely and a little nervous. As we got off the bus I headed over to the bathrooms and made one last bathroom stop before running. The start was kind of rushed so I didn't really get to take in all that was going on. We lined up and the race started. It was really cold out with a nice strong tailwind which helped push through the first 6 miles. At mile 7.5 was the start of the dreaded Veyo hill. This hill was a mile long at according to my GPS watch was about a 7% incline. It was tough but I made it through and felt great. I hit the half way point at 1hr and 50minutes. A 8'23 average pace. I was very happy with that. I felt great until mile 18. Then I started getting really mentally weak. I had distractions and wasn't really focused. I was searching and searching to see my family in the crowd but couldn't find them. That was extremely hard. I really needed to see a familiar face. It would have given me that lift I needed to push harder. By mile 23 I wanted to stop. My muscles began to hurt really bad and started cramping. I was just waiting for charlie horses to enter my entire body. Around mile 24.5 I got one. It was in my right calf and it made my toes curl under and wouldn't release for a few minutes. I stopped and tried to relax and stretch it out but nothing worked. I decided instead of wasting time, I'd continue running. I ran for about a half mile with my toes cramped up. It was such a weird feeling, but it finally relaxed and I started to run normal again. I felt like I was the only one on the course. I didn't really notice the spectators. I felt very alone and very depressed. I kept looking for my family or for someone willing to help push me the last 1 1/5 miles, but no one was in sight. I kept pushing though, forgot about how much I had left and zoned out. I thought about the finish line and what is was going to be like. I turned a corner and saw the finish. It was the last .2 of the marathon. That was THE HARDEST PART! As I made my way down, I saw the pacer for the 4 hour mark pass me. I could have died. I sooo wanted to be under 4hours and it crushed me as she past. I was mad. Mad that I couldn't go any faster. I was just waiting to hit the wall big time. The wall is when your body literally feels like you hit a wall. It locks up and you can't move. Basically one big charlie horse. I felt it coming every time I picked up the pace or got excited for the finish. I literally had to think of nothing. I crossed the finish, got my medal, and found some chocolate milk. My most favorite thing in the entire world! My phone had died during the race because Tanner and I kept calling each other trying to find one another, so I asked a volunteer if I could use her phone. I told Tanner where I was and I just sat in the grass. As I sat down my body got so tight. Soon, all my family found me and got me up to find a better spot to relax. My older brother Tim and his wife Christina, who is a physical therapist finishing up school, helped massage my muscles and stretched me out. I was soo grateful they were there. I would have been a ball in the corner dying if not for them. After a little while of relaxing we went to go find something to eat, but I had no appetite. The only thing that sounded good was the chocolate milk. So I had more. We hung around for a little while but ended up leaving for lunch. While at lunch I talked to Tanner a little and just started bawling. I was so upset that I didn't get under the 4 hour mark. I know I was only off by 3 minutes, but 3 minutes is a long time. After crying it out I felt a little better, hate how that works. Tanner told me how awesome it was to see me running with all those other people and how great I looked. That really made me happy. He doesn't say things like that often so when he does it makes everything worth it. We headed home to AZ and I was so achy. My quads, hamstrings, knees, and abs were incredibly sore. We stopped in Flagstaff to eat dinner and getting out of the car was the hardest thing ever. I literally had to use my arms to move my legs. It was wild.

As I sit here a few days later, I reflect on this past year. It's been a crazy ride getting here but I'm so glad I did it. I learned many lessons, especially from the marathon itself.

Things I learned from the race:

Get there early to enjoy the atmosphere.

Plan on going to bed every day early the week before the race. (I tried to, but my kids didn't cooperate.)

For a first time marathoner...pick a near by race. Pick a flat course. And if you train with someone, run

with someone during the marathon.

Don't plan on seeing family during the race. If you expect to see them and you don't, it takes a huge tole on you. If you do get to see them and didn't know it was going to be happen it will be an awesome lift.

When you feel yourself mentally losing it, pull over and stop for a minute. Gather your thoughts and remember WHY you are doing it.

In training, plan to run a 22-24 mile training run. I really wanted to do this in my training but for a few reasons it didn't happen. I truly think it would have helped me the last 3 or 4 miles of the race.

I'm feeling better about my finishing time now. I'm not 100% happy with it but at least I didn't quite. And I've signed up for another race in February and a potential 3^rd marathon in June with my sister-in-law!

I plan to write more about this past year and what I've learned about life in another post on my birthday. Along with before and after photos. I'm hoping to get some photos from the marathon soon to post as well.

I really want to be better at keeping track of my trainings on the blog. Things just got really difficult during this training and blogging didn't happen. I hope to manage things better and not let things affect me so much in a negative way. I'm very glad my first marathon is out of the way because of so many reasons. I was doubted a lot during training by others and I let that affect me. So now that I've already done one, I won't worry about what others say. ESPECIALLY opinions from those who have never ran a marathon.

I'm so excited to be where I am. I absolutely love helping anyone who has a desire to run. ANYONE can do it, you just have to have that desire. Thank you to all of you who helped me along this journey. The emails telling me that I helped inspire you to get your running shoes on and get out REALLY helped push me to continue. That has to be the best feeling ever. Knowing that something has changed me life so much but then that my story is helping others makes it sooo much sweeter.  

Goals?

It seems I've been reading and finding a lot of new blogs lately. Running blogs. I love it! It also seems that on those blogs their specific goals are mentioned. It's got me thinking a lot about what I'm wanting to do after my marathon in October!

When I started running back in October 2011 I never really thought I'd ACTUALLY run a marathon. I had planned to run a half in about 6 months but thought that would be enough. Ended up running a half marathon 3 months after starting to run (2hr 12min) and after running that I became addicted and fell in love with long distance running! Before that October I had never ran more than a mile. And that was 5 years before. :) My journey feels very fast but I feel so strong and so happy.

When I decided to run a full marathon, I signed up with a running friend and she had mentioned hopes of running to qualify for Boston. To qualify for that, I'd have to run a marathon under 3 hours and 35 minutes (average pace of 8'12 a mile.) I was all for it. I'm very competitive and love the push. We set out and after a few weeks I needed to change my schedule due to night runs and morning runs being to close in time. No recovery time. We decided to train on our own. I pushed myself hard for a while and then with stupid hormones I got really discouraged. With my monthly hormones, my runs become 100x's harder. Legs cramp up really bad and hurt to run. And then my shins got horrible. I set out one day for a 10 mile run, normally I'm fine running 10 miles. But with the hormones and shin splints, I ran very slow for 4 miles. In horrific pain. I cut that run short and rested the day after. I couldn't believe how hard that week before was and then having my worse run ever on what should have been a 10 miler. Ugh. It was heartbreaking. I thought about quitting and not showing up for my marathon. I was so discouraged and thought these shin splints would never go away. I've had them for 2-3 months now. Such a pain. So after dealing with that, I turned to the internet for motivation. I found lots of youtube videos that inspired me to keep running and training hard. But I also found this...

Never let your competitive mind overpower your enjoyment. When you're happy and relaxed, you're a better runner and you'll find that you won't need competitive thoughts to motivate you. Competitive thoughts lead to stress and sometimes feelings of self-doubt and judgment

That hit me hard. I wasn't enjoying my runs anymore and hadn't for a while. I got stressed out way too easily and just wasn't happy. I found this saying about a week ago and after reading it my runs haven't been the same. Yesterday, for example, I ran 16 miles!!! SIXTEEN! That's the most I've ever ran in my life! And guess what?? I LOVED every minute of it. I felt so strong and so relaxed to be out running. I had an average pace of 9'14 per mile even. On a hilly route! I was thrilled! Never did I tire out or walk. I stopped twice for water though. But never stopped my clock. So even with the breaks and huge hills, I still had a great pace! Finally! I was able to enjoy running again and had a nice therapy session :) (that's what I call my running...therapy sessions. Dang depression haha) (I should also mention...my shin splints are GONE! I seriously thought I had stress fractures and I wasn't going to be able to run for months...but after much research on google...I read about compression socks. I decided to go try some on and see what they were all about. After trying one on, I was in love. As soon as the sock was on, no shin pain. Not even when I touched my shin. That's how bad these things where. Pain 24/7 and if anyone touched my shins, I was throwing punches! I bought the socks and after ONE week of wearing them only during my runs, NO PAIN! AT all! Amazing! They are not the prettiest looking, they are socks that go up to the knee...but I'm sort of used to long socks due to all my years of playing volleyball....that's the only socks we wore.)

ANYWAY, got off topic! Back to my goals! Like I mentioned...I had wanted to qualify for the Boston Marathon. And although I still really would LOVE to do that, I'm trying to relax and train but not over do it. If I'm not stressed about times, I don't over do it and then I actually do better! So it still may be a possibility BUT I won't be devastated if I don't make it this marathon. (I would have been 2 weeks ago.) I'm still going to train as hard as I can just to get into the best shape I can. 

Other goals are:

Hike the Grand Canyon...rim to rim in one day. It's about a 22-24 mile hike. If I can run a marathon...I can hike one too, right? I hear it's tough but I love having things to train for! (My husband may even do this one with me!) Thinking fall 2013.

5k race under 20 minutes. My first 5k was October 22nd, 3 weeks after I started running. It's what got me hooked! I ran it in 31 minutes and 13 seconds. My last race was May 12th and finished in 24 minutes and 22 seconds. I wasn't really training hard to get faster, it just happened as I got more into higher miles. So after this marathon I can actually train for speed. 

Motivate a family member to run a half/full marathon. I'm hoping to get my sister! She just recently had a baby and wants her pre-baby body back! Running is how I lost all my weight and it's helped my crazy depression. She doesn't seem to be suffering from depression, but running is still amazing and I want to share that! :)

Bigger/crazier goals:

Run a marathon in every state. 

Complete an Ironman! 

Goals are very fun to have and when I first started running, running a marathon was crazy. I told people and they would laugh and say I couldn't do it. They said it nicer than that...but basically what they meant haha and every time I think about crossing the finish line for my marathon I begin to tear up. I'm SOOO excited! I cannot wait!! 

Weekly Miles

This week was way better than last! I ran a total of 41 miles!! New record for me!

Monday- off due to shin pain from the horrible run the day before.
Tuesday - 8 miles 1hr 11 min
Wednesday - 4 mile run 36 min also did a 3 mile hike with the fam.
Thursday - only 2 miles in....crazy day but ran uphill for 1/4 mile and then back down. Repeated 4 times. It was crazy hard!
Friday - rest
Saturday - 8 miles @pace 1hr 6min
Sunday - 16 miles!! 2hrs 27min!

Todays run was another record! 16 miles!! I can't believe I did it and without dying! I felt really good actually and I even took a very hilly route! I was very proud of myself. I can't believe I made it! And with a great pace too! Right around 9'14 per mile. It was awesome! I'm very comfortable around the 9 minute mile pace. When I get under 8 though, my legs burn and I start to wear out. I think in reality, I'd be perfectly happy not qualifying for Boston and having an average pace of 8'30/9 minutes. Although thay 8'30 is super close to the Boston qualifying pace....we'll see :)

Weekly Miles

I'm a week behind on posting. I'm kind of torn on whether or not I want to continue posting...but I really want to. I have 2 1/2 months until my 1 year anniversary of starting to work out. I started doing this for me and so I will continue doing this for me.

Week of  7/9 - 7/15 Miles
Monday: 2 miles
Tuesday: 4 miles (speed training)
Wednesday - 3 miles
Thursday: 4 miles (more speed training)
Friday off
Saturday: 7 miles
Sunday: 4 miles (Horrible run)

I don't want to go into much detail about this week. It was one of my worst weeks ever. I felt like quitting. My body was so achy and heavy while running. Come to find out...it was just hormones. Ugh. 2 weeks out of the month are horrible for training. Some times I really hate being a girl!

Luckily this week is a whole lot better! I bought some compression socks to help with my shin splints. They help out a lot! I'm very happy I bought some! They were $35 but whatever. They help out a TON!

On to this week. I'm feeling 100x's better this week! Very excited for my marathon! I have about 2 1/2 months to prepare. I'm starting to get really serious about training and recovery. I've added in some strength training this week. I feel that will help me be stronger in the race. Today is my rest day and so glad it is. I'm feeling pretty sore...but that's a good feeling. I think I need to stretch a whole lot more. It'll probably help with the tightness/soreness I'm feeling.

I'm having a lot of fun on this journey. I was talking to my husband last night about this upcoming marathon and how huge of an event it is in my life right now. Back in high school I remember hearing about marathons and thinking about the type of people who ran them were. Crazies! Not human. Just seemed so unreal that people ran that much...didn't find out about the ultramarathons until recently...CRAZY! Anyway, I was saying that for me to be doing this now is almost like a dream come true. Sort of. I've though about doing a marathon lots before, but obviously that was just a thought. And to actually be doing it and getting closer to the actual race....I can't find words to express my feelings. I feel on top of the world. I feel strong and I like the comments from people who call me crazy. You kind of have to be a little crazy to want to run 26.2 miles! I'm so excited and I'm starting to find my running grove again. I've felt for a while now that running is now a must or a chore. I don't like that at all. I've relaxed a little and can now enjoy running as my release. I switched up my running days and now training on my own. It's nice to get lost in my runs. Hit that runners high and sort of do my own thing. No disrespect what so ever to my training friend....just nice to be alone while running.

People keep asking if I've lost anymore weight. ARE YOU CRAZY? haha If I lose anymore weight, I wouldn't be strong enough to run 10+ miles! I've actually gained 2 pounds and thinking 125 pounds is a perfect weight for me. I was kind of sad about it...but I'd rather be strong than "skinny" If I'm skinny I don't have strength to do much. I eat 3000-3500 calories a day....I need all those calories for my training. If I didn't eat that much...I wouldn't be able to train. And then depression would probably take over again. Vicious cycle. But it is what it is. I'm happy about my body...mostly...but I have 2 1/2 months to get it to where I'm completely happy about it. And I can get there! I'm so excited about all that's coming. Just need to speed up time! :)

Weekly Miles

Monday - 3 26 min
Tuesday - 7 1hr 1 min
Wednesday - 3 27 min
Thursday - 3 pace run - 23 min
Friday - off
Saturday - 7 1hr 3min
Sunday - 14!! 2hr 6min!
Total - 37 miles!!

I had a great week this week, this being two weeks ago! I'm very proud of my 14 mile time and pace. Averaged around a 9 min mile!  I'm feeling stronger.

This week I've changed up some things, I'll post about that tomorrow! It's been fun, but very challenging! It's worn me out, mainly due to hormones and no desire to eat...so no fuel for running. I lost motivation a lot this week. But like I just said...dang hormones and low calorie intake. I know it'll be better this next week. Just frustrating at the moment. Anyway, more on that tomorrow!

Happy 9 Months!

I'm allowed to have monthly anniversary's for running, right? This month marks 9 months of running. I cannot believe where I am now. There are no words for it. I've always been very competitive and good with sports. I know my limits and I know how to push myself to those limits and become better. Never in a MILLION years did I think I would be here! EVER!! I'm so over whelmed with excitement. 9 Months ago, on October 11, 2011 I set out to run a mile. Back in high school I could run a mile under 7 minutes. But I never ran more than that mile. This October night, I couldn't run/walk that mile in 12 minutes. There were lots of tears shed. I couldn't believe where I was. How fat I was. How did I let myself get there! It was hard. Looking back, it was harder to be fat than to run as much as I run now. There is seriously something that kicks in after running 5 miles. I can remember my first 5 miler, 6 miler, 7 miler, 8 miler, 9 miler, 10 miler, 11 miler, and 13 miler! With each one, after finishing the run I celebrated with tears of excitement and satisfaction. I couldn't believe I had just gone that far. Me! I'm not a long distance runner! For the first time ever this past Saturday on my 13 mile run, I felt like a runner. And boy, did I LOVE that feeling! I've always been inspired by runners and thought those who ran were superheros. And to be one of them...I feel somewhat like a superhero. I'm so excited for this Saturday's run. And then next Saturday's run. This Saturday is 14 miles and then next is 16! SIXTEEN!!! Holy cow! I feel amazing. I feel so strong and so happy.

I was thinking today about how I was able to FINALLY keep myself going. I'm a visual person. I like to SEE results. I took my starting measurements and also photos. Yes, it SUCKED! But now I get to look at this and REMEMBER where I was and why I started!

So glad that before photo is no where near what I feel and look like today!

I also get motivated by quotes. And where does one turn for that? PINTEREST! Here are some that helped inspire me!

Really take a minute and think about the quotes. It gets you hard.

Back in October 2011, I decided to take a year and focus on me. And thus far I've lost 35 pounds, training for a marathon, and honestly the happiest I've ever been. You have to find something you love and do it! If you really want it, you won't find an excuse. You have to remember why you started and know it's going to be hard. But it will be worth it!

Happy 9 months to me! :) To celebrate how about a 14 mile run this weekend!?! Ah! :)

Weekly Miles

Last week was AWESOME! I was eating between 2700-3000 calories a day and I. Felt. Amazing! Here's the count for the week.

Monday - 3 miles 27 minutes
Tuesday - 6 miles 1hr - IT. WAS. HOT!
Wednesday - 3 miles - 29 minutes
Thursday - off
Friday - 6 miles @pace - 49 minutes
Saturday - 13 MILES! 2hrs 2 minutes
Sunday - 3 mile bike ride (crosstrain)


My 13 mile run...amazing! I felt so incredible while running. 13 miles is the most I've run, and I've ran it twice now. This run was soooo much better than the first time. Even with all the hills. I was able to run 10 minutes faster too. After the first 8 miles I felt my knees hurting but also had the feeling to run faster. I'm very excited for the next few weeks. I'm feeling stronger already and can't wait to see what I can do. I totally think qualifying for Boston is possible. I'm becoming addicted to the long runs. They make me mentally feel happy! Maybe it's the fact of how many miles I actually ran! 


Last week was also a new weekly record! I ran 31 miles!! That's the most I've ran so far! And I only started running a short 9 months ago now! I can't believe how far I've come and how fast I've gotten here. I'm very grateful for playing sports growing up. I think that's help me a ton to push myself but not push too hard to where I'm dead. I'm grateful for the coaches I had that helped me become mentally tough. I can't believe that just 9 months ago, I could not run a mile. I sit and reflect on how physically and mentally hard it was for me to run that mile. And now I'm running 13 miles with ease! I swear the 13 miles now are so much easier than that 1 mile was 9 months ago! Crazy, I know!

My awesome husband bought me a GPS watch this week. It records distance, time, and pace. (It does a whole lot more but I like those the best :) Calories is another I like. Anyway, I'm in love with it! It's called a Garmin Forerunner 205. It's an older model. The new ones are $300+ and don't really see a huge difference. All I need is something to track my distance and be accurate! My IPOD was always off! And then to be able to see my pace I'm currently going will help with training so much! I'm very excited!