i ran a half marathon on the 12th. it was super hard. mostly because i didn't really train very well because of my recurring hip and knee injuries. plus, since the course was in the foothills of the blue ridge mountains, i couldn't go more than 10 feet without having to go up or down some mammoth hill. i could now write a book called, "how to not train for a half marathon and end up hating yourself for 2 solid hours".
*hi, i look like a creepster. smiling when i actually didn't feel like smiling.
around mile 6 i really starting feeling pain and i was ready to quit but my dear friend and running partner/athletic mentor/positive attitude purveyor amy stayed with me the whole time(even though she is the most incredible runner last year did the boston marathon and could have run the course twice in the time it took me to lace my sneaks) and she gave me pep talks and rubbed numbing cream on my leg every few miles. everyone needs an amy.
i ran my slowest time ever. i've never wanted to quit running so much in my whole life. i had the worst attitude. the bad attitude is really what made it terrible. i've run through a lot of pain in the past few months but as soon as my brain decided that i couldn't do this race as well as i would like, it was the hardest thing ever to convince myself to keep trying. running is hard. but the mental anguish of being a quitter would be a gazillion bajillion times worse than running slow. i'll take being slow any day over being afraid to try.
but, every race and training regimen has it's lessons:
1. negativity only makes a bad situation worse.
2. i can run long distances without my ipod. i know! crazy! i normally would claim that the only reason i can run is because of music. most of this training was done without music. i ran this entire race with good conversation.
3. i can run long distances with a water bottle in my hand. i am still nursing the baby and it was much easier to get dehydrated as a result. it took a solid month to get used to holding the bottle without clenching my shoulder muscles or sloshing the water all over myself.
4. running is still one of the best times to pray. i love being alone. i love communing with nature. i love to exercise. what a great time to pray!
5. everything is better with a friend. now i just need to convince thomas to run with me.
the worst part of all though was the fact that they passed out coasters instead of medals. LAME. you can't wear a coaster around your neck.
4 comments:
COASTERS??? seriously? super lame. how many half marathons have you run now? i'd like to run another one this fall, but since we're moving this summer and i don't know if i'll find running buddies i don't know if that's going to happen. :( you're super awesome and an inspiration even when you're demonstrating how NOT to train for a half marathon! and as for holding a water bottle while running, my friend/running coach/mentor here told us to hold it in a football hold and that totally made it doable for me.
Everyone DOES need an Amy. She is such a great mentor for running. A coaster? For real??
Still very impressive! You are so right, running is a mental sport, once your brain doesn't want to run anymore it is very hard to convince your body to keep going. Can't believe you didn't get a medal, only a coaster! The medals are the best part!!
I was just about to say, "COASTERS? Seriously?" but the other Jessica beat me to it. Def talk Thomas into running with you. That is some of my best time with Charlie. We put the kids in child watch at the YMCA, and go for a run! It's great! I'm most impressed with your ability to hold the water during the entire run. :)
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