What I learned in 13.1 miles…

I can run 13.1 miles!! That’s a long way! That’s from the state line to the hospital and around the parking lot a few times! WOW! I can do it! I can have fun doing it! I can feel great doing it! I can do it AGAIN! Days after completing my first half marathon, I’m still on cloud 9! It wasn’t easy getting there though!

My biggest road block… my own mind! I over-thought EVERYTHING! Every rough day at work left me mentally exhausted and thus I allowed my brain to sabotage my run. I did this a lot. Dang! Every ache and pain freaked me out! I worried that I was doing permanent damage to my body! Yes, I thought that by exercising I was harming myself. Seems a bit silly now!

My biggest mistake… I missed runs! My shorter runs were often difficult. I just didn’t want to go. I missed many. In retrospect, I wish I hadn’t. I rarely had good reason to do so. I mean heck, if I can run 13.1 miles, I can run 5 miles! I am proud to say I only missed one long run—I didn’t want to—I was dressed and ready to go, but I was sick and needed the day off!

My best run… my turning point, my moment of knowing I was going to succeed – my 9 mile run. From Ironwood Plaza down Government Way along Sherman/Front/Mullan and Coeur d’Alene Lake Drive. I ran 4.5 miles to use an outhouse! Then I had to get back to my car! This was the first time my miles had melted away! I worked through SO many thoughts. For days when someone would bring up a subject I would say, oh yes I thought about that on my run and this is my suggestion!

My roughest moment… mile 8 of my 10 mile run. I was nearly in tears. I was looking to hail a cab. I was done. Fortunately, I was on 7th street, which isn’t highly populated with taxi cabs! So onward I continued. Met the gang at Subway for a quick bite to eat and life went on.

My proudest moment… flying up and down the stairs at the Kennedy school in Portland hours after completing the half marathon. Apparently I was supposed to be experiencing more pain and stiffness. Guess I had trained well ;)

My race day anxiety… perhaps I should say race week anxiety! The whole “taper week” concept messed with my head! I mean, I followed it. I put my faith in it. Thousands of others had succeeded using it, so would I – I hoped! Oh did I hope! It didn’t help that I spent taper week in Phoenix where the temperatures were in the high 90’s, requiring me to wake up at 5 am to get my run completed. Anyone who knows me knows 5 am is closer to bed time than to rise and shine time! Plus, I was alone. My friends, my support, they were all at home, running in 40 degree weather. Oddly, I was jealous of them!

My biggest support… my sports bra! Just kidding, sort of… but really, my friends are freaking awesome! I had just started the Couch-to-5k program when a friend encouraged me to do my first 5k. Okay! Makes sense! I mean, now I have an actual goal 5k away from my couch! Hooray! This same friend lassoed up a few other friends to join in on half marathon training! How great it was to have a seasoned runner to talk to and, at times, push me! How great it was to have other newbie runners to talk to and inspire me! I couldn’t have asked for better training buddies!

My lessons learned… I’m gonna hurt. Sometimes the hurt will go away before the run is over, sometimes the hurt is going to last a while. I can do it. Be it 3 or 5 or 13 miles, there is no valid excuse for not getting my tush out there and getting it done! Shoes can make or break me. Having proper shoes, in good condition is absolutely imperative!

My goals… well, the next 13.1 is in 60 days! It’s hilly! Majorly hilly! I get to tweak my training plan to incorporate hills! I’m not a fan of hills. We will be best friends when this is all over and done. I want to complete every training run, as well as add in some cross training. The sun is out! I want to hike and bike and kayak and swim! This morning I caught myself wondering if I could run 20 miles… see if I could run 20 miles, I could run 26.2 and complete a mara… oh, now that is just insane!!