Pre-training and couldn't be more excited...

A couple of Saturdays ago, my kiddos were with my mother-in-law for the day, so my husband and I had some chill out time together (always a blast!). As I was sitting with him watching a movie, a friend of mine sent me a text to say the registration for the Austin Marathon and Half Marathon was open and the first thousand registrants get a discounted price. So I figured I would look to see how much of a discount they consider a discount. It was $70.00....I had been already been throwing around the idea of running the 3M Half Marathon in January and/or Austin Half again in February...well...3M was a starting price of $90.00, so I can tell you which race was going to be the one I wanted - yep, Austin. In my slight feeling of "aw man, I wanted to try the 3M because they say it is all downhill, so I could have a better time than 2:37:00", I realized that I would rather do the Austin Half again and beat my own and only personal record (PR) of that 2:37:00 it took me to complete the first time this year (February). Besides...conquering those damn hills is a proud thing for me!

So I throw it out to my husband, "hey babe, they just opened the registration for the half marathon and it's only $70.00 right now....since I waited so long to register last year, I ended up paying $115.00,  so I want to jump on this." His reply made my whole weekend...he said, "That's cool. You know what? I'll do it with you, so register me also" WHAT!?!?!? Really?????

Don't get me wrong...the man can run...he is happy with three to five miles at the most on his runs and does that 9 minute mile I can only dream of doing. He has just never had the desire to do a longer run, much less 13.1. When I used to get up on Saturday mornings at 5am for my running group, he would tell me to do great, and when I got home, he would say I was crazy...hahaha...at least he was encouraging in the morning so I would go!
So I ask where that idea came from....for him to want to do the 13.1 now...he said he enjoyed watching how much fun I had with it last year and that we can do it as a team this year. I told him I don't expect him to go as slow as I do and he can totally go ahead of me. His reply, with a smile, was that I will be keeping up with him. Yeah, nope! haha! So I registered the both of us for just a little more money than what I paid for myself last year. Yay!!

MY goal to shave at least a minute off my mile is in the works. We will train together with long runs on the weekends and I am beyond excited to be doing this half marathon with him. Just one more thing that makes us a great team. Seriously so very very excited!

-sc

Livestrong Austin Half Marathon - DONE!!

Livestrong Austin Half Marathon - DONE!!!!!

 

February 17th...one of the best days of my life!!

**In memory of my dad, I ran 13.1 miles and he was with me every single step of the way**

 

I began training for this day in August 2012 with Round Rock Fit and am so very happy that I did!  The week and a half leading up to this day, I was full of nerves! The closer it got, the calmer I became. Round Rock Fit hosted a pasta dinner the Friday before and that brought the whole experience to a full circle and set my confidence soaring!

 

I rested all day Saturday, as instructed by running coaches. Sunday morning, I woke up excited and happy that we got out the door on time.  Chad and the kiddos dropped me off at Rogue with my friend Dolly, who is a seasoned marathoner. We ran to the capitol, which was a perfect warm up..just under a mile.  She said she would run with me since this is my first half marathon. I was so thankful she did, as she kept a great pace with me and we had a fun time talking along the way!

The weather was absolutely perfect....chilly, clear, just enough wind (my family and friends beg to differ with their chill factor as spectators!) and sunshine!

 

My husband, children, and friends Nina and Aggie were there at the start line cheering as I ventured off to this hilly course. Sarah (with her two toddlers in tow), Lori, Leah, Jose and Jared were there to yell for me along the way as well. Chad coordinated with them to be at different spots and then he, kids, Nina and Aggie popped up at three more spots along the route....they were all such fabulous cheerleaders and full of smiles for me and all the runners around us.

The longest distance I ran with running group was 11 miles, so going into this, I just had to do 2.1 more miles!! haha...not the easiest thing to think with the hills on the last five miles of this course...but holy hills - We did it!!

 

Sidenote: I will say I messed up by taking off the pink undershirt before crossing the finish line because I got hot...Welllll..Chad was looking for those pink sleeves for me to cross and he missed me. He felt bad for me because he didn't see me and I felt bad for him that he didn't see me....so...I will be doing another one and will wear something that I will finish in and he certainly won't miss me! (That is another thing - going into this race, I said this would be it...no more..just wanted to say I did it...yeah, well...as SOON as I crossed that finish line - I knew I was ready to do another one! Half marathons only right now though...running 26.2 miles does not appeal to me)

 

I was seriously on a complete high the rest of the day....maybe even into Monday! I wanted to announce this accomplishment to the world - yet my world did know!

 

My running buddy, Dolly

Such perfect weather for running my first half marathon!

 

Yay me!!

Time: 2:37:00

 

My super husband had made many signs and coordinated my super friends to be at different spots along the route! Great and loud cheerleaders!!

 

My absolutely wonderful children who woke up so very early to get me downtown and cheer me on!! Super kids!!!

 

Super friends and finish line mimosas!!

Left to right - Nina, me, Aggie, Chad (Grey-bug on his shoulders), Dolly, and Lori

 

Goal: two half marathons per year

Next year, same race - I will reach for a new personal record - again :-)

 

In it to finish...

I took this picture during mile 6-ish of a Saturday morning run. I run every Saturday morning with a running group that I joined to train for my first half marathon (13.1 miles). We start before - well before - any sunrise, while the majority of the rest of the world is sleeping. I run without music. Just me, my thoughts, others conversations as they pass me or I pass them, dogs barking, roosters crowing, and my breathing.

When I think that I only have 38 days until this half happens, it brews up a few thoughts and feelings: anxiety, excitement, confidence, doubt, pride, knowledge, back to anxiety, but then ending with excitement. This last Saturday, I ran 10.7 miles. In those miles, I only took about 45 steps that were not running steps. I have NEVER in my life run that far at one time. What's a couple more miles at that point? Ha! Everything!  Every Saturday is a PR (personal record)!

I CrossFit three times a week and am approaching my two year anniversary of becoming stronger (emotionally, physically, and mentally) because of CrossFit. I don't think I would have signed up for this running group if I had not been doing CrossFit. I know I wouldn't have.

At the very first meeting of this group, the founder of USFit spoke to us. I learned the two most basic things that have kept me in this running game (and every day life):
1) If you think you're breathing too hard, then you are - slow down! Don't stop - just. slow. down.
2) "It" is all in your head. If you tell yourself you can't finish it, then you won't. So drop that word - and you will succeed.
Those two things have kept my feet moving for 10.7 miles now. I lay down on Friday nights excited to know that the next day, I will accomplish something I have never done before - all before 8:30am!

I have no idea if I will have the desire to do a full marathon after this. I think I would rather work on getting better times at 5&10k's and other 1/2 marathons. I am not projecting a finish time on this half; I do expect myself to keep my current average pace - and run all of it without walking - not even 45 steps. I hope and plan to pull from the energy of the crowds to accomplish this goal.

Not in it to win it. In it to finish....and I will!