Wednesday, April 27, 2011

This Sunday!

I'm super excited about my very first 10k race this Sunday!!! I never in 100 years would have thought that I could run 6.2 miles comfortably!! Since making that commitment myself I have actually ran further then 6 miles. In fact, according to my runkeeper I have run approximately 67 miles and have logged 18 runs - burned over 8,000 calories! That's crazy! But, the commitment has been worth it. I have watch myself go from not being able to finish a mile while running to running 2 miles straight comfortably with a short walk and running another 2 miles. It's kind of amazing what you can condition your body to do when you put your mind to it. I have before tried to attempt running, but I think you have to be ready to do it. I think you have to have a goal and it has to become somewhat of a priority in your life. Trust me, 1000 other things could have taken priority these past 6 weeks in my life. My husband travels and my kids have been sick, you name it. But, I was determined to make it work! Some days I dreaded having to think about getting my run in. Most days I welcomed the change of pace that day. More then anything I am overcome with excitement when I look at how far I have come. It may not be very far in the grand scope of running. But, to me it's like looking across the grand canyon.

Good luck to my fellow runners running the H&H race this weekend! I will see you out there!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

19 Days!

There are 19 days left until the Heels and Hills 10k Run! It's been a little over a month since I made the commitment of putting myself on a training plan and running plan that would lead me to do a 1/2 marathon this year. With the hope that I would exceed my personal goal and attempt a full marathon this year. Although, I'm quite a bit away from running a marathon, I do feel like it's actually within my reach now. To tell the truth, I'm not a born runner. I'll admit that I have been athletic for the majority of my life. But, I have never put my body through what it has been going through and will continue to go through. Some days are easier then others. I don't know if it's just the way I woke up or how well hydrated I am. Maybe it's mental, maybe some days I feel more mentally prepared. Who knows, I can say this though.. doing this process with friends has made this journey much more enjoyable then it could be. In the end if I run 6 miles so have they, if my hips hurt, so do theirs, if I'm tired, so are they... the list goes on and on. But, the point is... I'm not alone in this! We will work through the pain, the sweat, the heat, the bugs, the busy schedules, the bathroom breaks, the good runs and the bad TOGETHER. And when we are finished and we look back at the crap we went through to run that far and it all of the sudden seems worth it. The best part about is, you get to celebrate your success together!

So if you are reading this and you think, hmm I want to do that but I just don't think I can. Trust me- YOU CAN! I was there and I didn't think I could, I didn't think I would, I didn't think I had time, I didn't think I would want to finish what I had committed myself to. But, it has gotten easier and when you make it over that huge hurdle of not knowing if you can or not knowing if you will and then you make it to the other side where you realize, you can and you DID!! It's worth it! Take a chance on yourself. You just might be surprised!