Running

I started running about a year ago. I met some friends from church who would get together and run at the YMCA. I decided to go with them one day. I couldn't run very far, but nevertheless, I enjoyed it and got a feeling that can be felt few other ways. I felt a sense of accomplishment that eased any pain or discomfort I felt from running. I decided to work up to running a 5k as a goal for me to work towards. I still remember running 3 miles without stopping for the first time. It was such an amazing feeling of accomplishment and self control. I pushed myself through any discomfort to accomplish this goal. I overcame my natural tendencies to achieve something I wanted to achieve! I knew then that I had to keep going.

I made a half marathon my next goal to work towards. I remember being scared and hesitant to tell people about my goal, because that would make it real! I eventually found the courage to tell people and make it a real goal, one that I actually believed I could achieve! My first long run was a 4 mile run. It was in January, so it was still cold and snowy outside. So, I headed to the YMCA to run on the treadmills there. I started off and got to 3 miles, my previous longest run, and felt good. My hopes and confidence were high. Mile 3 to 3.5 were accomplished riding on that. Mile 3.5 to mile 4, my body and my mind were both tired. I found it within me to find the strength to finish. The thought of me crossing the finish line carried me through, when I felt like I couldn't possibly run anymore! I was on top of the world when I finished 4 miles! I remember on the drive home, saying a prayer of gratitude to my Father in Heaven. I pictured in my mind me crossing the finish line at my half marathon! I knew then that this was what I had to do for myself! I knew that training for and completing this half marathon was the challenge I needed for my personal growth!

The next Saturday, my long run was a 5 mile run. It was still winter time, but we had an unseasonably warm day that Saturday, so I ventured out on the trails by my house to complete 5 miles. I had mapped out the night before 2.5 miles on the trail so I would know when to turn around to complete my 5 mile run. I felt the cool air on my face and in my lungs. I enjoyed every minute running outside on the trails! It was so nice to run out in nature and to follow the trail on my journey to running a half marathon. It was such a great experience, especially when compared to running on a treadmill. I enjoyed the run and felt that same feeling of accomplishment when I finished my run. I felt like there was nothing stopping me to running 13 miles now!

I increased my long runs by 1 mile each week. The next week was 6 miles, the following week was 7 miles, and then it was 8 miles. I didn't have any trouble adding a mile on each week, until I tried going from running 7 miles to running 8 miles. I felt like I hit a wall at 7 miles and couldn't run anymore! I tried 2 weeks in a row and just couldn't pass the 7 mile mark. Luckily, I had a friend, Janna, who was also training for a half marathon. Our half marathons were on different dates, so we had different training schedules, but we decided to meet up a few miles into my run and run the remaining miles together. It was running with Janna, that I was able to push past the wall I had hit at 7 miles. I remember I ran a little over 8 miles with her! It was so great to have a friend to talk to and distract my pain and discomfort as well as motivate me to keep going! It was so great to overcome this setback and continue on my journey to running a half marathon. 

As the date of the half marathon I was slated to run approached, I didn't feel like I was ready. The most I had run was the 8 miles I ran with my friend Janna. I knew I needed to have run at least a 9 mile run to have my body and my head ready to run all 13 miles of a half! 2 weeks before the half I set out with Janna to run 10 miles. At about mile 6, my stomach started to bother me and I couldn't run anymore. Luckily I was close enough to walk home. I knew that I wasn't ready to run 13 miles at this point, so I backed out. We were meeting up with family in Kansas City on the weekend that I was supposed to run my half. We had plans to visit the new temple there and stay at the Great Wolf Lodge. The weekend was packed and I wanted to spend as much time with family as possible, so I thought it was the best decision to not run the half.

Two days after we got home from Kansas City, I got a package in the mail from my sister-in-law Natalie. It was a super nice running hat and some energy gummies for me to use during my half marathon. I felt sad and disheartened as I opened the package, knowing that I had given up and backed out. I called Natalie to thank her for the sweet gift, but ashamedly told her I had not run the half. While I was talking on the phone to her, I had the thought pop into my head that time was not up. I could still run a half marathon if that's where my heart still was. The next day, I went outside and ran 3 miles. It was during this run that I realized, my training had not all gone to waste. That the 2 weeks I had taken off hadn't compromised the months of training I had done up to this point. I knew I could still run a half marathon! So that Friday, I set off on my long run of 9 miles. It was a pleasant morning, cool enough to keep my sweater on the whole run, but not too cold! My favorite running weather. A few miles into my run, I met up with my friend Janna, and I was able to do it! All 9 miles! I couldn't of done it alone! I was so happy and excited! I went home that night and paid the money and signed up for my half marathon, the Running With The Cows Half Marathon in Bucyrus, KS.

 

My cute husband made shirts for me and my sister Natalie, who was running the race with me, to wear on the race day. He also made some for him, My Mom and McKinley, our fan club, to wear at the finish line. It was such a sweet gesture to know how supportive he was of me in this journey! It wasn't easy for him to put up with my sometimes 2 hour training runs on Saturdays. It wasn't easy for him to take the whole weekend to come out to Kansas City to support me in my race and be there at the finish line. I was so grateful to have such a supportive husband! At one point in the race when I was having a particularly hard time, someone told me they liked my shirt. I proudly told them my husband had made it for me and telling them that nearly made me cry. His sweet gesture helped me make it through the race, and helped my by allowing me to know I was wearing his support even though he was not there with me by my side!

The morning of the race, I woke up nervous and a little bit doubtful. I hadn't ever run 13 miles before! I wasn't sure if I could do it. I had a game plan in my mind and I knew I could do it both physically and mentally, but the pre-race jitters got a hold of me! That coupled with traffic getting to the race, I was a little frustrated. We got to starting line only 2 minutes before the race started. I used this frustration as adrenaline to get me started on my journey of 13 miles!  I started the race with some pacers and a group of people who were running with those pacers. It was nice to talk to a few people and get my nerves settled in for the race.

After running with the pacers for the first 2 miles, I decided it was time to venture off on my own. The pacers were not running the way I had trained, and I decided if I was going to finish the race I needed to stick with what I knew and what I had spent all those weeks training for. I ran from miles 2 through 8 on my own listening to my music and thinking about all the things I had to motivate me to finish this race. The most motivational thing was knowing Travis, McKinley and my Mom would be waiting for me at the finish line! I couldn't wait to meet them there and hug them knowing what I just accomplished! At mile 8, I had to stop to use the bathroom. After I came out, I knew I needed a little break from running so I decided to walk a little. I walked for a little bit, until I met up with another group of pacers. I ran with this group from mile 8 to mile 11. Once again, it was nice to have people to talk to in order to get my mind off of the discomfort of my body and to help me mentally regain my strength! At mile 11, I decided I needed to walk a little more. So I took my time and used this period of walking to regroup. I knew at this point I only had 2 more miles to go! The motivation of seeing Travis, McKinley and my Mom was growing stronger the closer I got! I trudged through the last 2 miles, blister on my little toe and all! I can't described the feelings of excitement, relief, happiness, accomplishment and just plain comfort it was to see the finish line! It felt so great to cross it!! I truly felt like I had accomplished something remarkable! Like I had achieved something spectacular!

I remember seeing McKinley and Travis as I approached the finish line. I used the motivation of just wanting to reach them to make it the last quarter mile. When I finally hugged them, I felt like I was on top of the world! 

I had done it! I had accomplished my goal. It wasn't a simple goal, it was as a goal few people achieve. It was a goal I had planned for, trained for and taken months to work towards! Accomplishing a goal always feels great, but accomplishing a goal you put so much into feels even better!

I've taken a little break from running since then, but I've kept up working out and participating in group exercise classes at the YMCA. Who knows, maybe I'll take up running again once it cools off a little outside and complete my second half marathon! I do know, I want to find another worthy goal that I can put so much into. It takes a lot, but I know the feeling when you complete it and how worthwhile it is despite the hardships along the way!