I can't remember if I've shared this with you already, but I have made the decision to sign up for my first half marathon. To date, I have ran 8 miles twice now. The first time I ran eight miles I had a hiccup as the last mile I had to walk/run due to a previous injury with my hip/glutes. Then a few days ago I ran 8 miles once again and I made it through all 8 miles. I'm building endurance at this point, not necessarily speed.
Also since I last wrote, I had a new first for me in the fact that the last race I entered I wore a timing chip. Who would have ever "thunk" it? :-) Me, a 45 year old from southwest Kansas running for the first time in my life...ever!
Ok moving on to why I am stoked....and I do not have a picture to share with you, but I have been stewing over a race that I had signed myself up for a few months ago to take place here on Maui while on vacation. I do this to myself all the time, biting off more than I can chew when it comes to racing. I had a lady share with me that I am an over-achiever and perhaps that is why I do that, because I love to challenge myself and see just how much farther I can actually push my body.
Saturday I am participating in a 5k Xterra Extreme trail run. The description reads something along these lines...the first 1/2 mile is on a beautiful golf course then you climb LOTS of stairs to end up running trails in the old golf course, over logs and under logs, through a pineapple plantation, thick sugar cane, through the forest, back down and over a lava field as well as on the beach. If the creek bed is dry, great, if not we will be running through water as well.
I've been fretting to say the least.
Then I read yesterday morning where the 5k is open to walkers but the 10k is not, and that took a ton of the fear out of me, yes, I can walk if I need to!!
Last night we were over in Paia preparing to dine at the Corner Fish Market so while Bill was in line to place our order I was on the lookout for a place to sit at the picnic tables. It can be difficult to find a empty spot for the two of us. I happened to glance behind me and there was a tall gentleman standing behind me taking in the scenery that happened to have on a Xterra wicking shirt. I gently asked him if he was racing on Sunday?
Did you notice what I asked? Sunday? Not Saturday? He said yes, and so I was like, who in the world is this guy? SUNDAY....means that he is a professional athlete. He was the kindest man and held true to what I have found since February, runners/racers are absolutely kind and warm to other runners/racers. He was amazing!! His name is Augusto De Menezes from Brazil and a triathlete.
When I shared with Augusto that I was running in the 5k he gave me a pointer, WALK THE STAIRS, WALK THE STAIRS. One of the coolest things was that he acted like my 5k was no different than his triathlon. Swimming a mile in the ocean in rough water, then a 18.3 mile mountain bike ride, and a 6.2 trail run that is a tropical roller-coaster ride though pineapple fields and forests. 675 athletes from 28 countries and 42 U.S. states. AMAZING!Yolanda
1 comment:
Indeed he was an angel walking your way to give you encouragement and tap into the strength there for you...from God. I witness god living in you. Thank you for that witness and love shared with so many.
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