Salt City Run for the Rocks

The past 13 weeks I've been training to run my second half-marathon.  For those of you that know me prior to January 25, 2011 know that I absolutely did not fit the term "athlete".  That I maybe would go for a walk if someone would ask me to but that was far and few between.  I had been an avid walker several years ago until my Mom passed away from Pancreatic Cancer and that took a toll on me.  My Mom was my very best friend the last full year of her life and when you loose your best friend, it hurts. 

 

With my training for the "Salt City Run for the Rocks" half marathon, I added sprint work to my weekly regime.  I honestly can say that I really do love enjoy going to the track and running 400's and seeing just how hard I can push my body.  Also in these 13 weeks, I also began learning how to swim and mastered my breathing with no nose holding!!!  :-)  I enjoy my cross training days by going to the gym and Kristi working with me to do weights and workouts.  In my mind, Kristi is a rock star!! Yoga has been very instrumental in my weekly schedule as well.   I go the same evenings after having been to the gym, as this helps me to stretch out the kinks from the morning session with Kristi and I am thankful for Tammi and her words of encouragement. 

 

In these past 13 weeks I've also enjoyed many long slow distance (LSD's) runs.  I had found after my first half marathon back in March of this year, that my body responds well to long runs.  I admire anyone that moves their body and gets of the couch!  Those of you that run a mile to 3 miles when you go for your run, awesome!!  Way to go!!  I really like at least 5 miles and when I come in from 10-13 miles, I have such a sense of accomplishment and wow after knowing that not to long ago that wasn't even feasible for me.  Two weeks prior to "Salt City Run for the Rocks", I ran my last true LSD.  I competed in an event called "Extra Mile" two weeks out and in their time limit of 2 hrs and 30 minutes, I ran a half marathon going extra slow for me.  This then entitled me to having ran 2 half marathons.  This past Sunday morning at 8:00 a.m. in Hutchinson, Kansas I ran my 3rd half-marathon event. 

 



 

 This is about a mile into the event, and I am running with the 2:00 hour pace group.  It was a gorgeous morning, 51 deg, 7 mph winds and a thunderstorm had came through about 2 hours before the race began.  I am #91 in the pink.  I felt strong and my body was just gliding effortlessly for the first 9 miles.  I was ahead of my pr pace time at mile 6.5 by almost 3 minutes.  I didn't look at my Garmin often nor my pace bracelet as I just wanted to enjoy and go with my body instead of stressing that I was running at to fast of a past for me.  Mile 9 I began to have a terrible ache in my left hip and at mile 10 I had to stop and walk backwards for about 15 seconds to try and get relief.  I then was praying and asking God to help me get across the finish line and that when I came into the stadium that I would be able to run and not walk.  He is awesome!!  I finished about a minute longer than what I needed for a pr (personal record) and I am so thankful!!!  I had an awesome time just enjoying being surrounded by other athletes.  Young, old, thin, not so thin, fast, and not so fast.  As a runner and athlete, none of that matters!!!! 

This is at the finish line, our bib's have timing chips built into them, so my actual time was a 2:09:52.

Rachel, Stacey, myself and Karen with our medals and finisher tech shirts after the event.  These ladies live in Satanta & I met them last year when I would participate in local 5k's.  I've been blessed through their friendships to run with them from time to time and receive much encouragement.  Thank you Ladies!!  Bill, thank you for always supporting me, for encouraging me and for being the best photographer!!  I love YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And so, today.....I am an athlete and I give all the glory to Jesus Christ!