A repeat of 26.2

I still have trouble figuring out why I pay to cause myself pain and discomfort. Sure I get a shirt out of it, but I think I must be rather slow at learning about pain. On Sunday I ran my second marathon. It definitely didn't hurt as bad as the last one and for that I am grateful. When I started writing this post I was flushed from electrolyte depletion and looking at my blister-covered foot. Oddly enough though, I would still emphatically state that life is good. Especially the life that consists of eating food and sitting down. That is stinkin' awesome! You never quite appreciate a comfy seat until you haven't sat down for 6 hours.

I also believe that every person should complete at least one long-distance run in order to fully understand Hebrews 12:1-2 which says.... "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Or even Philippians 3:12-14 which states: "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

These verses come alive in a vivid way and make you fall more in love with Jesus because of the strength that He gives.





When you live through 26.2 miles of emotional whirlwinds, physical pain, mental exhaustion, and spiritual battles, you do a lot of thinking... so here, once again is a brief overview of the miles I ran, the thoughts I thought, and the pain I felt.


Mile 1 - The countdown and we start!! A rush of adrenaline pours through my body only to be replaced by a sense of impending dread. Running along the water I gaze out over the bay and there in the distance I spot the area where the finish line was located. That finish line seems about a million miles away. Runners pass me and I pass runners. We are all trying to find our rhythm. I find mine quickly!


Mile 2 - Listening to Relient K and life is good ("but eternal life is better!") Suddenly I look ahead of me a ways and there to my astonishment is the 2 mile mark. I can't believe how quickly it has come! If all races go this quick I could do 50 milers for sure. (Here is mistake #1 - running is not as easy as mile 2 seems).


Mile 3 - Going up a hill. I don't like hills. They are way too much work. The faint sound of my breathing filters through my earbuds. I push them in further and turn my music up.

Mile 4 - Again! This mile marker is coming up so fast. I am pretty happy that time doesn't seem to creep by but rather its flying by. Things are looking good. For the 20th time I pass two guys in their 50's... a couple minutes later they pass me. Finally I mention that we will be doing this the rest of the race. The back and forth continues and I learn that they have run 38 marathons, in 38 states! That is 995.6 miles...

Mile 5 - Don't remember this one at all. I am zoning out around now.


Mile 6 - Oh bummer. I am starting to think that there was a huge of list of things I would much rather do than running at this time. I am bored now. Ready to be done, but sadly I had 20.2 miles left. Hmmm... maybe that is more like depressing. :)

Mile 7 - Oh boy... we have been going along this same road forever. Life is still good. I am right on schedule. Perfectly on schedule! I round bend after bend hopeful for some change in scenery. The rain turns from mist to drops.

Mile 8 - Uh oh... we now start on a long stretch where we have to turn around at the end and come back. And so with a deep sigh, I commence that stretch of boring pavement. But it wasn't boring... runner after runner passes me. Going the opposite direction! They had already gone a couple miles further than me. Grr!! I wanted to just join them! But I couldn't! So I kept going. I pass Mr. D! He is doing awesome! There is Daddy!! He looks happy! I love my daddy and I am pretty proud of him.

Mile 9 - Just keep running, running, running. Thats it. Thats my goal. Just keep on a goin'! It will be over before I know it! I get some Hammer Gel... 2 to be exact. I eat one and hang on to the other for dear life. Maybe if I hold it some of the energy will flow into me. :)

Mile 10 - HAHA!! I made it! Well to 10 miles... still got another 16.2 left to go. Oh bothers. How and why does it take so long to go this short of a distance?!?!? No matter. Now I am passing people that are a couple of miles *behind* me! Life is good.


Mile 11 - Ouch! Blisters... really bad blisters. I have visions of blisters as big as my feet. Each foot seems to be on fire. I am not stopping or slowing up because of few blisters though. Absolutely not. I have a marathon to run. A marathon to finish. I pass a water station and rehydrate.

Mile 12 - Finally we are getting into some real civilization. Railroad tracks! Oh ya! Now I am feeling we have to be close... close to the finish line. But you say "Hannah you idiot... you have 14.2 miles left". Yup, that I do. But its not 26.2 anymore, so how can you not smile? I pass a little boy with a chocolate covered donut. I am jealous. VERY jealous and I tell him so. He does not seem to find humor in it, nor does he want to share his amazing donut with me. *sigh*

Mile 13.1 - Half way... I feel rock solid. Bah, this running thing is a piece of cake. Yes this thought did actually enter my stupid little head. Lets just say that it didn't last for long. I am starting to slow my pace. I am running about 25 seconds slower than my previous miles.

Mile 14 - Happy dance. I am closer to the finish than I am to the beginning of the race. Oh ya! Coming up to some houses now. Its lovely. My head hurts. I drink some electrolytes out of my pack.

Mile 15 - I see my sister!! Finally!! A human being that I know and love. She runs with me for 10 yards... well she walks and I run. Strangely we have the same pace. lol

Mile 16 - Mommy!! She is there! I see her first as a tiny spec in the distance and I speed up as I confirm that it is her. She gives me a hug. Tells me to keep my cadence up. I tell her that cadences are the ends of phrases in music. I am still a music nerd.

Mile 17 - I feel some lactic acid... no I feel lots of lactic acid. I hurt. I walk... this is the 3rd time I have walked. Just for a couple minutes. I have more energy gel. This time is espresso flavored. Ooh ya! I run again.

Mile 18 - Running still... now I am going steady and passing walkers and other runners from the half marathon. They look so fresh and happy. I see some people I know. Onward I run, through downtown and by the railroad tracks... passed the marina, passed broken down buildings, and passed restaurants that contain piles of beautiful food (of that I am sure!).

Mile 19 - I blow a kiss and give an air hug to the mile marker, causing onlookers and fellow runners to chuckle. I don't care what they think, I love that marker. It means I am almost on the home stretch. Here comes a hill. I run the whole thing... I run it hard.

Mile 20 - I am now in the 20s!! Woohoo! I walk now. I have been running for 3 miles without a walk break. The rain comes down hard. Sweat and rain pour into my eyes, and I can't see anymore. I shut my eyes and stumble on. Water pours down my arms and splashes on the ground. Here comes the board walk hill. Oh bothers.

Mile 21 - Pain. Depression. Misery... almost. Somebody tells me to cross the street to where I am supposed to run. I don't understand, it takes me a while to get it. My ability to process things is slightly slower than normal.

Mile 22 - There is my daddy!! He looks like he is hurting. I start running again. No more stumbling. Just flat out running. I am going fast now.

Mile 23 - I must catch up with dad. I down another energy gel. The pain is now more numbing than anything.

Mile 24 - 2.2 miles left! Hallelujah! My muscles are crying, my body is tired, my brain fried. But I plug on, sometimes it feels like I am barely moving. I pass a group of girls volunteering for the race and they yell and scream encouragement. I run faster for 2 minutes, and then settle back to my real speed.

Mile 25 - I am running... up a hill. No runners behind me and no runners in front of me; I had passed a whole bunch, but a whole bunch more had passed me. I am by myself with the Lord. A volunteer runs with me a little ways giving encouragement. I grin... it gets bigger and bigger until it is a huge smile. I am almost done.

Mile 26 - I am grinning, laughing, almost crying. I round the bend. There.. there to my joy is the sign. "FINISH" I run faster. A block before it I sprint. The pain is intense now. My lungs scream for air, my body hates me now, my mom and sis are screaming. I don't hear them. I am going so fast. I watch the seconds on the clock tick, I must go faster. Finally, I cross the line screaming in relief, exhaustion, and joy. For this is my second marathon that I have completed. A much better time too!!


Thank you Jesus for your grace and strength to complete this race. Thank you Daddy for running this marathon too, I am so very proud of you. It was hard, but very fun training with you! We are going to have to do another marathon together for sure, after we forget about the pain.
Mr. D you are awesome! You are totally a long distance runner!

Oh and my time... 5:49:33
:)

RIP - Rest in Peace

Tattered, dirty, and worn… these words describe my last pair of running shoes. They have now entered their second day of retirement after over a year of very hard labor. I am sad to put these shoes on the shelf as they have been with me for literally hundreds of miles and countless hours. But they have served their purpose! I will forever look at them with love and they hold a special place in the running part of my heart. They are not done forever with their jobs though… retired things rarely are. Once in a while they will be drawn upon to serve during games of ultimate Frisbee, soccer, volleyball, or mud games. The hard work they put in will be rewarded with occasional play times!!!
So my friends, I ask you to join me as I bid a bittersweet farewell to these faithful shoes and say hello to a new pair of shoes that will hopefully serve me as equally well.

13.1 again

On Sunday, the 6th of June I ran a race... my second half-marathon and my first race without my family. I left town on Saturday in the early afternoon with a car-full of backpacks and two of my friends from school. The race was on an island, hence the fact that we left on Saturday. Being that we are "poor college" students we were going to camp that night. But not only that, we were going to walk those 4 1/2 miles, heavy laden with all things camping and running and food.

Needless to say we provided many a quiet laugh and broad smile in the people we passed through the day as we took the ferry and walked around town. To see 3 girls, bent over with backpacks about ready to burst and every sort of thing imaginable hanging from them is rather comical. My friend Ashlyn was asked many times about the large pan that would frequently swing back and forth on the back of her rather large and cumbersome backpack.

To make a very long and tiresome story short, we ended up staying the night right by the ferry and the start of the race in a backyard of some very nice people who took pity on us. It was a much easier and more entertaining adventure than previously imagined.

But, I shall now commence to write about the real highlight of our journey. The actual race..

And so here are my thoughts along those 13.1 miles...

Mile 1

I am feeling rather like a pro... this is my hmmm, well 7th real race. Ok, once I counted it didn't seem so impressive. lol We wind through town. Still lots of people around.

Mile 2

Not so cool. If I have to run 11 more miles... uh oh. It always takes too long to reach the mile markers. My friends begin to leave me. I am not going to fight it. I am my own type of runner! I will run my speed... which is slow speed, but no matter. lol

Mile 3

Just starting to wonder what idiot signed up for this race. There is no way I can do it. But then, the fear of DNF next to my name motivated me.

Mile 4

Ah! I have a rhythm now, I am steady and no longer out of breath. Picture time! Woohoo!

Mile 5

This is good. Life is good. Running if good! I AM a runner... I was made to run. At least that is what I was thinking at this point in my life.

Mile 6

Almost half-way. Hills... lots of hills. Had to walk one hill... only the one hill.

Mile 7

Will the hills ever stop!?!?!? My legs are kind of tired. I just ran by lavender fields, so very pretty. I got water too.

Mile 8

Of course this mile marker is right on a ginormous hill! Ouch! The pain!

Mile 9

Just came down a huge hill and the marathon runners are meeting up with us half-marathoners. Its depressing. They have run 5 more miles than you in the same amount of time. *sigh* An older gentlemen gave me a wild rose as I ran past him. He said it was to encourage me. How sweet!

Mile 10

Uphill... the rain is starting to fall. Ran past the outhouse and thought hmmm, I should use it... but no... good motivation to get to the finish line. hehehe

Mile 11

My rear end hurts from all the hills. I am now just a'toodlin' along. Let them pass!

Mile 12

Oh cool! Almost there. Its now steady rain. Some down hill parts. I can see the water.

Mile 13

PAIN! I sprint the last part... I go as fast as possible. Rain and sweat run into my eyes. My legs go numb, my ponytail is flying madly around, I hear cheering.... and then - its over.

Hooray!

Yeah!

Happy days!

Time: 2:49:06.1

A marathon... 26.2 miles of a lot of things

Sometimes we do things a little out of the ordinary.
Sometimes we do things just a tad bit crazy.
And there are the times where we just... I don't know... do things that are more than crazy.

Yesterday I ran my very first marathon. To say it was a blast would be a lie. But to say it was horrible would also be a lie.

Mile 1 - Its cold. Very cold. From past experience I knew that the biting air wouldn't last long...
There was a sea of people and front and in the back, well I don't know, because I didn't turn around. We ran down an a long hill and I had to exert great control and resist the temptation to fly down the road and zap my energy.

Miles 2-6 - Life is good!! Very good! Even the nice long hill was rather ducky. It felt very invigorating to be running in the beautiful sun and listening to great music. At about mile six I saw the Larsens, Ramskey, and my sis. They were cheering, I was smiling, and I was right on schedule.

Mile 7-11 - Its going so great! I am moving along, through neighborhoods, along the waterfront, and up and down hills. I am drinking my electrolyte water (thanks Grant for that stuff...it is actually good) and eating gel and not bored. I see the Larsens about then. I am still right on time!

Mile 12-14 - Finally the turn off for the marathon and the half-marathon. It was right after a nasty incline and despite being slightly out of breath I couldn't help but smile. For a split second though, I did consider taking the turn off for the half-marathon. But no, I kept to the path I paid for. Then I was committed. For the longest time I ran without anyone around. That was rather boring and made running through neighborhoods dull. I kept myself entertained with pretending to own the houses.

Mile 15 - 16 - Pain. It started and didn't go away (in fact its still here as I am writing). We started the interurban trail. I saw Mr. Clarke...he was walking. I asked him how long till I would be turning around..he said quite a while. Little did I know how much he really meant by that. Slowly I wound around. Then I got to a decline... and I recognized that hill going down and knew and cringed at what was to come. I prayed for a water station. My water pack was empty, my tummy was growling, and I hadn't seen my family. I reached the bottom of the hill, rounded the corner and there was my dad and my sister. They jumped out the car and ran over to me. As they filled my water pack and gave me food I heard how my dad had finished his first half-marathon in an amazing time of 2:09! Way to go dad! Then I said my goodbyes, rounded another corner and began the long and painful ascent up California Hill. If you haven't seen this disgusting piece of torture...its worth seeing. Finally I made it to the top, alive but not thrilled.

Mile 16-22 - Oh man...its bad. Pain is all I can think of. Every once in a while I take a short walk break. I know this is where things start to get mentally grueling. I see Kristi again... she is looking a bit tired, but still running at a great pace.
I can't think of any more topics to mull and ponder over. Pain is just about the only present in my mind. That and the fact that my goal time is quickly disappearing, AND I am just about 100% sure that they messed up the mile markers. Miles were NEVER this long. Finally I reach California Hill...this time on the descent. Slowly I make my way down, tripping on this hill would result in the biggest slide-on-your-bum time of your life!
I round the corner to once again see my family and the Larsens and Ramskey. Life is looking up again. My water pack gets refilled, we talk briefly. Then I am off.

Mile 23-25 - When something goes down, its gotta go back up. That is what happened to that great downhill section of the course. Turning around made it go up. This is one of those times where you only think about the next step. Eventually I made it to the top and eventually I made it off the interurban trail. You know, pride is a great thing (hardly ever). It is what kept me going past people, and what made me dread seeing DNT (Did Not Finish) next to my name.

Mile 26 - Horrible...almost there. Can I make it? Maybe...
The minute I saw the sign saying 26 miles I began bawling. Not quiet tears...no this was boohooing, bawling, lots of noise-making. I don't know why...I just couldn't hold things in anymore.

26.2 - The end. My daddy was there cheering me on. Then Abbie, then Shelby and Kels holding a sign. I saw my sister, the Larsens, Sebens, Ramskey. I saw that glorious finish line... and I sprinted with the last little bit of "umph" that I had left. I made it. It was over. Thank you Lord!

Thank you to my great and awesome friends, family and support team. You all were awesome!!
My time... 5:52:10.

When manners run out the door...

We live in a society that overall, is polite. We say “excuse me” when we need to get past someone, we use a napkin when we eat, and we use tissues. But there is a time…even in our society…when manners seem to be completely forgotten. Those times are races…as in running races.
Today I saw that phenomena once again. When you get five hundred or so people together and make them run and then feed them food after, very little is left of the once prim and proper people that existed just hours before the race. Here is a brief and rather humorous account of races.

First we start with parking. Yes parking… the very first issue to deal with at a race. You have to arrive so stinkin’ early because everybody else is arriving early so that they can get a decent parking spot. And so as the years pass, the times that people arrive just get earlier and earlier as people fight for those precious parking spots. (you know, it would save time if they would just run to the race, don’t you think?)

Then the check ins, which are pretty much always done by letter of the last name now. So for example I checked in at the “F-G” box. I think this way of doing things was done because people were getting competive about their spot in the line and probably would get out of hand and snarky with each other.

Ok, so now that people have parked and checked in, the most crucial battle begins; the battle of the bathrooms/porta-potties. Oh yes, that is also a competitive thing. For some strange and unknown reason ever runner just has to use these lovely “thrones” at least once before the race commences. And so begins the oh so joyful event of standing in line for your “turn”. Mens and Womens restrooms are no longer segregated and the males in line don’t care if there are women waiting behind them, because they were FIRST in line.

Now you would think I am done discussing the mannerless actions of runners because the race should start. But nope… I am not done. We still have getting in order of time behind the starting line. Yup, this is also cause for confusion, pushing, shoving, and at times panic. People are trying desperately to find a spot to stand (forget about having room to move your arms, people become content to look like a sardine). And just when you think you have your spot you realize that you are in the wrong timing group and the process of pushing begins all over again.

The race starts, everything is rather ducky (in a different sort of way considering that runners pay to go through self-inflicted pain). Miles pass… Then other examples of non-existent manners begin to show themselves. You reach a water station. No stopping gracefully to take the cup of water and sip its contents casually… you grab that little flimsy paper cup and down its contents…all while you are on the move. Many times this quick gulping also includes spilling much of the liquid on your face and shirt. What ever happened to neatly drinking???

Briefly I will enliven you on two another aspects. Tissues… we use them to be polite. Tissues do not exist in races. Hahaha… why would you carry a tissue (and weigh yourself down with those heavy objects?) when you can just use your sleeve or the bottom of your shirt? This is said from experience… both in doing and watching, just in case you wanted to know. Also, that beautiful glistening on peoples’ faces and the dark spots showing on their clothes. Its sweat and they don’t care that you see it. Normally, we don’t glisten with sweat in public, but in this setting, I think sweat is almost worn with pride.

Eventually the race nears an end. Runners begin picking up speed or sprinting to the finish line. No “excuse me” when they need to get by. They just barrel on through. Oh and yup, you could have been pacing with somebody for much of the race. But when it comes down to the finish line, you will do EVERYTHING in your power to beat them.

The race is over and food is being served. Fruit is devoured and napkins are nowhere to be seen. Fruit juice runs down peoples chins and drops onto their clothes. Nobody blinks an eye. Chewing with your mouth open, while talking…pshaw, no biggie!!!

Ok… so I made things into a bigger deal than they really are. But I kid you not, people change in personality (or maybe it’s the “real” them coming out) when they go to race. And I have to admit, that I have done everything I just talked about. ;)

And the countdown begins...

24 days. 24 days exact. "24 days until what?" you say. And I say, "24 days until I run the biggest race of my life".
Yes, the biggest....the longest...and the hardest.
On the 27th of September I will be running a marathon. That is 26.2 miles...
Hopefully it will be 26.2 miles of mostly some sort of enjoyment.
A few minutes ago I pushed the button that officially registered me for the race and the money has been spent. There is no turning back, at least in my book.
My heart did a little flip-flop and my hands shook slightly as I maneuvered the mouse over the submit button a few minutes ago. I gulped at and shot a questioning look at my dad as he too was registering. He was registering for the half-marathon and I was registering for the full.

I have had some second thoughts already, but they can't really be justified. I am ready to run this. Although it won't be a fast time I believe I will finish. I will have to wrap my feet after and take pain killer and my pace will probably drag a bit on those last few miles, but no matter. I AM RUNNING A MARATHON!!!!

Drinking whilst running... an example of multitasking

Forgive me while I indulge in some very lame runner’s humor. If you find these following excerpts amusing then woohoo for you! But if on the other hand you find this totally disgusting… well hmmm, just ignore this humble blogpost. I have been reading some running books and in doing so ran across a book full of running stories that had me laughing out loud. Here is parts of my favorite... it struck a chord as I can relate to some of this!

Introduction to Ingurgitation - by Bob Schwartz
“I remember many years ago approaching an aid station for the first time during a race. I’d never tried drinking on the run before, as I usually sat for my meals. I hadn’t really thought that there would be any difficulty with this undertaking. Guess again, liquid-refreshment face!
I quickly lost the handle on seven consecutive cups and just about ripped the arms off of two volunteers handing out drinks, as I incorrectly gauged my cup grab speed and strength. I soon realized that there’s more here than meets the mouth.
I finally held onto a cup and proceeded to take an unintentional and quick shower with a punch-flavored sport drink. I quickly surmised that sometimes things are more difficult than they seem. This was clearly apparent as I gazed into my paper cup and noted the solitary drop of drink that remained. I appeared to be mocking me indicating, Buddy you just spilled the rest of me over your shorts and up your nose and I’m all you got left for the next two miles. Don’t blow it.
I concluded that along with putting distance, speed, stretching, and nutrition into my training regime, I also had to leave ample time for imbibing practice. To be able to delicately grab a cup of fluid at racing speed and gracefully empty the contents into your mouth is pretty much an athletic event in and of itself.
Needless to say, it’s not the most comforting feeling at mile 20 as you try to fight off glycogen depletion and find that most of your electrolyte-replacement-drink just went into your eyes.
It always amazed me how I could move the cup’s contents quickly toward my lips and then have it often miss my face completely. The runner alongside me was never the least bit amused about having four ounces of energy drink running off his forehead, courtesy of my inability to hit the moving target otherwise known as my mouth. I figured that with practice I could get better.

My neighbors undoubtedly questioned my family’s sanity as I strategically positioned my wife and young children in the driveway, all holding paper cups for me as I ran back and forth and back and forth. I could only hope that others believed we were engaged in some type of high-tech research experiment. Perhaps testing the body’s ability to rapidly assimilate different levels of complex versus simple carbohydrates, and the yo-yo effect of blood sugars. But I am sure they were thinking dodo and not yo-yo. I eventually discovered that the key was to squeeze the top of the cup in half, pour it into the mouth as quickly as possible, hold it there, get my bearings, straighten up the esophagus, and then give it a quick, hard swallow. Thankfully, I improved, with due diligence and late-night cup-training sessions with my family in the basement. I just know that, with my luck, once I truly perfect the art of aid station drink consumption, they’re going to go to sippy cups. But I guess you can’t stand in the way of imbibing progress."

I must say I understand this poor runner's predicament, but I have dealt with this "problem" is rather different. Instead of being graceful about it I just pour the liquid all over my face and whatever ends up in my mouth is... what ends up in my mouth. Yes I probably don't consume as much liquid as was intended, but to remedy that I have learned to grab 2 cups from those volunteers!!! Its great!! And in the end, you are wet and sticky, but its all good!

Runin' with Daddy!!!

Saturday morning dawned cold, windy, and slightly sunny. I rolled out of bed at 8:09 with a pounding headache and quickly slipped into my running clothes. After taking something for my headache I made some toast and then daddy and I got into the car. All the way to Everson, Daddy kept saying that it was too cold to run, that it had better not be cold when we got there, and that if it rained even a few drops he would NOT run under any circumstances.
Where were we going?
Well, we were going to both run in a small race in Everson. Both of us were running the 4 mile race as we had decided that it wouldn’t be a good idea to run the ½ marathon. We arrived in plenty of time and registered. Finally after waiting for what seemed like hours, all of us the racers moved to the starting line and then we were off. Aaaaah… running! Its great! The first ¾ of a mile were glorious. Both daddy and I were flying along and passing people. But after that the wind picked up, coming in strong gusts and making it feel as though you were running in place. My pace dragged and I watched as my dad got further and further ahead of me. Eventually he was so far in front of me that I could no longer see him. I think that the next 2 miles were some of the worst miles of my life. I have decided now that running in the wind is painful, torturous and all out frustrating. I also have a theory about mile 3, because in this race there was no mile 3 mark and in the last race I did, there was no mile 3 mark as well. What is with that???
After I turned onto the last stretch that was about a mile long, I felt better. I was in a rhythm, things were going great! I passed the coffee shop that my friend Bailey works at and she came running out and cheered me on!! I love her!
And so, much to my chagrin, my dad beat me! I am very proud of him though! Yay!!! The best part was that we both placed 3rd in our age groups!! Daddy with a time of 34:25 and me with a time of 42:14!!! It was so much fun to run with him and I am so excited for the next race that we can do together!

Running and Shorts in January

Alas because of my busy schedule and the weather my days of running have almost ceased to exist. But I hope 2009 has changed that. Along with making the resolution to be more organized I also made a resolution to end my procrastinating. Because of this I actually have time in my life to do things like running!
This month though has not been very condusive to running... first the snow and then the horrible rain (yes I know I could run in the rain, but I just don't find that overly enjoyable). Today after days of waiting for safe weather I went on a run. It was so exciting to get my running clothes out of the drawer! I made the decision to wear shorts (see Corina, I knew there would be a time to wear shorts) and when I came upstairs I looked like a cherry... red and round, due to red shorts and a red shirt. :D
I put my shoes on, Daddy lent me his MP3 player (wasn't he sweet?), stretched for a few minutes and then was off. My warm up was glorious and my run was even better. Sure I was barely going faster than a snail but who cares?!
The wind was blowing, it was misting, and the clouds were dark and ominous but my heart was light and happy!
I ran four miles and it felt great ( tomorrow will be the true test). I know now why I named this blog "The Wind in my Face"...

The Longest Run of my Life

On September 28, 2008 at 7:30 in the morning I began what would be the longest run of my life, both in time and distance. It was my first ½ marathon. I knew it would be hard and fun, but little did I know to what extreme I would learn the word "hard". Amongst family and friends I began with little thought of what would go on in between me and the finish line. Only one thought was in my mind… I WOULD finish. If I had to crawl, I would. So I began…. And here is what went on.

Mile 1 – Could we start out any slower? Frustration began to well up in me as the minutes ticked by following the start and still I hadn't moved an inch. Finally people in front of me began to move and a smile slowly crept across my face. "Here it comes" I thought. Boy oh boy…. I was in for it. I ran past my family and friends. So nice of them to be here in the cold I thought, then I laughed knowing that in about 5 minutes there would be no cold. There were people as far as I could see in front of me, but I didn't look back because there weren't that many behind being that I was in the back. The cool, crisp air was so invigorating and I grinned as I saw many breath clouds in front of me. THIS IS SO COOL!

Mile 2 – I always know this is my hardest mile to run, but never have I seen mile signs creep by so slow. What am I doing? I have over 11 miles left…. Crazy. Water up ahead, praise the Lord, now I feel much better. I round a bend in the road and there way up ahead are the Larsens and the Balvanzes. Oh they timed their encouragement well. My pace increases and I smile as I run past. Thank the Lord for friends. We wind around streets and still no 3 mile sign. I never end up seeing it.

Mile 4 – I just had water at Cornwall park…. Life is glorious. I could run forever!!!! Oooh I am crossing the guide and see a huge sea of people running in front of me. I run faster and begin to pass people. We are now at the harbor and the sun is glinting off metal everywhere….ouch, oh what I would do for a pair of sunglasses. Then I see my parents and sister, oh I love them. My speed increases again.

Mile 5 – My nose is running and I am super grateful for the handkerchief in my pocket. I go to wipe the sweat off my face there is none. Satisfaction in myself creeps into my head, that is until my hand goes to my hair and I sheepishly smile. My hair is soaked and dripping, did I think I wasn't going to sweat? Oh no, the first big hill. I have run this before in a previous race, not cool. There is my family again, they are cheering. I can do this! Then they are driving up next to me and mom is asking how I am. I am fantastic then!!! I run next to them up half the hill.

Mile 6 – I am almost half-way done. So if I am this far already and I feel this good I should just run the whole marathon. Pride goes before the fall! There is another hill, a killer hill. More water!

Mile 7 – Big hill to Fairhaven. I ran this going the opposite direction and it was cool. Going uphill is not. My pace begins to drag. I am hot, hungry, and running with no one. The Larsens drive by and Mr. Larsen is yelling out the window. Perfect timing again! I run faster, then hear somebody call my name. I turn around and there is Kristi and her running partner Missy. I run with them for ½ mile till they go use the restroom. I pass a girl who looks my age.

Mile 9 – Just had water again! Feel much better. Now I am running with that girl. She knows me. Down the hill we go and through the Village Green. She walks, I keep running. Another hill. By the way, I hate hills just now. Now we are on the trail and up ahead is the turn offs for the full and ½ marathon. I turn and head up still another hill. This one is long and there is a guy half way trying to blow a horn or something and it sounds horrible. Up we go and I feel like I am making no head way. We get to the top and there it is!!! 10 miles!

Mile 10 – Down the hill and I feel horrible. I am hungry and shaking. The view is beautiful and I am revived. I am determined to make it. I grab a cup of water and a cup of Ultima (electrolyte water). I gulp down some Ultima and groan at the disgusting taste. Determined I swallow another gulp and then throw the horrible stuff in the trash. No way am I finishing that. Slowly we wind back to the Inter-urban trail. Then something looms ahead. A hill, but in my mind it looks straight up and down. The tears gather, I can't do it. Then a picture of the finish line flashes in my head and verses from the Bible begin to come to me. I start up it, but am I really moving? Finally the top! Praise the Lord. Some other runner passes me and asks me something but I have no clue what they are saying. Down the ramp to the board walk.

Mile 11 – A sign on the waterfront says "Life is short, running makes it longer." I agree whole-heartedly. Across the train tracks and we missed the train!!! Yeah!! Then the trail… keep running. Misery and pain sweep through my body.

Mile 12 – I am insane… completely insane. Running is wrong. An lady in her 70's passes me. Hmph… nice try. I pass her, but feel horrible. Keep running. Water up ahead.

Mile 13 - Down a hill! People are saying I am almost there. But they have been saying that since mile 6. I don't believe them. This will never end. The girl I have been running with decides to sprint the last bit. I round the corner and see the arch of the finish line. Waves of pain begin again. People are walking toward me that have already finished. I get really irritated at the slowness of their pace, can't they see I am running. Move out of the way. I cross the intersection and have about 300 yards or so left. Then I go all out. Everything else is a haze, I barely see my friends and family, I just hear them. I am almost there…. The pain grows, my sides ache, my breath comes in gasps. Then I am through the arch. In what feels like another world, my timing chip is cut off, I am handed a medal, a water, I hug the girl I ran with. Mom comes, Mrs. Larsen comes, I smile… I AM DONE!!!

2:25:35 and 9 out of 14 in my division but hey its over!So there is my long story… Hope it brought a smile to your face. I can't wait for my next run!!!