"The miracle isn't that I finished..
It's that I had the courage to start" ~ John Bingham
My friend and fellow bootcamper Leslie posted this quote this morning and it was so fitting for this blog post. Might I also say that Leslie KILLED the half marathon!
Yesterday I ran in my second half marathon, while it did not go as planned the truth is nothing in life should really be planned, there are obstacles and bumps and bruises and pulled muscles that can get in way of things that are "planned". I originally had the idea that I would SMASH my time from the first half marathon and that I would do it by running every step. Neither of those things happened.
I had not trained properly, well I can't say that because I started out training properly, the bottome line is I did not train well for this half marathon as I have a slight injury, I had no idea a pulled groin muscle could hurt so terribly badly for so dang long. I stay off of it until it feels 100% do one thing like a 5k and the next morning I can't make it down the stairs. This has been going on for slightly over 3 weeks now.
Yesterday morning was one of the mornings that I could not in fact make it down or up the stairs using my right leg, and well I was walking like something off of the Walking Dead. I kept peeking around corners to make sure Jason wasn't standing there with a piece of rebar to show through my head. Thankfully he wasn't but I sure could have used some of his encouraging words yesterday morning. Truth be told when my daddy looked at me and said "And you think you are going to finish 13 miles.. yea right?" I got a little scared, ok ok a LOT scared. The only thing I knew to do was try so off I went to run in my second half marathon of the year.
I met the Bootcampers and hugged each one I could get my hands on, it's the hugs that make me feel better. We were not there long before it was time to take off. I heard in my head Jay saying "if you think you are starting off slow, go slower" I didn't have much choice to go slower my right leg just wasn't going to let me. *sigh* I kept on going and before I knew it I was at mile 1, then 2, then wow there is 3, it WHIZZED by! I thought back to my first half marathon and how incredibly far that first mile seemed, yesterday it seemed I was at mile 3 in NO time. We made a turn down by the sound and with the fog still hugging the water I was amazed at the beauty of where we lived (yes I did take time to notice what was around me :) ) I took a few minutes to chat with a gentleman who fell in beside me and decided to keep pace with me for a bit, it was a nice distraction but the truth is I am a solo runner I am not fond of anyone beside me for too long, either I am trying to keep up with them or fall back so they can stay by me, it is just not a challenge I want to fight while trying to finish my own run. It wasn't long I wished him well and pulled away.
Right around mile 5 I caught up with Todd White another bootcamper and we shared a few moments and then he had to pull away as I was the slower pacer. It was shortly after this I felt my body tiring and knew it was time to do take the Hammer Gel and wouldn't you know it, not a water station or trash pile in sight. I did hold on to my wrapper until I saw a small pile close to the end of the neighborhood, there was no point in my being rude with the trash.While running this mile I felt a poke on the shoulder and I turned around thinking it would be a bootcamper showing love but I was met with a stranger who immediately says.. "Oh I am sorry I thought you were someone else" The only thing I could say was "You mean there is someone else with blue hair running this thing??" She said "yup sure is.. " Wow.
I kept on trotting along at my slow pace just putting one foot in front of the other and what appears but some dude with a camera Yelling HEY BOOTCAMPER ( I don't know what else he said cause he knew who I was but I wasn't sure who he was cause he had something on his head that made me giggle but I was far enough away not to be able to see who it was) it wasn't long before I realized it was Chris Truz and the Brindley crew at the 6th mile! Chris fell in beside me for a little bit and just spoke to me and told me to keep going. Those few yards he fell in beside me got me through the next 3 miles to the bottom of the bridges.
I don't remember much about miles 6 through 9, I know I caught up with Doug Meekins a friend that I am so incredibly proud of and gave him a thumbs up, I think I caught back up with Todd around there too, not sure cause I don't remember seeing him again until the finish. I remember starting to see the top of Thing 1s head, which is not all that hard to do considering her height :) The only thing I kept thinking to myself was MAKE it to the bridge then you will be ok. I had a surprise waiting there, my Sisper, was there cheering us bootcampers on with the numbers proudly displayed and encouraging words.
It was then time to tackle the bridges, I did a body check and felt ok and it seemed then all systems were go. The first bridge really isn't much to be concerned with it is well just flat it is the second that is one of those looming up hill things after running about half a mile to it with it staring you in the face. The hill wasn't even that bad we do the monument all the time and this was no where near that incline but also at the same time it got REALLY REALLY HOT or at least it felt like it. I never gave up my trot on the way up that bridge or the way down. Ahead of me I could see Ilona and said I will make it to her and we will finish this thing together we will run it in. The minute I finally caught her was exactly at mile 11 and by the time I caught up with her I realized that my leg wasn't so ok anymore. It was numb and wobbly feeling like with every foot fall my hip wasn't doing what it was supposed to. I made the choice right then to walk a bit, knowing that I probably would not have it in me to run again as I knew how badly that was going to hurt.
Wouldn't you know it that was exactly when my Daddy and Deanna drove by me.. just my luck. It couldn't be helped I knew whatever was going on with my leg was on the verge of some damage that I didn't want to put me out for longer than I already will be. Ilona and I made a plan to walk mile 11 to 12 and we would run the rest of the way in. I felt ashamed and guilty for having to walk, but that is just me, that is how I roll, all I could think was I am going to have to tell my coaches. We made it to the next water station and who do we catch up with the wonderful Sweetpea. We all chatted a tiny bit and it was time for Ilona and I to run it in, I didn't make it far :( What I was afraid of happened, it hurt, everything hurt and I knew I wasn't running right because my left leg was starting to fell the pain of running out of my normal gait. I motioned for Ilona to push ahead and keep running and I would start back in a minute. I did, I pushed again and ran to a marker I had in my mind, and then I walked another bit, another TINY bit, and made the turn off of the main road towards the finish. I told myself I would NOT walk on that last bit of the run and I didn't. I was slow and ugly but I ran all the way in. There were so many cheering at the end that I can't possibly remember them all, but a few I saw as I came to the end were Vicki, Sandy, Bertie, Mike, Caitlyn, Erin.. there were so many more so please forgive me if I didn't call you by name. When you are surrounded by that much love on the final leg of a LONG run it is amazing all your thoughts of pain and hurting just vanish, so thank you my friends thank you.
As I went through the finishing chute I could see some of my bootcamping friends and what did I do zip zip right around them both, sorry Joan and Jessica, I didn't really mean to do that. but I had been running the last part of the race for one thing only.. a Jay Bowman hug! I told him last night it is probably a good thing that at that point I didn't have a jump left in me cause I would have Supermanned the poor man. I don't even know what was said, I just remember him putting my medal around my neck and hugging me and me saying.. I am so sorry I had to walk. The most important thing for me at that moment wasn't that I finished or that it was over, it was to own up to what I had to do to get to the finish. I believe I hugged Joan and Jessica I am not even sure it was all a blur.
I met up with Ilona and we got some juice and I saw Amanda and Randolph waiting, I have to say Amanda had a rather worried look on her face until she finally spotted me. Another round of hugs and congrats from her, Randolph, Amy, Terry and Tommy. I caught sight of the General Matt Costa and got yet another hug and again fessed up to my walking. I will say neither Coach was upset with me at all it seemed, apparently I was the only one mad at me. I ended up having to call my Daddy and Deanna to figure out where they were, turns out they got to the finish line about 5 minutes after I went through. That was kind of a sad moment but these things happen.
As I was standing around chit chatting with my friends and who should show up to give me more love and hugs but Joanne, Misty, and Anissa it was so nice to see them all and know they were cheering me on. I received so many well wishes and virtual cheers from many of the night camp ladies it was very encouraging and meant so much to me. I love you all. I also look forward to running the Flying Pirate half with all of you so get ready!
After more hugs from the people I could get my hands on Christina, Doug, Todd.. it was time to head out. On my way to the truck I got to give bootcamp love to Thing 3 Lisa and see and toot at many of the marathoners on the way home Lindsey, Jessie, Laura, Franco, Dave and Adam. The dedication it took for them to run the full marathon was just nothing except amazing. One of these days I hope to join the ranks of having that much dedication and spirit.
Last night I celebrated finishing the half marathon with my friends Janice, Lauren, Susan, Amanda, Randolph and Amy. What a wonderful way to end a wonderful day!
Now for a round of Thank You's. Thank you to my wonderful Coaches at Outer Banks Bootcamps especially Matt, Jay and Adam for your belief in me, and the encouragement of my bootcamp family for being there and experiencing this journey together. To my friends the Things, Ilona and Lisa for just being you, Amanda for being my gym partner, trainer and friend. To my daddy, Deanna, Lauren, Susan and Janice who traveled to be here this weekend to be with me and to participate in this run in my community. To my Sisper who stood out there cheering and waiting on me to run by and for encouraging me to take care of myself even if I don't listen well. To the night camp girls, each of you have this in you too ya know and by spring I hope we are all out there running in YOUR first half marathon xoxo! To all of you that have read the blog, kept up with my journey on facebook and sent words of encouragement it is truly amazing. And last but not least, thanks Edgie for saying that I wouldn't make it past mile 2, I had to prove you wrong so I made it to 11. I could NOT have done with this without any of you.
Many congratulations to my friends, bootcampers and fellow runners on all the completions and PR's that you had this weekend. You all rocked this thing!
I know the next question many of you have is what next, today.. NOTHING! After that, my plan at the moment (check back with me after Thursday) is to sit out this upcoming bootcamp and let this muscle heal completely, while taking classes at the gym starting in a week or so and running on my own to hopeful get back to where I want to be with my time. I have two more races on the books this year which will put me at 94.6 miles for since March, and I pulled a PR on a half marathon even thought I haven injury and had to walk about a mile and a half. I can live with that.
Much Love
Re
15.23.14.9.20.
My friend and fellow bootcamper Leslie posted this quote this morning and it was so fitting for this blog post. Might I also say that Leslie KILLED the half marathon!
Yesterday I ran in my second half marathon, while it did not go as planned the truth is nothing in life should really be planned, there are obstacles and bumps and bruises and pulled muscles that can get in way of things that are "planned". I originally had the idea that I would SMASH my time from the first half marathon and that I would do it by running every step. Neither of those things happened.
I had not trained properly, well I can't say that because I started out training properly, the bottome line is I did not train well for this half marathon as I have a slight injury, I had no idea a pulled groin muscle could hurt so terribly badly for so dang long. I stay off of it until it feels 100% do one thing like a 5k and the next morning I can't make it down the stairs. This has been going on for slightly over 3 weeks now.
Yesterday morning was one of the mornings that I could not in fact make it down or up the stairs using my right leg, and well I was walking like something off of the Walking Dead. I kept peeking around corners to make sure Jason wasn't standing there with a piece of rebar to show through my head. Thankfully he wasn't but I sure could have used some of his encouraging words yesterday morning. Truth be told when my daddy looked at me and said "And you think you are going to finish 13 miles.. yea right?" I got a little scared, ok ok a LOT scared. The only thing I knew to do was try so off I went to run in my second half marathon of the year.
 | |
| Thing 3 Lisa, Thing 1 Ilona, Thing 2 me! |
Right around mile 5 I caught up with Todd White another bootcamper and we shared a few moments and then he had to pull away as I was the slower pacer. It was shortly after this I felt my body tiring and knew it was time to do take the Hammer Gel and wouldn't you know it, not a water station or trash pile in sight. I did hold on to my wrapper until I saw a small pile close to the end of the neighborhood, there was no point in my being rude with the trash.While running this mile I felt a poke on the shoulder and I turned around thinking it would be a bootcamper showing love but I was met with a stranger who immediately says.. "Oh I am sorry I thought you were someone else" The only thing I could say was "You mean there is someone else with blue hair running this thing??" She said "yup sure is.. " Wow.
I kept on trotting along at my slow pace just putting one foot in front of the other and what appears but some dude with a camera Yelling HEY BOOTCAMPER ( I don't know what else he said cause he knew who I was but I wasn't sure who he was cause he had something on his head that made me giggle but I was far enough away not to be able to see who it was) it wasn't long before I realized it was Chris Truz and the Brindley crew at the 6th mile! Chris fell in beside me for a little bit and just spoke to me and told me to keep going. Those few yards he fell in beside me got me through the next 3 miles to the bottom of the bridges.
I don't remember much about miles 6 through 9, I know I caught up with Doug Meekins a friend that I am so incredibly proud of and gave him a thumbs up, I think I caught back up with Todd around there too, not sure cause I don't remember seeing him again until the finish. I remember starting to see the top of Thing 1s head, which is not all that hard to do considering her height :) The only thing I kept thinking to myself was MAKE it to the bridge then you will be ok. I had a surprise waiting there, my Sisper, was there cheering us bootcampers on with the numbers proudly displayed and encouraging words.
It was then time to tackle the bridges, I did a body check and felt ok and it seemed then all systems were go. The first bridge really isn't much to be concerned with it is well just flat it is the second that is one of those looming up hill things after running about half a mile to it with it staring you in the face. The hill wasn't even that bad we do the monument all the time and this was no where near that incline but also at the same time it got REALLY REALLY HOT or at least it felt like it. I never gave up my trot on the way up that bridge or the way down. Ahead of me I could see Ilona and said I will make it to her and we will finish this thing together we will run it in. The minute I finally caught her was exactly at mile 11 and by the time I caught up with her I realized that my leg wasn't so ok anymore. It was numb and wobbly feeling like with every foot fall my hip wasn't doing what it was supposed to. I made the choice right then to walk a bit, knowing that I probably would not have it in me to run again as I knew how badly that was going to hurt.
Wouldn't you know it that was exactly when my Daddy and Deanna drove by me.. just my luck. It couldn't be helped I knew whatever was going on with my leg was on the verge of some damage that I didn't want to put me out for longer than I already will be. Ilona and I made a plan to walk mile 11 to 12 and we would run the rest of the way in. I felt ashamed and guilty for having to walk, but that is just me, that is how I roll, all I could think was I am going to have to tell my coaches. We made it to the next water station and who do we catch up with the wonderful Sweetpea. We all chatted a tiny bit and it was time for Ilona and I to run it in, I didn't make it far :( What I was afraid of happened, it hurt, everything hurt and I knew I wasn't running right because my left leg was starting to fell the pain of running out of my normal gait. I motioned for Ilona to push ahead and keep running and I would start back in a minute. I did, I pushed again and ran to a marker I had in my mind, and then I walked another bit, another TINY bit, and made the turn off of the main road towards the finish. I told myself I would NOT walk on that last bit of the run and I didn't. I was slow and ugly but I ran all the way in. There were so many cheering at the end that I can't possibly remember them all, but a few I saw as I came to the end were Vicki, Sandy, Bertie, Mike, Caitlyn, Erin.. there were so many more so please forgive me if I didn't call you by name. When you are surrounded by that much love on the final leg of a LONG run it is amazing all your thoughts of pain and hurting just vanish, so thank you my friends thank you.
As I went through the finishing chute I could see some of my bootcamping friends and what did I do zip zip right around them both, sorry Joan and Jessica, I didn't really mean to do that. but I had been running the last part of the race for one thing only.. a Jay Bowman hug! I told him last night it is probably a good thing that at that point I didn't have a jump left in me cause I would have Supermanned the poor man. I don't even know what was said, I just remember him putting my medal around my neck and hugging me and me saying.. I am so sorry I had to walk. The most important thing for me at that moment wasn't that I finished or that it was over, it was to own up to what I had to do to get to the finish. I believe I hugged Joan and Jessica I am not even sure it was all a blur.
I met up with Ilona and we got some juice and I saw Amanda and Randolph waiting, I have to say Amanda had a rather worried look on her face until she finally spotted me. Another round of hugs and congrats from her, Randolph, Amy, Terry and Tommy. I caught sight of the General Matt Costa and got yet another hug and again fessed up to my walking. I will say neither Coach was upset with me at all it seemed, apparently I was the only one mad at me. I ended up having to call my Daddy and Deanna to figure out where they were, turns out they got to the finish line about 5 minutes after I went through. That was kind of a sad moment but these things happen.
After more hugs from the people I could get my hands on Christina, Doug, Todd.. it was time to head out. On my way to the truck I got to give bootcamp love to Thing 3 Lisa and see and toot at many of the marathoners on the way home Lindsey, Jessie, Laura, Franco, Dave and Adam. The dedication it took for them to run the full marathon was just nothing except amazing. One of these days I hope to join the ranks of having that much dedication and spirit.
Last night I celebrated finishing the half marathon with my friends Janice, Lauren, Susan, Amanda, Randolph and Amy. What a wonderful way to end a wonderful day!
Now for a round of Thank You's. Thank you to my wonderful Coaches at Outer Banks Bootcamps especially Matt, Jay and Adam for your belief in me, and the encouragement of my bootcamp family for being there and experiencing this journey together. To my friends the Things, Ilona and Lisa for just being you, Amanda for being my gym partner, trainer and friend. To my daddy, Deanna, Lauren, Susan and Janice who traveled to be here this weekend to be with me and to participate in this run in my community. To my Sisper who stood out there cheering and waiting on me to run by and for encouraging me to take care of myself even if I don't listen well. To the night camp girls, each of you have this in you too ya know and by spring I hope we are all out there running in YOUR first half marathon xoxo! To all of you that have read the blog, kept up with my journey on facebook and sent words of encouragement it is truly amazing. And last but not least, thanks Edgie for saying that I wouldn't make it past mile 2, I had to prove you wrong so I made it to 11. I could NOT have done with this without any of you.
Many congratulations to my friends, bootcampers and fellow runners on all the completions and PR's that you had this weekend. You all rocked this thing!
I know the next question many of you have is what next, today.. NOTHING! After that, my plan at the moment (check back with me after Thursday) is to sit out this upcoming bootcamp and let this muscle heal completely, while taking classes at the gym starting in a week or so and running on my own to hopeful get back to where I want to be with my time. I have two more races on the books this year which will put me at 94.6 miles for since March, and I pulled a PR on a half marathon even thought I haven injury and had to walk about a mile and a half. I can live with that.
 |
| I may have only taken off 4 minutes from the last half but I have lost a lot of me! |
Much Love
Re
15.23.14.9.20.
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