More pictures from the cowbell

Number twelve.. who doesn't need Mo Cowbell?

Strange things run ( pun intended) through your head while your running a race alone. Usually I run with a friend or my brother in law. But Sunday I found myself all alone with 1600 of my closest running friends participating in the MO Cowbell half marathon. I find it strange I still get nervous. I still think.. can I do this?.. will I be last? .. why am I doing this. The morning of the race I was full of self doubt. I told Philip I think I will just sit this one out and like a good husband he said "get your butt out there and do it" So there I was at the starting line and before I knew it I was off. I have to admit I felt good. It was cold 35 degrees or so. I really like cold to run in.. I started to think. No excuses today.. you can do this under three. Since I have been training for the full I have been running more than thirteen miles on my long runs. I passed mile one and noticed my pace was at a 12 minute mile.. I was surprised but felt good.. On to mile two or three. I thought a lot about what my dad had said to me the night before.. "If you get tired.. just stop..don't push yourself" I thought a lot about that. Maybe if I had pushed myself at some point I would not have gotten to be over 200 pounds. But I found that interesting.. I made it to mile six still 12 minute miles. I began to think I am going to do this under three and on I ran. I have to admit the miles go faster when you are running faster. On I ran.. mile ten and eleven were uphill.. I kept on.. and then the hill was over and mile eleven was there.. finally downhill. I kept thinking one mile and I am going to see my family. I knew they would be so proud/happy. I am sure they were tired of hearing me talk about it .. and obsess over it. I have to admit I got a little choked up thinking about under three. Just before the finish line the lady in front of me fell and was not responding. I helped her and then went and got help when I made sure she was ok. I was off. I was still good on time.. Mile 13 here I come. I ran up main street and could see the finish line. I saw Rob coming at me.. he got to me and said." Come on Mom lets get this done today under three. He began to run with me.. then I saw Logan.. and he joined us on the other side... he said " Its your day mom lets do this together." And we crossed the finish line the three of us.. Under three.....

Full circle

If you know me you know I have had some problems with legs cramps around mile 12/13 in races. The last race I did in St. Louis at mile 12 I cramped up so bad I almost fell. A lady in the crowd jumped in the race and helped me finish..
Last weekend that moment came full circle. The boys and I always help out at a triathalon we run a water stop. I call it giving back to the running community. So at our stop a man came through who was limping. He was walking. He said he was OK. But you could tell he was limping. I ran behind him and again asked him if he was OK. He said he fell off the bike and was hurt. He had been crying. I told him I was going to walk with him to the finish. He really didn't say no. I told him my story about the last race and the leg cramps. We walked on. Him limping me.. trying to cheer him up. He was from Chicago he only does one race a year.It was about a mile to the finish there we walked. Two random strangers.. talking away. He said he would try again next year. I was the perfect person to be there.. In that moment. We came upon the finish line and there was his wife and sons. We hugged and I walked back he walked on.. Full circle..

And Nashville Makes 11

I was determined to finish Nashville under three hours. I had a year to focus on that course.. and think about it.. I was ready. I knew what I needed to do. It was cold at the start.. 56. Cold. It took 56 minutes to be off the line and we were off. Traci stayed with me for awhile then said.. Go on I will be fine. So I went. I went and I went. I drank cytromax at every water station and I was focused. At hour two I knew i needed to get 6 minutes back.. I did. It was hilly. I don't remember it being that many hills but apparently there were. It was a beautiful day. Traci kept running up behind me and checking in.. at mile five she said.. Karla is coming up get on the left. And I saw Karla and my family... Phil and the boys had drove up to Nashville to cheer me on..Then I knew I HAD to do this thing under three.. I ran on down Belmont .. up to the industrial area. through the streets of Nashville. At one point Traci ran up to me and said I am going to change my socks Ill catch you later.. I ate GU went down a huge hill and felt good. Ran when I can.. read signs and enjoyed the crowd. I kept thinking about my boys and how I love that they will remember trips taken so Mom could run. I love that they will see me like that. Around mile ten I saw T again.. she ran up and said she was getting tired . I told her I would see her at the finish line.. I didn't see her again until then. I heard an ambulance at one point. I was scared it was for her.. But I ran on.. Mile 11, and then I saw 12 I was there.. almost. I felt good I picked up the pace felt that familiar leg cramp and stretched it out.. I was ready to be done.. I saw LP field. Up the hill and I could see the stadium.. I was going to do this.. I was going to be under 3.. under 3 . I was so focused. I started to run.. I was looking for the finish line. mile 13.. where is that dang line.. Ok I see it.. Run Run Run.. And I was done.. Under 3.........in my mind.. I looked around for Phil and the boys. I checked my watch.. I walked to the picture line. I was so happy. I did it. NO I didn't.. I found Phil and he said.. 3 28 really 28 seconds where did you come from.. So I didn't do it after all. Except I did finish. I now have 11 under my belt. It was fun.. Well if you think running for three hours is fun. I loved that my family was there . It meant a lot to me . I love that Phil wants to see me run. I love that he times it and knows where I am. I loved crossing the 10k sensor thinking.. here you go Phil.. I'm coming home.. I love the boys see me trying to get under 3. I am glad they see me as an athlete.. In my own way. They said Oh my gosh mom there were so many people behind you this time. Well now its time to train for a full marathon. Am I goofy?

Race Ten

I completed my tenth half marathon. Those are words I never thought would come out of my mouth.. But I did.. It seemed only fitting I would do my tenth in St. Louis.. alone. I kept thinking it was my race to run.. I needed to do it alone. At the starting line I met a lady doing her first. I was excited to tell her it was my tenth. When it started I put my headphones on and was off. I felt good.. I paced that thing perfectly.. Mile nine by hour two I would make it under 3. I ran a lot.. through the brewery.. past Busch stadium... through Soulard by Harris Stowe. It was getting hot I was doing great. I could see the finish line in front of my down Market Street.. I was there.. I was going to hold ten fingers up at the finish line.. for the picture of course.. at Mile 13 .. I thought I was going down. My leg cramped up I had to stop. Completely stop right by Union Station.. I heard a man in the crowd saying.. no go a little bit more.. A lady said use your arms.. And I was done. A lady came in to help me stand up.. but in the end.. I finished 3:02 are you kidding me.. two minutes over 3 ... will I ever get to the 3. Anyway I was proud.. Ten half marathons.. I did it. I am proud of me. I felt good to finish it.. Alone. I am so much stronger mentally and physically than I was two years ago. The most interesting thing about this race is they had to close it due to weather at the end.. it was too hot.. After Disney I thought it was cool. It was my race to run.. I did it and I will get under three next time.. Race 11.. Nashville here I come in three weeks...

Disney Princess Half Marathon

This past week was the princess half marathon. I had been looking forward to this race for a long time. I had planned my outfit. I had bought a skirt ( me in a skirt) and a tiara. I was ready. I had talked Solomon into running it with me. We had to get up at 330. 3:30 a.m. we had to be in the lot of Epcot at 420 and in our corral at 5:00. We had to walk over a mile to the corrals. We used the porta potty and sat on the highway ready to start. I was so excited. It was great to see the costumes and all the non traditional runners. We were in corral E so we had to wait. It didn't seem very long at all. WE saw the fireworks and we were off. We had a great pace and everything felt good. I was a little disappointed how crowded it was. We could not get any space or open. We ran into the magic kingdom. There were so many characters and things to see. We ran into the magic kingdom and saw Phil and the boys that was so great. Then we went to the castle. Their were trumpet guys playing. It was MAGICAL. It was also crowded and HOT. After the magic kingdom it was hot.. I was sweating like crazy. We ran till mile ten then I had a huge muscle cramp in my leg. I could not get it out. I tried to walk / run anything.. I was done. We walked in the last three miles and finished at 3:04 not at our goal but we finished. I would love love love to do it again. It was amazing. I still cant believe it is over. I loved every minute of it.

Why not?

To the guy at the gym who ran beside me today.. and pushed me on. After all did I really want to let you see how tired I was. Thanks for commenting how great I was doing after you left and I was still running. 12 miles. 12 miles two hours and 15 minutes I swear not very long ago I was walking three miles an hour trying to get to four miles an hour. People ask me strange questions. Somebody asked me if it was hard for me to loose weight. Do you really get to be over 300 pounds and not find it hard to loose weight? I wanted to laugh. I also wanted to say I fight to loose every single pound. I have to watch what I eat daily and work out like crazy. I am almost out of the 260's. Then I can say I weigh 250. It's the little things to me. I feel good. Stronger. Someone also asked me how I mentally kept running for two hours. What makes me keep on. I thought about this a lot today while running. Then I thought why can't I . Running is so mental. You want to stop because it is boring yet I know I needed to get a long run in today. So I kept on. I guess I am tired of the excuses. SO my answer would be why not?

15 days into the year

Two weigh ins down at weight watchers for the year down 4 pounds. Good start. Fourteen days no soda. Who would of ever thought? Soda. It has been my enemy for years. Sometimes the headaches are so bad I have to go to sleep. Logan told me he didn't think I could do it. Before he would of been right but now I can and am doing it. I also have been running 9 miles.. And add a mile each weekend. 9 miles 90 minutes. Wow 9 miles. The Disney race is coming up in 30 days I want to finish under 3 a real under 3 not 3 08. The 46 pounds down helps. I really wanted to be at 60 down by Disney but I wont make it.. As I loose weight I find myself changing. More willing to try things. It is a long journey. Phil told me he didn't think I would ever be under 200 there used to be a day when I would of agreed with him. Not anymore. I think I might be close by the end of the year. As a wise women once told me.. The time is going to go by anyway.. you might at well loose the weight.

I must want this

I must want to loose weight.. why else would I drag myself out to the gym at 10 p.m. at night to exercise when all I really want to do is sleep? Or relax? Or a million other things. I am not sure why its different this time? Why I do want this so bad? Why I couldn't or didnt do it before? But I am motivated. This is my year by the end of the year I really want to be down 50 more pounds. Only one pound of week. I want to be healthier and want to be under 200. When this started I would of never thought I would or could be under 200 pounds but it seems doable now. So I drag myself out to the gym like it or not.. Day after day after day ..