Walt Disney World Half

The only bad thing about Disney races is you have to be there by 4:30 am and if you know me you know I dont get up early for to many things. But here I was 4:30 a.m getting out of the car at Epcot getting ready to run the Disney Half Marathon. I was with my running buddy/ brother in law Solomon. We were dressed as Donald and Daisy Duck. It was 40 degrees when we started the mile and a half walk to to start line. So there we were in corral E.. we waited to start. I asked Solomon was he excited. He said sure.. He said I was getting on his nerves because I was so ready to go.. We finally were off. I felt good.. I took off running .. I could hear Solomon breathing hard to catch up with me. Before we finished mile one he said Oh my goodness you are so different than last year.. I felt so good. I had trained so long and it was fun to be there running it. We decided no pictures when it was dark so we ran on . We took walk breaks when needed but we mostly ran..

We ran into the Magic Kingdom tickets booth and I remember yelling to Sol come on.. lets run to the castle.. He laughed at me but we both ran on.. I was feeling so great. Somewhere around mile 5 I lost Solomon.. I ran on thinking he would catch up to me. Sooner than I thought I was in the Magic Kingdom I heard the cast member say "welcome to the magic kingdom" and there we were running down main street I saw Phil and the boys.. I gave them hugs and ran on.. I told them to tell Solomon to meet me at the characters..I had a cast member take my picture in front of the castle and then I saw Buzz lightyear.. I got in line to take a picture with him

. I still didn't see Solomon so I ran on to Stitch.. I got my picture taken with him..

I saw Solomon so we ran on together. I told him all we have to do is run back now.. We ran around the magic kingdom past Pooh's house into the castle and back out.. We then ran out of the magic kingdom. We ran back roads at Disney they had lots of signs to read and music to pump you up. I was leading Solomon most of the day he would run behind and catch up we would walk together than he would be behind again. I felt good. At mile ten we saw the Army guy from Toy Story on the hill he was yelling at people.. Make it up the hill etc. etc. We made it up the overpasses that had kicked my butt last year.. We were heading back to Epcot. By this time I could tell Solomon was hurting so we walked the last three miles. We made it back to Epcot and made the last loop. I told Solomon we had to get one last picture for the boys.. Phineas and Ferb... Solomon was hurting and was looking for the finish line. I was yelling and calling out the workers names.. I was so happy we were almost done. We saw the praise band at mile 13 and looked up and Phil was on the other side. I yelled hello to him and we headed toward the finish line.. I told Solomon to make his way over to Donald to high five him but he said all I want to do is make it to the finish line. I high fived the characters and we were done. 13.1 done 26. 2 to go. I was so happy and felt good. On to the marathon and one day away from being goofy!

Before..

Sometime in this last year I decided I should do a full marathon. I am not sure why I thought this was a good idea. I am not sure how I talked Phil into it. But it is this weekend. We leave this week and the marathon is on Sunday. Am I nervous. ... I think I am excited. It is intersting the process and how people have reacted. My mom has decided that I should not do it.. She said It is too far and I might die. I have had many days where I thought I was crazy.. or that I was in way over my head. I am excited to do it. Will I be tired oh course but I am excited yet nervous to try it.I have done the miles averaging 50 miles a week. I will be glad to be done with that. I will be glad to have my time back. I will be glad to not have to worry about how I am going to get all the training in . This time next week it will all be over. I am ready.. Ready as I will ever be..

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...