Everyday I'm shuffeling

Its funny how motivation works. You never know what is going to motivate you. Two years ago when I helped a friend finish her first half marathon I knew I could push myself further. A year ago I asked a friend to join me on a four mile walk and the impact has been amazing. She says I encouraged her to do it. She was unsure she could even walk four miles. She must of told me ten times I don't know if I can do it. I knew she could do it. She did it. .but what happened next was amazing. She started to exercise regularly and walk with me four times a week and she had lost weight. She is now training for her first half marathon and attends boot camp. She says I motivated her.. but she doesn't realize how she motivates me. There are many days I don't want to let her down. I want to push myself harder than I ever have before because I know she is . I made up my own toning exercises and make myself do them at home.. to make up for boot camp. I can't have her showing me up. I love her willingness to try and keep going. It is hard. And I love hearing her success.. and seeing her success. I love seeing her hard work pay off. It makes me laugh when she says I motivate her. I wonder sometimes who is motivating who?

My first Marathon.. Mickey Mouse Full Marathon.. and Goofy Challenge

When I first signed up for the Goofy challenge I was not completely sure I could finish. I had to run the half on Saturday then the full on Sunday. It would be my first marathon. It got to the point where I stopped talking about it to people because there were not many people who felt like that was a good idea. SO there I was again in the Epcot parking lot walking to my corral.. Making the mile and a half hike with my brother in law Solomon.. he was less than happy to be heading out to run the full after the half. The pace from yesterday had been hard on his body.. It was cold again so we walked to our corrals and used the bathroom..we got in our corral as we heard the first corral take off. I again asked Solomon are you excited.. he said No I wish I would of trained more. I know you are excited. We had decided I would run my race today and not worry about him he would try to keep up but to leave him if I needed. It was soon our turn to go.. We took off. I could tell I had run the half the day before but I was excited. I kept thinking this is what you trained for all year. TODAY IS THE DAY!! I was off I started running.. and I kept going . I saw Solomon around mile two and then I didn't see him again till the finish line he said go ahead and go so I did.. this time we had to make a lap around Epcot before heading up to the magic kingdom I knew Phil and the boys were going to be at the water stop at four miles I kept thinking run to Phil .. I got to the water stop and they weren't there. I figured they had missed me.. So I ran on.. I began the trip to the magic kingdom.. I felt good I kept running and walked when I needed too. I realized I was on pace to beat yesterdays half so I kept going. I saw Phil and the boys around mile 10.. Phil said Oh my goodness you are fast today.. I gave them high fives and ran on.. I felt good.. I didn't have my ipod since I thought I would have Sol with me.. At one point they were playing MIC KEY MOU SE.. I looked around and everyone was signing while they ran.. men / women/ young /old it made me laugh..My friend Cindy had flew in from Chicago to watch the marathon.. I saw her on mainstreet. How cool is that? I ran on.. into the castle again.. and out mile ten.. three miles to the half .. I was still on pace to beat Saturday's time. SO I carried on.. I made it 13 miles done.. I was so happy half over.. I knew I had plenty of time built up so I could walk some.. I began to walk.. I kept thinking get to 16 four hours then only two left.. I kept on walking.. walking .. walking.. 16, 17 , 18 this was not the most scenic part of the course. It was back roads to Animal Kingdom through the water treatment plant and conservation area.. Finally Animal Kingdom.. past the tree of life.. past expedition Everest I figured it was a good time for a pit stop.. best race bathrooms ever in theme park. I ran on.. mile 19 .. 20. I kept thinking six to go.. six to go.. Mile 21 it was getting warm 76 or so.. I could not swallow cause I didn't have any spit.. I saw a lady at mile 21 she said do you want some ice.. I took four pieces and I was back on track again.. Mile 23.. candy.. who wants chocolate when they have been running five hours and in the heat? But I took some fruit chews, I ate them but then I saw the UP characters they didn't have a line. So I jumped in to get a picture with them.. But I couldn't smile since I had fruit chews stuck to my teeth.. What was I thinking.. On to mile 24 past the Boardwalk hotel.. this is when I got a little choked up. I realized I was going to finish by this time I was walking only. I was tired. I was praying and thanking God for how far I had come.. From the first half in Hurricane Ike to now.. For my family.. for the boys.. for Phil..Mile 25 back to Epcot.. I could not believe how many random strangers were cheering me on.. Come on Amanda you got this.. Your goofy.. I was walking along to mile 26 and then I saw it.. mile 26 there was the same praise brand singing.. I turned the corner and saw Phil.. I said I did it.. and I was crying.. I was so proud of myself....Only .2 to go.. I went over to goofy and high fived him and Mickey. I did it.. I am a marathon runner. Who would of ever thought? I DID IT. I was so proud of myself. I did it.. and I did it alone. Solomon finished 45 minutes behind me. I never thought I would finish a full marathon. It was not the hardest thing I have ever done but it shows me how far I have come. I DID IT! I AM GOOFY!!

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..