I've wanted to run a half marathon for a long time. It always seemed like this big goal, practically unattainable. I began running as a young teen. Back then, I would run without a watch for the most part and just run with a friend until it got dark, or we got tired. We would run for long periods of time and it felt good. My thinking at that age was that I was laying a foundation for running so that when I was an adult and life became busier and potentially fatter with children, running would always be there. Throughout my young adult life, I'd come back to running now and then, but I've been easily thrown off the habit. I didn't really have any goals or much motivation. For one, I was really slim and had lost about 20 lbs since I was first married without exercise and definitely not on purpose. I didn't have any motivation to look better. After Holly was born, I ran right at the 6 week mark. I was totally fooling myself! By the time she was 9 months old I was kind of sort of getting into some semblance of a routine and I registered and paid for a half marathon, but then I became pregnant with Greta. I was tired, we had just bought a house, running gave my contractions, etc. So I didn't do it.
After Greta was born, I tried to start running again. We bought a double chariot and I would go for a 25-30 minute run and then stop at a park with the girls on the way home. Holly would play and I'd give Greta a bottle. Then we moved to California. Once we were settled, I did my best to get into a routine. Running with children is really hard. I found that there were too many excuses. Someone slept in, someone was grumpy, it was taking a half hour to get out the door... Going for a 30 minute run could literally take the entire morning! So I began getting up early and going for a run before Conor went to work. I worked hard and ran my first race - the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot in November 2011. I was so nervous for those ten kilometers that I only slept about 5 hours the night before and nearly cancelled all together. After that I knew I needed to run a few smaller races before I could commit to anything bigger.
After the Turkey Trot, I slipped a little with my running routine, and I didn't do too much until I signed up for a 5km race in Fremont. That was just to boost to get me going again. About a month later, I found a running buddy and we began going regularly, 3 miles, 3 times a week. And then we picked up another running buddy. And then we did a Mud Run with some other girls. And then I wanted something more. I was craving a challenge. Running had kind of become just what I did early in the morning 3 times a week. Too routine. I wanted something that would push me and ideally change my body. Naturally, that led to a half marathon. Something I've always wanted to do. The opportunity presented itself so perfectly. One of my running buddies, Nancy, was game to train and race with me. And so we did.
We put together a 17 week training schedule. Longer than a lot of people thought it should be. But I wanted to be ready! I knew that if I trained hard and long, that would build my confidence and that I would feel less nervous at the start line. So we began training in June. And then I injured my back. My back had been bothering me for years, but the increased mileage broke me. I was visiting a chiropractor at least twice a week, sometimes 3 times a week, just to have less pain. I took breaks from running. There were a couple mornings that I couldn't even stand up straight. On those days I cried and felt bitter and angry, and hopeless. But my back has seen some healing. In the springtime, I had bought a book called, Foundation, for my husband in hopes that the exercises in it would help Conor with his back problems. I began doing the exercises after a couple months of chiropractor visits because my back was always hurting again. The exercises have been awesome for back pain! So I finally got that mostly under control. And then in September, I spent 2 and a half weeks really sick. Terrible head cold and then a sinus infection. When I finally went to see a doctor and I told him about my running (21 miles over the course of 4 straight days, 2 days rest, and then 13 miles spread across 3 days straight), he told me that I should absolutely not be running and gave my a prescription for antibiotics. So I took a full week off a month before my half marathon.
But here I am. Having just finished my last long run before my half marathon and the longest run of my life - 11.08 miles, one week before my big milestone.
My weight hasn't changed at all. I didn't really have any to lose. But my legs and bum are noticeably much more muscular. My pants agree. They're a a little bit tighter in the rear! I'm hungry and thirsty. I'm thirsty all the time. My cravings are chicken breast and salt.
I used to think that you had kids and then that was it. Your body was shot. It didn't matter how well you dressed, it would never be the same. But, I am in the best shape of my adult life. And I feel good. Sure, there are parts of my body that could use a little work (I'm looking at you abs!), but I feel good. I had two kids and I'm running my first half marathon. It's not my last. I have two little kids who still get up in the night sometimes, and I'm getting up at 5:30 or 6am to run. I am so proud of myself. I have worked hard to be where I am. And this is just the start. I really hope and believe that, God willing, a runner will be who I am for the rest of my life.
