Sharing a Vision

Tomorrow morning, thousands of runners will line up to the start line at the Boston Marathon. Each runner with a different story, a personalized commitment, and a common goal to cross the finish line. For some, their success across the finish line will bring happiness. To promote my personal happiness, I encourage myself to model those that I admire. This could be someone that I know personally, a stranger, a historic figure, a celebrity..anyone that I find admirable. Of these select few, I can identify the characteristics that are commonly shared. Once I identify these characteristics, I believe that it is something that is nascent in myself but I have yet to bring it into existence. I find one of these qualities, that of running a marathon. I believe that the reason I admire it is because it is waiting to be uncovered within myself. And once it is uncovered, I will begin to admire something different, which is necessary to promote the cycle of growth into inner freedom and happiness! Knowing what you admire in others is a beautiful mirror into your deepest, unborn, self.

Team Fit Stop - Advanced Distance Training

Tonight was the first meeting of our running group...Team Fit Stop. It was great to meet the team and hear their stories of how long they have been running. Our team leader has been running for 11 years and has ran 71 marathons!!!! Can you believe it? Another runner I talked to started running at age 49 and has a WALL dedicated to her medals from half and full marathons. One thing I know for sure, age has no limits on the possibilities to be a runner. I am so incredibly inspired by the people I run with. I am really looking forward to the upcoming training season to get to know them better! They amaze me! I know people that discount their ability to run at a given age and give me that invisible pat on the back saying, "enjoy it while you can", "you're young, you can run right now, wait til you get my age". Excuse me??? I'm feeling kind of inferior to the other runners on my team right now!!! There are runners in this group in their 40s, 50s, 60s...I am a rookie in more than one way on this team! But that's the clincher. I am doing something that requires faith, trust, and determination. I am about to embark on a journey that will allow me to discover a side of myself that has yet to be uncovered. And that is why I am doing this. I enjoy a challenge and feel it is necessary for life to promote growth. But, first I am going to have to wrap my head around this training schedule and start times! Yikes!

It's official...I'm in!

Can you hear my sigh of relief? On Sunday I received an email from my running coach that the registration for the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) would open today at noon. She noted that the race would fill up within hours as there is expected to be 30,000 runners! My heart started to race as I read the email. Since I made the decision to run the full marathon, I never considered the possibility of not being able to successfully register. As I expressed this state of panic to my husband, he quickly redirected me to rational thinking and told me everything would work out. I knew I wasn't available to complete the registration process today at noon, but he promised he would be able to log on and sign me up. I had to trust that this would all work out for the best and if it was meant to be, it would be. So now it is Wednesday, the clock struck noon, and all the stars aligned. My sleep deprived, ever-so-wonderful husband was waiting patiently to log on at noon. (My husband works in the EMS field and just got home today from a very busy 24 hour shift. He was not able to get much sleep today to recover.) I couldn't believe my ears when he announced that I was "successfully registered for the 35th annual Marine Corps Marathon". It is entirely surreal. Just a couple weeks ago I was having moments of self doubt that completing a full was within reach....and now I am registered for it and I feel incredibly revived for a strong training season and memorable finish! I am lucky to have incredible people in my life to help me along the way...my husband, son, parents, family, friends, and of course my crazy running friends. Speaking of which, my crazy running friends insist on a 5:15am start tomorrow for our 5 mile run...so I better get some sleep!! Tomorrow evening is the big meeting with the running group...and we will receive the training schedule!

The Birth of my Blog!

Greetings! I'm very excited to introduce you to my blog. I have created it as a way to log my journey through the training experience for my first marathon! I will be beginning my training soon and want to hear from you with comments, suggestions, and most of all encouragement!! I plan to focus on things like nutrition, cross-training, stretching, hydration, sleep, and finding out what I DON'T already know about running. This is a learning experience! I admire all types of runners, fast or slow...it's about getting the job done and crossing the finish line!! Here's a little background about me...the summer of 2008 my husband came home and declared we should sign up for a gym membership at our local YMCA. I told him he was crazy...gym memberships are a waste of money, and besides, who has the time (or desire) to exercise!?!? Well, he disagreed. We agreed to disagree, and proceeded with taking advantage of the recent "discount" on initiation fees at our local gym. The sign up fee was waived and the family was signed up! To my surprise, the gym's appeal came early on. I began to explore the group class schedule and found that I was both interested and able to attend a few different classes such as yoga, spinning, and pilates. Before I continue, let me describe myself to you so that you understand my previous exercise experience. Let's see, how can I say this....it was ZERO, nada, nothing, non-existent!!!! I had never done much of anything that involved cardio, except rushing a sales rack at the local TJ Max. This may come across comical, but my baseline was pathetic. However, I tend to be overly confident and up for a challenge...so I began my first pilates class with a sense of optimism. Wow. I was in for a workout...it kicked my butt!! Over time, I kept going and found each class getting slightly easier than the last and I was ENJOYING it. During the class, I found myself thinking about how much longer I could "hold the pose", instead of my daily drama or what I should cook for dinner. The gym became my outlet for time for ME. It became my hobby....and I was seeing progress in my stamina and improved mood. I even started running on the treadmill! Fast forward to the following year, when I decided to register for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 60 mile, 3 day walk. I registered for a local half marathon in an effort to see how I would withstand such mileage, and about 5 minutes into the race I decided to run. I ran and ran and ran. To my surprise, I ran nearly the entire race stopping only for short breaks around mile 10. I crossed the finish line and was draped with a medal?!?! I had no idea I was entitled to a medal! "How cool is that!", I proclaimed. Not only did I already get a free shirt, but now a medal! From that moment on, I was hooked. I completed a 15k and another half marathon that year...along with the beginning of a collection of medals. In an effort not to injure myself, I had to stop running in order to prepare for the 3 day walk. But not only myself, my husband and my mom joined a team of wonderful men and women all walking for the cure. My previous year of exercise experience helped to prepare me for the walk. The rigorous training we endured pushed us along a hot summer of long,long walks. We all crossed the finish line together after almost 600 miles of training over 24 weeks. In November of 2009 I laced up my running shoes again. It felt great to hit the pavement. As much as I despised watching the sunrise during our training walks, I found myself refreshed and ready for a new challenge. As I was approaching my 30th birthday, I knew I had to set a new decade of challenges for myself. One of which was to complete a full marathon. So far, 2010 has included 2 half marathons and an upcoming 15k. There have been aches and pains and a recently healed foot injury resulting in tarsal tunnel syndrome. I take each day as it comes. I have learned to listen to my body and treat it with respect. I am so eager for what this year has in store for me. And I am eager for your thoughts and ideas on how this experience can be more enjoyable for me as my first really big run!