8/29/12

Race Day Ready: Mile22 Bags Giveaway (and musings about my fifth marathon)


I've been thinking about up-and-coming races.  (How can I not, see my previous post.) How things have evolved for me.  How my intentions and perspective so drastically changed.  In February of 2011, I had begun training for my first marathon.  I was wide eyed and full of wonder as I approached higher mileage.  I was bold and determined and confident, yet humble.  I had hope beyond hope.  June arrived and I embraced my first 26.2 in Lake Placid with kid-on-Christmas exuberance- so much that I signed up for another that took place two weeks later.  The heat, the hills, and hyponatremia landed me in an ambulance with an IV in my arm after the Half Sauer Half Kraut Marathon in Pennypack Park in Pennsylvania.  Defeated and humbled, part of me started to believe that maybe 26.2 is just too much for me.

As I felt a slight fear of the marathon distance gripping me, I decided the only way to shake it off was to do another one.  And so I ran Philadelphia ever so cautiously in November, finding plentiful justifications for biding my time.  I "ran" a safe and careful race and my finish time reflected this.

The winter gave me a little time to nurse my wounded ego and also stirred a drive for redemption.  This drive fueled me through the New Jersey Marathon this past May.  I ran a strong and fairly comfortable race and snagged a personal best.  I even beat all my friends to the finish line.  Whatever I lost in Pennypack Park and whatever was relinquished in Philly was reclaimed on the NJ marathon course.  I'm ready to see 26.2 as a race.  I'm ready to push myself through this distance, rather than just cruise through it.  The awe and intimidation I once approached this distance with has waned.  The Marine Corps Marathon will be a true test- far beyond "I just want to finish" or "I just want to run the whole thing" and any of those other blanket (but justifiable) statements a newbie marathoner typically makes.  This will be my fifth marathon in a sixteen month time span.  Although I've crammed more marathons into my first year than the average bear, I can't call myself a seasoned marathoner or claim to be an expert at this distance. I'm no longer amazed at crossing the finish.  (Ok, that's a bit of an overstatement- I am always amazed and grateful no matter the distance.) I have this.  So now, I need to race it.

While we're on the subject of rising to a challenge, can I take a moment to be proud of myself?  In this era of self deprecation, we need to glean moments of pride and give ourselves permission to glorify them.  We need to seize the joyous times when we are so delighted with ourselves that we completely forget our shortcomings and that seemingly endless list of what we lack is indecipherable.  Who knew this would happen for me while taking a photo for this very post:



When I dumped these bibs out onto the floor, I couldn't help but feel so grateful and proud.  I could have allowed life to pull me in so many other directions and I could have folded to toxic and destructive interests, but my time, energy and money is spent on running.  All three of my sons have a few bibs stowed away as well and there is a heaping pile of race t-shirts in the closet.  I love my body and what it has worked so hard to accomplish.  So let me pay this forward with this sweet giveaway!

8/23/12

What is UP and what is UP and coming...

Summer has been lovely.
I'm running more.

A lot more...

Here's what has been going on, if you were wondering...

The Colon Cancer Alliance Undy 5000 5k brought us a best team costume win again.

Jenn, Melinda, Eros, me, and John.  Sweating in these costumes is not so cute...

8/3/12

Jersey Girl Triathlon- A Race Review From The Other Side

photo credit: JMichael Herring
Jersey Girl Triathlon 3 mile run
Everyone knows I'm a runner.  While I jump in the ocean pretty regularly in the summer, I would not call myself a skilled swimmer.  And with the exception of my 10 months of residence on the beautiful island of Oahu back in 1994, I cannot remember the last time I rode a bicycle.

Because of the community of athletes that surrounds me, I feel inspired/pressured to put a triathlon on my bucket list.  Obviously, what applies to running certainly applies to swimming and cycling:  If you want to do it more than you want to quit, you will.  My current goal is a triathlon before I turn 50.  Yes, I am giving myself plenty of time. 

Meanwhile, I have had the privilege joy of watching the Jersey Girl Triathlon from the "front row"- from weekday early packet pickup to race morning set up (starting at 4 am) to race site clean up and every single detail in between. It is absolutely beautiful.  Watching closely as pre-race nerves and doubt flourish into courage and conviction is an experience that cannot be described with our limited use of language.  You need to see it, sense it, and feel it through the energy of the participants on race morning.