Run a marathon... check!

This is me about 2 minutes before my marathon started.  It was such a pretty course!  Just look at that beautiful lake behind me! :) 

 

I have wanted to run a marathon since I ran my first half marathon in the summer of 2008.  Joseph continued training that summer and ran his first marathon that fall.  I couldn't handle running that much in the Phoenix heat, so much that I was actually getting symptoms of heat exhaustion after my runs.  So I put that plan on hold, telling Joseph that I wanted to run a marathon with him someday.  The next summer we found ourselves back in Phoenix, and this time I was pregnant, so no running there.  I figured it was one of those "someday" goals on my list of things to do in life, without an actual date.  I ran my second half marathon when Austin was less than a year old. (I was shocked to find that I didn't even blog about this one, so here's a picture of Joseph and me at the finish).

Man, I was so tired running that race... those last 3 miles just about killed me.  If I hadn't been running with Joseph and had him there to motivate me, I probably would have walked at some point.  I was so TIRED!  I was also about 5 or 6 weeks pregnant.  I was hoping that was why it was so difficult to finish that race, but I seriously started questioning if I ever really could run a marathon after all.

At the end of October 2012 I decided I wanted to run the Phoenix marathon on March 2nd.  It is one of the few Saturday races and it is right here in my city.  Plus, I'd get to train through the cool winter months rather than the crazy hot summer.  Perfect?  Yes.  So, I asked around and found a buddy to run with.  Training started a week later.  Perfect?  Yes.  We were motivated and got to work running our little hearts out.  We were doing great.  Joseph even started training at the same time (but on his own) so he could be my running buddy if my friend ended up injured or something.  (What an awesome husband!) A couple of weeks after Christmas my friend ended up with signs of a stress fracture and was to stop running per doctor's orders.  Stink.  I was sad to lose her, but was happy I had a back up, who thought he was getting signs of a stress fracture himself but actually was starting to feel better.  Almost perfect, so good enough. :)  Then Joseph found out he had a two week work trip in Taiwan the Monday after the race.  Yay, he could be at the race then fly out Saturday morning!  Wait, nope.  With the time change he had to leave Friday morning to make it there Sunday and have time to rest before work Monday morning.  So, despite my best planning, I was running this marathon alone.  So, I did what I had to do.  I committed to run alone.  I had already run a 16 mile training run alone in CA the weekend of my uncle's funeral, so this was only 10 more miles.  Totally doable, right?  Right!  I trained all by myself.  I found the weekday runs so much easier now that I could usually do them after Joseph got home from work, and the long runs on the weekend were easier than I thought they would be.  The alone time was good for me.  I came back tired but rejuvenated and feeling like I could do anything!

Then I went online to register and guess what?  The race was full.  I cried.  Seriously, I cried.  I called Joseph and then my mom just crying.  I had worked so hard and it was all slipping right through my fingers.  I got online and looked for nearby marathons... anything in a reasonable driving distance around the same time.  Miracle of miracles, there was a race THE SAME DAY, about 50 minutes from my parents house in CA.  It was the Diamond Valley Lake Marathon in Hemet.  I was already talking about going to CA when Joseph was on  his trip, this only meant I had to go a few days earlier.  Perfect? Yes.  I registered the next day.

On race day my dad dropped me off and cheered for me as I crossed the starting line.  It was so fun to have someone there cheering for me.  Then he went back home to help my mom get the kids ready and they all met me at the finish.  Meanwhile, I had the run of a lifetime.  The weather was sunny and clear, and I think the high was around 80.  It was so beautiful and I felt so amazing.  It honestly was somewhat of a spiritual experience for me and I felt so emotional as I was crossing the start and finish lines, and even somewhere in the middle I was nearly brought to tears just feeling so thankful to be that healthy, to be somewhere so beautiful, to be doing something so challenging and to be succeeding.  I even turned off my music at one point and gave a little prayer of thanks as I was just so full of joy and gratitude.  It seriously was incredible.  Then, somewhere around mile 7, I think, I pulled out my phone and took this picture:

It really was breathtaking.  I can honestly say I loved every minute of that run.  Sure, it had it's challenges.  I ended up with 2 damaged toenails that I have since lost, due to the hills on the course, but that is the worst of it and that's not so bad.  It was hot, but I trained in Phoenix and in talking to some of the other runners I passed that was a serious advantage for me.  I carried some water and between that and what I got at the water stations I was able to drink much more than I had anticipated and not run out.  My sister made me the sweetest most awesome running mix for my big race (I asked for it for Christmas, I just knew I would love it) and it was a little like I was hanging out with her during my run.  It just was so great.  I was so happy.  I loved every moment, even the challenging ones.

I crossed the finish line at 4 hours 39 minutes, which was a 10:41 minute/mile pace.  I trained at about a 10:30... so that was perfect for me. 

I hope so much that I can run another marathon some day.  I know it won't be anytime soon, but maybe once all of our kids are in school I'll have time to dedicate to running like that again.  On my drive out to my parent's house before the race I heard the Kenny Chesney song, Never Gonna Feel That Way Again, and the lyrics just resignated with me in multiple ways:

It's my life and it's sure fun
Another season of my life's begun
Another race I'm glad I get to run
Another chapter of my life I'm writin'
No I'm never gonna feel like this again
Time's rushin' by me like the wind
Got to grab each moment that I can
'Cause I'm never gonna feel like this again.

I know things will just keep getting better and better though!  They always do!