Marathon Momma!!!!

Oh YES!!!  The time has come!  I have literally dreamed about this day... the day when I have conquered my goal of running a half marathon and lived to tell/blog about it!!!  (Hallelujah choruses should be playing in the background --- why do I have to be so "blog technology" challenged???)

I DID IT!!!  It's been almost a week, and I'm still in shock!  Have you ever seen the movie Legally Blonde where Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) squeals "We did it!" at the end when they graduate???? Well, that's how I feel!!!!! 

You'd think that since our training program took us up to 12 miles, that running 1.1 miles more would not be that big of a mental challenge, but OH MY!  I don't think I've EVER been that nervous in my life!!!!  Driving to the event the weather was 53 degrees with a windchill somewhere in the 40's.  Not exactly "ideal" with the winds, but at least it wasn't raining!!! (Rest assured I had trained for that too... my supportive husband suggested I train for anything so I even ran in the rain during my training! LOL!)  I wanted to be as ready as possible.  I tried hard to just focus on my #1 goal (to finish), but as my training progressed I somehow came up with a 3-part challenge for myself.  

1. To Start AND Finish the half marathon (13.1 miles)
2. To RUN the ENTIRE thing without walking
3. To Finish in 2 & 1/2 hours or less

I must confess, I was pretty sure I'd finish, but I was doubtful of running the entire thing AND the time limit!  Afterall, I'd been battling shin splints last week from running in the rain in the hill country while we were at couples camp.  Ugh!  But with the encouragement of 2 amazing friends and LOTS of prayer I perservered! 

Still smiling at mile 10!!!

(And for the record...no, I'm not rockin' out or heaven forbid showing a "hook 'em" sign in this picture.... I was showing my kids "I love you!" in sign language.  Talking was more than I could handle at that time. LOL!)

Crossing the FINISH line!!!  Whoo Hoo!!!! 

I was so happy to be finished I cried!!!  I did it!!!  I RAN the WHOLE thing!!!

Me & my amazing running friends!

I think I'm still in shock here that I did it!!! LOL!

Family Picture

(minus Colby...Jarred had just dropped him off for warm-up for his soccer game.)

Oh YES!!!  There was plenty of celebrating!!! 

It's official... I'm no longer "big momma"...

I AM "Marathon Momma"!!!!

Oh, and for the record, my official time was exactly 2:30!!!!  I can't believe I managed to reach all 3 of my goals.  And please note, I was NOT a runner before this!  The farthest I had run before we started training was a 5k (3.1 miles) and that was only one time and back when I was going to the gym everyday!  I found this quote right when we started training and have kept it with me throughout this whole process.  "The miracle is not that I finished the race, it's that I had the courage to start."  It's SO true!  Running is definitely a mental sport more than anything.  I have grown in my faith, my strength, and my courage because of this!!  The mind is one of the body's most powerful tools and once you gain control of your thoughts friends, anything is possible!!!  

Scripture tells us to, "Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."  2 Corinthians 10:5.  During my training I changed my playlists to praise & worship music (from the "booty bouncing" tunes I had before LOL!!) and it made such a difference!  One of my favorite treasures from this whole experience is when we'd be out running on country roads and eventually I'd be overwhelmed with exhaustion and self-doubt.  At those moments I would ALWAYS see a butterfly!  I remember my Dad when I see butterflies.  Someone gave my mom a nice art piece after my dad passed that says, "If it weren't for change we wouldn't have butterflies."  I guess it means that even though change is always hard, something beautiful always comes from it...that's God's plan!!  Every time I'd see that butterfly I'd think of how hard my dad fought for us and how much he loved me!! Compound that with the knowledge that my Heavenly Father put that butterfly in my path to encouage me and that will make anyone want to run!  Running can be such a release, a freeing of sorts.  I think I had every emotion out there on the roads... laughter, tears, angry screaming, you name it!

I have no doubt that I'll run again.  In fact we're already talking about which half we'll do next.  I'm not sure I'll ever get to the whole marathon...26.2 miles seems like more than I can handle, but I'm not closing any doors either!

Oh, and I have to give my amazing husband a HUGE "shout out" here... the night before my race he was camping out with Colby and got absolutely NO sleep, but he was there (with my whole family) cheering me on at miles 3, 10 and the finish!  When I crossed that glorious finish line he greeted me with roses and a gift certificate for a manicure and pedicure (which I treated myself to yesterday!).  On top of that he managed to get Colby to his soccer game inbetween!  He is amazing and I am truly blessed!  He has been so supportive and encouraging and I can not thank him enough!

Blessings friends!