I was also running this half marathon for my uncle, who passed away very unexpectedly the morning before. It was incredibly difficult being in Hawaii when my family was going through this back home in NY, but I know my uncle would have wanted me to stay and do the run, so I did. Everyone told me that I had an extra set of angel wings on my shoulders helping me along. I thanked him for his help by blowing a kiss up to the heavens.
When I decided to have Stacy as my trainer last July (2012), we met at the Astoria park track for our first session. She had me WALK quickly around the track ... Each lap is 1/4 mile. I could not get around the first turn of the first 1/4 mile without stopping, sitting on the grass and crying because my legs hurt. I was experiencing my first (of many more to come) shin splints. I didn't like them. I didn't want to continue the workout - I wanted to go home and cry some more and sleep. I felt worthless. Stacy didn't let me stop the workout, she let me cry - she let me stretch so I could continue the workout. These workouts continued three times a week since then (with the occasional breaks for vacations of course) - some workouts better than others; some worse than others, but we stuck together and neither of us gave up on the other. There were times I was ready to give up (and there were times I'm sure Stacy was too) - especially after all those WARMUPS on the treadmill (I still don't understand how that was a warmup LOL), but giving up wasn't an option. Quitting wasn't an option. Digging deep within me and pushing through the pain was the only option and I chose to continue ... Because I had a goal in mind ... I was doing all of this for a reason - I had signed up for the Maui half marathon, which coincidentally fell on Stacy's birthday - it was a sign that this whole process was meant to happen. The commitment and determination from me paired with the confidence from Stacy enabled me to achieve this huge accomplishment ... I finished my first half marathon ... Yep, 13.1 miles and ya know what? I RAN THOSE 13.1 miles (with a few short walk breaks to get water, powerade, orange slices, ice pops - basically everything they were offering I was taking) and I crossed that finish line in a damn good time for a beginner ... 3:01:27!!!!! People tell me how running is relaxing to them, that it helps clear their minds and reduce their stress, but I always looked at running as a chore. I didn't find it enjoyable or relaxing. I couldn't keep up with Stacy. I was always checking the distance on my gps watch to see how far I'd gone and how much father was left. I couldn't wait to finish these runs. Running in the half marathon was different tho. I finally experienced the stress-free running that people were talking about. I ran the first 7 miles at a consistent pace - each mile was around 13:30/13:40 ... I was thrilled. I was running and not caring that I was running. The last 6 were tougher and slower but I pushed on. I walked when I had to, I ran when I felt better, I cried when my hip was hurting so bad and my calves were so weak that I thought they were going to just give out from beneath me, but I FINISHED and I finished strong!! I was also running this half marathon for my uncle, who passed away very unexpectedly the morning before. It was incredibly difficult being in Hawaii when my family was going through this back home in NY, but I know my uncle would have wanted me to stay and do the run, so I did. Everyone told me that I had an extra set of angel wings on my shoulders helping me along. I thanked him for his help by blowing a kiss up to the heavens.
0 Comments
|
Archives
January 2016
|