Looking at the human part of the race...

One thing I can never get used to is the pure enjoyment and emotion of being part of a race of the marathon or half-marathon magnitude.

My words here cannot do the feeling that accompanies these events justice.

First off, I am not all about pace and PRs and competition. I think that sometimes I may come across that way - but honestly I am the last person who is competitive as I am still a very slow runner, but I am a happy slow runner, and that is what counts! I am all about fun. If it isn't fun, why do it?

So, setting PRs and improving on a solid base come with time and are all icing on the cake - the real thing I get excited about is being a part of this whole thing. It is all about the experience.

When I toe the start line I do not think about pace or time or strategy. Of course I have goals for the race, and of course I get nervous for the unknown miles that will unfold ahead of me, but as I look around with people bouncing on their toes and warming their hands - I think about all the first time marathoners and half-marathoners that are surronding me. Awesome. I think about how exciting it must be to be doing this for the first time. I remember that anticipation. I think about the months of preperation for each and every person out there. That is amazing to me. These 13.1 - 26.2 miles are the culmination of months of dedication and sweat and fundraising and mental preparation.


Some of the greatest things that I take away from the race, any race, is not just the numbers on the clock as I cross a mat but rather the people I meet, the funny things I see, the raw emotion of being a part of something so much bigger than I.

For someone who has never done a marathon or a half marathon or even a 5K - there is something a little emotional about being in a field of people. The race is an equalizer. Rich, poor, thin, fat, bitter, happy, honoree, memorializer, fundraiser, marathon maniac, running newbie - every person will take in the same sights, smell the same smells, feel the same breeze or lack thereof... for those minutes, or hours, we are all on the same course. We all will start the same run. It is the events that unfold in those miles that makes the experience unique for each of us.

I ahve learned that the details are not what define the experience, it is the experience that defines the details.

Every race of this magnitude leaves me with a renewed excitement about running. This reminds me that there is a bigger picture, and I am happy being a paint stroke.

Run on my friends - run happy!

Progress is a wonderful thing and the ultimate motivator.

I ran my 2 miles last night around a track at the gym. I am now patting myself on the back because as of today, I am 11.2 lbs. down. That is right, 11.2 lbs banished from my body never to return again. I am right on target for my training and as a reward for my progress, I am treating myself to yoga tonight, SELF challenge strength training and Yoga Saturday, and a 6 mile run on Sunday. That is my new reward system... moving today so I can move more tomorrow. Progression is a motivator. Either your progress slows an dyou are motivated to move harder, or it grows and you are motivated to keep it up. If it does take 21 days for a habit to develop, then I am 9 days down. And I feel wonderful. I blew right through the 1st mile last night and felt strong. I know that I was running a much quicker clip than usual because I was working it. I walked a little during mile 2, but that is OK because I earned it, and I still ran more than walked! Celebrate yall!

I run for wine... not time.

Today I realized something pretty important. And that important thing was why I run and the runner I have become.

I used to be embarassed to tell my time unless it was a PR or so. But now, I am happy to proclaim that I am a mid-packer and happy to be one.

I like being able to enjoy the runs, to take pictures, to make new running friends, to recount the excitement of races as if I won first place - just because I finished!

I love that my heart is in it, but after throwing out numbers for the past two half-marathons, I feel as if a weight has been lifted. I now realize that I run for fun and fitness, not so much competition. Afterall the only person I plan on beating - is myself.

I remember how I used to feel. When I would come in last or nearly last. I felt mocked by myself. No one else, and certainly not the ones who were ther with me, but by the men rolling up the mats, or the people walking to their cars after finishing a long time ago. The "way to go - you are almost there - it is all downhill from here!"' comments, although meant to be supportive, seemed to be cutting.

But that was because I thought that walkers/runners are only atheletes and should only be out there if they could run sub-10's. Me being a habitual 12:00 runner felt out of place. I felt out of time.

I started to avoid races with smaller fields, because I enjoyed knowing that there was someone behind me!

I sort of dreaded my TNT training runs because I was the slowest one out there, so I opted to run with my running partner instead. In the end this solidified our running friendship, but I fostered my fear of being myself on the run.

Now I can recount the races and the runs by location and feelings. I feel the run again. I love the challenge, the accomplishment, and the knowledge that the people who love me and have my back are proud of me even if I finish last! Now talk about a relief! I am allowed to take it at my pace!!!!

Now I get to tell the stories of my runs over dinners of carbs and wine - and I find cool ways of rewarding myself for finishing the feat at hand, regardless of what place I did it in. I still did it - what does it matter if it took me 3 hours or 1? The finish is still as sweet, is it not?

So next time you feel like the last place runner or walker - remember that you did something most people will not - you put one foot down then the other, and you started. It is now up to you to finish.

I now run for wine... not time. And I like it better this way!