Reindeer Run 2011

I know I've talked about it some, but I spent the last 6 months mentally and physically preparing myself for a 10K.  Why you ask? Oh, because I am crazy;)  I had done some walking/jogging since I had Reagan and I knew I could run a mile and I was totally fine with that.  Then Andrew ran the 1/2 marathon and I sat at the finish line waiting for him.  I watched as people more than twice my age (and in some cases, a few that were almost twice my size) finishing that race.  In the past I have been okay with that and not even thought twice about it.  However, this time I just felt this overwhelming sense of guilt as I thought about the fact that I really should be doing more to be healthy and in shape.  If not for myself, then for my children.  I knew that I had no desire to run a half marathon, but I decided at that moment that I could train to run a 10K.  5K seemed like not enough of a challenge I guess.  Anyways, I went home that day and thought a lot about it and determined to follow through on this goal.  

I went online and found the couch to 5K training program.  I figured I would start there and build up.  Let me tell you, it was hard.  I do not like running.  I began to realize though that whether or not I could do it was all in my head.  If I didn't allow myself to stop when I thought I could go no further then my body would keep going.  After I could run 3 miles I found a training schedule online for a 10K run.  The timing was perfect.  This schedule was a little more intense and involved doing something every day.  I followed it "perfectly" the first two weeks, but then schedules and weather started to get in the way.  I still ran everyday that I was supposed to for the amounts "required," but I didn't always do everything else;)  Looking back I think if I had done all those other things then I may have done a little better, but it's all good!

My first hurdle was running without stopping for more than a mile, then it was 2 miles, and so forth.  After the 5K I did on Thanksgiving I realized that I needed to be training on hills more.  So, the last week and a half of training I added in some pretty intense hills.  A couple of those runs are ones that I would never wish to repeat!  Adrian also wanted to participate in the Reindeer run, but knew he would not be able to do the 10K with me.  Instead he opted for the 5K and ran it with my little sister, Hayden, and her friend.  A friend of my mom's was running the 5K and kept an eye on them for us.

Adrian was not an "official" runner--the three of them just ran with the crowd and had a blast.  Hayden and her friend ran the whole way and Adrian tried, but ended up walking a little bit.  He finished it in under 45 minutes which is pretty impressive for an 11 year old who didn't really train at all for it!  Way to go Adrian!!!

My mom got this picture of me before I started the race.  I was worried that it would be freezing cold or raining and it turned out to be right around freezing cold and didn't rain while I was running.

While we were out running my mom stayed at the hosting church building and watched our little ones.  Jonathan and Reagan were in heaven with all those bananas and donuts!  Thank you mom.  I don't think I could have done this race without her help and support.  There were many days that my mom would run with me or stay with my kids so that I could run.  She is amazing!  

I am proud to report that I finished the 10K!!!! And, more importantly I ran every single step.  Even when it felt like torture going up those hills!  I took some ibuprofen before and taped up the shins so I actually didn't have any major issues with my shin splints while running.  Towards the end it was all a mind game to continue on.  The temptation to walk was so great!  But, as I approached the finish line I knew that I wanted my family to see me finish strong so I decided to sprint the last of it.  I think I sprinted faster than I ever had before!  The thing of it is--no one I knew was there to see it:(  My mom knew I would be coming soon, but the camera battery had died and she was trying to find someone she could borrow a camera from and missed it.  Also, apparently I crossed the line with someone in front of me that blocked the sensor so I had no official run time until they could review the video!  I told them the time that I thought it was and was only a little off.
My official run time was 1:03:42!  (I set a pace of 10:16 min/mile!!!!)
Andrew finished the 1/2 marathon in 1:59:19!! Way to go babe:)

Here we are after finishing the race.  Andrew got a medal for finishing the 1/2 marathon (you only got medals for the 1/2, lame.)  And I ended up finishing 3rd overall for my division so I got a ribbon!!!!

In the end our battle wounds were some serious blisters on our feet.  I even had some on the tips of my toes!  Andrew got the worst one:

 Nasty.

Looking back:
I would totally do it again!  When I started the race I was overcome with emotion.  I was doing something that a year ago would have been impossible.  I almost started to cry!  Then I told myself I had run the route and this was no different so get your head in the game and just go for it.  Well, I did.  The hardest part of the run wasn't the hills in the middle, it was the last 1/2 mile.  I was so close, but so ready to be done.  The thoughts of succeeding were powerful enough that I stuck with it.  I started to think about all of the hard things I had done in my life.  I realized how powerful I really was.  I was not the fastest runner, but I was not the slowest.  I ran every step despite my burning hatred for some of those steps!  Before I decided to sprint to the finish line I was tearing up simply because I was in awe of the fact that I had actually done it.
I used to tell myself that I didn't run because I didn't like it, but that if I felt like it I could.  Then I felt like it and learned that I couldn't.  It was really hard work to get in the physical shape I needed to be in to run.  I may not have ended up with a runner's body, but I now know that I can be a runner if I work at it.
I don't know that I will be running another 10K anytime soon, but I am planning on running the firecracker 5K on the 4th of July.  My goal this time around is to improve my speed.  Maybe I can cut it down to 9:30 min/mile?!

Most important life lesson:
I CAN DO HARD THINGS!!!