Chicago Marathon

Chicago Marathon. My first marathon. I was so excited and nervous at the start. My best friend from 5th grade and I decided to conquer our first marathon together. We were waiting eagerly to start, lined up with the 4:30 pace group. The gun sounded and we were off...

The streets of Chicago were amazing. Lined with thousands and thousands of spectators. All cheering each and every marathoner on. We ran through the streets seeing friends and posters, it was all so exciting.

Quickly though, my knee started to throb and immediately turn to a stabbing pain. I immediately took my pain meds and kept going, we were only at mile 4, I came to finish not to drop out. As we continued my knee pain got worse and worse, before the half I found myself taking another oxy.

I was worried at this point. Worried I wouldn't be able to finish, worried that I was doing permanent damage and worried that the meds and the heat would get the best of me.

My worries soon faded as I looked around me. Surrounded by runners and spectators nothing was going to stop me. The heat got worse and worse, but as it did the people off Chicago poured themselves out to the runners. I couldn't believe the amount of people spraying hoses, handing out oranges, peanut butter sandwiches, and water bottles. It was amazing the support the city gave to the runners as the heat rose to 91 degrees.

Mile 20 was were I looked to the people of Chicago the most. At this point I was out of meds and feeling great pain. I stopped at an aid station and get some ibuprofen. By mile 23 complete dizziness set in. No food + heat + meds = not feeling well.

As I struggled to keep my legs moving I just looked around. All the smiles and cheers. The high fives and fist bumps to all the kids. The pain and dizziness didn't matter anymore, there was so much energy around me I knew I would make it to the end. With the help of the people of Chicago, my great friends that cabbed it stop to stop to cheer me on, the friends that jumped in and ran segments with me, and my bestie that stayed by my side no matter the pain I finished the marathon with a huge smile on my face.

I may not have achieved the time I trained for but that didn't matter. I finished the marathon surrounded by people that kept my hopes high and my smile on for 26.2 miles. And if I had achieved my goal I wouldn't have as much to work for next year. Chicago I look forward to running your streets again in 2011 and completing my goal with you behind me.

Friends and Running

There have been times here in Oklahoma I have thought I lacked good friends. I have longed to be with my friends that are scattered across the United States but Sunday I realized what a true friend I had here.

I had a goal to run 19 miles on Sunday. Due to surgery and some illness I had not run more than 3 miles in 5 weeks. So this was quite the goal. At work on Saturday I was talking to my friend about my 19 mile conquest and my fears about not finishing it, especially because the marathon is right around the corner. I told her my plans to run the Lake Hefner loop twice and how I feared mentally I wouldn't make myself go around the second time.

Without a second thought she offered to meet me for loop number two. I couldn't believe it. How many people offer to run 9.5 miles with you, especially when they have never run more than 3???

I realized at that point that I do have true friends here in Oklahoma. I have friends that are behind me and hope to help me in whatever I do. As much as I miss my friends that are spread across the country, I have made some great friendships here in Oklahoma.

When I rounded the bend at Lake Hefner to begin loop number 2 I had the biggest smile on my face. There was a friendly face to push me through the second loop holding an ice cold Gatorade.

Training starts today

Training for my first marathon. The Chicago Marathon, a good choice I hear. I am excited, nervous. I have heard that if you can run 26.2 miles you feel as if you can do anything. I do not know this yet, but I know that the decision to add running back to my life as made me happier and much healthier.

I had my first run today, long run that is. It was 8 miles, a very hilly 8 miles. I ran a 1.7 mile loop 5 times. It would be an understatement to say the last loop was not a complete struggle, but I made it. As I ran the 8 miles I considered the poor decisions I made the month of May. Perhaps eating and drinking whatever I wanted and stopping most, if not all exercise was a very poor decision. While I had fun the month of May, it was not worth the struggle of running that lies before me. So back to my pre- May lifestyle... healthy eating, running 4 days, spinning 2 days, and wine only on special occasions (not everyday...)

And so the training begins...