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Okay, since my last post I have (nearly) completed a half-marathon. The days leading up to the event were like nothing I've ever experienced in my life! I've never been so nervous about something that I couldn't sleep or eat. No sleep, no food, just a couple of jittery days blurred together. I had to force myself to eat. I knew that I needed to be nourished so that my body had the energy to endure the long haul. There was also the looming forecast for Sunday, mid 80's, sunny, and humid. I haven't been training to run in heat like that. The race directors have been bombing me (and everyone else) with emails and FB updates. Shit was getting real. I drank 2 gallons of water every day all week to prepare my body and tried not to focus on that part of the challenge.
My trip to Green Bay the eve of the race was an emotional one. I've invested so much thought, energy and time into this race. I didn't want to fail. I was being hard on myself for doubting myself. I would then build myself back up and tell that voice to stop being so mean. It was an endless cycle. Thank GOD I was alone.
By the time I arrived in GB, I was feeling confident. There was a speaker at the Expo the night before the race that reminded us that the hardest part was over. We had already trained our asses off. There was nothing left to do but run, so I was able to relax and enjoy my time with Jess.
I went to bed early and slept well. Race day was here! I had laid out all of my clothes the night before so in the morning, all I had to do was put my clothes on, brush my teeth and we were out the door. We took a shuttle to Lambeau Field. The shuttle was full of people excited and anxious to run. There was a lot of talk about the temperature, upper 60's and it wasn't even 6am! Mostly people were taking their last minutes to fuel their bodies with water and GOO. When we got to Lambeau, I could not believe the amount of people!
It was time to run. I was ready. I was ready to battle the people, I was ready to battle the heat, I was ready to beat that voice in my head. I ran and ran and it was feeling pretty good. The excitement and energy from all of the people around me was unmatched. There were so many people, I was literally getting ran over. All I could see ahead of me and behind me were people running! It was unreal! The water stations were unreal. All the different shapes and sizes of people was unreal. I was taking it all in and before I knew it, I was reaching the 6 mile mark! "Holy shit! This is going by quickly! I'm actually gonna do this!"
I passed a thermometer that was in the shade, 78 degrees. There were people laying in the grass along the route more and more. The sound of sirens filled the air. People were not tolerating the heat well. More than ever I need to take care of myself. I didn't want to be puking on the side of the road.
Around the ten mile mark, I started to hear rumors that the race had been cancelled. People were becoming increasingly ill because of the heat. We were told to stop running at the next water station. I was very emotional about this. I wanted my mom. I made it past the eleven mile mark before I was forced to stop. I was almost there. It's bittersweet. Not finishing because of myself was something I had thought about but was not going to allow. Not finishing because I wasn't allowed to because of someone else was something that didn't even cross my mind. I was feeling good and ready to finish this thing strong. That's something I know in my mind. I look at it as a successful day.
Because of that day, I have more self confidence, more self respect, a medal, and a kick-ass new T-shirt. It's an experience I wouldn't trade for anything. And I've already signed up for the next one! June 24 can't come soon enough!
My trip to Green Bay the eve of the race was an emotional one. I've invested so much thought, energy and time into this race. I didn't want to fail. I was being hard on myself for doubting myself. I would then build myself back up and tell that voice to stop being so mean. It was an endless cycle. Thank GOD I was alone.
By the time I arrived in GB, I was feeling confident. There was a speaker at the Expo the night before the race that reminded us that the hardest part was over. We had already trained our asses off. There was nothing left to do but run, so I was able to relax and enjoy my time with Jess.
I went to bed early and slept well. Race day was here! I had laid out all of my clothes the night before so in the morning, all I had to do was put my clothes on, brush my teeth and we were out the door. We took a shuttle to Lambeau Field. The shuttle was full of people excited and anxious to run. There was a lot of talk about the temperature, upper 60's and it wasn't even 6am! Mostly people were taking their last minutes to fuel their bodies with water and GOO. When we got to Lambeau, I could not believe the amount of people!
It was time to run. I was ready. I was ready to battle the people, I was ready to battle the heat, I was ready to beat that voice in my head. I ran and ran and it was feeling pretty good. The excitement and energy from all of the people around me was unmatched. There were so many people, I was literally getting ran over. All I could see ahead of me and behind me were people running! It was unreal! The water stations were unreal. All the different shapes and sizes of people was unreal. I was taking it all in and before I knew it, I was reaching the 6 mile mark! "Holy shit! This is going by quickly! I'm actually gonna do this!"
I passed a thermometer that was in the shade, 78 degrees. There were people laying in the grass along the route more and more. The sound of sirens filled the air. People were not tolerating the heat well. More than ever I need to take care of myself. I didn't want to be puking on the side of the road.
Around the ten mile mark, I started to hear rumors that the race had been cancelled. People were becoming increasingly ill because of the heat. We were told to stop running at the next water station. I was very emotional about this. I wanted my mom. I made it past the eleven mile mark before I was forced to stop. I was almost there. It's bittersweet. Not finishing because of myself was something I had thought about but was not going to allow. Not finishing because I wasn't allowed to because of someone else was something that didn't even cross my mind. I was feeling good and ready to finish this thing strong. That's something I know in my mind. I look at it as a successful day.
Because of that day, I have more self confidence, more self respect, a medal, and a kick-ass new T-shirt. It's an experience I wouldn't trade for anything. And I've already signed up for the next one! June 24 can't come soon enough!
Wow. I am soooo proud of you for doing this. For having the mental capacity to concentrate on such a long run, and to run day in and day out to train. The dedication is unsurmountable! And fuck them for not letting you finish. I mean, I understand they were worried about everyone's health, but still ... fuck them. June 24th will seem like a breeze.
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