Pictures
like the one above make me want to punch someone in the face! Running has always been that
necessary evil in my life. I have never
sucked at running and actually for a "big girl" on most of my teams,
I was usually near the front when finishing. However, running is the essential
activity in every sport I have ever played (minus golf) that was always part of
the training regimen. In my freshman
year of high school, I still remember having to beat an 8 minute mile in order
to just try out for volleyball….and in college, running the golf course and double
loop around Southwestern in practices. I
remember every horse, hill and sprint-training day of every sport I have ever
played and I vividly still remember one coach saying, "we are going to run
until someone pukes!" Maybe that is
why I hate running.... I never got to run for "fun.” It was always
something I HAD to do, not something I WANTED to do.
So,
let's go back in time about 5 years.
Picture a normal Tuesday night in our house. Jon and I watching some TV with Walter and
Charlie eyeing the delivery pizza on plates resting in our laps as we sat on
the couch enjoying a nice cold beer. For
some reason we seemed to order pizza the same night that the Biggest Loser
aired. So we would shovel slice after slice of greasy pizza in our faces and
wash it down with a few craft beers as we sat back and judged the people on the
show fighting their inner self control demons. I clearly remember watching the
episode where the contestants have to run a full marathon and joking with Jon
about the amount of chafing that must take place along the run. All joking aside that episode always gets
me.... How do these people, these very recently morbidly obese people run a
freaking marathon? As I looked down at
an unnecessary bowl of Blue Bell homemade vanilla ice cream that was perched on
the arm of the couch... I looked at Jon and announced, "I am going to run
a marathon before I turn thirty!" This proclamation was met with a chuckle
from Jon to which I replied, "No, seriously, I am going to do it... I am going
to run a marathon before I am thirty!
Hell, if these fatties can do it... So can I!" However, as life goes, time disappeared in
the blink of an eye. The good intentions
of my words that night were met with new jobs, travel, family, pregnancy #1, a
move to Dubai, and pregnancy #2.
Somewhere along the way we managed to fit in the Houston half
marathon though. Jon and I trained
diligently..... A whole 5 short runs were made before the big day. I still remember the half way point where the
marathoners keep running and the halfers turn towards the finish area and
thinking, "those people are idiots... Why would you run a full
marathon?!" After we finished the race Jon and I both looked at each other
and agreed that was the first and last half marathon we would EVER run!
Now,
skip ahead to our 2012 trip to Athens, Greece.
We were on a walking tour when we stopped at the Olympic stadium, the
site of the first modern day Olympics. Our tour guide told us the Marathon
story which I had never heard before. It is said that a solider ran from
Marathon, Greece to Athens to inform the army of an impending invasion and upon
his arrival to Athens, after the 26.2 miles, the solider dropped dead... He
dropped dead after running the first marathon ever! After hearing that story I thought, it's
true, marathon runners are bar shit crazy! Although I was reminded of the night
that I was sitting on the couch in Houston and a seed was planted in my brain
once again.
Thirty
came and went and that marathon didn't happen but then 31 happened! The stars aligned and the crazy goal of
running a real marathon seemed possible... I had help to watch Corby and Leighton,
I was working out regularly and not in awful shape, and I had time to actually
train. All I needed was to sucker
someone into doing it with me. I know
myself and I knew that if I attempted this journey by my lonesome, I would
never finish. I am a good team player...
I like the competition and accountability that teammates bring to the table....
And let’s be honest, I am inherently lazy and would find some reason to fall
off the wagon at some point. The choice for a running partner was easy... Stacey, my friend and workout buddy. All I had to do was talk her into my crazy
plan! The first time I asked her If she
wanted to run a marathon with me... I think her initial response was, "NO
WAY!" Then it changed to, "maybe." Then to "I am
scared!" Then Stacey was emailing our workout instructor asking for
tips... Oh, did I mention that this all took place in a matter of an hour! Not
days, or weeks... one singular Hour!
My
plans was in full motion but now came the training... Have I mentioned that I
hate running? Oh this was going to be fun (yes, that was sarcasm!) My brother
Derrick just ran the Austin marathon so I got the training schedule from him. It started out small with 2 miles. Then we graduated
to 3, 5, 6, 8 and so on. There was
always a long run at the beginning of the week and shorter runs through out the
rest. The training progressed and we
found ourselves running 10 miles, then 12 and then 14... What? We just ran more
than a half marathon? Holy hell! Every run after that we would finish, high
five and both state that that was the furthest that we have ever run before in
our lives! Whenever my body would start
to hurt I would think back to those contestants on the Biggest Loser and
imagine what it would be like to run this with 100 extra pounds on my body...
Then I didn't feel so bad after that. When my knees would start acting up I
would think of our friend Kyle who has had more knee surgeries then I can even
count, but still managed to complete one of the hardest Ironman courses in an
ungodly fast time!
We then progressed to
16, 17, 18 miles... 18! That was a rough
one and the exact reason why I needed a running partner. I had been sick for several weeks prior and
finally went to the doctor only to find out I had Giardia. It’s the parasite dogs get from eating their
own shit... Yep, that Giardia. I have no
clue how I got it. I wash my hands and I
don't eat at totally sketchy places. Who
knows, but I don't wish that on my worst enemy! Despite this, I ran/walked those 18 miles only
because I owed it to Stacey and that day she was my #1 cheerleader. Last week we ran our longest run before the
race, 20 miles and you know what, it wasn't awful. I mean, it wasn't fun but we did it and we
could have kept running!
Our Route!
Well,
the marathon is next Friday and I still don't like running! Maybe I don't havt it... Hate is a strong word after all. I don't hate the
fact that my clothes fit me better… I don't hate that I feel healthier… I don't
hate the fact I have lost 6 lbs (yes, only 6 but 6 is better than
none right?... Or at least that's what I keep telling myself!). So maybe I
don't Hate running anymore... dislike or tolerate might be a better word choice.
So
friends, please keep me and Stacey in your thoughts next Friday from 7-11:30ish
Dubai time and 9-1:30ish pm Thursday night back home. I will be saying my own prayers that
morning...
May
my feet be swift,
May my mind be strong
And please God don't let me pee
myself during the race!
Yeah,
running that far after having two kids is not an ideal
situation! Oh good God what were we thinking?!
Until
later...
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