My Marathon!!

I ran a marathon!! I RAN A MARATHON!! I just keep saying it over and over again... me, Carrie, the person who hadn't run more than a mile since probably 7th grade. It feels so great to have actually trained and had the discipline to do something that I really never thought I would do. Even during my training I had questioned whether or not I would actually do it.

So here's how my marathon week went...

Saturday before the marathon - I ran my last long run, it was just 6 miles and it felt great. I actually have started enjoying my runs... let me tell you, its all in the shoes

Sunday before the marathon - Marilee and I volunteered at the USAFit marathon. It was a great marathon deemed "Everyone's Marathon". This marathon was specially created for those that couldn't get into the Houston Marathon or couldn't finish in the six hours. it was a great day for the marathon, nice weather and great location. It was also great to see people actually finishing it really helped me start to visualize how my finish was going to be. After the marathon, Marilee and I drove the marathon route. It took FOREVER and started to make me a little nervous for this weekend.

The rest of the week I completed my timed runs and tried to calm my nerves by picturing what it would be like to finish the marathon. I pictured it over and over again.

On Wednesday, Marilee and I went to the Fort Bend Fit Pasta dinner. Time to start loading up on Carbs! Jeff Galloway was the guest speaker and after listening to him Marilee and I came up with the plan to divide the course in to 4 parts and start with 2-1 intervals then increase to 3-1, 4-1, and 5-1. The last two miles were going to be a free for all, just finish however you can.

Saturday I spent the day just getting things ready and going over the plan over and over. Hub came down at about 6pm. She came into town to watch me and Liz in the marathon. So Saturday night we watched "Run Fat Boy Run" (which wasn't as great as people said it was) and went to bed. I had a hard time sleeping. I couldn't decide if I was nervous or excited. But either way, come Sunday morning I was running :)

Hebrews 12:1 – “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Wow, so its been a long time since I've really really posted. I'm sure some of you have been missing me :)

My marathon training is coming to an end this week. On Sunday I will get up, lace up my shoes, put my hair in a ponytail and head down town with Marilee. Its been an interesting journey and I'm excited to see how it will end. Last night I sat at a dinner where THE JEFF GALLOWAY spoke about running. It was motivational to know that even he hadn't started out as a runner. These past few days every time I say "I'm not really a runner" people correct me. I guess I officially am a runner. (not a very fast one, but a runner just the same). I never would have thought that I could do this... I thought that same thing before my half marathon, before my 25k and before the 30k. I have had pain like I've never experienced before, and conversation and accountability that I can never express enough gratitude for.

So on Sunday, I will run, not because I have to or because I have something to prove, but because I can and I want to run the race marked out for me.