Running Running Running

September and October were full of running - training, 5k's and finally, my HALF MARATHON!! Autumn weather is so fantastic for runs - cool and crisp and sunny.  It's intoxicating.

In September I ran the Ovarian Cancer 5k run with my neighbor Heather and her team of Carla's Rum Runners. This was in memory and honor of her mom, Carla, who passed away last year from ovarian cancer.  It was a beautiful morning, had a great run and celebrated afterwards with a rum and coke with lime (at 11am!) in honor of her mom. What a privilege to help a friend celebrate the memory of her precious mother.

 

In October, I ran the Get Your Rear in Gear for colon cancer.  What an emotional event.  Besides being there with Margie, which in itself is emotional, we met up with several friends that have recently lost siblings to colon cancer. Two high school friends (Stacey and Jenny), one was one year older than me and the other 2 years older - both lost their battles with colon cancer.  Stacey's brother, Tony, was there and I ran with him, and Jenny's 2 sisters, husband and 7 kids were there as well.  Incredibly emotional and wonderful to walk in their memory and for all the survivors.Tony made it a goal to beat his own personal 5k time, which he did in honor of his sister!

(Missy and I look like we "gotta go, gotta go, gotta go..." Really, we are just trying to not block the faces behind us :)

AND!  On October 16th was the Columbus Marathon!!  I really started to get nervous a couple days before.  I had been having trouble with my hamstring and my right hip/knee.  I only ran a few miles the week before the run and I used lots of heat and got a massage, which helped.
That Sunday morning I was up at 4:30am, ate a small breakfast, had my coffee and time to let it all settle.  We got down to the race around 7am and at 7:30 - away we went!!

 (L) Becky, Tracy, me, (R) Debbie and Anndrea

It was a chilly, overcast morning, the streets were completely lined with cheering crowds - many with funny signs like "this is the worst parade I've ever seen" and they really helped keep the motivation up.  I knew once I started that it was going to be just fine.  I felt great and I was so pumped to be there!!  I got teary a few times along the way too.  Just the fact that I was there, actually accomplishing this (especially given the fact that I was not a runner prior to January 2011!) and to run 13.1 miles...for me, wow.  And to also see so many people accomplishing their goals as well...it was a bit overwhelming but very inspirational.

 

I ended up finishing the race in 2 hours 12 minutes (click to see official race results).  I was very pleased with my time because 1. it was my first 1/2 marathon and 2. I wasn't sure how my hamstring, hip and knee would hold out.  I  managed to run the entire race with no pain! I learned some new things about how to prepare (or not to do!).  I plan to sign up for the Cap City 1/2 in May and hope to be able to get my time below 2 hours.

I'm also going to do the Flying Feather 4 mile race on Thanksgiving morning. When you cross the finish line, you get a bottle of wine!  Definitely my kind of run!

I bought this magnet when I went to pick up my race packet. 

Honestly, it says it all about most of the things I do in life. 

Once I start something, I'm pretty driven to finish. 

Getting me to take the plunge...not as easy!

 

I love, love, love running and am very excited to have started it.  I can't wait to get more involved in the races and hopefully a training group too to help me prepare for the May Half!