Marathon Monday - So Fun!

I am so happy to say that I think the half-marathon went well on Sunday morning! The whole weekend was just incredible, actually, minus the fact that I missed my babies SO much!

We left early Friday morning for Des Moines. I took advantage of the opportunity to shop child-free and knocked out a few Christmas presents as well as Matthew's birthday present. I was anxious, however, to move on to my baby visits! I was able to visit two of my dearest friends who each had a little boy within the last month. Snuggling with those little boys was so wonderful. There is such a joy in meeting new life. Unfortunately I was so wrapped up in checking out their sweet faces and talking to their mommy's that I totally forgot to take pictures.

Saturday I went to Farmer's Market with my sister, bright and early. That is by far my favorite way to start out Saturdays! We had a very relaxing day, with an amazing sermon at church that evening, which was perfect for the day before a half-marathon. I was nervous that I would not sleep well before the race, but I fell asleep to a college football game (I think Ohio State versus Arkansas?) and was snoozing soundly in bed by 9 p.m. which made my 6 a.m. wake up call incredibly easy. I NEVER get that much sleep! Here I am ready to head out the door. Don't judge... I see no reason to put on makeup or do my hair before a 13.1 mile race:

 

By the grace of God, I was not nervous, at all! Saturday I was very calm, felt prepared and was just excited! Ashley and her husband came to pick me up at 6:45 a.m. and we made our way downtown. I love race crowds. I people watch. I wonder what each runners story is. If this was their first race? If this was their first full marathon, what were they thinking about? How did they feel? Were they nervous? Excited? What made them decide to take up running? What music do they listen to? What was their training program like?

Isaiah 40:31

The full verse reads "Those who hope [trust] in the Lord will find new strength. They will run and not grow weary, the will walk and not grow faint, the will soar high on wings like eagles." I had decided this past week that I was going to write it on my arm, by my watch, so that when I was tempted to see how long I'd been running or how long I had left, I'd remember to trust the Lord to continuously renew my strength. I think this will be my new race "trademark".

Here are Ashley and I around mile two or three, in good spirits, feeling pretty good and excited to see our fans (my sister, Jon and Travis). Out of thousands of people in the crowd, I am seriously impressed that Travis and Jon ended up standing right next to each other just by coincidence. It was such a gorgeous day that I was already handing off my headband to my sis at this point in the race.

Overall, the race went so well! I was not a fan of the fact that the half-marathon loops around and for a period of time you are running the opposite direction of the people ahead of you and right next to them. It made me a bit dizzy and also gave me this strange sensation that even though my feet were moving, I was going nowhere. I hope to have my pace back down to pre-baby time next time I do a long run like this, but am happy with my time (especially since I had to stand in line for a porta-potty, haha!).

This next photo is of me around mile eleven, where I was excited to run into the fan club again! I have my shirt tied around my waist "backwards" so as to keep my bib number showing. This picture was also taken as I was trying my hardest to keep jogging, but as you can see my form was seriously lacking at this point! My "baby" muscles were aching when I got done, and I could definitely feel that I had just given birth to my sweet baby boy three months ago. I think this momma is definitely going to have to start doing some ab workouts! Wow! (once again... don't judge, haha!)

 One of my favorite things about this race? The sweet tech-shirt! Thanks IMT! Actually, I have never run in a full-marathon setting before, and I was seriously impressed by the whole production. Water stations nearly every mile, nor more than two miles in between. "Gu" stations (yuck, by the way, that is the grossest looking stuff I have ever seen), and food galore at the finish line. Mind you, I grabbed a banana and after a 13.1 mile run, it was the most disgusting thing I had ever tasted. I was hungry, yet nauseous, all at the same time!

I am already thinking about my next goal. I need to keep up my running, but without a goal I know it will start to slide. I am going to sleep on it... But... I think it will be to get my 5K pace back down to at least 10 minute miles and then start re-training for a half (or maybe a full, if I am crazy).

Oh... My favorite spectator sign from the day said "<---crazy, ^insane" (crazy pointing in the direction of the half-marathon and insane pointing in the direction of the full). Second runner up was the spectator sign that said "High Five if you still like running". I gave him a high five.