Marathon Monday

This is it folks, the half-marathon is on Sunday! Three short runs this week and then the big race on Sunday morning. Here's to making proper eating decisions and getting plenty of sleep!

Yesterday I ran my last long training run; a ten-miler. Oh my goodness, my legs felt like lead for most of the run, and I'm not sure what the cause of that was, other than possibly lack of sleep the night before. I went out shortly before 11 a.m. and it was over 80 degrees outside. Did I fall asleep and wake up in Florida? I am not complaining about our GORGEOUS weather, I am just confused as to where this beautiful October weather came from.

{On a side note, friends of ours got married yesterday, and what a perfect day it was for a wedding! Congratulations, Taylor & Andy!}

I am excited for Sunday morning, hoping that there is a good crowd of spectators, supportive runners around me and more beautiful weather! I will admit that I did not keep up with the training program 100%. Most notably the strength training portion. It was all I could do, most weeks, to get the training runs in. But, I have to admit that my weekends are not going to seem normal anymore with out my one-to-two hours of running, just me and my thoughts (and Pandora).

I believe I have learned a lot about myself over these last ten or so weeks of training. I learned that despite terrible lyrics, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry really do make for good running music - seriously though, are lyrics such as theirs really considered talent? I hope my children never want to listen to pop radio, haha! I also learned that Eminem is just all around terrible music and not even useful for a good run.

I also learned that the challenge of running can always be put in to perspective. For example, the week that one of my best friends was preparing for a natural (drug-free) labor and delivery, I got through my training with no problem, because I just kept thinking this was such a small feat compared to what she was mentally gearing up for! Then, my friend (and running buddy on Sunday), Ashley, sent me an e-mail about getting through a run one evening by listening to music sung by a cancer survivor.

I think back to 2007, when I ran my first 20K.  Out on a training run, I passed a younger man in a wheel chair and he yelled "keep it up!" As I came back around, exhausted and out of breath and wondering what the heck I was thinking running a 20K, he said to me "I wish I could do that!". When I see friends' facebook status updates related to running I always find myself a bit envious - everyone always seems to be able to run faster for longer and with more enjoyment. But, I can do it. It doesn't matter if I can do it as fast or as well as a friend, what matters is that I can.

I owe a huge thank you to my husband who would not let me talk myself out of my long runs on the weekends and who held down the fort every Saturday or Sunday as I went out an enjoyed the fresh air for a couple of hours.

As I ran today, I prayed, because ten felt like such a struggle and the thought of thirteen was scaring me. I prayed because I know that running this half-marathon is not of my own doing, but that it is through the Lord I am able to find the physical and mental strength to accomplish this. I prayed that on Sunday morning He will run behind me and push. I am reminded that He is God and that those who trust in the Lord will find new strength, run and not grow weary, walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:31). And, I prayed that I will just go out there and have fun!

My first 20K