Shortly after I signed up for the run, though, Xavier got sick. Then summer came, and with it were jam-packed days, vacations, and lots of heat. I probably could count the number of "good" runs I got in on my two hands alone.
The week of the run (which, as an aside, just happened to be my birthday week), I got hit with my own set of sicknesses - an obnoxious cough that made me nauseous, random nose bleeds thanks to allergies, and abdominal issues that succeeded in getting me an appointment for a colonoscopy (lovely, right?) later this month. Not to mention that my dear, dear son decided to get sick again and trumped all of my illnesses by adding mysterious hives to the mix.
Stacy, too, was having a difficult time with her training. That whole week leading up to the race, we were both grumbling about how we just wanted to get it over with, that our times would be abysmal, and that we would never EVER again try to do a half marathon.
Even at the pre-race Expo, where I usually get psyched about the race, I just wanted to get my bib and shirt and get out. Partly because we were going to the hotel bar for a drink while we were there, but mostly because I really just wasn't feeling excitement about the race.
Fast-forward to race day. I was still coughing and not in the best shape. I had cough drops in my trusty SPIbelt, along with my sports beans and other essentials. I wasn't going fast, but I was making okay time. I kept thinking to myself, "if I can make it past this hill, I can start walking," but then I'd find another reason to just keep trudging along. Then there was that dreaded Belmont Boulevard - an out-and-back hill of a road for about two miles. Instead of getting discouraged seeing all of the faster runners, I kept saying, "if I get passed this part, then I can walk." But, of course, as soon as I turned onto the next street, I couldn't walk because I ran into someone I knew and we jogged along together for a while. And then I realized, wait a second, "I'm on track to finishing in 2:30 or less. I can do this." And I tried. But then the last three miles came, and I admit I tried a little less. I didn't walk, but boy was my "run" slow. I picked it back up when I turned the corner to the finish line because I was keeping my eyes peeled for my family. As soon as I saw my crazy kiddos and Justin, I ran over and grabbed Lissie, who proceeded to run with me to the finish. She was overwhelmed by all of the post-race chaos, but enjoyed wearing her new "necklace" medal and, of course, the food tents - complete with a cookie cafe. She also loved the post-race celebration when we went out to eat with friends at Taco Mamacita. Apparently she, like me, runs for the food. And, I think she'll have a blast when she runs the Color Run with me next week!
Fast-forward to race day. I was still coughing and not in the best shape. I had cough drops in my trusty SPIbelt, along with my sports beans and other essentials. I wasn't going fast, but I was making okay time. I kept thinking to myself, "if I can make it past this hill, I can start walking," but then I'd find another reason to just keep trudging along. Then there was that dreaded Belmont Boulevard - an out-and-back hill of a road for about two miles. Instead of getting discouraged seeing all of the faster runners, I kept saying, "if I get passed this part, then I can walk." But, of course, as soon as I turned onto the next street, I couldn't walk because I ran into someone I knew and we jogged along together for a while. And then I realized, wait a second, "I'm on track to finishing in 2:30 or less. I can do this." And I tried. But then the last three miles came, and I admit I tried a little less. I didn't walk, but boy was my "run" slow. I picked it back up when I turned the corner to the finish line because I was keeping my eyes peeled for my family. As soon as I saw my crazy kiddos and Justin, I ran over and grabbed Lissie, who proceeded to run with me to the finish. She was overwhelmed by all of the post-race chaos, but enjoyed wearing her new "necklace" medal and, of course, the food tents - complete with a cookie cafe. She also loved the post-race celebration when we went out to eat with friends at Taco Mamacita. Apparently she, like me, runs for the food. And, I think she'll have a blast when she runs the Color Run with me next week!
So, I didn't get under 2:30 (I think my time was 2:33:50), but considering my bare-bones "training," it's still quite a feat, I think.
And, at lunch, Stacy and I both said that, while we were proud of our accomplishments, we were both "retiring" from running for the time being.
Yeah. Umm. Retirement didn't last long because somehow now we both signed up for Race #3, the Nashville 1/2 Marathon, in November. After that I'll be done. I promise.
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