People talk about living in the moment, but tonight, all I can think about it tomorrow.
Tomorrow morning I will participate in and run the P.F. Changs Rock-N-Roll Half Marathon. The last time I did something like this was 5 years ago, before I was a mom.
Several months ago I posted a blog post about how I was getting back into running. In that post I talked about how I had signed up for a half marathon in January and at that time it seemed so far off. Now here we are, pre-race night. With butterflies in my stomach and my mind constantly having to reassure me, I'll be fine, I lay out my race clothes and crawl into bed, hoping I get a few hours sleep.
The truth is, I've actually already ran the 13.1 miles. I did it a couple of weeks before Christmas and when I ran it for the first time, I reached my goal. My goal was to complete the half in less than 2 hours. I finished last December in 1 hour, 58 minutes. While just in the nick of time, it still counts right?
So while I am nervous, I look forward to just having fun. My goal all along wasn't to just run a half marathon. The half is just the means that got me to where I am and what I've done. I started running last May to feel better, to manage my stress more effectively and to do something for myself. The journey I've taken these past 9 months have been probably one of the best things I've done in the last 5 years. I think it had made me a more positive person, a better mother and wife and happier. My running coach, has a saying about running and I think it is so true... "True essence of running is that it's a passageway to another world."
In my case, this is hundred percent true. I am not the person I was last year at this time. I'm thankful for the support of my husband, my family, who supports me in getting up at the crack of dawn (actually most mornings before dawn even considers rising), to Jarrett for making sure the kids are awake and getting ready for school on my long run mornings, to my kids who don't think twice that Mom isn't there to wake them up, and who greet me at the door to ask me how far I ran each morning. To my friend Michele, who encouraged me to join her running group, who met me at 4:30 in the morning to do track work outs and hills. Who showed me my inner confidence and belief that just because I'm a mom, doesn't mean I can't be a runner too.
When I say these last 9 months have been life-changing, I'm not exaggerating. Five years ago tonight, I was crawling into bed getting ready to run 26.2 miles and I can honestly say that training wasn't as life changing as this race has been.
While the goal is to run my heart out tomorrow, the truth is, I kind of feel like I've already won my race. I've put in the time, logged the miles and have the blisters to show... tomorrow is all about having fun and simply enjoying the
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"You are a champion, simply for taking part."
Until next time,
Angie
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