So going into 2011 I wanted to find something challenging for myself. I wanted to work hard to accomplish something I had never done. I got the crazy idea (partly from Biggest Loser and partly from friends) to run a half marathon. I started training in January. I used running as my way to work towards my weight loss goal. Then I found cross fit and running got put on a shelf. We ran the 10K the beginning of July, but then had so much going on with my health, that it just became irrational to run very much.
I had a celiac reaction the night of our anniversary that I was still full fledged in the middle of a week later when the Top of Utah was. (Which I signed us up for Eight full months previously... when I set a goal, I mean it!) I was soooo sick, and having such a hard time making it through any given day, and hadn't trained for months, that the idea of running 13.2 miles seamed overwhelming.
I was content with my decision to not run it. I told Trevor and he told me he was still going to do it. Strike One. The day before I text my good friend Trisha. Her surprise was unexpected, she told me I could do it and would regret not trying. Strike two. Home for dinner. Owen asks me what day it is, I respond Friday. "Are you excited mom? Your race is tomorrow!" Strike Three. I better do it.
So my mom and Rob nicely came up and spent the night since we had to leave at 5 am. We didn't go to bed until after 11. I couldn't sleep. We got up around 4:30 and butterflies in the stomach got out the door.
We got to the park in Providence, in the dark and got into the never ending line of 2200 people getting in an even longer line of busses to take us up Black Smith Fork Canyon.
There we waited, freezing, stretching and trying to not be nervous. I was seriously wondering if I could do it. (I still had never ran more than 6 miles)
I really wanted to use the bathroom before we started, but didn't make it through the lines to the porta potties before they asked us to line up. So we made our way, like a herd of cows, to the starting line. Luckily there was a camp site bathroom there, with only a few people in line. I was ready. We lined up in the finishing in 2 and 1/2 hours.
The gun shot!......
And a few minutes later we finally passed the start line!
This handsome guy was promising to stay with me the whole time and that it would be great!
The first aid station was at mile 3. I needed to pee so bad and was shaky. So I waited in line, while the minutes ticked away, and ate a goo.
After that I felt awesome!
Around mile 7 I was starting to feel a little tired, and felt like it was taking so much longer than the last miles. Then suddenly we were at mile 9!
My sister in law had called me the night before and said that they were going to come root for us at mile 11. At 9 1/2 I thought, I don't know if I'll need much rooting.... then at mile 10 1/2 I thought, if I didn't have rooting coming up I would be walking right now!
As I started to see her, Amber, and her family (all of them in tow!) Ryan, Danial, Russell, Lydia, Ethan, and Alex, I started bawling. It meant SOOO much to me that they were there, just for me, smiles on their faces and poster in hand.
Trev had us stop for a quick picture.
Soon after them was the 11 mile aid station. I made the mistake of stuffing bananas and gatorade too fast and not just doing goo and water. From there until the end I looked a lot like this....
I was struggling, so I took it out on Trev. (What a champ!) I would yell at him for running on the wrong side of me, that he was going to fast, or too slow.....
And after pinky promising him I wouldn't walk, I walked a few more times for a couple steps each, and then we were finally going through the finish line!
My Mom, Rob, and my 3 musketteers were there cheering me on. I was so happy to be done that I told my mom I was too fuzzy to keep an eye on the kids and wanted something to drink. We got loads of water and sat down right in the middle of a bunch of people.
The rest of the day, we did not much of anything. But by the next morning I was thinking about what we accomplished and that I wanted to do it again!!!
I had a celiac reaction the night of our anniversary that I was still full fledged in the middle of a week later when the Top of Utah was. (Which I signed us up for Eight full months previously... when I set a goal, I mean it!) I was soooo sick, and having such a hard time making it through any given day, and hadn't trained for months, that the idea of running 13.2 miles seamed overwhelming.
I was content with my decision to not run it. I told Trevor and he told me he was still going to do it. Strike One. The day before I text my good friend Trisha. Her surprise was unexpected, she told me I could do it and would regret not trying. Strike two. Home for dinner. Owen asks me what day it is, I respond Friday. "Are you excited mom? Your race is tomorrow!" Strike Three. I better do it.
So my mom and Rob nicely came up and spent the night since we had to leave at 5 am. We didn't go to bed until after 11. I couldn't sleep. We got up around 4:30 and butterflies in the stomach got out the door.
We got to the park in Providence, in the dark and got into the never ending line of 2200 people getting in an even longer line of busses to take us up Black Smith Fork Canyon.
There we waited, freezing, stretching and trying to not be nervous. I was seriously wondering if I could do it. (I still had never ran more than 6 miles)
I really wanted to use the bathroom before we started, but didn't make it through the lines to the porta potties before they asked us to line up. So we made our way, like a herd of cows, to the starting line. Luckily there was a camp site bathroom there, with only a few people in line. I was ready. We lined up in the finishing in 2 and 1/2 hours.
The gun shot!......
And a few minutes later we finally passed the start line!
This handsome guy was promising to stay with me the whole time and that it would be great!
The first aid station was at mile 3. I needed to pee so bad and was shaky. So I waited in line, while the minutes ticked away, and ate a goo.
After that I felt awesome!
Around mile 7 I was starting to feel a little tired, and felt like it was taking so much longer than the last miles. Then suddenly we were at mile 9!
My sister in law had called me the night before and said that they were going to come root for us at mile 11. At 9 1/2 I thought, I don't know if I'll need much rooting.... then at mile 10 1/2 I thought, if I didn't have rooting coming up I would be walking right now!
As I started to see her, Amber, and her family (all of them in tow!) Ryan, Danial, Russell, Lydia, Ethan, and Alex, I started bawling. It meant SOOO much to me that they were there, just for me, smiles on their faces and poster in hand.
Trev had us stop for a quick picture.
Soon after them was the 11 mile aid station. I made the mistake of stuffing bananas and gatorade too fast and not just doing goo and water. From there until the end I looked a lot like this....
I was struggling, so I took it out on Trev. (What a champ!) I would yell at him for running on the wrong side of me, that he was going to fast, or too slow.....
And after pinky promising him I wouldn't walk, I walked a few more times for a couple steps each, and then we were finally going through the finish line!
My Mom, Rob, and my 3 musketteers were there cheering me on. I was so happy to be done that I told my mom I was too fuzzy to keep an eye on the kids and wanted something to drink. We got loads of water and sat down right in the middle of a bunch of people.
The rest of the day, we did not much of anything. But by the next morning I was thinking about what we accomplished and that I wanted to do it again!!!
If there is anything that you want to do, or think you can't accomplish (even in your everyday life).
You can.
All it takes is some faith in yourself and some determination to back it up!
I am so grateful that I have allowed myself to remember that, if I let myself,
I can move mountains!
(And you can too!)
(See the rest of August below)
You can.
All it takes is some faith in yourself and some determination to back it up!
I am so grateful that I have allowed myself to remember that, if I let myself,
I can move mountains!
(And you can too!)
(See the rest of August below)
9 comments:
Wow!! Way to go!! All I can say is that you are freakin' AMAZING!! LOVE YOU!
LOVE this post! Way to go. What an inspiration! This is something I have always wanted to do. In fact, it's my goal to complete one before 30. Umm . . . I turn 30 next year. Sign me up!
You are such an inspiration!! I can't even imagine running a half marathon feeling great, let alone being sick!! You are amazing!
I am so glad you did a whole post about this. You deserve some BIG congratulations! You are awesome!
That is so great! You look AWESOME!!! :)
You go girl. I just finished my first half about a week and a half ago. It was so great! I can't wait to find a marathon to run. Join me?
Ok so I totally haven't checked your blog in forever! WAY TO GO YOU! You inspire me to do a half someday!
I am SOOO proud of you!!! Such an inspirational post. Sorry I'm so behind on my reading! Love you!
I was so excited to visit your blog thank you for inviting me. It was delightful to read and remember you and your sweet sweet family. Seantae you are a wonderful wonderful lady! I feel such hope for life when I have listened to your testimony shared at church and throught your blog. THank you
Shannon Teater
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