I Can, I Will, WE DID! A year later..

Note: Not sure how I never published this, but I just noticed it said, "draft." Opps...anyways here ya go. My marathon journey a year later.

As I tracked my journey I often used the hashtags #ICan and #IWill, because my goals started out as my goals, but when I started to share those goals and find people with similar (or the same) goals then I feel they shared a part of my accomplishment. 

I Can, I Will, WE DID! 

So... what was my actual marathon experience like?!?! 

Before the Gun... There were an abundance of things that raced through my mind. 

*Am I going to park where I want?

*Am I going to find a bathroom?

*Oh yeah, I need to listen to that pump up song Kathy sent me!

*Do I have enough Vaseline on my feet?

*How much is is going to rain?

*Can I do this?

*What if I cannot find my people?

*This. Is. Happening.

*Am I really ready?

*I've got to make the group photo. Seeing everyone was calming. Here we are, just going out for another long Saturday run. 

*Lorri gave me a huge hug and that was comforting.

*Do I have enough fuel? 

*What if we start too fast?

*We need to stop at the port-o-pots!

*I really want that medal!

*Run for those who can't.

*Craiger came and found me and it was the absolute sweetest hug. I teared up because he just gave me the "you've got this" pep-talk. He didn't have to do that, but he did and it melted my heart (and brought a tear to my eye).

*Don't forget to turn the tracker app on.

*Text message overload.

*What if I can't do this?

*Make sure your gps connects. 

*KELLY!!!! Where is Kelly?!?! Not going to lie, when one of your people are missing you panic inside a bit. We found her. 

*Of course there was plenty of time for all of the above, but it felt like time going the speed of lightening and there was no time for any of it. 

Mile 1: Here we go.

Mile 2: Still moving.

Mile 3: We've got this.

Mile 4: Alright, alright. A little sprinkle.

Mile 5: First glimpse of the fam!

Mile 6: Trucking along.

Mile 7: Raining a bit more. 

Mile 8:

Mile 9: This is when we exited Churchill and followed the "Marathoners to the right!" directions. This was a WOW moment for me.  

Miles 10 and 11: I liked these miles. They were the slow and steady incline to Iroquois. I saw my cousin, April, coming back in on the other side and that was super encouraging and fun. (She placed 2nd for the women. Whoop! Whoop!) At this point, I felt like I could run forever. I felt confident in everything we had done. I knew for a fact I could make it to 22. That was our longest training run and it was only a few weeks prior. 

Mile 12: Here goes nothing! The crowd going into the park was decent size. It was fun to see how many people stood out in the rain to cheer on their people. I think Iroquois is a little intimidating to most some runners. The loop is the opposite of the Papa John's 10 Miler and I really wanted to make sure I had grasp on what to mentally accept be prepared for. My SIS (and Ryann who slept the whole time) went and walked the loop and then Ruth, Kelly, and I ran it numerous times leading up to race day. This "preparation" really helped getting through the park. I feel like Iroquois is much more difficult to mentally navigate than Cherokee for various reasons. 1. I had only gone around the loop from the left. 2. I had only been there a handful of times. 3. There are not nearly as many visual markers as there are in Cherokee. That's all different now because we took the time to "practice."

Mile 13: I knew at mile 13 there was going to be a downhill with one more hill to go. 

Mile 14: This was the front side of the park. There was an awesome little band that was super up-beat and exciting. 

Mile 15: Iroquois is over. dunzo. no more hills. you are over half way there. wow. my knee hurts. my hip. Ouch. It's crazy to think of how quickly things can change. Just about 3 miles ago, I was ready to run forever and now I didn't know what to expect. I made the conscious choice to slow down a bit. It was the smart choice. 

Mile 16: Coming back in Southern Parkway my cousin, Natalie, was standing there waiting. She told me to keep going and that she was so proud of me. I appreciated hearing that. 

Mile 17: I saw my Aunt Judy and Uncle Jerry again somewhere around here. My Aunt definitly lost her voice that day. My cousin, Angel, was running her first marathon too! This is when I also saw Heath and Jennifer and their little girl Lucy. Heath is a friend of my brother's that leads the weekly cross-training class I go to. He is super inspiring and motivating and it was exciting seeing them there. 

Mile 18: I mean, my friends are awesome! Giving up so much of their day to wait over and over again. 

Mile 19:The Weiterville Express didn't disappoint. In fact, it went above and beyond. There were signs everywhere! My dad played our song, "Free and Easy Down the Road I go!" He had a line of signs that said it too! I was stoked. I'm a pretty emotional person as it is... at this moment, my heart swelled with love. I remember hugging my mom and my dad. I think I told Kathy that I was unsure if I was going to make it. Craig put his arm around me. Bub patted me on the back. I was struggling, I was hurting, but they lifted me up. I left with a bag of oranges and a full heart. I will never forget that feeling. I knew when I saw them, the end was near, but what I didn't realize was that the next 6.2 were going to be the absolute hardest thing I have ever done physically.

Mile 20: I couldn't get my fuel open. The plastic wrapper and my fingers were so wet that they just kept slipping off. Luckily a few people on the side were kind enough to help me out! 

This is when Leigh and I met up again! It was like an angel was sent to me. 

This is also when I really really started to struggle. My hip was hurting in a way that I have never felt before and it traveled down to the outside of my knee. It was the worst pain I have ever felt in that area.  The only thing that I found that would help at this point was is if I took short walk breaks.

From this point on, I didn't think I would see anyone until the finish line. Thank goodness I was wrong. 

Mile 21: Is that Bub? YES! My brother popped up again! He told me to put one foot in front of the other and that I would get there. I didn't believe him, but he was right.

Mile 22: Holy schnikes!!! That's Alma, Trey, and Barry! This was such an awesome surprise!!! 

Mile 23: KATHY AND RYANN again!!! Singing loudly! 

Then right up the street my favorite Goulets popped up again! 

Mile 24: Is that a table with shots of beer on it?!?!?! Why yes it is! I didn't have any, but I saw others take some and it provided a good laugh. This is right where Broadway went downhill and that was a nice feeling. 

Mile 25: I looked at Leigh and said, "Does that say 25?" I honestly didn't believe it. I was in so much pain and so over it that tears came to my eyes. Miles 21-25 were definitely the hardest for me. If I didn't have Leigh there, I am not sure I would have made it. She talked my head off and I appreciated that more than she will ever know. I couldn't tell you a darn thing she said, but she having her there meant the world to me. 

Mile 26 AND that last .2: Leigh and I saw her friends from New York,  my aunt popped up again, and Leigh's husband was right at the turn.

We turned the corner and there was Genna and Michelle on the right hooting and hollering!

Then I looked to the right and Jayne, Lindsay, Nate, and Leo were there. Que ugly cry!

Then I looked ahead and my mom, brother, aunt, and family friend were all waiting right through the finish line. 

I threw my hands up and a smile covered my face...this is it! 

I hugged them all and then lost it. My left leg hurt so bad, but I had to go get that medal. I hugged the adorable guy that nicely placed it over my neck.

I limped around to the finish area to find Ruth, Kelly, and Leigh! We smiled, we hugged, we took a photo, WE DID IT! 

Of course I hit the PR gong, because well, I PRed. 

Jim, a Fleet Feet mentor, came over and gave me a high-five! He was there when I started this journey and he popped up at the finish line.  

Holy Sh*t! Did that just happen? 

XOXO-Kim

I Won the Lottery!

Here we are again! Time for some reflection and some more goal setting. If you know me, you know that I am pretty goal oriented. If I want to do something, then I will find a way to make it happen. This can also be seen as a downfall to others, because I am pretty selfish with my time. #owningit

Let's see how the year measured up...

Flashback to January 1, 2016: I look forward to what 2016 will bring. I'm already signed up for 5 races and there are some other ideas brewing in my head! Check!   I don't have a mileage goal yet and I'm not even sure I'll make one. (I made a mileage goal of 1,000, but fell short. More about that to come.) My main focus is the marathon Check!, I want to PR some of my distances Check!, and I want to run a few new races Check! in a few new cities Check. I want to collect a few new medals Check! and make some more lasting memories Check!.

To quote myself, "My 2.0 journey has definitely been one I have fallen in love with. If it's possible to fall in love with a hobby. I'm not really sure what my WHY was my first go around back in the day. I feel like my why now is to be a better person. Yes, running makes me a better person. I all around feel better when I run. I may not be fast, I may not be stick thin, I may not set records, but I can proudly say, "I am a runner." I don't want to lose that." ALL of this still rings true. I couldn't have said it better myself. Oh, wait! I did say that. :) 

My year in review:
(Sry, some of this is a repeat from  My Marathon Journey Post)

Monthly Miles and Inspiration:
January: 89.0
"Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most." Fleet Feet wall

February:117.00
"Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try!"

March: 130.00
"It never gets easier, you just get better!"

April: 138.00
"It's hard to beat a person who never gives up." Babe Ruth

May: 52.00
"There are no excuses. It's all about you. Set goals, reach goals, make new goals!"

June: 80.25
"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard...is what makes it great!" A League of Their Own 

July: 63.55
"If you can run, six miles on a summer day, then you my friend are a lethal weapon in the animal kingdom."

August: 78.35
"You are only as strong as you allow yourself to be; never get discouraged, never give up because consistency and dedication is the key to success."

September: 47.50
"I am a runner. Not because I run fast. Not because I run far. I am a runner because I run!"

October: 72.35
"I don't have to run, I get to run!"

November: 30.6
"Strength doesn't come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn't."

December: 41.85
"Strength shows not only in the ability to start over again with a smile on your face and passion in your heart."

2016 Grand Total: 940.45

I am SO HAPPY with reaching that total! That's over 290 miles more than 2015. Whoa!! There were a few months were miles lagged some. May was after the marathon. I was injured for almost 3 weeks in September and then the dreaded gallbladder struck at the beginning of November. I was thinking about tacking on the time I missed because of recovery onto the end of the year, but nah! No excuses. I should have ran more in the summer. ;)

Completed Races:
Anthem 5K PR!
Rodes City Run 10K PR!
Papa John's 10 Miler Major PR!
Derby Festival Marathon 5:34:37 PR!
4th Fest 5K
Poker Run 5K
Pure Tap 5K 
Urban Bourbon 1/2 Marathon
Indianapolis Monumental 1/2 Marathon PR! 

My 2017 goals:
*Run 1,000 Miles in the calendar year! I'm not getting that close and not trying again!
*I am on a team with 4 other women to reach 2,017 miles. I need to make sure I do my part!
*Continued improvement on my 1/2 marathon time.
*At some point, I want to go for a run streak. Not sure, if I want to pick a month to give it a go or what... I dunno...
*Run a personal record at the CHICAGO MARATHON! It's going to be like rounding 3rd as a World Series champ. Probably not anything like that, but still. 

So that's what I meant when I said that I won the lottery. Chicago is the 2nd largest marathon in the U.S. and you have to enter a lottery. Welp, I filled out the application on the last possible day you could and a few weeks later- I WAS CHOSEN!!! I am beyond excited to run in one of my most favorite cities. So many memories in Chi-Town. I am taking a chance of missing a football game, but I just had to try! Fingers crossed it's an away weekend for us. 

A member of my Fleet Feet fam saw and shared these 3 questions proposed by Runner's World and here were my thoughts...
What were my three favorite athletic moments of the year?
1. KDF Marathon (duh!)
2. Indy 1/2 Marathon PR
3. Running an 8:46 mile

What were my challenges this year?
1. Joining a running group.
2. The Summer Speed Series
3. Being injured and sick

What inspires me now?
1. My Family
2. Those who cannot run.
3. Chicago

Cheers to many happy miles on smooth pavement in 2017!

XOXO-Kim

Remember where you started.

Change {cheynj}

noun

1. A transformation

Growth {grohth}

noun

1. The act or process, or a manner of growing; development; gradual increase

Day by day nothing seems to change, but pretty soon, everything is different.

I had a bit of a frustrating week run wise. I really want to blame it on the heat, but I know that not the only factor. I didn't sleep well and my legs were pretty heavy today. Tomorrow's rest day will be welcomed. Running at 6:30pm Monday, Wednesday, and again today was NO JOKE. I bailed on a 6:30am run this morning because I could. not. get. up! I was spent, but needed to run this evening before heading on vacay. So it got me thinking about where I was this time last year. 

I MEAN LOOK AT THIS! I am consistently running 10:00 minute miles on shorter runs and 10:30-11:00 minute miles on longer runs now. (Increasing speed takes time and I'm in in for the long haul.) Last year, it is evident I walked a lot. I cannot be frustrated with this week because I have grown so much. MUST REMEMBER THAT!  The heat is just an element that is out of our control and we must learn to suck it up, adapt, and move on....literally.

Mid-Summer 15 running log. 

Here is a picture from last July right before I decided I really needed (and wanted) to step up my game. I had done the Urban Bourbon Fall 14 and the KDF Mini in Spring 15, but it's clear I didn't put that much into it or know what I was doing. After the mini in the spring I was slipping back into old habits and putting some weight back on. (Note: I am not into running to lose weight, but it has been a nice perk and has boosted my confidence.) My trip to Denver was a turn-around point of telling myself that I wanted to keep my 2.0 journey from coming to a close and having to look back one day and start a 3.0 journey. So, I definitely slowed down those few months, but thank goodness I never quit. (I mean, I finished a marathon 9 months after this. I'm probably going to bring that up a lot. #sorrynotsorry)

Yep, what this quote says.

I wanted my journey to continue. So that's what I committed to and am committed to. Sometimes when things get tough, hard, unbearable, just take a step back and look at where you started. The hard days are what makes the great days that much greater. That's what I am having to do today. This past week was tough and this coming week is going to be as well, but my eyes are on the prize. When I say prize-I mean....growth, fun, health, community, family, and an overall better well-being. Running gives us so many life "prizes" and for that I am thankful. 

I started somewhat alone (because I was too stubborn and scared to step outside the box) and now my running squad, tribe, FAMILY is growing! I want to give a little shout out to Ruth because she has really helped me stay grounded and has become a pretty important person in my life. She sent me the kindest words today that brought me back to reality.!

 

 I never thought I'd be running speed intervals in the dead of summer, but we did it and we are SMILING afterwards! 

Here is a bonus... This is from my first Papa John's 10 Miler (I'll have to look up the date another time) and this year I PRed from then! Even if you have to have a 2.0 journey...you can still top the 1.0 journey! I'm living proof. (Also, check out the stadium!) 

Happy Running!

xoxo-Kim

It doesn't get easier. You just get stronger.

June 1st was Global Running Day and I made it one to remember by joining the Speed Session at Fleet Feet. We met every Wednesday morning at 6am at a local track for some speed work. This was all foreign to me...I mean, 200s, 400s, splits, accelerations, 1600s....WHAT? Good thing I am a fast learner. See what I did there? Day 1 we ran our mile time trial. I was ecstatic when I finished a mile in 8:37. Holy schnikes!!! Going into it, I was hoping for 9:30ish! To see an 8 was...wow! 

The next 6 weeks consisted of pushing myself to run faster than what I was comfortable with. To go past when I wanted to stop. To try new things. To just run. To have a good workout that I would have no clue how to do on my own. 

Well, our final session was this morning. We ran a mile time trial to see if our hard work had actually paid off. You know, to see if we actually improved. Well... my mile was 8:37! Yep, the EXACT time as my mile 6 weeks ago. I wish I would have tried harder, but I did try hard. I gave the best I had to give today. Turns out it was my same best as 6 weeks ago. #twinkietimetrials

You have got to be kidding me?

Man, that sucked!

I didn't improve!?!?!

I should have tried harder.

What the heck?

Well, this is frustrating.

I quit.

Over it.

Well, I've decided that those initial thoughts are STUPID. Doesn't take away that I had them, and that's okay too. They were real. It's natural. It's also over. 

Not only was my time the same for my mile, I finished last in the group. I am PROUD of that! How can I not be? I PRed a 5K last weekend with a time of 28:59. My time before that was 29:51. I was doing something right. REMEMBER: Most of us "normal" runners are not going to "win," but that doesn't mean we stop trying to do our best. My best for me is just as difficult as the person that finished in 6 minutes. My hard felt the same kind of hard as they felt. That's how I envision it anyways. Plus, my brother told me so. I believe him. 

I get a little tired of how slow is often used negatively when talking about running. I also get tired of people saying, "I just don't want to come in last." (I fully admit that I said that back in the day.) WHO CARES?!?!?! If you are not an elite runner or professional then why beat yourself up? I don't run to be elite. I run to be a better version of myself.  I am me and you are you. I have learned that it's the heart, will, determination, dedication, time, and so much more that you put into running (or whatever you do) is what makes it so wonderful. It's the free mind, the friendships, the horrible runs and the great ones too, the times you have to walk, the times you fight to get out the door, the PR's, and so much more that makes it all great! Coming in last is beating the millions of people that aren't on the track at that moment. Crossing the line-whether you are the first person or the last-doesn't change the line. We all cross the SAME one! 

So after the mile we ran an 800 time trial. I was not happy with myself and only made it 400m. I just needed an extra minute to regroup. Not to mention....it was HOT. SO HOT! SO MUGGY! Then, we finished our normal speed workout and all was good in the hood!

A few things I learned...

It doesn't get easier.

I am stronger.

I can run faster.

I really do not like 800s.

I can handle 200s and 400s.

Your best can vary depending on the day.

Warming up really does matter!

Fast and slow are words that do not define me as a runner.

Keep going!

I come back to this quote often. 

Now I am really excited for the fall training group to start this weekend. I signed up to be a mentor and that will be fun. I just know it. Taking my journey to another level! ;)

XOXO-Kim

It's Not a Sprint...

As soon as I hit "publish" on my Marathon Journey Training post I quickly realized  I left SO MUCH out. I went back and changed journey to training because I feel like that word fits better. I gave you a snapshot of what I did in training to run a marathon. Yes, training is a very very very important part of a marathon journey, but it's not the only part. So, I've been brainstorming and here are SOME of the many moments, that added to the love of my marathon training during my running journey. Thing is...I know I'm going to hit publish and think of more, but here is what I've got...

*Craig, Lisa, and Lilly gave me a bracelet right when I started training that had a charm with the quote, "It's not a sprint, it's a marathon." It was a gentle reminder that this was going to take time, that this was going to be a process that required patience. 

*Ruth placed water bottles in a tree on Frankfort Avenue for one of our long runs. Thankful for that! 

*Kelly's husband was our very own aid station and met us with water and oranges not once, but twice. Thankful for that!

*I was ecstatic when someone asked, "How far are you running tomorrow?" and I could say, "Only 10" or "just 12." It sounded so rude, but it was so true in the big picture. I never imagined that 10 and 12 miles would feel so manageable.

*Leigh, Ruth, and Kelly were ALL out of town for our Saturday 20 miler. I was nervous to be alone, but Lorri and Jim adopted me for the day and openly welcomed me to run with them. Thankful for them! They were awesome mentors for our training group!

*If it wasn't for Leigh asking me to join her and Ruth on a cold Wednesday evening, I would have been left alone. I remember we ran 4 miles that night and I instantly felt comfortable and an "official" part of a running community. Thankful for that!

*I never thought I would literally run giant circles around the city or Louisville. Did that!

*I appreciate our training coordinator Solomon for being the most genuinely nice, positive and encouraging person. I couldn't have asked for a better person to lead us. He helped me view myself differently as a runner. He helped me see myself as an ACTUAL runner. When he would say, "You guys are awesome" or "You guys crushed it," he made me feel like I was important and more that just a person in the back-of-the-pack. He helped me break down the feeling of being in the back as a negative feeling. In reality-I now know (and truly believe) it's okay to be in the back. That doesn't make me any less of a runner.  

*I never thought I would run the length of Eastern Parkway or Frankfort Avenue. Did that!

*This is going to sound super silly, but I always wanted to be a person comfortable running on Bardstown Road. I wanted to fit into that culture, but never felt comfortable. Now one of my favorite route goes right down it. 

*I never thought I would run outside with temps so cold that my water bottle would literally freeze.

*I learned that training requires certain things to feel safe. I am now an owner of a head lamp and blinking lights.

*I am thankful for the time Leigh surprised us with chocolate milk. I didn't even like chocolate milk, but I learned to.

*I learned to never miss a Monday.

*I learned that Vaseline works wonders.

*I trusted my training. I followed what I was told. 

*I learned that champions are made on Wednesdays. Wednesdays were tough. They consisted of hills, tempos, intervals, and the worst weather always seemed to be on Wednesday. 

A dark and cold hill-repeat Wednesday. 

*I never thought I would run warm-up miles before a race much less run more miles after a race. Did that!

*I learned that fueling is important and what works for others may not work for you.

*I learned the value of stretching.

*Cross-training played a huge role in my confidence level. Thanks Heath! 

*I looked forward to our weekly emails that had a quote that gave inspiration and motivation to keep going. 

*I learned that not all runs are going to be great runs.

*I learned to embrace the rain.

Seeking out puddles. 

*The thought of running miles 3 miles in the middle of a marathon in Iroquois Park was intimidating. Practice is important-not just for the body, but the mind too. We went ahead of time and ran the loop multiple times.

*I missed 2 maybe 3 Thursday runs and I almost panicked, but sometimes a break is needed.

*There are some hills that really get me. Dog Hill (on the golf course side) is a tough hill. Every time I made it to the top I would say that a little piece of me died, but after a while I decided that every time I made it to the top a little piece of the hill died! Perspective can change a lot. 

*My initial goal was to embrace the marathon training and to simply finish. Now my goal is to be better! I'm gonna do this again. :)

*I am inspired to pass along all of the support I received on race day. Who wants a sign?!?!

*I learned it's important to figure out what your stomach can hold before a long run. 

*I almost always saw someone I knew on a long run Saturday. That was motivating.


*I enjoyed talking about my goals because ultimately I had to hold myself accountable for achieving them. I ran the miles, I put in the time, I did this. Now, I could not have done this without my support system! I included as many people in my journey that cared to be a part of it. That helped me hold myself accountable. If someone asked me about running, I wanted to be able to be honest and proud. 

*I learned that towards the end of training you can mark any type of Saturday plans right off your calendar. Not much is going to get accomplished after a 16 miler or more.

*It was reinforced that you can not worry about what others think of you.

*I learned to be thankful that I am able to run and that when we run it's important to run for those who are unable. 

*Ryann gave me the cutest pre-race gift. She is wise beyond her years.

*You can laugh all you want at my car sticker, but that will just add fuel to my fire. I'm proud of my sticker. 

*I realized that I should have joined a training group sooner. 

*A girl I work with, Lindsay, randomly left me awesome running quotes in my mailbox! I am thankful for those. 

*As more moments pop into my head, I'll add them to the list. 

XOXO-Kim

Marathon Training Snapshot

I'm ready...

September of 2015 I was running the loop at Cherokee Park and stopped at the top of dog hill. I sent my sister-in-law a text that said, "I think I'm ready." I started my running 2.0 journey A YEAR prior and was already in a rut. I ran the Fall 2014 race series and the Triple Crown in Spring 2015. I managed to run 650 miles for the year (which was a huge accomplishment), but something was missing.  I wasn't getting any better despite the number of races I had completed. Heck, I didn't even know what it meant to "race." 

On January 1, 2016 I announced that I set a goal to run the Derby Festival Marathon. I had no clue what I was in store for and I NEVER in a million years would have imagined that I would have enjoyed my journey as much as I did. I chose the KDF Marathon because of obvious reasons.... 1. I could force highly encourage all of my family and friends to line the course (they didn't disappoint). 2. It's my hometown marathon. 3. I've been inspired so much from handing out oranges for a long as I can remember at this race. 4. Did I mention my friends and family could come?

This was on the wall at Fleet Feet when I signed up for the training group. 

To get started I joined a local training group at Fleet Feet Sports. My sister-in-law trained for her first marathon with a group and I thought it would be a positive move for me to push forward in the mountain I was committing to climb. I adopted my SIL as my personal "coach." She answered any question I had and gave me a huge amount of support. I quickly realized that I had been missing out on being a part of the wonderful running community in Louisville.  A community that welcomes all shapes and sizes and all paces. Looking back now, this sounds so silly, but being a back-of-the-packer was something that made me REALLY anxious. This journey has not only transformed the way I view running, but the also the way I view myself as a runner. I remember signing up and Solomon (training coordinator) said, "It'll be good. It'll be fun." At that moment, I didn't believe him. I was terrified. 

My journey "officially" started January 9th with a six mile run. I walked into the store and was a nervous wreck. I knew I could run 6 miles because I had followed the advice of my SIL and built up a little base. Those 6 miles were lonely. I didn't branch out and I fell right where I thought I would-in the back. It's my own fault. The next week we had a time trial and I ran 2 miles in 19:26. I was SHOCKED! It also gave me a push to be better because I saw I was capable of doing better. Before that run, my brother told me, "You are not running hard unless you feel like you are going to puke." (That advice has stuck with me 6 months later and I used it when I ran a mile time trial last week, but that story is for a different day.) I wasn't going to be able to do this alone-I couldn't continue going to the store and running alone. Luckily my SIL (I guess I could call her Kathy) and her friend (well, my friend too) Brittany encouraged me to branch out. I started talking to people and reaching out through the Facebook group. I quickly found a lot of friends that shared in something that I enjoyed and that shared a common goal.

Basically, the rest is history. No really, Leigh, Ruth, and Kelly quickly became my close-knit running partners, but there was a collection of many more that I could turn to at any time with any question. I saw them 3 to 4 times a week for large chunks of time. We learned what it was like to "race" and push ourselves to new paces and distances. We learned about each others families, careers, what we wanted to eat after our long Saturday runs, and so much more. I learned that I do enjoy running with others.That idea was totally foreign to me and one that I PUSHED away for SO LONG. It's a regret. Yep, I am 100% owning up to a regret. I regret not making any running friends family sooner.  I learned that I can set goals other than to "just finish." I learned that water is oh so good for you (duh!). I learned that a good nights rest is so very important. I learned that if you eat mac-in-cheese (because it sounds like a good spring break treat) that it will make running 8 miles really tough (Ruth got me through that one.) I learned that waking up early on a Saturday morning is therapy-straight up! I learned that running teaches you so much about yourself. Honestly, it's hard to put into words, but running changed me and for that I am thankful. 

Here is my training in a nutshell, because at the rate I'm going....this could quickly get out of control. 

Per the guidance of  Fleet Feet; training consisted of 2 "normal" running days, 1 long run day, 1 type of running workout day, yoga sprinkled in, and I included 1 day of cross-training. We were given a schedule to follow along with some guidance and motivation in a weekly email. Three of our 4 run days were from the stores with routes already made. I definitely enjoyed branching away from my neighborhood. I tracked all of my activity on a calendar and picked a new bit of quotespiration for each month. 

January: 
89 total miles
Long Runs: 5, 6, 8, 10

"Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most." Fleet Feet wall

Our first long run!

February:
117 total miles
Long Runs: 14, 10, 16, 9
14 and 16 were new longest distances!

16 miler photo op! 

Anthem 5K 29:51 (Holy schnikes, a 5K in under 30 minutes. Who am I?)

Sometimes you are proud of what the watch says. #fact

Craiger completed the Triple Crown!

"Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try!"


March:
130 total miles
Long Runs: 18, 12, 20, 13
18 and 20 were new longest distances!

Seems that all of our long runs in the rain were a prep for the big day!

Rodes City Run 10K 1:03:06 That's definitely a 2.0 journey PR by nearly 5 minutes. Now, I need to chase a 1.0 journey time from 2003 of 58:25. I didn't even know I ran in 2003!
Papa John's 10 Miler 1:44:46 PR of almost 19 minutes from last year, but even better because it even beat my first PJ10M from 2008 of 1:47:01.

"It never gets easier, you just get better!"

10 Miler PR's

Boyce began her 2.0 journey after having a major knee surgery! 

Cutest cheerleader! 

April: 
138 total miles
Long Runs: 22, 18, 12, 10, 26.2!
KDF Marathon 5:34:37 PR!!!! 

Our last taper run took us past the finish line.

We almost blew off the bridge, but this was one of my favorite long runs!

Our 22 miler took us way over to IN.

The Big 4 Bridge became our "friend,"

"It's hard to beat a person who never gives up." Babe Ruth 

The BIG day!

                              
I could not have done this without my sister-in-law putting that little spark (that I wasn't even sure I had) in me. Because of her encouragement I ventured out. Then as I ventured out, I quickly realized I couldn't have done this without SO MANY others from Ruth, Leigh, and Kelly to my students asking me how many miles I have to run, or the weekly text messages from Brittany, or the phone calls from my cousins...I SERIOUSLY cannot name how many of you inspired me to keep working towards my goal. It wasn't easy and it's going to continue to be tough as I set more goals, but it's all about the journey and I am thankful running has become a part of my life journey...again.

                                      

This is what Lacie thought about marathon week. 

xoxo-Kim

Seems that after this reflection, I'm going to need another post of the actual marathon itself. :)