No Regrets

7 miles on Sunday, 6 miles on Monday, 6 miles on Tuesday...  And I get a day off tomorrow....  Maybe the hubby will let me sleep in. :P

A lot of my friends ask me where I get the energy.  It's funny to me because I don't just have the energy to run; running gives me the energy to do everything else.  So, I get up before the sun as many days a week as my body will allow and I hit the streets..  I have a great running buddy, and sometimes one or two other runners join us.

We cover a lot of ground, literally and figuratively, and I've shared more of myself with her than I have with anyone else.  A running buddy is a lot like your significant other...  They are there when you need them, and you're there when they need you.  Sometimes, you have to compromise and sometimes you do not like them (like yesterday when Courtney had to get home so we had to run that last hill - it SUCKED).  But that's what you do for your running partner.  And she's done the same for me (like 4 weeks after she had her last child and she agreed to run 10 miles with me because that's what I needed)..  OK, yes.  We are a little extreme, but you get the point.

This morning, Courtney invited another running buddy along.  It was nice.  We all have little ones and plenty to talk about.  And it's funny - not a lot of topics are off limits at 6 in the morning when it's pitch black and your running with headlamps and dodging oncoming traffic (hate when there aren't any sidewalks).  And I didn't want to be the one that held us up, so I ran faster than I usually do.  From that run, I learned something that I already knew....  so I guess you could say, I was reminded of it.  Sometimes, you can do more than even you think you can.

So, here's my challenge to you.  If you aren't running yet and you want to be, find a buddy.  Maybe it's someone who has started running or maybe it's someone, like you, who hasn't started yet but wants to.  Lace 'em up and go for a run.  You can start slow, you can run/walk, but get out there.  You'll never regret it.  Trust me.  This morning, all I wanted to do was to go back to sleep - the kids were up and down all night and I was exhausted.  I dragged my butt to Courtney's because I didn't want to let her down, NOT because I wanted to.  And you know what?  When we were done, I felt great.  You'll NEVER regret going - you'll always regret NOT going.

And if you're a more seasoned runner, I have a challenge for you too.  Find a buddy you haven't run with in a while or someone you've been avoiding running with because you think you're slower.  They will challenge you and you may need to ask them to slow down, BUT your running will improve and you'll be amazed at what you can do.

Who's up for the challenge?

Your Cape is Showing...

What a run?!  What a weekend!  What an experience!  I will forever remember my very first half marathon...  I've already told you all about the heat, the meaning of the run, and how I powered through it.  It will always be my first and nothing will ever replace those emotions or memories.

But this run was amazing!  My mother-in-law and sister-in-law were there to see me through some of the most exciting experiences I've had as a runner.  I met my running mom idols, Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea, who wrote "Run Like a Mother" and "Train Like a Mother", which I now own with autographs!

Sarah Bowen Shea, Me, and Dimity McDowell at the Zooma Expo in Cape Cod, MA

I felt like a little kid meeting their favorite movie stars!  I know that sounds silly, but these women have really had such a wonderful influence on me as a runner and mother.  I feel like we've run together, celebrated together, and cried together.  Even though it was a paperback book that accompanied me, I identify with these women as if we are old friends.  And they embraced me as if we were the best of friends.  They gave me high-fives when I told them about my run and they greeted me on the race course every time I saw them.  It.  Was.  Awesome.

The Zooma Cape Cod Half Marathon course was a beast!  As we waited at the starting line, we all fidgeted in place to stay warm before the start of the race.  Someone commented on my outfit (all hot pink, thank you very much!) - the exact words were, "no one's going to be able to miss you!"  And then we had a short conversation about pre-running coffee and the inevitable bathroom stop after.  Turns out ZoomaRunner1 got up at 4am just to get that coffee in before the run.  Not me!  I like my sleep and I don't dare drink coffee before any run, so I get up as late as is feasible to get to where I need to be on time.  My alarm went off at 5:30 that morning and that was ONLY because my SIL and MIL wanted to get there early :)  Otherwise, I would have been up at 6:30 to be at the race at 7am...  Yep, that's how I roll.

The race started exactly on time and we were off.  Perfect weather, lots of cheering, and enthusiastic runners all around got me off to a great start.  I had a very specific goal in mind.  I wanted to come in sub-2:20.  At Mile 3, my left calf cramped up to the point where I had to walk (very slowly), stretch, and then walk some more.  I was so angry - I had trained like a demon and this shouldn't be happening.  But it was.  And then the cramp eased out and I hit the pavement again.   I checked my pace and I had lost about 5 minutes, but it was too early for me to get discouraged.  I had a goal. 

The description of the course said, 'rolling hills,' but as ZoomaRunner2 and I discussed around mile 9, there were no rolls.  It was all hills!  We had a good laugh about that, passed another runner, and jogged together in silence for a minute.  It was tough and there were times where I felt spent.  But my usual 8 mile wall didn't show up until mile 10! :)  I pushed through those hills and I kept my eyes on my watch as the minutes ticked away.  I saw my goal slipping through my fingers, but I've learned some things about running.  One of the most important things I've learned is to be flexible.  Running is a sport and conditions can be unpredictable.  So, I reset (internally) and pushed on.  I may not have met my initial goal, but I still kicked ass!!!!  And I finished with a time of 2 hrs 25 mins 59 secs.

And that's a new PR!  By 11 mins!!!!  I could NOT be happier.

My sister-in-law, Jamie, and I at Race Start

I spent the rest of the weekend sightseeing with my MIL and SIL (and yes, walking, and walking, and walking) and had the greatest girls' weekend ever.  I can't wait to do it again.  Maybe I won't be the only one running next time!