The way I see it...

**For anybody that might be new to our blog, "The Way I See It" is my editorial that I write in the newspaper every week.  I added the pictures just for the blog. :) **

 

A Humbling Half

I survived the half marathon last weekend in Omaha.  Barely.  You guys, it was so hard, but I did it.  I have a medal to prove it!

 

I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this before, but my left knee bothers me sometimes.  I’m used to it. Well, it started hurting about mile 6, but I was kind of expecting it.  By mile 8, it was really starting to hurt and so I was making mental deals in my head to just try to run until mile ten and if I made it, then I would allow myself to walk.  

 

The good news is I was able to run all the way to mile ten.  The bad news is by that time my left knee felt like someone was sticking hot, sharp knives through the middle of it with every step I took.  

 

My goal was to run the entire thing and to finish around 2:15, which I was on pace to do.  Once I hit mile ten though, I ran a little and walked a little, for the remainder of the race.  

Less than a mile to go.  I was dying.  Not pretty at this point.

 

When I crossed the finish line, I took my very hard-earned medal and bottle of water and sat on the curb.  Aaron came over and I totally lost it.  Yep, I cried.  About a race.  Who am I?  These tears coming from the girl who swore she would never run because it was dumb! 

 

Anyway, in between tears I told Aaron that I was just sad because I’m so competitive with myself that I didn’t want to walk and it just sucked that I had to.  He assured me that my time was still good and he was proud I did it.   

I finished in 2:26.   You know what though?  I did run ten straight miles without walking.  And I finished.  It was hard and it would have been easier to quit, but I didn’t.  Not many people can probably say they went out and covered 13.1 miles on Sunday, but I can. My mental toughness was most definitely tested and I am a stronger person because of those 13.1 miles. It was humbling.  I ran.  I walked. I cried. I laughed at a sign that said, “Smile if you’re not wearing underwear.”  Who can’t smile at that?!  To experience all of those emotions, I’d say it was a good day. 

 

 

You know what was worth all of the pain?  That feeling I got when I crossed the finish line.  Nothing else really matters to me, except that I did it and made myself proud, but that’s just the way I see it. 

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 I was a much happier camper after I got my emotions in check.  I hobbled up a bunch of stairs and Aaron took my picture inside Ameritrade Park, which is where the college world series is played AND the place we got to run through.  Pretty cool.  See that medal?  Recycled glass.  One of a kind, so also pretty cool. 

I basically took the week off, but did run/walk for 20 minutes on Thursday.  That was plenty.  I think I need to get back to running slowly and hopefully my knee will feel better.

Half-Marathon

So, Sunday was the big day.  My first half-marathon.  I, impulsively, signed-up for the Drake Relays Half Marathon ten weeks ago.  The closer it got, the more my stomach was in knots.  I was so stinking nervous!!  Guess what?!  I DID IT!!!!  I'm officially a half-marathoner!!!

Frank and Linda were nice enough to come down and stay with us Saturday night so Aaron could come down to the run with me.  He took this picture with my phone.  There was a lot of people and not enough room in the chutes for everybody. 


I did really well the first nine miles.  My knee started to hurt a little, but nothing terrible.  Then, about 9.5 miles I heard some ladies talking behind me about the hills in mile 11.  I turned around and asked them about it.  They said they were going to suck. 

They weren't kidding.  We turned the corner and it was two blocks of pure hill.  I said to myself, "Jamie, you haven't walked for 11 miles and you aren't going to start now.  Just keep going.  No matter how slow, don't stop running."  The 11th mile of hell almost did me in.  It was hill.  Then flat.  Then another hill.  And some more flat.  And one more hill.  I didn't stop running though! 

The last 2.1 miles were the longest of my life.  I'm not even kidding.  I kept looking at my GPS watch even though I told myself not to.  The coolest part of the race was that we got to finish in Drake Stadium on the blue oval.  When we came in and everybody was cheering on the runners I thought, I'm really doing this!  I'm going to make it!  Aaron was ready with his camera and I gave him a big old smile because I was so close to that finish line!!  Official time: 2:23.32  Not fast, but who cares!  Not this girl!

 

This non-trackster loves medals.  I was so excited when I crossed and they gave me that medal.  I wore it for a good solid four hours before I took it off. Haha!  When I got done, Aaron said he was so proud of me, which meant so much to me. :)  I couldn't have done this without him helping with the kids so I could train.  

When you run 13.1 miles, you have time to think.  I got to thinking about how three years ago I remember being so excited that I ran an entire mile without stopping and then there I was Sunday, running every single step of those 13.1 miles.  Look how far I've come.  It's amazing to me.

Jenna made me this sign that she had waiting for me when I got home.  Love, love, love it!!

 

Running is still hard for me.  I don't love it.  I like it when I'm done.  I still have to drag my butt out the door every single time.  Yes, every. single. time.  But, I like how it makes me feel.  I like that I'm a healthier me.  A stronger me.  Finishing that half-marathon made me feel like I can do absolutely anything.

The other cool thing about running is that it doesn't discriminate.  You can be old or young or tall or short or everything and anything in between.  Running doesn't care.  You will never meet a more encouraging bunch of people!  

If you want to try running - do it!  If I can, I swear to you anybody can!  You won't regret it.  

Aaron asked me if I would run another half marathon.   Hmmm....I'm not sure.  Time will tell I guess.  For now, I'm still basking in my runner's high. :)