Third Times A Charm

Yep. That's I usually feel on Mondays, well minus the coffee. I'm a spark in my water type of girl.

This morning though I woke right up...no snooze button at all. I was super impressed since I had a snoring husband in bed and a 3 yr old that wanted to snuggle. How could I say no. I love snuggle time and pretty soon he won't want to snuggle. Although don't get me wrong this isn't an every night thing. 

So if you're new here or have been here awhile I apologize in advance. I'm not an every day poster. I try to post two times a week. You will also find out that my life is pretty crazy and chaotic, but I love it and I try to balance everything the best I can. 

Yesterday was my 3rd Cellcom Half Marathon. I love this race and I hate it. I love that it's in my town and that I know so many people that run in it. I hate it because the course is full sun most of the way. The sun just zaps your energy. This race was my very first half marathon. Every year I try to be better. The first time I ran this race my goal was to just finish it, and I did in 3:02. I then walked away from running for a couple years, because that race took everything I had. I wasn't mentally prepared and I hated every minute of it. My attitude changed before I did it again. Last year I wanted to finish it in 2:45 but that didn't happen. You can read about it here.  This year I just wanted to do better than I had last year. This winter has been super hard for training. I've done the best I could with what I had. I ran outside in negative temps, snow, rain, ice. I always tried to go out and give it my all. I also cross trained and starting back to lifting heavy weights. My goal for 2014 was to run my races the best I could. To train and get better. 

Saturday I met up with my gal pal at the race expo. We picked up our packets and then had dinner. I've been experimenting with this whole pre-race dinner thing. I have in the past, always done the pasta dinner thing, but always felt blech after I ate it. I've been watching what I eat prior to having an amazing run and it always seems that a big old steak, potatoes and veggies do the trick. So that's what I did. A big ole steak, veggies, potatoes and of course lots and lots of water!!!

Sunday my alarm went off and I was up and getting ready. Nerves...what nerves. This isn't my first rodeo it's just a run like any other run, except I don't have to stop for stop lights and there will be people handing me water along the way. I really try not to put to much stress on myself when I'm running. I just try to enjoy it. Take each moment and really live in it.

After getting dressed and getting my hugs and good lucks from my hubby and minis I was out the door.

Spark and a Think Thin Protein bar.  I parked and waited for my home girl Jen.

Pre-race photos

The picture on the left is me, my aunt and cousin. The right is me and Jen. This was my aunt and cousins first half marathon and they rocked it!!! Jen is now a veteran. Her first race was last year. I wanted to wish my team mates at my Team Triumph a great race. If you're not familiar with mTT, you can check it out here.

The full marathoners started an hour before us so we just waited around and froze. Seriously it was a tad chilly waiting around. We headed to the bathrooms to get the nervous pee's out. I have the tiniest bladder and I have to pee literally 2 min before I run. Nobody likes running with a full bladder.

The gun went off and we are off. I felt so awesome the first 5 miles. I had to pee at mile 4 but held it till 5 and then saw the line and held it till 6. I wish I could have held it longer because even at mile 6 there was a huge line. I waited and waited and waited and waited. 8 min later and I was off and running again.

Jen had passed me and I caught up to her and made sure she was ok. She has been having knee issues during her training. We passed mile 7 and saw no lines at the bathroom...darn it... I should have waited but oh well. Jen needed to walk so I walked with her for half a mile and then I was off and running solo again. Up the hills and down the hills. The whole time I was running I was thinking "You got this girl. This is your 4th half marathon. It doesn't matter what time you get you are running a half marathon. You are stronger than ever. You can do this. Think about all those people who never get a chance to run this. Think about all those people that will never think they can. Show those people that they can. You don't have to be an elite runner, you just have to try. Every mile that you do is one mile closer to the finish line."

At about mile 10, I was starting to get tired and I was hungry....like I needed food now!!! I looked up the hill I was running and at the top were my mini's. This was a huge surprise since I wasn't expecting them at all. I gave them all hugs and they told me good luck. 

 B's

 T's

Lil C's

I didn't get a picture of them at the top of the hill, but here are their signs they made for me:)

After I said my good-bye's I was off and running and feeling so much energy. 3 more miles. I had this. I was going finish this race strong. I came to mile 11 and saw yet another surprise cheerleader. My Aunt Kathy had walked down and was waiting for me to give me a hug and tell me how proud she was of me. I thanked her with tears in my eyes and kept going. Only 2 more miles to go. I don't remember much of mile 12 because I was so focused on finishing and finishing strong...I saw Lambeau and ran through it with crowds of people cheering everyone on. I ran out of the shoot and around the corner and the finish line was in sight. I took out my ear buds so I could really "be in the moment". I sped up and ran through that finish line strong!!!

As I walked up to get my medal I thanked the little volunteer girl handing it out. She told me great job and that I looked so strong. In reality I'm sure I looked like a tomato face, exhausted girl, but hey I'll take it. I walked back to the meeting spot to wait for Jen. We got our post-race snacks and took photo's of course.

I asked Jen "alright again next year?" She said "sure" hesitantly. I will probably run this race every year while I can still run. It pushes me every year and proves to me I am a fighter. I don't have to be the fastest, and I don't have to be the best. I just have to try my hardest and do the best I can do. 

 If you don't fight for your dreams who will.

Stop back tomorrow for weekly goals check in. Today I'll be resting:)

What is your dream? What are you waiting for?