Thursday

Women's Half Marathon: I Survived!

I Survived the Women's Half Marathon!

For the last six months, I have been training to become a half marathoner. I have had an injury. I have had PRs. I have had slow days. I have had great runs. And I have had really bad runs. 

I never would have considered myself a runner. I actually never thought I would become one or have any desire to become one. The reason I signed up to do this half marathon was because of a good friend of mine named Jess. Jess was doing the Rock n Roll half marathon last year, and I jokingly said to her, "Hey, by the end of the year I will be doing one!"  I don't think I really meant it, but when registration opened, Jess called me to remind me!  (By the way, Thank you Jess! I am so proud for doing it!)

Fast forward 6 months... I am an Ambassador of Health for the Women's Half Marathon, and  I am running in it! WHAT!!! That is crazy! In the process of all of that, I became an ambassador to Polar, Fitfluential, Sweat Pink and Girls Gone Sporty. Crazy right?? Polar has even sent me a racing jersey and I am officially on the Polar team! 
I picked up my race packet at the expo on Friday. I was so nervous. It all seemed so absurd. When I looked at my bib, tears filled my eyes. I had really done this. I had gotten here. It was real. I had goosebumps.
On Sunday, race day, it was surreal. I felt almost detached from my feelings. I didn't really know why. I had expected to feel more emotions, but it was just calm. The race started and I just ran. I was doing pretty well til I got to mile 7. I had already run through Snell Isle and was headed toward the Pier. I was actually on the same trail that I usually run on my long runs. I suddenly got the worst foot cramp. I have never had one, and it sucked. I stopped to retie my shoes thinking that would help. This is when the "Mindy self-doubt" began. I began thinking things like, "What are you doing? You aren't a runner! You are in over your head!" There was some serious MEAN self-talk going on. I struggled for the next 2 miles or so. Both of my feet were cramping and it hurt to step. I was beginning to think that I would just walk when Irealized that I needed help.  Suddenly, I remembered that ALL things are possible through Christ! Philippians 4:13. So I asked God to help me. I asked him to stop the negative thoughts and take the pain in my feet away. I talked out loud to God. I told him why I was running. I asked for help. I knew I need Him!

I realized that I was capable of doing this. I didn't feel great and my pain didn't go away, but I did shut down the negative thoughts in my head for some time. I realized at mile 12 that I was truly almost there! As I turned the corner to the finish line,  I had tears. I realized that I had done this! That girl who was a pound away from 200 last January has run a half marathon!!! I wasn't fast and I was the last in my group of friends, but I did win! I beat the negative thoughts, and I proved something to anyone and everyone, especially myself!


I was so honored to be presented with my medal from a gentleman from our military. How humbling to be praised by someone who protects my freedom daily. This picture shows my excitement and more importantly, IT IS OVER!!! 

I am going to sign up for the Rock n Roll Half in February. I don't love running half marathons yet, but I know they are good for me, so I am not about to stop! I am looking forward to focusing more on my weight loss and less on the running training.






14 comments:

  1. Congrats Mindy! I'll join you as a half marathoner on december 1st! You did so great!

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    1. So awesome!!! I cannot wait to hear about it!!!

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  2. Congrats Mindy!! This was my first 1/2 and I did it last year. I couldn't do it this year b/c I was doing a 128 mile endurance challenge through the Florida Keys. Amazing what can happen in just one year! Keep up the good work, girl! Keep it up!!

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    1. Slacker... haha! Just kidding! You. Are. Amazing! Period!

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  3. Great job!!! I know how amazing it feels to finish a half. Treasure the memories!!

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    1. Thank you Crystal! I will and am!

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  4. Congrats on your first half, it was a great day!

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  5. Amazing. So proud of you for doing it.
    You don't have to be fast, trust me!
    You just have to work hard and be proud of yourself.

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    1. Thank you so much! Took me a while to be proud but now I am super proud!!!

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  6. Congrats on your half!! You did great! My first half was also the Lady Speed Stick Womens half, in Nashville. I loved it! I got a tattoo on my ankle right before my race and in Hebrew it says "Yahweh my Strength". As I was running, I could just look down and see it and be reminded that He gives me strength to do all things, even run a half marathon!

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    1. That is awesome! I am thinking if I ever run a marathon, I will get some sort of small tat :) shhh don't tell my mom

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  7. Wow, congrats!!! Such a great accomplishment! I'm totally not a runner either, but I recently signed up for my first half marathon in March (the RnR in DC). Training is definitely a struggle, but you're proof that it can be done! Thanks for the motivation :)

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    1. Wow! Thank you!!! I appreciate the compliment. And I guess I am proof it can be done! HAve a great time training for yours and start looking for the next thing before your race so you have something to look forward to when you're done :)

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