Sunday, November 13, 2011

30 Days of Thanksgiving - Day 12

November 11 - Thankful for GOALS ACCOMPLISHED!!!

So the alarm goes off at 5:30 am

Ricky looks at me & says, "Dont do this"

...but as you saw what I was thankful for yesterday, I was determined.

But I promised him I had to walk a good 2 miles from the parking lot to the starting line & if my knee was bad, I'd not start the race. 

So I taped up the knees & headed out to Downtown Louisville.


I ran into some friends beforehand & that helped calm me down before the gun fired.  But soon, we were off, hitting the pavement.

I was just trying to slow down - not push too hard - keep a steady pace that was do-able.... & it was working... for a little bit.

Mile 2 was a water stop & I stopped running to get some H20...

I guess my downfall is stopping.. or moving... or both.. who knows.

But as soon as I got started after drinking my cup of water, there went my knee pain... I was at mile 2.50 - & it was BAD... worse then ever.  I just teared up.  What to do?  I wasnt sure.  I ended up walking to mile 3 & there was actually an ambulance there.  I almost stopped & thought they could treat me & take me back to my car.  But I ended up running (slowly) again & thought, "there will be another ambulance ahead" ... I know this because before a race, I STUDY a map.  So my next goal was to the next ambulance... how sad is that?

I kept on... & actually started doing fairly well.

I ended up feeling FANTASTIC at mile 5-8.  Literally, when I hit mile 5, it seemed like I just looked up there was mile 6...then 7.. I was on a roll... granted, it was still slow, but it was moving.  Its funny too because I had my iPod on my running play list & the music was frustrating me because I couldnt keep up with the beat of it.  So I switched it to shuffle on all my songs... I had so many Christian songs play... & I honestly think that's what pushed me these miles so well.  I had my man, Steven Curtis Chapman singing to me, had Skillet to rock out too - I literally was running with my hands in the air praising God during some songs... it made such a difference!!!!

Got to mile 9 & then BAM - the pain kicked in again.  I noticed that it was when I would extend my knee completely - straighten it.  It would cause a sharp pain... so I ended up running with a totally bend leg... I think it messed me up a bit changing my form. My back started hurting.

Then mile 10... another sharp pain.

I knew I came too far to stop so I just made the choice to walk the rest.  3.1... a 5k... I can walk that at a steady pace & I just wanted to finish.

I was making a decent time still walking - around 15:00/mile pace... but at that point, I've gone a long way & I was getting tired & the pain was wearing on me.

I hit mile 12...BAAAMMMMM!!!!!!!

The pain was the worst it ever was.  I would have probably stopped if it were any other mile... but mile 12?  Who stops at mile 12?  I could even hear the bands playing to the finish line from there.  I was determined. 

I kept hearing all the voices of every person who doubted me... of every put-down that I've ever heard my whole life... of the people who didnt expect me to finish... & it lit a fire in me & I kept my eye on the finish line.

It wasnt pretty...

I literally cried the whole last mile... I mean tears of pain... tears of frustration...

But I made it.

I dont even want to see that finish line picture ... I had my head down because of tears & the announcer even said, "Raise those hands up - be proud" ... I just raised my arms up but kept my head down.  It was so overwhelming. 

I DID IT!!!!!


I had a goal I worked on for 12 weeks... I wasnt going to let anything stand in my way.  That goal pushed me to the end.

& the fun thing... I now have more goals.. the running season starts in February.  Bring on the races in February, March & my 5th Half Marathon in April!!!!!

I cant believe I'm going to be 40 in December & I just ran my 4th Half Marathon... all in 3 years!!!!

SO yep - the medal is mine....

(Is that the coolest medal ever?  That's Maker's Mark wax dripped down the top of the medal)

Here I am getting home & my doggies all excited to see me. (look at those knees all wrapped up)




My knees deserve the medal. They are the ones who lasted & survived....



& FYI - after the race, I immediately went to the medic tent & got an ice pack & my knee now feels like it did when I started.... No extra harm done to it.

Now, I can rest for a few weeks.  The training starts back up in January!  ... BRING IT ON!


14 comments:

  1. Hm, it all sounds wonderfully crazy! Do I say good job or do I question your sanity?

    GREAT JOB!!!

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  2. You are truly an inspiration! I can picture all of it...great post.

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  3. Congratulations - that's awesome! I felt like I was running along with you :-) I'm starting up with the races again and am doing a 5K here soon... not exactly a half-marathon, but I'll get there eventually!

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  4. If it were easy, it wouldn't have meant so much. Congrats!

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  5. Soooooooooooooo proud of you!!!!!!!!!! :)

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  6. Great job!!! So sorry your knee was hurting! Unfortunately, I can sympathize with you!!!

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  7. Wow! You Rock!
    You inspire me (almost) to train for a half marathon. I need to master a 10K first, I guess. I am so proud of you. I thought of you all weekend long. Now REST!!!!

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  8. You deserve TEN medals for that girl! What a trooper you are! AMAZING!

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  9. I'm tearing up reading this. WAY TO GO!

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  10. That is awesome! Congrats! Way to reach your goal!

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  11. Congrats! You did it and hopefully those knees are feeling better every day.

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  12. Congratulations!!!!
    I'm sorry, I really should have checked back with you this Saturday since I did know that you were running. You totally deserve that medal. I'm very proud of you.
    Mark

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  13. girl i am SO proud of you for pushing through and finishing. you have such strength in you and it is inspiring. xoxo

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