We are now 11 days into November but since my last post we closed out the great month of October. There are 31 days in October and looking at my calendar (picture left) I completed 25 workouts and only missed 6 days. I felt great and I can tell you exactly why I missed those six days. Three days were due to work and travel times and three were based on needing rest days.
So this month, November, I have challenged myself to 30 days = 30 workouts. I realize that some of you are thinking, you need rest days, and I will listen to my body. If I feel I need one I will take a rest day or I will complete an easy workout, less intense than others that I do. Needing to move is important to me and right now I really want to move!
One week prior to my 10th half marathon I completed my last long run, 4.5 miles. I felt great, strong and ready to take on the world. The following day I was emailing a great friend of mine. This friend I actually met when I was training for my marathon 11 years ago. I shared with her that for the first time in a long time I loved running again. I enjoyed going out and covering the miles. The best part was I felt strong! Once again I don't regret having the bariatric surgery!
My goal was to finish this race and do it under 3 hours. I was nervous, but I always say if you aren't nervous it isn't important to you. Of the 9 half marathons I had done previously, five I completed under 3 hours and four were over 3 hours. With this in mind it didn't settle my nerves. The last 9 half marathons I completed the cutoff time was 3 1/2 + hours.
Another good friend mine, prior to the race, reminded me that I am stronger than I think and I just have to run my pace and keep going. The race started and I kept going. I passed the first cutoff, mile 6 (on the top of a very long climb) and I was ahead of schedule. I continued running and made it to cutoff #2, mile 9.5 and I was still ahead of schedule. At this point of the race I was in the middle of a 2 mile climb so I allowed myself to walk for 3 minutes which got me to the top of this hill. I started running and continued until mile 11 where I walked for another 2 minutes. I began to run until just past mile 12 and the last water stop. I stopped for one minute to walk and take in some water. I looked at my watch and I knew I would finish this race with time to spare. With less than a mile to go, and on the last uphill climb, there was my family cheering me on and letting me know that I was accomplishing my goals. I was so thankful that they were there.
I crossed the finish line and the clock read 2:57...I did it. I finished strong and was happy. Due to the changes I made in my life, I took 20 minutes off my last half marathon finish time! The finish time was still not a PR (2:51, completed 11 years ago) but I didn't care I did everything I set out to accomplish!
Fifteen (15) weeks post surgery and I am down over 55 pounds. I can't rest now. I worked out the day after the race to loosen up the tight muscles. Training for the next half marathon (March 26th) starts this weekend.
