Half Marathon Finisher

Me (left) and Kristina (right) 13.1 finishers

I have been a total blog slacker. But it's all for a good reason.  These last few months have been INSANE. Who knew being in your "mid-twenties" meant every weekend was consumed with plans. I don't even remember the last time I had a full day of "Breakfast in Bed" with SOAPnet. The great news is it has been a lot of fun even if it has been overwhelming.

I can officially say I am a half marathoner. I finished the 13.1 mile race about 10 minutes under my goal time. I trained relentlessly for this race, each Saturday was consumed with running as my long runs got longer and longer. I felt my self get skinnier and I knew this would all be worth it in the end.

Race day finally came and my training partner Kristina who was battling a foot injury ended up toughing it out to do the race with me. As soon as we started I knew it was going to be so much more fun to do over two hours of running with someone else. We ran the entire time, except for a brief bathroom break which took way too long but someone decided to blow up the porter john. Each time we hit a water station we slowed to a fast paced walk and would do one water and one Gatorade. There were no mile markers along the course so the only way we knew how far we'd gone was by asking the volunteers throughout.

Kristina foot and knee came back to haunt her, so we split up around mile 10. I went ahead and battled the last long hill on my own. Only to be so excited when a guy who had recently finished told me once I got over the hill it was a downhill finish (thank you running gods!). I took the downhill at a sprint and saw my parents and fiance cheering me on. I crossed the finish line with blisters on my feet but with an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment.  Just the year before I had said a 10k would probably be my longest distance and here I was finishing MORE than double that. Barely a few minutes later I cheered Kristina across the finish line. Her first race ever was a half marathon, holy cow! Both of us so excited for how awesome we did.

After the race we got our medals and rocked our new tech t-shirts. I was insanely hungry and immediately wanted a pizza. I had spent the last 12 weeks training and eating better than I had my entire life, so I deserved a Mellow Mushroom pizza. And to end the day on a really high note, my fiance had bought me a 13.1 sticker for my car, and ceremoniously added it to my back windshield.

Crazy Start

It's a new year and last time I said I was going to make some big changes for 2012. Well little did I know the big changes 2012 had in store for me. First things first, I started training for the RunRaleigh Half Marathon in April and it was a killer first two weeks, stuggling just to get through 2 miles on the treadmill and being so mad that I let myself get out of shape that fast.

The second week of January 2012 had another surprise, I got engaged to my best friend and althetic motivator! I was blown away at how sneaky he was in setting everything up to make it so special (I literally did not believe him when he said he arranged for me to be off work until I talked to my boss). He proposed on Appalachian State's campus, down on one knee, in the snow with 19 degree weather. After an amazing engagement weekend in the mountains where we met, my motivation to get in the ultimate shape tripled knowing that a wedding was on the horizon.

Once we were back I got into a serious running routine, I've been doing 3-5 runs a week with two days of weights. I can already see some changes and I'm only into my third week of my half marathon training plan. My longest run in a very long time was this past Saturday. I went out for a run with my Iroman in training fiance (still crazy to say!) and pushed myself to 5.5 miles (he went off on his own after that and did 10+...show off). I am paying for it this week with cramped calves and sore shins. But I have done some reasearch and realized that I am terrible about stretching so basically it is all my fault and I plan to get much better about it.

To make this first 6 weeks of this year even more insane and overwhelming, we put an offer in on a house. It has been the most stressful/emotional process ever. We fell in love with a house and have gone back and forth over logistics numerous times. Last week (after 3 weeks of debates) we are finally under contract on the house and so excited to finally be moving forward. I can't wait to have my house warming/engagement/I completed a half marathon party in our new place.

2012: The Year of New

2011 was all about motivating myself and others to find a job (or even a career) that we could all be happy in. I was lucky enough to become the Editor of my company's website, finally putting in to practice four years of college that lead to a journalism degree. With this position has come an enjoyable work environment, I find I am less stressed and don't struggle to get up in the morning for work. The hardest change has been I don't really get up from my desk. I sit for hours, snack, and edit.

On Thanksgiving day I did an 8k Turkey Trot through Raleigh. I ran it in under 55 minutes and was generally pleased with my finish. It wasn't as fast as I know I could do but considering it was cold and I didn't train at all for it I was pumped. That is until I saw the pictures that were taken of me during it. EW! I realized I'd gained weight (maybe not noticeable to others but definitely to me) and those pictures were to never be seen by anyone... EVER.

Right before Christmas I decided to get it together. I had just had a stellar year of races (running and triathlons) and a new job in 2011, I was not going to go into 2012 feeling like I did when I saw those pics. I bought an exercise ball to sit on at work and decided my next fitness goal for 2012 would be a half marathon.

Initially I wanted to train for a half marathon that would be in March, but after my first week of training last week I realized I didn't just want to finish the race, I want to finish the race and feel good. So I have committed myself to a race in mid-April. Throughout this training I hope to lose weight, get in the best shape of my life, and get that 13.1 sticker up on my car. Between this training and so many other events in 2012, I can genuinely say 2012 is going to be outstanding and I am looking forward to sharing it!