Finisher, part 1

I am a Half Marathon Finisher.  Over the weekend, I drove to Nashville (about 7.5 hours away), met up with several different groups of friends, ran 13.1 miles and the drove back home.

Traveling to Nashville was an usual experience.  I had never made the trip alone before.  I have been in teh car many, many times on the stretch of road to Nashville from the 5 years that we lived there.  However, I had never traveled alone to the city.  I was pretty nervous about it.  I am not a person who likes to drive a lot.  My husband drives almost exclusively when we travel together; whether to church, the grocery store or many hours away.  I was solo on this trip and it actually made the trip more enjoyable.  I did not have to ask to pull over to eat or go to the bathroom.  I got to listen to my book on CD the whole time.  I did not have to entertain a small child.  It was nice.

Coming in from I-24 there is a bend in the road, around that curve is the Nashville skyline.  I cried when I saw it.  I have a lot of emotions tied up in this city.  It is where my husband and I first lived after getting married.  It is where I was pregnant and delivered my child.  It is where I went to school, started working in libraries and made some of the greatest friends.  It is where I bought my first house, and sold it.  I had to leave Nashville very quickly when I got my current job.  I had very little closure with leaving my friends and the city.

This trip was really needed just for the closure part.  I got to see friends again and say a proper goodbye and and "I'll see you again".  When I moved to Peoria, I never thought I would see them again, now I have, so I know I will see them again.  I drove by my old house and teared up as I got close to it.  Then, I saw it and realized it is not my house any more.  Sure I have memories to that house, but that house is not mine anymore.  It feels great to really realize that.

The reason for my trip was to run a half marathon but I got so much more.  More on the actual running next time.

Nashville freak-out!!!!

I leave for Nashville tomorrow!  I am very excited and nervous and all the things a runner can be before her first half-marathon.  I know I am prepared and I can go the distance, but that part of my mind is not communicating with the freak out part of my brain.  I want to run 10 minute miles and finish with a 2 hr 10 min time but that seems a bit lofty as a goal.  I will still keep it as a goal but the main goal will be to finish.

Last Saturday, I ran the Pumpkin Classic 10k.  I was super impressed with my time (53:57) and ease that the running came after days of foot pain. I know I can do this thing, right?

I think my biggest freak out is: What's next?  I have been following a precise running plan for months, now I don't have one.  I have been planning on this half marathon for at least 5 months.  I guess I will find out when I start doing it. So what is next?  I have some 5k races I want to run later this fall but so what?  What am I going to do every day?

Oh a more positive note, I get to see friends in Nashville.  I am so grateful to one friend who is letting me stay with her and running with me.  You rock!  I can't wait to be back in Nashville.  I do miss it.  I never thought I would miss Nashville.  For the 5 years I lived there, I complained about it all the time.  I guess you do not know what you have until it is gone.  I don't know if I would ever want to live in Nashville again, but I would like to vacation there from time to time.  Not sure if this is really a vacation though.  Is running 13.1 miles a vacation?  If so, what sick person thinks that is a vacation?  It is a challenge.  I am going on a challenge not a vacation, but I might do a few touristy things on my challenge.  And I am going without my daughter or husband so it is a vacation from them, which every mom needs once and awhile.

So to end my freak-out ramblings I say, "Squeeeeeeeee!" (I really am very excited.)

Complaining

I would really like to complain about a lot in my life.  But I really can't; not when I think of my niece, Allison.  At the age of three, she is battling cancer and currently going through a stem cell transplant procedure that will leave her in the hospital until almost Halloween. 

She has a lot to complain about.  I have nothing that even compares.

Dedication...

Running takes dedication and I seem to be lacking.  This weekend I was scheduled to run 7 miles and I accidentally left my shoes behind on our trip.  It really was an accident.  Then on Tuesday I was scheduled to run 5 miles but I slept in, as three day weekends make me do, and only got 2 miles in.  Today I was going to go to spin class but I had a dentist appointment.  Tomorrow I am scheduled to run 5 miles but I have an early library orientation so I can't run in the morning, I will have to schedule it after work but my husband is working.  I have to get in gear because this Saturday is my 10 mile run.  My longest run and last long run before my half-marathon race on Sept 24.

I can do this, I know I can.

Look what I finished...

So with some rudimentary hand sewing skills, I put the finishing touches on my hat.  Too bad it is a million degrees today.  I do hope to wear it around soon.  My husband says it does not look warm.  I told him it is 100% wool.  He said it doesn't even cover my ears.  Oh well what does he know on awesome female hats.

This hat is awesome for sure.

My daughter wanted to be my hat model.  She has a big head but not quite big enough to fill out this hat.

I am getting my camera back this weekend so hopefully no more blurry camera phone pictures.  I can have a flash again!  And more megapixels and everything glorious I am missing.