Fast forward to January, when I experienced some health issues that left me doing ZERO physical activity for more than TWO weeks. At first, I was devastated because my original goal was to run the entire race without stopping and I didn't think there was any way I would be able to run/train for the 1/2 marathon anymore.
After my two plus weeks of rest, I was given the okay to start walking and also given the thumbs up to walk/run the race. Yay! The doctor gave me strict orders to listen to my body and made me promise to walk most of it. I happily agreed and changed my goal to finishing the race in one piece!
A week of walking and I was cleared to start running again except there was one problem, the 1/2 marathon was a week and a half away! I was not prepared but I knew I could push myself to walk the 13.1 miles if I needed to. Prior to my "resting period", the longest run I went on was 5 miles. The week before the race I was able to push out 4 miles but it was not easy!
On the morning of the race, despite my lack of training, I was not nervous. I was actually beyond excited! Racing gives me such a high. I had decided (just days prior) that I was going to use the Jeff Galloway Method and run for 3 minutes and walk for 1 minute. The fireworks went off and Corral D was off and running. I felt great!
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| Can you find me in the crowd of runners?! |
I started making "mini goals" the second I crossed the start line. Goal #1, run 1 mile without stopping. I'd use the run/walk method later in the race. I passed mile marker (MM) 1 and I was going strong. Slow but strong! I usually run around a 10 minute mile give or take but on race day I ran around a 12 minute mile.
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| Just an excited blur running through Magic Kingdom |
Magic Kingdom was probably only a mile and a half but the second my foot stepped out of the park, I started walking again. I finally starting doing the 3:1 method until I reached MM 8. This is when I hit my wall. I no longer thought I was going to be able to finish this race and started questioning my sanity for choosing to run 13.1 miles so unprepared. I was tired, my thighs were chaffing, my right knee was hurting me and I felt like my ankles were about to give out. I was ready to give up! I took some gel somewhere around this point and at around MM 9 I stopped at the First Aid Station to slather up my thighs with petroleum jelly and my knee/ankles with Bio Freeze. I wish there was a video camera at that moment because I'm sure I was a sight to see!
After lathering up, I was off and running again. I continued with the run walk method. I always walked one minute but varied how long I ran (up to 5 minutes or so) depending on how I was feeling. Towards the end, I was lucky if I was able to run a full minute but I was hanging on. I walked through every water station along the way, walked up every hill/incline and ran down every downhill.
I finally made it to MM 12 without dying and decided that I was going to run the last 1.1 miles. I am pretty sure that was the longest mile of my life. I kept thinking where the heck is the finish line?! Right around MM 13, I saw my hot handsome husband and supportive BFF cheering me on! My hot handsome husband thought he was funny and yelled out "only 3 more miles." I turned and gave him the look of death! I really wanted to give him the finger but I didn't think that was appropriate in Disney!
When I crossed the finish line, I started crying. I was beyond proud of myself. I had just finished 13.1 miles when only a month prior, my body had failed me. This was not the first time I teared up during the race, I had tears in my eyes almost every time I ran through a group of spectators cheering the runners on. Tears were there anytime I thought, "I'm really doing this!" and when I made it to the half way point. I guess you can say that running makes me emotional.
After the race, I met up with my hot handsome husband and supportive BFF. They asked me how I felt. My response, "like I can do anything! Anything but walk!" My legs were tired almost instantly and my calves and thighs started hurting shortly after. But I still felt like I could take on the world!
We spent the next few days walking through Disney. Any incline was pure torture! Getting up after sitting for any period of time was a challenge. I'd have to say though, it was all worth it!
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| 13 miles down, only .1 to go! |
When I crossed the finish line, I started crying. I was beyond proud of myself. I had just finished 13.1 miles when only a month prior, my body had failed me. This was not the first time I teared up during the race, I had tears in my eyes almost every time I ran through a group of spectators cheering the runners on. Tears were there anytime I thought, "I'm really doing this!" and when I made it to the half way point. I guess you can say that running makes me emotional.
After the race, I met up with my hot handsome husband and supportive BFF. They asked me how I felt. My response, "like I can do anything! Anything but walk!" My legs were tired almost instantly and my calves and thighs started hurting shortly after. But I still felt like I could take on the world!
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| My supportive BFF! |
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| "Run Fast my Little Kenyan Bran Muffin" |
We spent the next few days walking through Disney. Any incline was pure torture! Getting up after sitting for any period of time was a challenge. I'd have to say though, it was all worth it!
Bottom line, Disney knows how to put on a race! Water/Gatorade every 1.5 miles and tons of First Aid Stations with petroleum for chaffing, Bio Freeze for aching muscles and Tylenol all set out and ready to grab. There was Disney entertainment everywhere and tons of spectators to fill in the gaps! Two of my favorite signs (besides the one my hubby made me of course) said: "Hi complete stranger! I'm proud of you!" (yes this made me tear up) and "Only a Princess will pay $150 to run 13.1 miles and then force you to wake up at 3:30 AM to chase her around the park to watch her!" Disney has me hooked on racing!
You can bet that I'm excited to run another 1/2 marathon sometime soon. Maybe I'll even get crazy and add a marathon to my Bucket List. MAYBE!
