Reflections on Broad Street

 My "Medal" (blurry, but there it is!)

On Sunday morning I accomplished something that just one year ago I would have never dreamed I could do.  Scratch that.  Six months ago, I would have never dreamed I could do.  In fact, Sunday morning at 8:30 am, I was still not sure I would be able to do this....

I ran the Broad Street 10-Mile Run with 40,000 other people through the streets of Philadelphia!  Without stopping!

What a rush!  What an amazing experience!  What a complete shock! :)

Yes, I have been training since January.  Yes, I have run approximately 3x per week.  Yes, I have been working very hard.  But up til this race, the most I have ever run at once?  Six miles.

I have to give major props to my college roommate and "running coach" Rebecca.  After deciding to run together, she kept on my butt kept me accountable to my running schedule and texted me many, many messages of encouragement.  She is the one who kept telling me that I could do this.  I was not so sure.  I can't imagine having a better running partner that day.  She kept pace with me, she checked in with how I was feeling, she gave me those gummy sugar thingies that runners use for energy boosts, and she made me run out the last few hundred feet full speed.  (Let me tell you - there is not much better than PASSING PEOPLE on the way to the finish line!)

I was surprised by how emotional I felt at different points throughout the race.  I thought I would be excited....but didn't know I would also develop a big ol' lump in my throat and find tears springing to my eyes.

The first time was as I passed the 5 mile mark and realized that I still felt good.  We could see City Hall looming ahead, and I was just enjoying seeing all the different neighborhoods, people, architecture as I ran along.  One of the things I really enjoy about cities is how they are just a patchwork quilt of all of God's people.  It really is amazing.

My second teary moment occurred around mile 7-8.  I had already exceeded my own personal best, and I was still feeling strong.  It was around that point that I realized I could finish this race and run the whole way.  That alone was exciting, but at that point, I felt overwhelmed by the community? solidarity? oneness? (not sure what term to use) with all the other runners. Let's just say that I was not at the front of the pack with all the die hard runners, and the people around me seemed very similar to me - people who just wanted to cross that finish line!  Yet along the race path there were people holding signs that said things like "Don't give up" and "You can do it" and even "Free high-fives here"!   I know that these signs were not meant for me personally, but it kind of felt like they were anyhow.  It was just what I needed to keep going.

Finally, as we hit the last mile, there were a lot more spectators along the sides of the road.  At one point, they were all cheering and yelling for the runners, and the verse Hebrews 12:1 came to mind.  It says:  "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."  It was such a tangible reminder to me that in running - AND in life - we are never alone...and we should never give up.  The cheering may not have meant much to some of the runners, but it was a powerful moment for me. 


So where do I go from here?  A few people have asked me if I will do it again.  And my answer is:  I don't know (and probably not!)  It was an amazing experience, and I am so, so glad I did it.  I can cross it off the bucket list.  And I now have this wonderful memory to carry with me in my heart.


BUT, it was a lot of training and work.  Like, A LOT. At times it felt hard to juggle the need to "train" with the reality of my life, which includes small children who can't be left alone while I go out to run.  And there is the pressure of running longer and longer distances, which stressed me out sometimes.  And honestly, I think I am more of a short distance running kind of gal.  A 5K sounds great right about now!  

I do want to continue running, however.  I just want to incorporate other forms of exercise into my life...at this point I feel like I have muscular legs - but puny arms and a poochy tummy!  But I hope running will always be a part of my life.

Finally, I want to thank each of you who encouraged me in this process.  It means more to me than you will ever know!  Thanks for sharing this journey with me.

Running ups and downs

So I just have to start off with this little tidbit:

TODAY I RAN FIVE WHOLE MILES WITHOUT STOPPING.

That is 55 minutes of running, folks!!!

My hair was like an oil slick, my self was totally slimy, and my face looked red as a raspberry, but I did it, people!!

So obviously, this is one of my running "ups".  

However, last week was a total downer.  I try to run every Tuesday and Thursday morning as well as one weekend day.  Well, Tuesday I was unable to run because I was signed up to help out in Carter's preschool class.  That afternoon I decided to do some "strength training" at home so I turned on a workout dvd from netflix and concentrated on my legs mostly.  Well, whoa doggie.  I was SO sore that it was hard to walk up and down stairs...for days!  Chalk up downer #1.

Then Thursday - despite having slept poorly and having a cold - I made myself go to my 5K training class.  

Well.  

Well, well, well.  Let me just say that 3 people showed up - the leader (who is training for a marathon), another woman (who had just completed one hour of exercise with her personal trainer and was now on to her second workout of the day), and ummm.... me.  The leader had us run over to the high school track (which is an uphill run part of the way).  Then she had us doing sprints alternating with jogging for a mile or so.  I literally prayed "Help me Jesus" through this part.  I thought I was going to die.  (And I only am kinda kidding about that...)  Then we had to run back.  3 miles total.  I am ALWAYS the slowest runner in the group and the last person to arrive back at the Y.... so my running self-esteem was pretty low by then.  Not to mention that by 3 pm that day I was ready for bed!!!  Downer #2.

So on Saturday morning I went to the Y track to run my "long run".  I was STILL sore from my Tuesday and Thursday escapades.  I started running, and around 2 miles in, my shoe came untied.  I stopped to tie it and then tried to start jogging again.  My legs were KILLING me.  I don't mean sore, I mean painful.  Painful to the point that I decided I should stop because I really didn't want to injure myself.  Even just walking was hurting.  Even just sitting on the floor stretching, my legs were screaming.  So again, I was totally discouraged.  I really need to up my mileage and so far the farthest I had run at once was 4 miles.  And my "long run" became a short 2 mile run.  Downer #3!!  UGH!

I really began to question myself -- why on earth did I sign up to run TEN MILES?  WILLINGLY??  Can I even do this?  Am I just feeling temporary pain (which I have had all along) or am I injuring myself?  Is it too late to sell my race bib???

I took the rest of the weekend off.  The soreness eventually went away.  I went to run today and decided that I was just going to take it slow and see what I could do...and as I ran I felt good.  My legs were NOT hurting.  In fact, even the shin splints were mostly gone (this has been my main problem all along).  So I decided to keep going.  And going.  And going. For 5 miles!  I even just said to Chad - I'm not even sore. 

I am so excited!  5 miles!  It made me think that maybe all that soreness and pain were perhaps part of the path to greater strength and endurance....here's hoping that all the downers were part of a "breakthrough" of sorts. 

Although I am still not looking forward to that 5K training class this Thursday....wonder what kind of "fun" she has planned for us this week??