To start, 2013 was not a good year for the Ockerman household. I don’t want to dwell on that though. 2014 is a new year, I have beaten cervical cancer, and I am back to running. Running is my getaway, my release, my time just for me. It helps me so much with my fibro pain and the days I don’t run the pain is bad and I wind up eating horribly. So my goal for this year is to run as much as I can!!
| I just had to order some pics of this race. It meant the world to me and they even captured the kiddos crossing the finish line with me 🙂 |
My goal for this year is also to squeeze in as many half marathons as my body and pocket book can handle. I do so much better when I have a goal and if I keep having goals throughout the year, it gives me something to work towards and keep my inspiration going. I lose focus way too easily and get distracted by too many things. Running helps me keep my focus, keep my mind and body strong, and keeps my sanity in tact.
I knew I had signed up for a half marathon for March 1st, so at the beginning of the year I started back to running or should I say walking fast with a little jogging thrown in. My body went through a lot last year between the radical hysterectomy and then chemo and radiation. I also hadn’t run since July. I knew I would be out of shape, but I didn’t realize how out of shape until I started back to exercising. My stomach muscles were completely shot. It was tough physically and mentally to make myself get on the treadmill and just go and realize that I wasn’t going to be as fast or as strong as I was before.
The next kicker was that I forgot about a race that I had signed up for. So instead of having another 6-7 weeks until my first half of the year, I had two weeks!! Holy Moly!! I was no where near ready but my thoughts were that as I was just going to go out and run/walk to finish. No worrying about time, just get our there and do it.
I fueled my body as well as I could the two days before the race on February 9th. I hadn’t gotten back into a groove yet of what to eat before a race, but I just made sure I was hydrated and ate as many gluten free carbs as I could.
Thankfully this race didn’t start until 8:30 in the morning so I had a little more time to sleep, eat, and drink than I have had before other races. It was a little chilly that morning, but I didn’t mind. I would warm up fast enough when I started running. I didn’t start out too fast like I normally do at the beginning of races so I was able to run the first three miles. After that though, I wound up having to walk a lot. I did a fast walk so my pace wasn’t too horrible, but it was a tough race! My body wasn’t used to going that long or that far.
I was able to finish in just under 3 hours with 2:53:33 finish time. I was shocked honestly. I thought it would for sure take me longer than 3. The best part was that my family and parents were waiting at the finish line. Most races I do I go by myself, so for them to be there for my first race back after all we went through last year meant the world to me. It made all the pain of the last 3 hours totally worth it. My kids also ran the last little bit and crossed the finish line with me. Just made me want to bawl my eyes out. Love my babies!!
| Kids enjoying the after race food since I couldn’t eat it! |
I have to say I am pretty proud of myself. The last year of my life was tough, and this was my way to break through all the stress. I am so excited for what this year will bring for me and my family. I am also so excited to see how many races that I can finish and get stronger and faster with each one!
Hope you will continue to follow along and maybe I will see you out on the roads 🙂
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