As I sit here relaxing as much as any mom possibly could on the eve of my first marathon, I think about what this means for me. Completing one marathon has been on my bucket list since I started running. I only ever want to do one to say that I have accomplished it. It has been just over two years since I was able to beat cancer, surely I can walk/run 26.2 miles. Who else has gone through the “my first marathon” jitters?
The most I have gone on my training is about 19 miles. I had plans to go for a longer run, but I cut my pinkie toe on a Walmart cart of all things and had to wait until it healed to even be able to put socks back on. Really??!! Yep this is my life. Most of my training kept getting sidetracked. The only way I was able to somewhat get some runs in was to schedule a bunch of races back to back in November and December. This helped me get the movement that my body needed to push itself.
I am a little nervous about this race more for the fact that I haven’t run as far as I wanted to push myself to prep for it, but my mindset is more positive than it has been in a long time. Am I fully physically ready? Probably not. I am ok with being slow. Sure that means that my marathon time will be long, but as long as I finish is all that matters to me. My head is in a much better space so that I don’t have the constant doubt in my abilities that I had before.
It has been a long struggle with my diet and nutrition. When you have food “allergies” “intolerances” there is a huge struggle with what I can even take during a race to keep my energy up or even what to eat in the days leading up to the race. I still haven’t fully figured it all out, but I have at least done enough that I am no longer needing to take Benadryl everyday. The Benadryl was dragging me down and zapping my energy. Not smart when you are trying to run!
My goal today is try and eat as much as I can which is not easy for me since I can’t usually eat large quantities. There will be a water bottle in my hand all day. I am going to be staying in a hotel close to the race so thankfully I don’t have to wake too crazy early to drive down there. My clothes are packed, food is packed, and accessories for while I run. I am as ready as I will ever be to run my first and most likely only marathon. Ok Chevron Houston Marathon.. I am ready for you.
Who all will I see out there? What distance are you running? My first marathon is about to be in the books!!
This momma is crying! You go my girl!!!
Ok, you got me all teary eyed too! I’m so proud of you for finishing! Stepping up to that start line, knowing that your training didn’t go as planned, but having to guts to go anyway just proves to me what a badass you are!
You are a freaking rock star and don’t you forget it!!!
Thanks for the encouragement!! I seriously couldn’t believe that I actually finished it.