Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Interrupted

I interrupt this regularly posted to blog with the goings on of family life and bring you The Crim Countdown. For those of you who would choose not to hear about my last week and a half of training leading up to my ten mile race, I will be back again around the end of the month with blogging as usual. Until then, here is my running journal.

On my run last night, I started thinking about where I was about a year ago. I had just had my angel boy. I had this crazy goal of running a ten mile race, never even running half that distance in my life. I was 35 pounds heavier. I was breast feeding. I was tired. I was determined that where I was in my life wasn't going to stop me from achieving my goals.

Then I started thinking about he first time we ran the route we did last night. The first time, I stopped with a mile to go. I couldn't go any farther. Then, when we went out and I finally made it all the way, it was huge. Last night, it just was a reminder of how far I have come. I am in the best shape of my life. I can run 5 miles now with no problem. I can run seven and not crawl to the finish.

In a week and a half, I am going to be where I set out to be a little over a year ago. Don't get me wrong, I don't set goals and then along the way forget about them, but I really can't believe I am here already. I think this may be the hardest thing that I have ever done up until now (I won't say ever have to do in my life because I would like to run a marathon in the future when the kiddos are older and I have way more time to devote to training). Running is a lot like labor without drugs for me. Toward the end of a long run, you really just want to stop and catch your breath, but you know that you can't. You have to keep going because there is an end in sight. It's such a rush. I have been trying to imagine what The Crim will feel like...what finishing will feel like. I know that I have a lot of work to do in this next week and a half. There will be a lot of firsts, maybe some disappointing runs, but I am running after my dream. I can't wait to be in downtown Flint on the morning of the 23rd and take it all in...it's the day I have been dreaming of, anticipating, working hard for. I am going to stand there and take it all in. I can't wait!

4 things to add:

Erin said...

And because during your labor I was there with these words I will give them to you again.

"BREATHE!"

I am so so so so proud of you!

Remember to savor the sweet tenderness that is the struggle to finish. So that when it is all said and done you will know just the acomplishment that you have achieved.

And when you feel like stopping...go to that place. You know it. I know it. It is the "my brain says stop but my body won't let it" place. You can do it!

And just remember to breathe!

Hollie said...

Just promise not to laugh at me when I'm crying as I cross the finish line! I don't know if they'll be tears of joy or pain but I'm sure there will be tears!

Beth said...

Don't worry, Hollie, I will probably be crying too!

Rebecca said...

I am so excited for you. I'm sure it has to be so exhilirating to have worked so hard & so long for something & to finally see it come to fruition. Praise Him for giving you the strength, courage & determination to set a goal and try to achieve it. Can't wait to see what He'll do with you next :>)

{{hugs}}