One of my all-time goals has been to run a half marathon. I included it in my 30 Before 30 list and although I never managed to check it off that list, I feel really confident that I'll be able to check it off my 32 Before 32 list in the within the next few months!
I knew it was something I always wanted to do because running has been the only athletic pursuit I've genuinely enjoyed and been somewhat okay at. However, after four years of pregnancy, breastfeeding, and motherhood, running started to become less of a want and more of a need.
Having my babies so close together was really rough for me, mentally. I genuinely started to lose myself to motherhood and in the past year I awoke from the newborn fog and realized I didn't have a handle on who I was anymore. I had sacrificed everything for these sweet boys of mine, and though that made me a good Mom, it was unsustainable. I realized I desperately needed to reclaim a part of who I was before I became "Mommy."
I started running back in February. I hadn't consistently run since 2014 when I was training for the Cap City Quarter Marathon in Columbus with my work team. I was 6 weeks pregnant with Charlie when I finished that race, and I never really ran again after that. So when I hit the pavement back in February, I went in with zero expectations-I mean, I had basically been sedentary for the last four years and I had no idea how my body would handle actual exercise again.
I headed out for my first run with the idea that if I could run a straight mile without stopping, I'd call it a win. If I couldn't even do that, I would be okay. I mean I had physically birthed two humans and put my body through the ringer. I was going to be kind to myself and take it slow. Imagine my surprise when I ran TWO without stopping! I was so pleasantly surprised with how I did, but chalked it up to beginner's luck.
Two days later, I ran three miles. The following week, I went out again and just kept running because it felt so good. I cranked out 5.5 miles on my third run! I was so proud of my body, and quite honestly, in disbelief.
In the last few months, I've had issues with some very sore knees. I've taken it easy and given myself lots of time to rest. I really want to achieve my half marathon goal and I know I won't be doing myself any favors if I push too hard and really injure myself. That being said, it feels like I'm finally out of the woods with ankle, knee, and hip pain (fingers crossed)! And I've settled into a good rhythm.
I try to do one or two short weekday runs followed by a long weekend run. Of course, I've been at the mercy of Ohio's spring weather so my schedule has been thrown off on more than one occasion by an unanticipated rainstorm.
About a month ago, I did my longest run to-date, a full eight miles. The following week, I tried to push myself just a little bit farther and did my first-ever nine-mile run. Yesterday, I completed my first 10 mile run (like, in my entire life) and it felt so exhilarating. Hard, but exhilarating.
I have been so stinkin' proud of myself and my body and I'm so excited to run my first half marathon this summer. I delayed registering because I really had no idea how long it would take me to train, but I think I've finally narrowed down which one I want to do and it gives me a good window of time to feel more comfortable in my long runs.
I told Chuck that I would love to make a long-term goal of running a half marathon in all 50 states. It combines my loves of running and travel and would give me something to constantly be working toward.
So, that's where I'm at right now. Stay tuned for a half marathon update! In the meantime, here's a little mileage log:
- FEBRUARY- 5
- MARCH- 14
- APRIL- 30
- MAY (to-date): 20
TOTAL: 69 miles in 2018
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