YAY!

Let me be honest..
one thing I had been telling myself throughout this semester was..
"I just wanna get done with this marathon! and never do it again!"
...
NOT...
I actually LOVED every moment of the race.
Of course, it was not easy. However, it was one of the best experiences in my life.
The feeling of sprinting the last mile and running into the finish line was the best.
Congratulations to all the others who have accomplished this together :D

Jade

we did it!!

Guys,

So, it was pretty darn rewarding to check something as big as a marathon off of my bucket list. There were some points when I felt like I wasn't going to be able to finish, but by God's grace and my friends' and family's support, I crossed the finish line at 4:51. I'm still a little sore, but I suppose that being 19 helps with the whole quick recovery thing.

I've had so much fun running with you guys... Thank you Dr. Wright for all of your teaching and support. I look forward to seeing you guys around campus (not necessarily at 7:30 am)... Happy holidays, and congratulations to you all for being brave enough to attempt something epic! :-)

Thanks everyone.

Hello,

While not officially in the class, I truly appreciate being allowed to train and learn with all of you. I've enjoyed running with you and getting to know you. Congratulations to everyone! If I can ever do anything for you, feel free to drop by my office in the Physics Department. Thanks so much Dr. Wright for all of your encouragement.

Grace and Peace,

Rusty

We finished.

Congrats guys! I'm running the Austin Marathon on 2.14.2010. I hope to see you there.

S.

So, I finished the half-marathon in under two hours, after the soles of my feet started killing me at mile mark 6. However, I didn't really realize something was wrong, until someone came to me after the race and asked me if I knew my feet were bleeding through my shoes. I was bleeding from the first two toes on both feet and will end up loosing two toe nails. I honestly never thought that I would run more then 2 miles, being a sprinter my entire life, and so I was excited to perform as well as I did. I actually think that I will one day run the entire marathon. I appreciate everything Dr. Wright and am glad you were able to finish. 

el fin.

Okay, I never thought I'd be saying this, but running a marathon was kind of fun. I mean, I felt really exhausted at some points and I can barely walk today, but it was definitely worth it. I ran most of the way with Jade and Cindy, which was absolutely awesome! Having people you know around you to push you is so great. We would run three minutes and then walk for one minute, which worked out really well, I think. And Jade was running the stopwatch (I forgot mine), so that was a huge blessing that she did that for us!!!!! I was feeling pretty good up until mile twenty, and then I was like, 'Yes, almost finished, but not really because five miles is still quite a ways! Ah!' But you know what, who would have thought that random strangers could be so encouraging and convicting! Seriously, it was so awesome having those people there! They were so great. I also really liked the orange slices; they were also very encouraging. I'm back in Abilene now, so I'm going to break out the ice and see what I can do about all of these achy muscles!!!

Congrats everyone! You guys are just so great and class has been really fun with you guys....really, it has. I hope I'll see you around in the future (I may not recognize you unless you're wearing running garb and looking rather sleepy, but I"ll do my best).


Dr. Wright!!! It was awesome seeing you at the race! Your perseverance inspired me! Thanks for practicing/running what you teach. You rock (white rock, that is).

kristen

Dec. 7th 2009...thoughts from last week, though written this week.

Well!!! This post is for last week...I'm sorry I'm a little but behind. Well the week before the marathon, I ended up running about eight miles before feeling that I really needed to be studying instead of running. I did try to push myself at a faster pace than I normally do (so as to maybe make up what I lacked in distance...if that's even a valid thought). Anyway, a few days after that I played racquet ball with a friend for almost two hours; that was a really great cardio workout in disguise, and I woke up the next day feeling really sore, with a big ol' blister on my right big toe. Yikes! Not worry, though, it healed up really quickly. Whew. Also, I tried really hard to eats lots of healthy food during that whole pre-week. (jumping to present tense something......)At this point
I am beginning to wonder if Sunday the 13th is going to become the next Friday the 13th, or something like that. I am terrified and my goal is to finish in under six hours, five and a half if possible.
Anywho! Hopefully I'll see all of you guys around! Best of luck!

kristen

Recovery

Finish that marathon was awesome, but it really took a toll on my body. I started out at a very conservative pace and progressed through the run. That strategy made sure I didn't die at the end, but it meant that I had to pound hard towards the end. I ran the majority of the race with Wes, which was a real psychological benefit. It's amazing what teamwork can do, considering that running is technically an individual sport. I was really nervous about my knee, but thank God my it held up fine during the marathon. Immediately after the race, I felt pretty good, but as soon as I sat down in the car and then got out again, I felt really sore. I took an ice bath, which really helped. I would definitely recommend doing the same for anyone who ran. Hopefully the soreness will start to wear off tomorrow.

Preparing

To prepare myself, I've been doing more walking this week to give my legs a rest but still get up on my feet. I've been using my GPS watch to get a feel for the pace I need to walk/run at to finish within the 6:30 time limit. I've also been abstaining from sweets and carbonated drinks. Getting pretty nervous, but I did check the weather and the forecast is cloudy with a high of 68, which is pretty much perfect for me.

I DID IT!!!

Hey guys!! So on sunday dec 6th I ran the Austin Double decker half marathon!! I ran a half instead of a full do to injuries, but I did it!

It was about 34 degrees when I ran, and raining so the conditions were awful and when I finished I was freezing and soaking wet. The course was pretty much all hills from mile 5-11 and I was in a lot of pain but I still finished strong. I ran very slow though because of the conditions and finished in 2 hours and 32 minutes. Before the run I ate two protein bars, and didn't eat anything at all during the run so I was STARVING after. I drank HEED at every water stop, and there was about 4. I took 3 walk breaks for 3 minutes each at miles 4, 7, and 10. 1400 people ran this race and it was just so fun to be a part of. The race atmosphere makes everything different, but in a good way and its just great!

At the end I was so tired, and so cold, and so wet but so glad I finished-even though it was a half marathon. A few hours later the soreness kicked in and to this day (2 days later) my whole body is sore. My knees ankles, hips, and back really feel a lot of pain but I have been stretching and drinking a lot of water to get through the soreness.

My advice is to pace yourself, run with someone if you can, stay positive, and most of all HAVE FUN. This really was a great experience and I am SO glad I did it, even if I could only run a half.

Stretching and Nutrition

I have been stretching and working out my IT band consistently this week. It turns out there are some really good stretches and exercises to help in recovering from ITBS. I wish I had know about them earlier, but better late than never! My goal is to stretch three times a day, ice twice, and do strengthening exercises once. I don't imagine that all this will do very much to help me finish the marathon, but it is worth a shot.

I've started trying to watch my diet in preparation for this weekend. This has been a challenge, since tons from really bad but really tasty food has been offered to me. I've been doing well though. Starting tomorrow, I'm going to make sure to get 6-8 glasses of water per day to make sure that I'm fully hydrated for the marathon.

Looks like it will be great weather! Best of luck to all of you!

Hiding from the Cold

I really hate the cold, and therefore, I have did another workout in Powell, instead of trying to acclimate my body to the possibility of cold weather. Right now the weather channel claims that Sunday will be in the fifties, and I pray that it doesn't get any colder then that. Good luck to everyone that is feeling banged up. I have been in the very same position several times, while on the track team, and I know how disheartening it is. I hope you feel better and are able to show how hard you have worked this semester. 

Under the weather

Hey guys...
Sounds like there are some injuries and not-fun things occurring pre-race. I hope that everything goes as smooth as it possibly can for everyone.

Last week, I did a little running and walking on most of the days. Instead of running 8 miles last weekend, I had an ultra-fun basketball throw-down. I haven't done any running, and I don't know how much I'll be able to do, this week. I'm feeling a little sickly, and my nose and eyes are acting like running water faucets. So... sleep, fluids, repeat. A marathon is hard enough when you're healthy.

Best of wishes to everyone. I've really enjoyed being in class with all of you, and learning together along the way. Keep on loving... And be ready to scoop me off the side of the road in Dallas on Sunday. :-)

On Saturday I did the Run for Respect 5k on campus in lieu of the marathon. It's a good thing Dr. Wright let me do that because I only jogged about .5 of a mile before I had to stop and walk because of my knee. I ended up waking the rest of the race, which was freezing! Strangely, I was ok with walking the rest of the way and got to enjoy some good bonding time with my roommate and another friend. I would not have had that if I was worried about finishing as fast as possible. You learn a lot more when you just slow down, enjoy yourself and forget the fact that you are in something labeled a "race." Whether I finished in 25 minutes or 48 minutes, my money and support still went to the same cause, right? This semester has definitely been difficult not being able to run, but I have learned a great amount of patience and how to rely on other things beside my physical ability. Anyways, good luck to everyone on Sunday! I am hoping to be there cheering yall on!

ITBS

Well, I tried an 8 mile run today. At about 5.4 miles, my IT band syndrome returned in full force, and I had to stop. This is not an encouraging sign. I'm feeling pretty discouraged about the upcoming marathon, and I'm honestly questioning whether I will even be able to finish.

I'm also feeling a little stupid. I've been researching ITBS online, and I've found a variety of stretches and exercises that I could have been doing over the past month if I had recognized that what I am experiencing is a really common problem for runners and is NOT something that just goes away with rest. It takes intentional methods to get rid of ITBS, methods that aren't very effective if you start them the week before the marathon.

All that said, I just remind myself that in the grander scheme of things, my completion or non-completion of a marathon is not all that important. It is valuable for the things you learn in training and the relationships that are built along the way; but I like to think that I have learned some things this semester, both through training and through injury, and have built some valuable relationships. And when all is said and done, God is still God, we are His children whom He loves, and He is redeeming all the earth through his son Jesus. With that truth fixed firmly in my mind, I am ready for success or failure.

New Shoes

Hey everybody! One week until the big race! I hope all of your training (and now rest) is going well.

As you know, my knee has been giving me trouble for some time now. I talked to a very experienced marathoner and he said that my shoes were likely contributing to the problem and preventing my recovery. So I finally broke down and got some new running shoes. I took them for a 3.6 mile spin yesterday, and they felt good. So far, I have felt a little tension in my knee, but no pain anywhere near the previous level. I hope this means that they really are helping with the problem. A longer run will help determine that. I am going to try to go for an 8 mile run tomorrow, and then I will rest until the marathon.

On a less positive note, I was (not surprisingly) able to tell a huge difference in my level of conditioning due to the time off. I have dropped any illusions of a sub-4 hour marathon, and I will be very happy just to finish on my feet. :)

Best of luck as you continue to prepare by eating right and getting in a good state of mind for 26.2 miles!!!

Wes

I Hate Cold Weather

I know, I'm from the Washington D.C. area, but I still hate cold weather. Running just isn't fun when your whole body feels like your legs after an ice bath. The worst part is when you have to second guess yourself on whether or not to inhale because you know the frigid air will freeze your lungs. In my pre-meal prayers, I've already started adding a request for good weather on marathon day. On the plus side, I'm cleared to ride by bike on Saturday. I haven't been able to ride since October, so I will be doing some serious cross training over the weekend.

First Post!

So, I am officially a blogger. Anyway, I weight lifted today at Powell for about an hour, which is quite routine for me. I've average two to three visits a week, which is not as much as I would like, but it's all I have time for. 

Catching Up

Nov 16-19 - my foot was at its worst, so I pretty much just walked at least 2 miles each of those days. My hope is that I can at least walk the half if my foot, or my lack of training because of my foot won't let me run it.

Nov 21 - I biked about 4 miles around Lunsford. Would've loved to get off the trail, but it was getting dark and I don't trust Abilene drivers...maybe I am one, but whatever haha

Nov 23 - walked in class, foot not as bad, but not good

Nov 24 - biked for around 30 minutes through some hills...felt good to really use my legs

Nov 25 & 27 - walked with my mom for about an hour each night

Monday, Nov 30 - started our 25 mins jogging and actually made it about 7 mins before my foot bothered me just a little bit. I know by now to stop right when I feel it or it'll get bad...this is how it happened in the first place. But I walked the rest of the 25 mins and my foot didn't get worse after that.

And then today...we didn't have class this morning, but since its kinda semi- snowy outside, I think I'll go to Hendrick and use the eliptical today.

The Rumors are True, I'm a beach bum

For those of you that don't know me well, I am from a little paradise called the Rio Grande Valley. I live in a city near South Padre Island, TX. If your wondering, "Do you go to the beach all the time?" the answer is YES. I love the beach. I love the sun. I love wearing nothing but shorts and shades on the beach playing volleyball, I feel I could do that all day. The reality folks is that I'm living in Abilene,TX. It's pretty cold here.

In Abilene, my hands and ears are cold all the time, I get a running nose regularly, and I have to wear a jacket. Not my ideal way of living.

However, I realized something the other day.

I LOVE running in cold weather. Don't get my wrong, I am perfectly comfortable running in 80% humidity, but there is something special about running in 45 degree weather. Does that sound crazy? Absolutely. Let me explain.

Picture this: Its 6 A.M on a Saturday morning (my favorite morning during the week), its 39 degrees outside and the world is completely silent and completely still. You step outside and ask yourself, "Self, why are you doing this?!" then you remind yourself, "Because I am runner, I persevere." Sounds cheesy, but that's me. You begin running up College St, turn on Cedar Crest, then onto 18th street, then onto Campus Court, then off to running a very strategic route you carefully designed. As your running in the cold, your feeling like your gonna quit and turn around, but somehow you just realized that you just ran 1 mile. You keep running. Two miles, you keep running. Ten miles, your still alive. It is still cold.

Running in the cold is sort of like a test for me. How much do I really love running? If I call myself a runner I should be running whenever I planned on it and when it is safe to go out. Right?

There is something about running in cold weather that pushes me; that tests my passion about running.

Yes, I am a beach bum;however, I'm thankful for the cold weather in Abilene, TX. Go figure.

S.

April showers bring May flowers but what do May flowers bring?

Pilgrims!

Ahahaha. Just thought I'd share the most recent joke I heard. Anyways, I hope everyone had a good break and is geared up for the last TWO weeks! I worked out over the break, but since I am not running the marathon it is getting harder and harder to stay motivated. I still managed to get my daily dose of endorphins, though. On Wednesday I went on a hour long bike ride with my brother and did an ab routine and some pullups on the monkey bars at the playground. He was quite embarrassed. On Thursday (before the vast quantities of food, mind you), I rode our stationary bike for 30 minutes then did my brother's weight training program, which left me sore until yesterday. On Friday I walked for 30 minutes then took Saturday and Sunday off. On Monday I was back on the bike for 20 minutes. Today I became a fan of indoor machines when I looked out the window. Yay winter!

Enjoy the December showers!