What it feels like to WIN!

Background:
Saturday, August 14th, 2010 I ran my 1st race since the Charlotte Marathon. I have ran races with friends, however, after Charlotte (in December) being a train wreck and Myrtle Beach (in February) being canceled, I have not raced. Not sure why.
As a counselor, I am prone to over analyze these types of things. All I could come up with was a lack of self confidence in my abilities as a runner. Funny right? I have run many races...from the 5k to the marathon. I have placed in races and in the Grand Prix Series. So why should I feel this way. I think it goes back to me just not feeling like a "real runner". That somehow, I am a poser and soon everything will unravel and people will see that I am not a runner at all. Not that I know what a real runner is...
So in light of all that, I signed up to race. My plan was simple... Go out and run as fast as I can for 3.1 miles and see if I had what it takes to call myself a "runner".

The week before the race, I came out to run the course. However, I soon realized this out and back course was run in a not so good side of town. So I quickly ran back to my car. I did not get to preview the course for fear of my life.

Race morning:
As always, I woke up and spent time with God. I prayed for my family, my friends, my clients, the race, and the people who would run the race. I asked God to allow me to glorify him with my running. Because glorifying God is really all that matters. I'm not going to lie though, I prayed to run well. To place in my age group. To get my sub 23 that I wanted. Then I prayed a prayer that surprised even me. I asked God to help me love Him not for what He can do for me, but for the fact that He is God. At this point, it reoccurred to me that no matter if I am a "real runner" or what....God is all that matters.

The Race:
Lots of friends from church ran and scream teamed for this race. In fact, Bree's Sunday School class used this as an opportunity to have a social. I just love how AWESOME my church is! Many people in the class took this as an opportunity to take a chance and run their 1st 5k.

Lucas, Sommer, Bree, and Me after the race

To say the least, I was really anxious. I told Matt that I didn't know why I was so anxious before racing. He agreed. He exclaimed that, "It wasn't like it was my first race". I told him I wasn't this nervous at my 1st race.... He just shakes his head at me.
I line up with Sommer near the front. We watch the clock count down and then we went from zero to 7 minute miles in seconds. Suddenly Sommer and I were running like we were being chased by a mother bear that thought we took her cubs.
I felt like I was running in mud...or clay....or maybe cement. I felt slow. Real slow. But felt pretty good breathing wise. I got to mile 1 and saw I was running a bit slower than last year. Last year in the Grand Prix Series 5ks, I would hit mile 1 around 6:30. I hit this at around 6:50 something. I was hoping my slower start would help me not to poop out in the last mile.
It was an out and back course so we saw the mile 2 marker soon after passing mile 1....I didn't like that. However, I knew I would soon be back and see the real mile 2. I did see mile 2 at 14 something minutes. Oh, that's good, I can do 1 more mile!
I get to mile 3 and turn the corner. I see my wonderful husband and my JRT yelling for me to RUN! Can my JRT talk or am I that oxygen deprived??? I pass mile 3 at 21 something and do a bit of calculating in my head. I think I can PR. I think I can finish this race in 22 something minutes. Sub 23 has been a goal since June 2009. To date, my fastest 5k had been 23:07. All this went through my head.....I could see the clock. I put in my "kick" and started counting with the clock. I passed through at 22:38 clock time.....22:32 chip time. I finished well! Thank you God for letting me get my sub 23!

Post Race:
Soon after finishing, I saw the results going up. Should I look? No. Yes! Noooooo....YES! I go look!

My results show I placed 35th overall, 7th female overall, and 1st in my age group.

Did I read it right? 1st in my age group? I thought I was seeing things so I ask the guy standing beside me what this #1 means. He looks at me like I am crazy and says it means I won my age group.....WHAT?!?!?! I go from being excited to disbelief.

I "run" and tell Matt that I think I won my age group.

He suggests we stay for the award ceremony. I agree, however, there is still a fear that I read the paper wrong and I actually did not place.

My "Winner" picture!

I did place 1st in my AG.

Sommer placed 2nd in her AG!

Tim placed 3rd overall male!

I remember telling Bree that I always thought I would feel different if I ever won my AG. I still felt unsure. I felt excited. I wondered if I deserved it.
Then as I pondered how to write this race report it became clear to me:

I am a runner!

Not because I run fast, run long, win or get a personal best. But just because I run. Everyone who showed up today is a runner. From the winner to the person who came in last. They are a runner not because they finished, but because they choose to start.

That is what makes a runner.

The courage to start the race, the training, the struggle.

The run!

So now that I have "won" a race (in my age group) I have to say I really don't feel much different. However, when I ran up to accept my cheesy medal and $5 gift card to DICK's, I was proud. I was thankful. I was still in disbelief. Then as I ran the 2.5 miles back to my car, I was tired. Then the next day, I went back to training.

That's what winning feels like.

Now when is the next race?

King Tiger 5k - 6/5/10 Running with Abigayle

Today, Abigayle and I ran the "King Tiger 5k". Her cross country team ran it, so I thought I would join. Hey, anything for a race!
It's funny, I ran this race last year as part of the Grand Prix Series. I came to it ready to compete. I finished in 23:32 and came in 7th in my AG. However, today was different. I got to run this race with one of the most important people in my life, my daughter. As sappy as this sounds, I have watched her change as she starts to train for cross country. She started out timid with her team.....and I can understand why. She is the youngest and only 7th grader on the team. But as she trains, I see her confidence build. It is a wonderful thing that she is learning. If you can push though the pain of a run, you can tackle anything in life,

We cheese for a picture in front of RFYL University store. She told me that she is not as nervous about this race. She has gone this distance before, so she feels ready. It is really steamy today. I am already sweating and we haven't even started running.

The team warms up, stretches, and puts on their chips. Everyone is really excited.
We start running.......
The plan is is to run 4 minutes walk 1 minute. Abigayle's goal is to have a good attitude no matter how hard it gets.

Mile 1! Abigayle is still looking strong and having fun. Bree decided to join to help me encourage Abigayle. However, at this point, Abigayle needs no encouragement. She is doing well and meeting her attitude goal!

Mile two comes and passes. At this point, Abigayle is running just over a 10 minute mile and doing well. She is in good spirits and even jumps for the camera. However, we start UP the last hill.............That lasts for about a mile.
Abigayle looks at me and says......remember what Joe says! She is referring to some advice Joe Sauerbrey gave me when getting ready to run a Myrtle Beach for a Boston Qualifying time. He told me, "When it starts to hurt, run faster". What a proud moment! =-) However, like me, Abigayle's tummy can only take so much....so we have to go to a run 2 minutes run 1 so she can finish the race.

She passes mile 3 and puts in her kick! Sommer now joins me, Bree, and Abigayle. We are all yelling and screaming for her.

She passes the finish line and she took 6 minutes off her last 5k time. WOOT!

Then we see all the buddies who also ran while we grub on Rita's custard happiness!

My buddies Sommer, Ross, Tim, Kris and Tim's nephew ran FAST! I also got to see my buddy Chad from high school. He ran it in 21 minutes and is going to qualify for Boston in October! So here is a shout out for him! Hal will be his coach too!=-)

Abigayle's First Race Report

Tonight, Abigayle completed her first 5k. Every parent wants to instill their values, hopes and dreams on their children. I strive to teach my children love, faith in Jesus Christ, the joy of small things, honesty, and kindness toward others. I also hope to impart the joy of running on my children.

Here is Abigayle's story.

The last 12 or so weeks, she has been running. This happened with me and in PE. I must give a huge thanks to Coach Crystal Rhodes for teaching her PE students the art of endurance. She is a wonderful teacher and friend to me. With her help, Abigayle has decided to run Cross Country this fall at school.
With Cross Country in Abigayle's future and her training thus far, I signed her up for her first 5k. Now I think I was more excited than her.
We get to the race and I pin Abigayle's number on her. She has her game face on. I think the realization of this race has hit her. She suddenly becomes nervous. To her, this is a marathon.

We go into this hustle and bustle of the chip pick up. Abigayle is very quiet. I put her chip on and answer her questions. How many times has she seen me put this chip on myself and asked the same questions. However, today it is different. She is wearing the chip.

We get to the start and she takes a picture of me and Matt. He is running on one side of her and I am running on the other. Bree, Ron, Ross, and Sommer are also running. Greg, Wendy, Wendy's family and Ross's children and mother are scream teaming. Lucas will be pushed in the jog stroller.

One last hug from daddy and we are off and running. The plan was to run 2 minutes then walk 30 seconds. However, that went out the window.

We run for 4 minutes then take a walk break. Then we run until Abigayle wants to walk. Around mile 1 Abigayle is still looking strong having fun. Running is fun in a sick and twisted kinda way. Ha Ha!

Matt runs ahead and takes a picture. Look at those long legs and determination! That's my girl...and you can see me in the back ground smiling.

At the 1/2 way mark there is water. I had carried propel for her, but the water stop was a welcome break. She is happy to hear that we are half way done.

Mile 2. She is still looking good and sassy!

Mile 3 was Abigayle's best. She really started having fun. I think this is because she knew this was it. She would finish. She and her daddy play around near the Panther's Stadium.

Then we turn the corner and she puts in her "kick". She sprints toward the finish line. I took this picture then ran up with her. I must admit I had a hard time keeping up with her when she started sprinting. Go Abigayle, Go!

We cross the finish line and cheese for pictures.

The 3 Amigos!

The whole crew. Sommer had already gone home but this is everyone else. The kids ran the fun run and they all beasted it.

Now we go out and eat! Abigayle gets ribs and wings....you go girl!

Anything for a story!

Anything for a story...Yes, that's my motto. Hey anyone who dresses up like a dog every Sunday morning has to be a little crazy! Spot the dog, pictured below, thank you!

So how did I come up with this motto? Well think about it, If everything always goes right, would anyone ever have any good stories. My sister (pictured above as the cow) and I live by this. Mainly because if we can screw it up, we will...... so here are the funny, and not so funny, moments of my running.

So here is where it all began...well sort of. This is the 2004 Disney Marathon. Yes I am about 40lbs heavier in the pictures......


















The 2nd picture, is Me, Ron, and Bree after we finished. Proud of the hardware! The 1st, is a picture of me around mile 23 with my hero...THE EVIL QUEEN! Isn't she awesome! However, all this joy was shadowed by sadness. Matt and I had to get right on a plane and go back home to Charlotte. Matt's father was dying.

Now move ahead to January 2006. Matt and I complete the Goofy Challenge. This is 13.1 miles on Saturday and 26.2 miles on Sunday. That is 39.3 miles. Bree and Ron also did this fun trek with us!

October 2006 I completed my 1st trail marathon. I got to know Ricky because Ron talked him into running with me. Bless his heart.....I learned how to crawl through mud and over logs. It was cold and poured down the rain for most of the race. In the picture below, I am running to the finish line yelling, "am I the winner"?

January 2007 finds us back at the Disney Marathon. Some way, we talked Matt's brother Curt into running it with us. Notice we are in shorts....it is 0400 and already HOT! I finished with a PR of 4:12 in 88 degree weather.
Me, Curt and Matt are in the first picture. The 2nd is me at mile 25!










After the very HOT Disney marathon, and intense training by myself I was feeling a bit burned out. So what better fun than running with a sister. I trained her for her 1st half marathon and we ran it together in April 2007. Charlotte Racefest.

Here we are at the finish showing some grand hardware! Little did she know, she had only trained to 8 miles. I saw no point to tell her this until AFTER the half marathon.

A race is not complete without a port-a-jon picture.

At mile 7 Hope decided to get in touch with her inner chi!

2007 held many new adventures for me. I placed for the first time in my age group in a race. 3rd place on May 19th, 2007. It may have been because 2 guys were dissing my running skirt and I had to take them to town and show them how a girl runs! (Yes, I beat them!) never underestimate a runner.....respect the skirt! Here I am with my nifty major award!

2007 also was the first century ride for me! September 2007 to be exact in Myrtle Beach. Below is the crew in our group before we start.

And I couldn't disappoint.....another port-a-jon picture. I thought it was funny b/c they had "men" written on them...and I used them anyway! OOOOOH, yeah, I went there.

Here we fast forward to December 2007. Charlotte, Thunder Road Marathon. This was lucky #7 for me. And I have my lucky "Charlotte Hornets" sweats on. Below is the crew who ran this rather warm marathon.

Here I am at the finish. It had been a hard long road. I had acid reflux and swore I would NEVER do another marathon. Jeff and Colleen got me to the end.

Move on to March 2008. MAP Tri!

Nothing like dropping your pants and allowing someone to write your age on your leg. I hope I shaved!

Here is Bree, me, and Jeff! We all did the tri!

Like my helmet? It didn't come off until mile 3 of the run portion of the tri. Just in case you are wondering, that is not supposed to happen. But once again, I have a good story!

May 2008 brought me and Hope (my sis) together for another half.

We are at the finish line.....but it is time to start. That should have been the 1st clue that this was going to be a wacky race.

I get stuck in the mud....but it is ok. We are lost anyway!

And Hope seems to be handling it well. She must not have brought enough nutrition...so eat a sign....hey wait, what did that sign say? Goats?

Now on to Charlotte, Thunder Road Marathon 2008.... Why do I continue to run this marathon?

My goal was to break 4 hours. I am at mile 16 acting like I am shooting myself in the head. Do you think I met my goal?
Not today Zurg. I ran a 4:05. A PR by 6 minutes, but no goal met.

Then I went to Myrtle Beach 8 weeks later....and ran a 3:51. Goal met!

Me coming across the finish line at Myrtle Beach, Feb. 14th, 2009 in the pouring down rain!

So now on to try and qualify for Boston.....This would take speedwork over the summer.

I think the spring/summer speed work at the JCSU track has gotten the best of coach Ron.

April 2009 I competed in the Skyline 5k. I finally broke 24 minutes....and my truck.

So on to December 2009 to test out my speedy skills on the marathon. Yes, Thunder Road. This was marathon #10 and the goal was to Boston Qualify.....or at least break 4 hours.

I did neither......Got sick on the course and ended up with a 4:05....again!

But that is OK...I still have Myrtle Beach Feb. 2010.....................

But that was never to happen. A grand snow storm came and in great southern fashion, everything shut down. So the marathon was canceled. We ran anyway.......16 miles to be exact.

Here is the whole crew who came to run.......

So with no BQ or Myrtle beach marathon, I decide to run a half with friends....

March 2010, brings the Corporate Cup 1/2 marathon. Leigh, Ross, Me, Bree, Matt are the crew who run it!

Matt finishes and finds a nice soft sidewalk to lay down on.

So that is the adventures up to this point.....

What have I lost? About 40lbs, any pride I ever had, the ability to take myself seriously.

What have I gained? Many new friends, great pictures, and awesome stories that I will tell to anyone who is unlucky enough to start listening.

I had someone say that I make running look fun. This is because it is fun. The wonderful adventures that await the 20 mile run or the race.....the pushing your body.....to bragging rights....all this is fun!

And what is next?

Not sure about this. I am signed up for Myrtle Beach again....Hey, they gave us a 50% discount!

May do Disney Marathon (if I can fork out the $135 entry fee) with Matt.......

But not sure of what else.....but hey, anything for a story!