A Test??

Well it has been a few days of not running ... I have a bit of pain in my left leg that I did not get from running but I need to rest to make sure that I heal properly.... I miss running it is such a part of my therapy - my healing - my sanity. Great a test..... ice and heat have been a constant this week on the journey of downtime from the VOS half March 9.

I will continue to press forward!!

The Day After...Thank goodness for a day off!!

Here it is the day after race day... I have never slept better!! Now it was off to work and then some after a 12 hour day I am ready to sleep. I had to keep active and stretch throughout the day....I feel great!! I do enjoy the fact that I get to have the day off from running I think that Tuesday may be the day I regret!! LOL

Back to running!!

Valley of the Sun ~ RACE DAY.

What an amazing day....where do I begin?! The morning came quick ... too quickly at that for race day. I was so nervous and I am not sure why because it is just a run I have done this multiple times.

I was already dressed and out the door by 4:45 am to travel to East Mesa...not sure exactly where I was heading I drive....I get to the finish line and pile onto the bus....the wrong bus!! LOL I did not realize that the buses were going to specific locations for the relay AND the half marathon. After overhearing a conversation I immediately realize that I am on the wrong bus as well as a few others and we depart and head to the correct bus. Sitting in the front seat since I was not with any friends or such, the volunteer states there is one seat left on the bus so I take it! Deep in thought on the 2 mile approximately bus ride I allow everyone off ahead of me - yes perhaps it was to soak up not being in the cool morning air of 55 degrees. I finally depart....I am at the warm up area equipped with about 10 port of johns and lines glore.

There is music playing - 80's rock - Footloose; a bit of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band; Country (I can not recall who or what the song was playing); Chariots of Fire, Rocky VII - Eye of the Tiger (Survivor).....finally the announcement .... the Star Spangled Banner was going to be sung by a runner (she did an outstanding job) then the hike with the announcer to the starting line about half a mile up the road....the gun goes off....you hear the timer scan the runners chips ahead of you....then it is your turn! The race has begun!!

The course was spectular...I prayed as we climbed miles two and three uphill to a straight away for a few miles the next thing I realize that I am at mile 6 and I am under one hour and I am excited....at that moment I realized that I was going to have a great run. I thank God for allowing me the strength, perservence, and will to run.

I find that my running gives me the peace, balance and understanding of what my purpose is here....slowly I am getting it....slowly the coins are dropping and everything is making sense.

Tomorrow will hold the evidence of today's run....the next run....is in April!! I will continue training for the next big run...definitely May in Cincinnati, Ohio - The Flying Pig.

Valley of the Sun weekend...

Here it is race weekend....nerves are racing (no pun intended). Today at he end of the workday I thought it would be a good idea to print off the information for the expo and the race route. I am sure that was the start of the nerves!! LOL
Tonight is supposed to be a light run however I will run about 5 miles to calm myself down. Off for my run!!

What a night for a run ... I got scared by a fellow runner in mile one (yes, I screamed like a girl!! And I do not even take an Ipod or music with me ... ever!! I was totally somewhere else.) I get into mile two and hear sirens and see lights - I keep looking forward. The turn around point I see the lights in the distance - as I approach the lights they are blocking the intersection I need to cross ... I see 'crime tape' .... I cross the street and continue home. Taking a deep breath....I exhale and close my eyes for a moment.

The expo is tomorrow (Saturday) where I will pick up my race number and other goodies!! I like expo day!! :O) More details about the expo on Saturday.

Run.

How many times do you see a runner? Do you ever wonder why people run? Is it therapy? Are they crazy?

Moving here in 2004 from PA I was not sure if I was going to continue running. I was away from everyone and everything I knew. I was not sure of the area - the traffic - the safety - and the weather.

I ran my first 5k (wow that is funny I thought that was a long distance then) in December of 2004 after being in the state for a few months. In 2005, I saw a friend complete PF Changs Marathon..... 26.2 miles. WOW!!! As I saw her cross the finish line I realized that I could do that too.

A few weeks later I ran my first half marathon. I was so nervous...the weather coming up to race day was unpredictable - it had been raining for about a week. Here in AZ rain is rare...at least this much!! The race was in Surprise, AZ - the course as dark that morning....the horizon was starting to become lighter....and as I looked west.... I saw mountains...yes mountains!! It was to late to turn back now... LOL! I ran the half - the first of many!! I finished the race that day and decided that I WOULD do a full marathon that year!

June 2005, I ran Rock and Roll San Diego, CA - I finished!!! I ran the entire way! I loved the feeling - I did not even experience the dreaded 'WALL'. Here was the marathon....the only one I would do.....so I thought!!

Fast forward a bit....it is 2007 I complete the Rock and Roll PF Changs Half - finish that one....continued to the half on Super Bowl Sunday in Surprise, Az again .... I get injured...Not bad but it was a enough.

Fast forward again...it is now 2008.....all that I can say is RUN....