In my running Era.

Last year, I was not feeling the greatest– I couldn’t walk up a flight of stairs without feeling winded. I knew something had to change. I was determined to have things change.

In October 2023 I started training with a friend with a couch to 5k program. It was so funny, our training began with a 15 minute workout running for 20 seconds then walking for 5 minutes (rinse and repeat). What was seemingly an extremely easy workout was nothing close to easy for me. But I ran 3x per week consistently and slowly but surely, running increased from 20 seconds, to 30 seconds, to 5 minutes, and soon I was running more than I was walking. I remember thinking how on earth was I going to run for 30 minutes straight for the 5k race we had signed up for.

In December, we ran the Naptown 5k and I felt so proud (and I didn’t die)!

We rang in 2024 and my New Year’s resolution was that I was going to run a half marathon. I began training in late February. Each week I ran and slowly my mileage creeped up– an easy run was a quick 5k (something that had seemed like a mammoth accomplishment just a few weeks prior), I was putting in 15-20 miles in training each week.

I tried to keep my training plan while I was on vacation in Mexico– but I very quickly realized that 90 degree weather was not for me. I couldn’t even get 2 miles in. So I just walked a lot and put my training on pause. I was a bit anxious of taking a running break– my consistency is what helped push me forward in my training, and here I was stopping it.

But I came back and got back into it (well– I eased back into it). And my training continued.

About 3 weeks before the race, my training had me running 10 miles– that was going to be my longest run before the ½ marathon. I remember doing that run and feeling like death. My body physically could not run 1 step further than 10 miles that day. I was a little anxious to say the least– how was I going to push to 13.1, if this was how I felt at 10.

So I verged from my training plan and committed to doing one more long run, break 10 miles so that I could feel confident going into my race.

And the next week I did just that! Rather than mileage, I decided to run the length of Taylor Swift’s newly released album (just a few days prior) The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology I clocked in a little over 11 miles and afterwards I felt like I could have pushed myself to 13.1 if I really had to. The run felt so good.

Until a few hours later. I developed the worst headache and tons of sinus pressure that lasted a full 24 hours. It was one of the worst headaches I have ever had, and it really depleted me.

What I came to realize, was that I was dangerously dehydrated. I had water on my run, but not nearly enough for what my body needed. Realistically, I probably should have gone to urgent care to get fluids in my body. But I toughed it out, and learned a very valuable lesson about ice hydration.

After that run, I had a few smaller runs as I tapered and prepared for the half marathon.

Then came race week! My in-laws were in town to visit and serve as my cheerleading team for the race! I was feeling physically good– but there was one problem. The forecast was no bueno for race day. Rain ALL DAY LONG. UGH! I could not catch a break. But I had trained for 5 months– and not even a rainstorm was going to stop me.

I picked up my bib the day before the race, and had a lovely Italian dinner that night. I also think I drank about 3 gallons of water throughout that day! Had to make sure I wasn’t going to get so dehydrated on the race! I went to be nervous and excited!

Race day was finally here! Overall it went so well! I ran the entire time, and paced better than I expected! It rained for the first 40 minutes– which was nice because it cooled me down– not so nice for my feet which were soaked. I had to stop at mile 4 to put on bandaids and change into a new pair of socks (which helped for all of a mile and a half).

My cheering squad moved throughout the course with awesome signs and cowbells– I saw them every 3 or so miles, which was just the hype and motivation I needed to keep it up!

It wasn’t a walk in the park– but each time I started to feel my body tire, I looked around at the other runners, my surroundings, and the spectators around me and I felt the motivation I needed to push through.

By mile 12– I was ready to be done. Just a little bit more!

Justin ran with me the last 50 yards to help me cross the finish line! I did it.

I felt so proud of not only this race, but the hours and hours (and miles and miles) of training that I put into this. This was really the first time that I had so much dedication to something related to my physical fitness– and the pride I felt in this accomplish was so strong.

I don’t want it to end! So as I write this, I have decided, I am going to run a 2024 marathon. I don’t know which one yet, or how I am going to get there– but it is happening!

So stay tuned! Let the road to 26.2 begin!