2015 has already started challenging me, like 2014 was not challenging enough. Challenging yourself to complete a race motivates you to get closer to your fitness goals, at least it does for me. I love to run and it has become a big part of my year. Unfortunately life does happen. I was so happy when I decided to sign up for the 2015 Aramco Houston Half Marathon. It was my opportunity to run it under my name. But like I told you on my Motivational Monday-Never Quit on Yourself, I almost quit before I even got started.
So in order to complete the mileage I was going to run, you need training. Last year, I did not train and I could have done serious damage to my knees. This year I decided to train. I did. I started the year training with my husband. Then I had bumps on the road, and stopped consistent training on a weekly basis. I did something here or there. I did not clean my eating either. All the stress I have been under has me stress eating. Not only that some medication I had started taking, made me gain weight as well. But I blame it all on me and take full responsibility. Ultimately we make our choices.
So on January 1, 2015 with only 17 days before the race, I started training and eating healthier options than I had been. I went to the gym and my goal-my goal was to keep my knees moving. I remembered the doctor saying that in January 2014 I shocked my knees from doing nothing to running 13.1 miles. I did not want to get injured. All this weight on my poor knees was too much. I would go to the gym and get on the treadmill for at least 1 hour. I consistently added more miles. When I did not do the treadmill, I did the bike. On weekends, we walked the malls.
On January 18, 2015, I actually showed up. I got to the start line and I crossed it. I had music playing in my ears, the crowds cheering away, and my legs just going at it. I bought some goo to give me energy along the race, and had some at every 3 miles. I got a banana from a person in the crowd at mile 9 and saved it for mile 12. I stopped at every Gatorade and water station. I walked it out in between, you do not want to slip and fall. When I saw the finish line, I bolted with a burst of energy that came out of the sky. I crossed that finish line and never felt better. I can't believe I almost took this away from myself.
This are pictures of me, thanks to the Marathon photographers all along the race. I won't tell you that it was easy to finish. I won't even tell you it was easy to start. But I will tell you, that when I did IT FELT GREAT! I may not look like a runner. I may be overweight. I may have asthma and breath hard every time. I may look like I am walking when I think I am running. But no one can take this away from me now.
What are you talking yourself out of? What have you wanted to try and are not giving yourself a chance to do? It will not be easy. It will be hard but that is why it is a challenge. I am not only a finisher but I am a starter. Finish that one thing you started.
I did! I love the slogan, 13.1, cause I'm only half crazy! One day, I might go all the way crazy, and go for the 26.2 miles but for now I am enjoying this victory.
Way to go, Alba! I watched the marathon, but wasn't able to get to the spot I wanted for the half so I messed seeing any of the half marathoners (but I did sign up to get txt messages when you passed the checkpoints and crossed the finish line!) I might not have seen you on race day, but I was rooting for you the whole time!!!! And I'm seriously thinking of signing up for the half next year!!!
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