I did it.
I signed up for another marathon...
Until a week ago or so, I was seriously contemplating not signing up for another marathon this year. Having run 10-13 miles each weekend the last few weekends, I realized that I really like that distance. It's just enough to be challenging and tiring, without consuming your whole life preparing for it. I really thought I had decided not to sign up for another marathon...
Then Chicago opened up...
Have you heard of baby fever? The phenomenon where everyone around you is pregnant or having babies or talking about babies and then all of a sudden you find yourself wanting to have your own baby?
So the lottery for the Chicago Marathon opened. And ALL of my running friends (ok, not ALL of my running friends, but a LOT of them) were bombarding my Facebook feed with statuses like, "I just put my name in for Chicago" and the like. Chicago would be amazing, but the registration fee is $185. That is a LOT of money. And I know, I KNOW how awesome everyone says doing the Chicago marathon is; the energy and being downtown and all that jazz, but I just couldn't stomach that entry fee. Not now, maybe some years down the road, but not now.
So I told Mike I thought we should sign up for the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon and he jumped on it. By bedtime that night, we were both signed up. I'm not going to lie, I woke up the next morning with knots in my stomach. Kind of like pining for that baby all that while and then waking up and finding out that you actually are pregnant. I wasn't upset or regretting that we signed up. I was just anxious and nervous about how it was going to take over my life again. That was Wednesday and Thursday.
Friday I had to take my car in to get an oil change and I thought some other work may have to get done on it. So I planned for my long run in Woodstock.
It was the
best
run
of
my
life...
I started out in the industrial drive down where my mechanic is (shout out to All Star Auto, they are THE BEST! Mark used to work at a Honda dealership. He's honest, fair and my whole family goes to him) I figured I'd take Lake Street to downtown and then weave around downtown. I wanted to redeem the 14 miles that I was supposed to get in two weeks ago when I went to Moraine Hills.
The day was absolutely perfect. The sun was shining, the sky was an endless azure and the temperature was in the low 40's. I had never really taken Lake Street out of town, so I didn't know what to expect. Once I got past Emricson Park and past Rt. 14, it became more like country road. It was glorious. I think the sudden warmth after such a harsh winter + the beautiful scenery + not having a time limit = feeling the most free I've felt in a long while.
I am not a motorcyclist, so I really don't know from experience, but I felt like what motorcycle riders feel like out on the open road, wind on their faces, sun shining down.
I felt more than just happy. I was satisfied. It was funny when I past this around mile 5
I signed up for another marathon...
Until a week ago or so, I was seriously contemplating not signing up for another marathon this year. Having run 10-13 miles each weekend the last few weekends, I realized that I really like that distance. It's just enough to be challenging and tiring, without consuming your whole life preparing for it. I really thought I had decided not to sign up for another marathon...
Then Chicago opened up...
Have you heard of baby fever? The phenomenon where everyone around you is pregnant or having babies or talking about babies and then all of a sudden you find yourself wanting to have your own baby?
So the lottery for the Chicago Marathon opened. And ALL of my running friends (ok, not ALL of my running friends, but a LOT of them) were bombarding my Facebook feed with statuses like, "I just put my name in for Chicago" and the like. Chicago would be amazing, but the registration fee is $185. That is a LOT of money. And I know, I KNOW how awesome everyone says doing the Chicago marathon is; the energy and being downtown and all that jazz, but I just couldn't stomach that entry fee. Not now, maybe some years down the road, but not now.
So I told Mike I thought we should sign up for the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon and he jumped on it. By bedtime that night, we were both signed up. I'm not going to lie, I woke up the next morning with knots in my stomach. Kind of like pining for that baby all that while and then waking up and finding out that you actually are pregnant. I wasn't upset or regretting that we signed up. I was just anxious and nervous about how it was going to take over my life again. That was Wednesday and Thursday.
Friday I had to take my car in to get an oil change and I thought some other work may have to get done on it. So I planned for my long run in Woodstock.
It was the
best
run
of
my
life...
I started out in the industrial drive down where my mechanic is (shout out to All Star Auto, they are THE BEST! Mark used to work at a Honda dealership. He's honest, fair and my whole family goes to him) I figured I'd take Lake Street to downtown and then weave around downtown. I wanted to redeem the 14 miles that I was supposed to get in two weeks ago when I went to Moraine Hills.
The day was absolutely perfect. The sun was shining, the sky was an endless azure and the temperature was in the low 40's. I had never really taken Lake Street out of town, so I didn't know what to expect. Once I got past Emricson Park and past Rt. 14, it became more like country road. It was glorious. I think the sudden warmth after such a harsh winter + the beautiful scenery + not having a time limit = feeling the most free I've felt in a long while.
I am not a motorcyclist, so I really don't know from experience, but I felt like what motorcycle riders feel like out on the open road, wind on their faces, sun shining down.
I felt more than just happy. I was satisfied. It was funny when I past this around mile 5
I mean, really! So I had to turn off there and be on Serene Trail for a bit. It was too perfect.
I turned around at Rose Farm Rd and headed back to town. I went through Emricson Park a bit. Twisted around downtown for a while and finally got back onto Lake. Once I got around 12 miles I was getting kind of tired. But the sunshine was giving me energy. I got just past the intersection of Rt. 47 and Lake where I'd have a straight way to the end of my run. I looked at my watch. I only needed .4 miles or so to get to 14. I trucked along for a few more minutes. And then it happened. This has happened to me a few times in the past. I know God is working through the Spotify shuffle magic when it does, but "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" came through my headphones. And BAM!! Instant vitality to carry me not only to my goal, but past it.
I am surrounded by friends and family sailing to their goals as well and I am SO happy to be experiencing it! Another thing I am elated about is the fact that Wednesday night fun runs are back at The Running Depot!! If you need some support and want to run with some awesome people, you can head to The Running Depot at 6:30pm on Wednesday nights and 7:30am Saturday mornings for their fun runs. Mike and I got to go out with the first Wednesday night group last week. It was SO fun to get out together!
Next time I should have some really fun and exciting news about a project that I was asked to be part of. I can't wait to share it with you!
Have a wonderful week, friends!!
I turned around at Rose Farm Rd and headed back to town. I went through Emricson Park a bit. Twisted around downtown for a while and finally got back onto Lake. Once I got around 12 miles I was getting kind of tired. But the sunshine was giving me energy. I got just past the intersection of Rt. 47 and Lake where I'd have a straight way to the end of my run. I looked at my watch. I only needed .4 miles or so to get to 14. I trucked along for a few more minutes. And then it happened. This has happened to me a few times in the past. I know God is working through the Spotify shuffle magic when it does, but "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" came through my headphones. And BAM!! Instant vitality to carry me not only to my goal, but past it.
I am surrounded by friends and family sailing to their goals as well and I am SO happy to be experiencing it! Another thing I am elated about is the fact that Wednesday night fun runs are back at The Running Depot!! If you need some support and want to run with some awesome people, you can head to The Running Depot at 6:30pm on Wednesday nights and 7:30am Saturday mornings for their fun runs. Mike and I got to go out with the first Wednesday night group last week. It was SO fun to get out together!
Next time I should have some really fun and exciting news about a project that I was asked to be part of. I can't wait to share it with you!
Have a wonderful week, friends!!