I PROMISE I'M NOT SAYING THIS TO SCARE YOU OUT OF RUNNING! Like I have already mentioned, I haven't had injuries in years...this is just an unlucky past 12 months for me...haha! When it comes to exercise, running is my first love. Any clumsy, non athletic person (like me) can run, all it takes is practice, consistency, and determination. I have been making my running comeback since Mid-March when my physical therapist gave me the all clear to go back to running, and I can tell you that I am WAY MORE appreciative of being able to run, run, run! I have been focusing more on the half marathon distance, and I can proudly say due to Dr. Franklin at Sportmed (thank you for your running wisdom & honesty...even when I didn't want to hear it), Nesin Therapy for the weeks & weeks & weeks of help & appointments, and Bikram Hot Yoga Huntsville (I am LOVING their Hot Yoga & Hot Pilates classes; don't knock it until you try it!), I have completed 4 half marathons successfully with VERY little to NO pain! 3 out of the 4 half marathons were pretty hilly too...sorry, I just had to point that out as I dust my shoulders off. ;-) Also, this quote below (that I found in another blog) is PERFECT!
OAK BARREL HALF MARATHON- 2 hours 24 minutes- Thank you Katrina for staying by me the whole time and being cool with me taking walk breaks and stretching my legs & knees. You're not only an amazing mother runner :-P, but an amazing friend! You introduced me to this half marathon/distance running craziness, and like I've told you before, I'm not sure if I should thank you or kick you! ONLY KIDDING! Thank you, of course!
BRIDGESTREET HALF MARATHON- 2 hours 17 minutes- I had the privilege of being apart of Team Anthony with the Ainsley's Angels of America team! I know that I have talked about Ainsley's Angels in previous blogs, but be ready for a new, updated blog about this amazing organization soon! I met my fundraising goal of $1000 (click here) this past June, and I'm still on cloud nine...I'm so appreciative, thankful & happy for each of you that helped me reach this...THANK YOU! I love this group of people...guardians, runners, riders, seriously, I don't tell ya'll enough....YOU ROCK!
VIOLA VALLEY HALF MARATHON---2 hours 6 minutes 15 seconds...which I almost beat my PR (2:05:45!). Even with the hills & heat...this race went sooooo great for me! I wanted to maintain a 9:30 pace, and I got realllllllly close, despite the hills! Jeanie & I ran together for the entire race, well, until she went FULL BEAST MODE at the end and getting herself a new half marathon PR...at Viola Valley of all places!
HILLBILLY HALF MARATHON---2 hours and 12 minutes- This course was a hilly HELL, I'm not going to lie! This race made Oak Barrel & Viola Valley look tame, so I was SUPER STOKED that I was able to stay at a 10 minute pace for this race. The race was super fun though..silly hillbillies, great aid stations, and cool entertainment! Kayla & I drove up to Franklin the night before to get some great food and a good night's rest, and wow, what a great time! Congrats Kayla on Half Marathon #2! I'm happy to have been a part of it!
So...needless to say, the comeback has been a fun one. I've been focusing on the half distance, and enjoying 5ks with Ainsley's Angels, the Panera Pounders group runs throughout the week, and yoga & pilates along the way. Will there for a marathon in my future? Hmmm...stay tuned. :) I'm not really thinking Grand Slam is in the picture, but to train for one marathon instread of 3 ultras/1 marathon seems a lot easier, especially on these runner's knees. :-P
Injuries happen, whether on accident or carelessness, and I'm not going to allow that to bring me down, I don't HAVE to run, I GET to run, and I'm forever thankful for that! :) I'm thankful for the amazing friends that I have met on this running journey, and I've been encouraged by others, runners and nonrunners, as I continue to put one foot in the front of the other. Thank You God for this day and the ability to RUN! Here are a few more pictures from recent races since I haven't updated this blog since early February...yikes!
Panera Pounders at the McKay Hollow Madness 25k & 12k!
The Harvest Elementary Running Club at the Cookie Dash 5k! Not all are pictured, but I'm proud of all the 4th & 5th graders! They've worked hard all schoolyear!
The Ainsley's Angels Northeast Alabama family at Miss Albany's Piggy Tail Princess 7k---WOW! All those SMILES! Be ready for an Ainsley's Angels blog SOON and how you can be a part of the fun! #togetherweshall #smilesateverymile #inclusionALWAYSwins
Cotton Row 2016---Team Austin
Nucor Super Hero Dash 5k---Team Albany! Yes, we were playing peek-a-boo! :-P
Go for a run, it might change your life. :)
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