Last weekend I completed my goal to run another race! I ran the Salt Lake City half marathon. My personal best! 2 hours 2 minutes!
It was not without a few obstacles to get me through the race, but I did it! I never want to hear "I can't..." because I know if something is important to you....you can...!!!!! I did!!!!
I began my training for this race in February. I joined a running clinic led by two fearless trainers, Angela and Rachel.
Before I start this years journey I have to take you back in time a little....last year I did the same training and I TRANSFORMED! I learned how to eat better to fuel my run, lost a little fat, gained a little muscle and A LOT of confidence.
Back to now....I started my training feeling a little fatter, not as strong and a lot less confident. Through the past 8 weeks I trained with my wonderful trainers and a great group of runners, including my dear friend Jolie. (Jolie was not able to run with me because of some injuries. She is recovering and will be back...she is amazing!!!)
2 weeks before race day our little family packed up and went to Hawaii for spring break. I was a little nervous about ruining all my hard work with a vacation in the middle of training, but I wasn't going to miss Hawaii. While in Hawaii I ran, but our 3rd day into the trip I started to retain some water. Each day the water retention continued....6 days into my trip and a week away from the race I wasn't sure I would be able to run. Feeling weighed down, not able to run and very discouraged I decided to give up on my race.
We came home and I stepped on the scale. EEEEKKKK! I was up 7lbs. I was freaking out. I tried to be good on vacation, eating well and keeping my adult beverages to a minimum. What was wrong!!!! I was advised to take a water pill. Thank goodness it worked and I was back down to normal.
By now I was only 2 days away from the race, but still feeling a little sick. My trainers encouraged me to run. It wasn't until last minute I signed up to run! I wasn't going to let my training go to waste.
RACE DAY...I woke up feeling really tired, but ready to run. I tested my blood sugar that morning and it was high. I figured I was having race day nerves. After breakfast I was getting ready and to go and still didn't feel right. Checked my sugar again....WOW....even higher! After a little investigation I realized my insulin pump wasn't working. I only had an hour and a half before my big run. I didn't know if I was going to be able to make the race....without my pump I was in trouble!
20 MINUTES BEFORE THE RACE...I fixed my pump and blood sugars started to go down. I was safe to run, but new I would be battling this through the race. It was tough...I felt sluggish...maybe still a little toxic from my vacation, but I did it!!!!
OK, so I am up a few pounds from last year and I didn't stay as true to my training routine as I would have liked, but I wanted to know if I still had it in me to run. The obstacles before me made it tough. Having a chronic illness makes me feel weak...but, I proved to myself I can still do it! Life is beautiful!!!!
