Vacations over! SLC 1/2 Marathon.

Well...I am back on-line...I think...for today anyway!

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!!!!