Iron Girl Clearwater Half Marathon April 22,2012

One of my long time dreams has been fulfilled. To complete a half marathon! Now that I am a few days away from the race, I keep thinking to myself . . . What was I thinking????? This was very difficult for me at this stage in my life. Carrying extra weight and not fully trained for it, I signed up 2 months out and kind of DOVE right into a 13 mile road race that not only was outside. .. instead of indoors cushy cardio. . . It was also an adventure of wind, rain, hills and bridges.

My chest seized up almost immediately after the gun went off. I could feel the humidity choking me off and all I could think about was WOW. . . Shaun needs to take off because I know exactly what kind of run this will be! Shaun is my friend from high school who also ran this half marathon as her first!!

After 4 miles I eased up into a steady pace of relaxing into the task ahead. My mind shut off and I became one with my environment. It is what I love most about running while I hate everything else while I am doing it!! Miles 5-9 seemed to just blur into each other except for the first bridge. I felt like one of those characters in the Perfect Storm film. . . . Lone body leaning into the wind and rain! HAH.

The rain and wind eased up around mile 9 and the second bridge into my last 5k. This is when I felt my body start to betray me! My calves were balling up and I felt clumsy and disjointed.
- Never did I think I would give up . .. I just felt so beat up. It was around this time a wacko found me and would not stop chattering in my ear. - This woman was RADIO RENTAL - she was COLGATE DENTAL!!!!  (completely mental). If I had more gas in my tank I would have ran fast and far away . . .but alas. . .I was stuck listening to her truly odd yammering.

I didn't want to be walking while crossing the finish line.  so I ended up hitching my legs out to the side and pushing myself across the line.

It was great to see Matt there at the other end smiling. It meant the world to me Matt was there.

 Everyone seems to be running for something. . Running for Cancer, Running for Surviving Cancer, Running for saving Animals, Running for Whatever . ..  Not me. I am doing this because I must. I don't know why. It just has to be. I know this is very important and I'm not sure why. - I only wish I was 10 years younger and starting this. . . again. Who knows . . maybe I can do this for another 30 plus years. There were 67 year old women finishing the half marathon faster than me!

I will say it was a fantastic experience. The race was well appointed and the roads blocked off with cops and volunteers all over. There were water/gu stops all along the way - nearly every mile. I did not enjoy the hills and bridges. Though I enjoyed earning my IRON GIRL title and getting my medal. . . I do not think I will do another Iron Girl Event if it is held at Clearwater Beach again. If I do. . .maybe it will be a final half or something. . . those bridges were just horrid!

I think I know why I do this. I do this because it makes me happy. I like the solitude of these types of non team sports. I like the road - I like my bike - I like that nothing else matters, that I'm free and moving through space. I like that I have nothing and belong to no one. It makes me so happy. It is a point of focus and no one can spoil that aspect. Not even my bad choices, not anyone elses judgement. It is a place I feel the most physical pain - and the most mental peace.

Today was the first day I worked out after the half - its been 2 days of rest and I felt a nice bike ride would put some life back into me. 8 miles down the road - it was fantastic.

I've registered for the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon for November 10 in Orlando. This should be interesting as it is a 10pm race start through 3 theme parks. I'm going to really hustle up to make sure my race is a lot faster.  It should be, because Disney is nice and flat! I'm going to focus upon dropping weight and doing intervals over the next several months.

So there it is -- Iron Girl. . . Lets get this going. Time to set my sights upon Disney! It looks like a lot of fan fare.