An Absolutely Spectacular Day!!!!!!!

Today was an absolutely spectacular day.  I'm sitting in the Red Carpet Club at O'Hare waiting for my flight back to MSY.  I should be tired.  I should be sore.  I'm not (hoping not to jinx myself) and I have a grin on my face that won't leave.  I surprised the hell out of myself today.  I'll post pictures when I get them --- sorry, I wasn't advanced enough to take them with my phone.

I was REALLY nervous this morning.  I didn't know why, but I was.  Yesterday was cold, but today was amazing.  The sun was out, it wasn't humid, it was about 75 degrees.  I slept well last night, which was a welcome change after not sleeping the last week.  I woke up relatively refreshed this morning.  I stretched, hydrated, ate a little something, took the prednisone and 600 mg of ibuprofen, and walked to Grant park to meet Gen for the run. 

30,000 plus in Grant Park.  The largest 8k in the world.  Amazing.  I kept looking around and comparing myself to all of the "real runners" that I saw everywhere.  I kept hydrating.  The race was to start at 9:00 a.m. --- but that was for the elite runners.  My starting block was at the end.  By 9:10 I had to pee.  problem was, we didn't actually cross the start line until 10:00 a.m.

The race started and I felt good.  Even though I wore my watch, I wasn't keeping time.  I thought it would be slow, especially in light of all of the issues I was having.  To me, this was the test as to whether I would even be able to do the half and pull marathons on the pavement.  About a half mile in, and then a mile in, Gen looked at her watch.  I told her not to, but at the same time I knew it was a losing battle.  The thing is, there were clocks at each mile marker.  In my head, I knew that we were doing well --- and not just well for me, well for anyone.  I felt good.  We were dodging and weaving around the walkers and slowly passing other runner.  I saw that we were passing runners whose starting blocks were far before ours.  HOLY CRAP!  Keep in mind, I REALLY had to pee.

We hit 5K and in my mind, based on the clocks at the mile markers, I knew we were doing well.  I felt good.  But 5K is where my achilles generally starts ti hurt.  Sure as anything, another K and my achiller started to flare.  We walked for about 2 minutes, and were dilligent not to walk more.  We started to run again.  We hit 4 miles and I knew we had it, even though I was starting to hurt.  We crossed onto Michigan Avenue and I could see "the hill" which was the last quarter mile of the race.

The Shamrock Shuffle starts and ends exactly where the marathon does.  I have heard people complain for years about that last quarter mile of the marathon.  I hated that hill.  And hills don't help my achilles.  Half way up the hill the pain was bad --- I didn't want to stop but at the same time I didn't want to hurt myself permanently.  We were dilligent and walked a bit, but then started again.  I could see the finish line.  OH MY GOD!!!  I knew it was only 5 miles (even though the Garmin said 5.3 miles), but it was on the pavement and it was almost a year to the day that I started this whole journey to be a new and better me.  A year ago I NEVER would have thought that I would be running the Shamrock Shuffle, but less feel pretty good doing it.

We crossed the finish line.  I didn't hear them announce our names, but apparently they did.  I put my arms up and apparently they took our picture doing so (they will be available online tomorrow).  Gen looked at her watch --- 5.3 in under an hour --- and that was with walking for two little bits.  We walked through the two water stops as well.  I was ECSTATIC with the time.  I wasn't limping.  I felt good.  I realized that I can do the half and God willing the full.  Six months from today, at this very minute, I will have finished the Chicago Marathon. 

I've pushed myself a lot in the last year.  I've pushed myself to do things I never imagined and I pushed myself to do things that I never thought that I would like and/or make me happy.  It hasn't been a fast journey, and it isn't over yet.  But I'm excited for where it is going to take me.  I've done it the healthy way.  Even though I have been motivated and disciplined there is no way that I could have done this without a few other people --- without Liberdy (my trainer), without Gen (running partner extraordinairre), without my friends (Brooke, Margie, Stacey, Darcy, Mary, Elyse, Alana, Dad, Marina, Ali, Heidi, Max, Melanie, Jenny) and family in Chicago, Milwaukee, New Orleans, DC, and Toronto, and without my colleagues at work being understanding if I left the office for a training run.

I know it was only 5 miles.  I know there are people who do that every day.  I know that 5 miles does not equal a half marathon or a marathon.  I don't care, though.  Today was a big day.  Today I followed through on something and didn't give up. 

On a more practical note, there are other things that I learned today.  I learned not to drink too much before starting a race.  I learned that walking after the race goes a long way to help with cramp prevention.  I learned that Adidas shoes rock even more than I thought and I will be a fan for life.  I learned that Nike hats work best for me --- and I need to wear what works best for me --- even if they only had a red (i.e. Wisconsin color) hat available.  I learned that I still don't see myself as I am now, but will try to get there.  And, I learned that to all of those people who finished after we did --- I am apparently considered a runner.

HOLY CRAP, when did I become a runner?  Am I really a runner?  I don't "look" like a runner and I don't "feel" like a runner.

This afternoon I was walking around Lincoln Park with my friend Margie.  She asked if I missed Chicago.  I said that I missed my friends and that if I could transport my friends from Chicago to New Orleans that I would consider it utopia.  I am sad to go home tonight, not sad to go home but sad to leave my friends --- kind of like the last day of camp.  The weekend was amazing.  It was amazing to be with my friends.  It was amazing to be around people who I could "talk running" with and share this craziness with. 

So, in conclusion, 8K (i.e. 5 miles) on the pavement --- check.  Next stop --- minus a 5K and 10K here and there --- Toronto for the Half Marathon.