remember your motivation…

Well, here we are…less than 24 hours away. Race bib in hand, race day outfit just about ready, well-rested, and anxiously awaiting for my time to cross the start line.

I headed down to the expo yesterday with my friend Angela, and afterwards we drove part of the course (and took a few pictures…or maybe more than a few…).

I’m really ready now. I’m in marathon mode — as if I haven’t been already for the past few days. A few nerves are starting to set in, of course, but they aren’t getting the best of me…and they won’t. Don’t let them get you either.

If you find yourself running and feeling less than motivated, just remember why you’re doing this. What motivates you? Why have you stayed so committed to this? I know I have more than 26 people to think about and keep me inspired during my run, one or more during each mile. So, just remember your motivation…and if you’re having a hard time remembering why you’re doing this, maybe this Detroit Free Press article will spark something in you.

Remember your motivation…and stay committed…you’ve worked hard for this!

LET’S DO THIS!

for you, my runner friend…

We can do this, my running friends. We have worked hard, so let’s keep it up and continue to take care of ourselves during these last days of tapering.

Many of you have expressed that I have inspired and motivated you, and I am honored. Here, I’d like to share with you an extremely inspiring, beautiful piece of writing; and, I hope you find it just as inspiring. (Thank you, Kaylee, for sharing this. xoxo)

10 days to go…10 days of hearts racing…10 days of anxiety…10 days of taper…10 more days of preparation…10 days ’til the long-awaited “26.2 miles…success” ending of a blog post.

Until then, there are still a few runs left…some training miles still left to conquer. So let’s conquer, let’s eat lots of pasta, and let’s stay motivated!

Here’s to you, my runner friend. And here’s to mile 17…it’s for you, my runner friend/blog reader/supporter/YOU!

26 days til 26.2

Today is a magical day. There are only 26 days left until I lace up my running shoes early in the morning downtown and head for the start line. In 26 days, at 7AM the clock will start. Thousands of runners will take off to accomplish what they have been training for over the past weeks and months. I will be one of those runners, and I can’t hide my excitement.

I’ve been wanting to accomplish this for quite some time now. My goal: run, enjoy the route, and finish. Sounds like it should be simple enough, right? Well, I sure hope so. If you ask me, there is nothing “simple” about running 26.2 miles. The physical, mental, and emotional strengths that I have surprised myself with this year are things that I am not about to brush off with a “no big deal.” The truth is…this is a big deal.

At the beginning of 2010, I told myself this would be the year. I would run and finish a marathon. I knew that to get to that point though, I would need to commit — no excuses allowed. The commitment goes beyond committing to run the miles — I have taken the time needed to run the miles the right way, have worked hard to finish each of my runs as strong as possible, I have changed my eating and drinking habits (water is God and pre-run, mid-run, and post-run food should be chosen wisely), and I have even changed my social habits  (saying “no” to much more than usual, coming home earlier than usual so I can sleep and wake up early the next day for a long run, and reassuring my friends that I won’t be “lame” after Oct. 17). Holy commitment!

So far, I have done it. I have kept running, kept writing about my running, and have somehow managed to “stay committed even when I’m not motivated” (for those of you who have been following my journey for awhile now, you might remember that notion from awhile back…sound advice one of my best friends, Kelly, shared with me).

I remember when Summer came around the corner and I had already been running, but I needed to start following a bit more strict training plan. I started. I kept up with it, but allowed enough flexibility to be sure I maintained motivation. As long as I fit workouts in, stayed in shape, and was able to finish my long runs, I knew I was on the right track. Sure, there have been a handful of times when I was ready to stop (I hate even daring to use that awful word, “quit”), be done with it — who really needs to run a marathon anyway? What was I proving? Who was I doing this for? But, I carried on. I need to run a marathon. I am proving to myself that I can finish this, that I can really do something major that I have wanted to do for years — I can take something huge from start to finish. I am doing this for me.

As horrible as a few of my long runs have been, I am thankful for them. They are reminders for me during a long run that if I was able to finish a long run “like that one [insert a number from 7-14 here]-miler in [insert summer month here] in the middle of the afternoon in ninety-some-percent humidity” or “like that one at 6AM in 92% humidity” (yes, 92% humidity at 6AM!), then I can finish that same distance, and longer, during the beautiful Fall months. Oh, and don’t forget the great runs…where I have finished and felt like I could just continue on and finish a marathon right then and there. Those runs keep me going, too…maybe even more so!

It’s not just the runs…but my friends and family, too (yes, that means you…thanks for continuing to read my ramblings). They, and you, have kept encouraging me — some have even joined me on their bike or rollerblades — and have continued to remind me how insane I am.

I guess I am a little insane. But, aren’t we all? I’ll just have a medal to prove it 🙂

Until then, there are still more training miles to be ran. They won’t run themselves, and I haven’t crossed that finish line yet…so this isn’t over yet. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel (or the clock at the finish line, if you will) but there’s no stopping until I cross that line.

This weekend…I have my longest run of training ahead of me. A 20-mile run. 20 miles! I’m looking forward to it because I know I will be that much closer to the start line, and to the finish line, and I’ll be that much closer to accomplishing my biggest goal of 2010.

And, when I cross that finish line in 26 days…how sweet it will be. When I can finish my blog post with “26.2 miles…success,” how sweet it will be.

254 days of training down, 26 to go…success.

up north

I love Up North. Those of you from the Mitten state, or who have ever visited the great Up North in the Mitten, I hope understand and share this same sentiment. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Up North, let me just tell you that out ought to become familiar because it is one of the most beautiful, relaxing, amazing places.

Why do I bring this up in my blog about my journey to completing all 26.2 miles of a marathon?

Well, I bring it up because I was Up North this past weekend…and I had to fit a long run in during the weekend. Who really wants to cut into a weekend of fun, relaxation, and general Up North awesomeness with a long run? Nobody, really. But alas, it had to be done!

So…I grabbed my shoes, Nathan, the good ol’ water belt, and my iPod shuffle and off I went to get my long run in for the weekend. The nice thing was I was in a place where I don’t often run so the route wasn’t boring. The not so nice thing was the number of rolling hills I encountered. I made it through though, and somehow I am still alive to tell about it.

I’d like to share a few photos I took during my beautiful Up North run! Enjoy 🙂

double digits

Well, I have been away…as I am sure some of you have noticed. However, I promise my temporary hiatus has not been due to the fact that I have not been running. Nor is it due to the fact that I have not had computer/internet access. It is simply because I have been overwhelmed and beyond busy, and in the midst of it all I have been struggling to find a way to relax, de-stress, and keep myself sane. In doing this, I have allowed myself to push less pressing things to the back burner and allow time for things that allow me to “turn if off” for awhile. Unfortunately I have been busy to the point where I have not had much time to “turn it off,” but at least I have been able to set some enjoyable things (i.e., writing in this blog) aside and not let allow them to become additional stressors.

It is difficult enough for me to make time to run, and making time to blog about it is even more difficult (although I do love this blog). I have to be wise, and pick and choose what I truly need to make happen each day. For training, it is much more important to get runs in than it is to maintain this blog — sure, I want to chronicle my adventures but those 26.2 miles certainly will not run themselves nor will I dominate them by way of making blog posts more important that training runs.

Anyway, enough about that. I will continue to update this as often as I can as my mileage increases and I continue to struggle to fit runs in whenever and wherever.

Tuesdays and Thursdays have been late night runs over the past few weeks. Amy and I run like the wind, solve world issues, and define the meaning of life on Tuesday and Thursday nights. It’s true…we’re superhuman.

The weekends have been for long runs, and the runs keep getting longer…which brings me to…drum roll, please…the title of this post. DOUBLE DIGITS! This weekend, I hit my first double digit training run. 10 miles. Middle of the afternoon. 10 long miles.

This is the farthest I have gone during my training, and let me tell you…there were certainly a few times where I just wanted to stop, but I didn’t. This past weekend’s 10-mile run was the most motivating, inspiring, challenging, discouraging run I have had thus far during my training process.

That being said, it was more motivating than anything else — now that I know that I can go 10 miles and train hard enough to make it this far, I know I can push myself to go all the way. Like I always say, those 26.2 miles won’t run themselves!

So…the training continues…and the long runs will remain in the double digits, and continue inching up in distance. This week it’s about staying strong and motivated, with some midweek quick and fast training, and I am feeling confident that this week is gong to be a good training week. I’m ready and looking forward to the  nature trail that awaits me for an early morning 12-miler this weekend.

What’s in store for your training this week? How are your runs going? Have you registered for your big race yet?

There’s still time…keep up the training and we’ll keep each other going.

First double-digit mileage run…success!

a sticker to taunt me…in case i need taunting, and i’m sure i will.

it’s humid.

that should explain my runs this week (and last week).

enough said.

more motivation: dan bought me a 26.2 sticker for my car. of course, i can’t put it on until i finish a marathon. until then, it’s hanging on the corner of my mirror. i see it everyday, so everyday i have a reminder that i want that sticker on my car. 🙂

tomorrow: registration day. that’s right. i’m registering for Detroit tomorrow. the commitment is already made in my head, but now the commitment will be made on paper too.

humid runs…tough, but successful.

an open letter to my friends & family

Dear Friends & Family:

For those of you who have been keeping up with my journey to 26.2 thus far, you are already well aware of the fact that I have decided to make running a priority in 2010. For those of you who have not been keeping up with my journey thus far, now you are aware.

This coming week is the first week of my strictly scheduled training plan, and by June 30 I will be officially registered for the Detroit Marathon. That means this upcoming week is also the first week of moving running up yet another notch on my priority list.

I wanted to take the time sit down and write to you because there a few important things I think you should know about my goal to make running a priority in 2010. This does not mean I do not value you or the time we spend together; and, further it does not mean that I do not want to spend time with you. It does, however, mean that there may be times when I have to say no to certain things or may have to be the oddball when making plans because I need to be sure to fit my runs in. It means that my reason for not being able to do something at a certain time will sometimes be because I will be running during that time. Please understand that I will still make every effort to see you as often as possible and will do my absolute best to not let running interfere more than necessary.

But, also understand that running and training for this marathon is extremely important to me.

For a few years now, I have been wanting to run a marathon — particularly, I have been itching to run and finish the Detroit Marathon. Halted twice by foot surgeries, I now have nothing to stop me and I am going to run all 26.2 of those miles. In exactly four months from today, on Sunday, October 17, 2010, I will run and finish the Detroit Marathon.

I hope that you can join me downtown for this fantastic event and greet me at the start, finish, or one of the mile markers in between. In the mean time, all I ask for is your support, encouragement, and understanding.

Look out, Detroit…I’m going to finish!

Love,
Sara

P.S. I would love to have any of you join me for any of my training runs, or for the marathon itself, so don’t hesitate to give me a call!

about those running clothes in my car…

If you remember Sunday’s post, I mentioned that I will keep running clothes in my car at all times from now on.

This thought came about during Sunday’s run, as I once again struggled to fit my run in amidst the million and other one things I had to do that day.

My solution? Keep running clothes with me at all times. If I have to run to someone’s house, go to the store, have an appointment, whatever it may be — I can still find time to fit my run in wherever I am. If it is the end of the day and I haven’t made it home, but I want to get a run in outside before it gets dark out then I can stop. I’ll go for a run wherever I am and then I can drive home. Drive in the dark? Sure, I can do that. Run in the dark? Not so much unless I’ve got at least one running buddy with me.

That’s my solution to often long days at the office. We’ll see how it works…

On another note, I love that runs have been total stress relievers for me lately. It feels so great to have something that can really relax me and help clear my mind.

I’m curious…how do you manage fitting runs in on long days? Do you settle for the treadmill? The gym? Do you run first thing in the morning instead? Share your solutions!

Happy running 🙂

Why Do You Run?

We all run for different reasons. But in the end, we all do it for ourselves. There’s something inside of us that pushes out that door every day and into the streets…just us, the wide open road, the strength of our body, and the will of our minds…

I passed by a few other runners on a couple runs this past week and it got me thinking…

We all looked so different. And, runners do look different from each other…they run different, they wear different apparel, have different strides…so on and so forth. What’s more is that regardless of all the physical things that differentiate each runner from one another is that we all are out there fighting our own battle, for reasons at least a little bit different from the next runner.

I know this idea has been brought up briefly in past posts, but it never ceases to amaze me.

For me, ultimately I run because it is a challenge for me and I will complete the Detroit marathon this coming October so I need to train. But, while that ultimate goal is always in the back of my mind I would be lying if I said that is absolutely what keeps me going on each and every run. Some days I run to relieve stress, some days it is to clear my head, some days it is to get a fun workout in with a friend, some days it is simply because I know I have to do it.

No matter the reason though, I tie my laces day after day and I hit the road. On a perfect running day, the air will be just breezy enough, the sounds of nature will act as a beautiful soundtrack, my breaths will come easy, my aches will be few (if any at all), and I’ll pass by just enough other runners to keep my motivation high.

And, this my friends is just one of the many reasons why I love running. It can bring people together to do one common thing with each other–run. The thing about people running together is that you don’t necessarily have to be out there with another person. Just passing by another runner, or even recapping with your running buddy who lives across the country about your day’s run is often enough. Merely knowing that there is someone out there working hard at it with you is what matters.

And while this is happening…while you are running together, each doing it for your own reasons, goals are being met. Different goals for everyone, and all are being met by way of the same activity–running.

This is why runners are connected, in a way that even they can hardly understand. We all are crazy enough to find the joy in fighting on our own two feet while gliding across the wide open road. And it is because we are crazy enough to find this joy that we are able to accomplish our goals.

So, tell me…why do YOU run?