I did it!

So this past Sunday was the big day!  My first half marathon - I still can't believe I ran a half marathon.  That's 13.1 miles.  I finished with a time of 2:56 - which met my goal of under 3 hours.  Just barely, but I still met it.  I really had no idea going into it how long it would take me to finish.  I really just wanted to finish within the time they give you and not have to be carted to the finish line in the "sorry its over and you didn't make it" vehicle.

Up until this point, the most I had ever run was 8.5 miles, so I was a little nervous about 13.1.  I didn't want to have to walk a lot, so I just paced myself and did what I felt like my body could handle.  Mile 11 was a little rough for me, and there was a lot of walking during that mile, but once I got to the end and there are hundreds of people lined up cheering you through the finish line, it kind of doesn't matter how much you hurt at that point, you just want to cry and make it across the line strong.

At least now I know I can do it.  It was hard work, there were points where I wanted to quit, every muscle was hurting by the end, but making it across the finish line was sweet victory.  A friend told me after the race, "No one ever said it was supposed to feel good".  

I feel like training for and running a marathon is a lot like every day life... there are times when it's gonna be hard and it's not gonna feel good, you might want to quit, but if you can just push through those hard points and make it to the "finish line",  it is so worth it.

If you've set a goal, no matter what it is, just stick to it.  It's not gonna be easy, there will be rough spots, injuries and times you want to give up.  But keep going, because it's all worth it!

Stuff

Well, once again time has completely gotten away from me.  My youngest came home sick from school today, so I'm squeezing in a post while she is resting and watching tv.  She's got that glazed over fever look going on.  I feel bad.
Anyway, things are busy as usual, but going great.  My oldest daughter (who is 11) and I ran a 5K this past Saturday.  She kicked my butt - finished in 30:02 and averaged a 10 minute mile.  When we started, she was trying to stay with me, but I could tell she just wanted to run, so I told her to go.  The trail was mapped out, there was no way to get lost.  And she took off and I didn't see her again until it was over.  I, on the other hand averaged 11:33 minutes/mile.  Which is pretty good for me.  Whenever I'm under 12 minutes a mile, I'm pretty happy.  I'm just not a natural runner, it is very hard for me.  She on the other hand, is very natural.  She wants to try out for track next year, and her PE coaches are encouraging that.  College scholarship in her future??  :)
My husband and I are running our first half marathon on March 25th.  I'm starting to get nervous.  Runner friends are telling me to not overthink it and just have fun.  So that's what I intend to do.  I have no expectations for this race, I just have no idea what will happen, how fast I can run, how I'll feel.  My goal for this first race is just to finish, and then I have a benchmark for my next one.  IF there's a next one - maybe in the fall.
Until next time...

New Year

Wow, it's 2012!  I kind of feel like 2011 was a whirlwind.  We had just moved at the end of 2010, and I spent a good part of 2011 adjusting to a new environment, new job, new house etc.  We moved so fast that I didn't really have time to think about much, I knew it was the right thing, it just happened so fast that it took me quite a while to adjust.  Maybe that's why I feel like 2011 flew by. 

Anyway, how was everyone's Christmas and New Year?  We had a great little time off.  We spent some time with family and just relaxed mostly at home.  It was nice not to have to be anywhere and do anything.  I feel rested and ready to conquer 2012. 

So I've not made any resolutions this year, actually I don't really ever make any I guess.  I mean there are always things you say you are going to do or accomplish.  One big goal of mine this year is to run a half marathon.  I've talked about doing it for a couple of years, and I've been running on and off for a couple of years.  But I finally decided to get serious about it.  I woke up one day, told my husband we were gonna run a half marathon.  Surprisingly, he was totally on board - ok, not totally, but mostly on board.  So we have been running 3-4 times a week to get ready.  The race is at the end of March, I'm kind of excited.  I don't really have any expectations because this will be my first race.  I just want to be able to finish and not be the last one over the finish line.  Actually I'd like to run with a 12 minute per mile pace.  Which is actually pretty good for me, since I'm a slow runner.

Let's see, what else has been going on... same stuff mostly.  I feel like I should have tons to say when I haven't blogged in awhile, but I guess I'm just kind of boring like that. 

Would love to hear about some of the things you want to accomplish in 2012.  Anybody else out there planning on running any races??  We can keep eachother cyber company.  :)

Happy Wednesday everyone!

It's December?!

Holy cow!  Where has this year gone?? It is December 1st and that seems crazy to me.  I love Christmastime, I do NOT love the craziness that this season brings.  I always find myself getting stressed out.  I remember last Christmas while I was attempting to decorate our house... we had just moved a few months before to this house that is much, much smaller than our last house.  I have a hard time fitting my stuff, nevermind trying to put Christmas stuff up.  I was really not in the decorating mood last Christmas.  Which is not like me at all, because usually the Friday after Thanksgiving we dig everything out, get a tree and spend the day decorating.

So anyway, I am feeling a bit better about the whole idea this year.  Tomorrow is the day we are planning to go get the tree and start some decorating.  I think part of my problem is that I need some new decorations.  :)

I am planning on keeping it kind of simple, but pretty this year.  I have some new ideas for our tree too.  So I'm starting to get excited about putting it all together.  I love Pinterest for Christmas decor ideas.  There is so much great stuff on there for Christmas, I especially love looking at christmas trees.

I will be sure to post pics of the tree this year - which in case you are wondering will be real.  We have always done a real tree.  Growing up in MA, they have tree farms everywhere and you cut your own tree.  Which was one of our family traditions.  In TX, they have tree farms, but the trees are weird and not the kind of trees that I like.  So we go to Lowes.  Which kind of takes away from the fun of it.  So I think after Christmas this year, we might invest in a really nice artificial tree.

Do you go with real or fake?

Happy Thursday everyone!

Advent Calendars

So who does advent calendars?  I love them so much but I am not very consistent.  I just don't like the grocery store bought advent calendars, so I end up just not doing one.  I am planning on doing one for the girls this year.  They would just love it.   The problem is, I have no idea what I want to do exactly.  I've been on Pinterest alot, and there are so many great ideas.  It's hard to figure out exactly what I want to do.  I would love to see / hear about what ya'll do in your homes for Advent calendars.  I need some inspiration here, and there's not much time left. 

Here are a few that I love from Pinterest

I like the idea of giving an ornament to put on the tree for each day.  What's your favorite?

You can see all of my boards here to find out how to make any of these particular advent calendars.