Barber to Boise 2012

DISCLAIMER: This post is all about the 10K I ran.... so read on at your own risk of being bored out of your mind! :)

It's been about 3 years that I have had the goal of running a 10K!

(Side note: I had to put a picture of my training plan! Check it OUT-every single goal reached but the first Saturday, and that was because it was during that epic camping trip we attempted where no one slept a wink for 2 nights straight! And note that once a week the runs were with the jogger! woot!)

Something has come up EVERY year I have attempted to do it though!

Year 1: Infertility treatment, caused me to stop running altogether because it drained ALL my energy

Year 2: I don't remember..... we were applying for adoption at the time and I don't recall that I was running regularly!

Year 3: (last year) I committed to run it with my friend Lindy, but then I got shin splints super bad 2/3 of the way through my training! SOO frustrating. (side note: during this time I went to see the athletic trainer at CHS a couple of times as well as doing all the precautionary treatments I could...and reading up on shin splits causes & treatments...and still got them. The trainer said something like, "maybe 4 miles is just your body's limit, not everyone is cut out for longer distances." OUCH! So I was thinking it may never happen at that point.)

But.... this year was my year! I had a really good running season this year, starting with a 5K in May and then another in July. After all that I wanted to keep running but I thought I should possibly go for something more than just another 5K. After so many problems coming up year after year, I was super hesitant to commit, and I actually waited until the very last early registration day to sign up! I was SO cautious about everything I did also! After all my research I did last fall I discovered that my form was part of the problem of why I kept getting SS's. So ever since I started running again in February I have been working hard on that, and it's gotten a lot easier. I also iced my legs EVERY time I ran, probably this entire year. Nice huh. And I was consistent in doing strengthening exercises. I figured that if I could prevent SS's until a couple weeks out from the race (when I had to sign up) that I would probably still be ok to do it, I could just pound ibuprofen every time I had to run until then.

And so, I signed up!

 I took my training seriously....although I know I seemed so wishy-washy to everyone else --including Collin--because I was so hesitant to fully commit just because I was so nervous about something coming up....again. But nothing ever did, and actually it was REALLY great to have consistent running goals to meet throughout the insanely busy last 2 months I have had.

The last couple of weeks I started getting really nervous! I just had some mild shin splints on my last long run the weekend before so I was keeping up with ibuprofen that whole week and before the race! But they didn't bother me at all while I ran.

The night before I was getting so nervous. And I don't know how but of course, the afternoon/evening before, my sciatic-area issues which flare up occasionally started REALLY bothering me. Like, I couldn't even walk normally. I was like, "are you KIDDING me!" Of all times! It was really, really worrying me. It has caused me some intense pain before and it's usually the worst in the morning. It has prevented me from running before. arrgh! I ended up asking Collin to give me a priesthood blessing, and he did. It eased my mind a lot. I think I was just so nervous, since I had put so much work into getting ready for this race that I really wanted to reach my goal. THANKFULLY, although I had some mild sciatic pain the next morning, once I got warmed up running it didn't bother me at all. That was a huge blessing!

So.... the run went good. It wasn't super easy. (not like I thought it would be!) But for a non-distance minded person like me I am pretty proud of the fact that I finished! I never walked, not once. Jogged the whole time. Unfortunately I was far enough in the back that I was near a bunch of people who were doing the whole "run really fast then walk, then repeat" thing. That drives me NUTS in every race! If you're going to sign up, at leaset TRY to run the whole thing! I bet if they ran at a slower pace they could! I don't get it. But whatever. Anyways I was so focused on dodging a bunch of them throughout the race that I didn't even pay much attention to the music I was listening to or anything!

AAAANNNDDD... there was apparently 1 or 2 mountain lions on the loose near the greenbelt, where the race was that morning?!?! Who knew? Luckily I didn't! I probably would have been freaking out, running through all that brush out in the middle of nowhere! So funny. Luckily I don't think anyone got attacked!

This is a super dorky personal side note, but I might as well share while I'm rambling on about this. I admit that during the first mile or so I teared up...a couple of times. I know I am so my mom's daughter, ha ha. I think it partially had to do with the fact that it was on the same day as Take Steps for Crohn's and Colitis, so all of my crazy medical history was on my mind a little more than it usually is. And really, when you think about it, it's a miracle that I even have both my legs, that I'm as healthy as I am, and that I basically function as a normal person. I did almost lose one of my legs when I was 15, and I have had 8 surgeries on it over 6 years. At one point my muscles were so atrophied that I had to go through intensive physical therapy just to be able to walk again. And here I was, running the furthest I ever had in my whole life--6.2 miles! Basically, I was really, really proud of myself for working so hard to actually be capable to do that race. It was kind of unbelievable to me that I was really doing it. It was a big deal to me. So, when I thought about that I would get a little misty. :)

About mile 4 I got tired....and mile 5 really sucked. I think the thing that saved me was that right when I was heading through Julia Davis park, counting down each tenth of the last mile, there happened to be "See Spot Walk" going on--which meant hundreds and hundreds of people walking their dogs! So as I ran by I had the wonderful distraction of seeing all the cute little dogs and scary big dogs! It was such a blessed distraction!!! After that I powered over Friendship Bridge and on to the finish line!

Don't you love how I'm rocking a CHS Wrestling shirt? I know. So lame. It's the only long-sleeved running shirt I have! And up to that point I had been running in SHORTS! That's how crazy the freezing weather was.

The best part was finishing! Did I say best? I meant hardest! :) 

My parents and little sister Andrea were in town, so they were there along with Collin and Ashlyn to cheer me on! I unplugged from my iPod for the last .2 so I could take in the finishing moment! I put my game face on and sprinted as fast as I could...after running 6.1 miles! I teared up again! I KNOW!!!!

 BOOM! See that guy I'm flying by? (I actually beat him by like, a millisecond) one of the annoying ones walk/running near me the whole stinkin' way. I was like, "in your FACE! I ran this WHOLE thing!"

One other funny side note about that, I actually probably wouldn't have worried about beating him except that my mom, always the competitor, shouted out as I ran by her "BEAT HIM TON!" ha HA!

I was seriously sucking air when I crossed! I really think I pushed myself as hard as I ever have before! I had to bend over for like 2 minutes to try to catch my breath. I absolutely hate that feeling, by the way. Really seriously not being able to take a full breath or breathe deep. SUCKS! And then when my mom came over I was a little overwhelmed and some tears came through again! I was proud! Sorry to keep tooting my own horn but this was like, a marathon for me! :) So all you REAL runners out there, just smile ok!?!

 And of course the best sight to see was this sweet little boo chillin' at the finish line! Did I mention that of course, this was the one day that it was only like 34 degrees by 10:00am? So yeah. Cold run. But I'm not complaining. And Ashlyn got to sport her brand new coat Grandma had just bought for her, just in time! She was completely oblivious to pretty much everything that was going on...because she was really preoccupied with having mittens on. It was so cute.

After getting all my stuff that had been carted down from the starting line and of course some chocolate milk, we headed to Addy's downtown for breakfast. You better believe I wore that race number like a badge of honor! (In fact it's still hanging on my wall right now!) I'm so glad I had lots of my wonderful family there to celebrate with me, and that I made it! The day wasn't over because I had to race home to get ready for Take Steps but that is another post...for another day! Cheers!