Friday, January 6, 2012

Races I've Run

Because I have run a ton of races people think I like to run.  I hate the actual act of running.  I like how I feel when I finish.  I like getting medals. and I like who I run with.  When I moved to Mumbai I signed up for the half marathon because running is familiar and I needed something to help me transition to this country.  It is really hard to run here and the friends I usually run with aren't here so I didn't train well.  This week I was trying to decide if I was actually going to run it or wimp out.  So I thought it would be a good idea to remind myself why I started running to begin with.

A long time ago my friend Sherry and I decided to train for a marathon just to say we did it.  I started getting fevers all the time, pain everywhere, and sores on my legs.  I watched that marathon from the sidelines in a wheelchair.  and spent the next year in and out of hospitals before I was diagnosed with Lupus.  I promised myself when I got well enough I would try again. 

By 2008 I had been in remission for a year and a half and thought I was strong enough to train again.  I ran the San Antonio Half Marathon in November and GOT MY FIRST MEDAL!

2009 -
January Phoenix Marathon - I trained with Team in Training and ran every step of the first 20 miles.  My friend Darren was waiting for me at the 20 mile mark and I was so excited about how well I was doing!!  By mile 22 I was walking and by mile 24 I was on the phone with Karin and Brendon crying. They told me I just had 2 more miles to go then I never had to do it again.  I finished and texted everyone about how proud I was.  A half hour later I was in an ambulance vomitting, passing out and dehydrated.  I decided that can't be my only marathon experience!!  so I signed up with Team in Training to run the Chicao Marathon and thouht since I was training anyway I would put my name in for the lottery for the New York City Marathon.  I got in.

March Disney Princess Half Marathon - My first time at Disney World.  I went with my friend Amanda and she would run ahead to take pictures of the characters and come back to get me.

October - Chicago Marathon - I had great coaches - Jeff and Joanne and I sailed through that marathon in 6:15!!  Paula and I limped back to the hotel afterward and I got hooked on Harry Potter (she bought me the first book)

November - New York City Marathon - three weeks after Chicago I ran NCY and it was soooo hard.  I wanted to quit at mile 2 .... and every mile after that! but I finished!  Sara was waiting for me at the finish line

2010
February Armadillo Dash Half Marathon College Station Texas - ran around Texas A & M
       ran with Paula - great running partner!  They ran out of medals when I crossed the finish line.  I
       went to the race director and explained it was important that I get one.  It came in the mail four
        months later. :)
March Dallas Rock N Roll Half Marathon - ran with Norma - her first half marathon!!
April Angies Half Crazy Half Marathon Clear Lake Houston - ran with Norma and Angie (her first half marathon)  I am spreading my addiction!
July Great Alaskan Marathon Cruise- I went on a cruise to Alaska and at each port we got out and ran.  The runs added up to a full marathon by the end of the week.  I met a lot of great runners and still keep in touch with some of them on facebook.
October Chicago Half Marathon - started barfing around mile 11.5 and begged the medical person to let me finish :)
November San Antonio Half Marathon - ran it with Norma
In the fall I trained with Team in Training to run the Marine Corp Marathon(didn't get to run it due to health issues)   I was a mentor that season for TNT and I got to motivate and encourage others to run!  I trained with Paula and Javier - we had lots of long hard runs together and they both finished with flying colors.

2011
January Disney World Goofy Challenge I ran a Half Marathon on Saturday and got a Donald Duck medal and then ran a Full Marathon on Sunday and got a Mickey Medal.  For doing both races I got a Goofy Medal.  I went with a great group of TNT people.  Arlene was great motivation with her little mickey mouse.  I would not have finished without Angie though.  It was her first full marathon ever and she did the Goofy!
March New York City Half Marathon - fun!  got to hang out with Sara.  and got to see Ryan Hall run in person.  ok. he was like a flash of light he was so fast :)
April Hippity Hop Half Marathon - Easter Saturday - ran with Angie - it was HOT and miserable.
April Texas Hill Country Half Marathon - Norma talked me into doing this so she could train for San Francisco.  We drove a couple hours to get to the race then decided to drive the course to see what it was like.  It was horrible!!!  several hill longer than half a mile!   Norma decided it was too hard and didn't run it.  I just couldn't bring myself to quit before I started so I attacked it.  It was sooo hard.  and at the end there were no medals!!  augh!  That was the main reason I ran it!
May Run the Dream Half Marathon in Williamsburg Virginia - It was my first time to Williamsburg and it was amazing.  The run was very scenic.  I loved it.
June San Diego Half Marathon - I went to San Diego to run with Claude and Elizabeth (women I met on the running cruise)
July - 4th of July 5 K  My running coach, Jeff asked me to run the 5 K with him.  This was my first 5K!  Most people start with 5Ks - I started with marathons!  :)  great last race in the US.

I was so excited to get my first international running medal for the Mumbia Half Marathon.  The time limit is 3 hours and I just don't see how that is going to happen.  I am not trained well, but I am going to try.  I know what it feels like to be an invalid and I promised myself that when I could move again, I would.  I truly believe running helps keep my Lupus at bay.  It gives me a reason to stay physically active and keeps me strong.

I can do this.  and I will be picturing Jeff, Joanne, Theresa, Angie, Norma, Javier and Paula running by my side.  :)

January 2012 
Mumbai half Marathon

June 2013
Viking Half Marathon in Waterford, Ireland

Kilarney half marathon Kilarney, Ireland

March 2014 
Jerusalem Half Marathon

July 2014
Chicago Half Marathon






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