I can't believe that I have let this blog get over a month behind! The last time I posted was the weekend before the Bridge Run in Charleston. So - I guess I should post some updates about experiences, times, results, etc..... and subsequent runs since then.
First, let me say that I am still on the fitness bandwagon, but I have had to slow down this week. I had surgery on Tuesday, so I will be down for 2-4 weeks. My surgeon said that after 2 weeks, we will talk about adding exercise back gradually with full functioning at 4 weeks. I'm really hoping he will at least let me start walking next week. I really don't want to lose the momentum!
Anyway - back to the Bridge Run
Saying that I was nervous before the big race was an understatement.
On Friday (4/1) night, we decided to carb load in downtown Charleston. The city was buzzing with runners doing the same thing. After waiting 2 hrs to even get a table at an italian restaurant, we had to wait another 1.5 hrs to even get appetizers on our table - Needless to say, we had a table of 10 very mad & hungry people. We ended up leaving before our dinner ever made it in front of us, so we never ended up having that "night-before-the-race" carbolicious meal. We made it back to the hotel at nearly 11:30 pm and everyone rushed to get in bed for a very early wakeup call on Saturday. Of course, I didn't end up falling asleep until nearly 2:30. The alarm went off at 4am.
Pre-race:
My pre-race prep centered around 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (Specifically v.26) -
So I run to the goal with purpose in every step...... I train my body to do what it should, not what it wants to...
Sonya, Adriane, Mel, and I headed to pre-race shuttle muster point at 4:30 am on Saturday. It was a bit nippy outside but clearly a great day for a run. The excitement was palpable in everyone standing in line waiting to board the school busses that would shuttle across the bridge to the start line. Once we boarded our bus, we were driven across the bridge (a little foreplay) to Mt. Pleasant where we would be dropped off and walk ~ a mile to our running corals.
We had to be in our corals at 7am (1 hour before the start), so we all ended up stretching, laughing, dancing, singing, and praying for that hour.
Race:
The first mile went pretty smoothly! The road was wide and flat, and we were running on adrenaline! At about the 1.5 mile marker, we started climbing the bridge. There were so many people bottle-necking at the on-ramp, we couldn't even run up the incline. I guess I can say that I was a little relieved :) It was pretty steep!
Once we made it to the top, we decided we would run all the way down - and run is what I did! I have never felt so good in my life! The view of Charleston Harbor from the top of the bridge was absolutely AMAZING! Seeing 40,000 + people running across the bridge was a humbling and gratifying experience!!
Post-race:
I think that the last 1/2 mile was the hardest part of the whole race, but I finished!!!! The big, bright yellow FINISH sign was the most beautiful thing I think I had ever seen!
Crossing that finish line was the most amazing feeling! I was excited, numb, tired, happy........ you name the emotion, I felt it! The next best feeling was seeing my Mom & sister waving the Texas flag! I am so blessed that they were able to be there to support me.
I ended up doing much better than I could have imagined for my 1st real run. I finished in under 1 hr 30 minutes - 1:24:32 to be exact! Here are my official stats -
MEAGAN BYRD #26810
LEAGUE CITY, TX, USA
Age: 33 Gender: F
Distance 10K
Clock Time 14948
Chip Time 1:24:32
Overall Place 24460 / 34789
Gender Place 12956 / 20541
Division Place 2182 / 3075
Pace 13:37
What I learned:
- I can do any thing I set my mind to
- Exercise is not all that bad!
- A little bit of competition is good for PR times :)
- It's important to maintain focus of what you are trying to accomplish
- My endurance and PR will only improve in the future
- It's important to have friends / family that are supportive of your goals and work with you to accomplish them
- This is SO addictive! :)
Goal for next time:
- Finish the race in 1 hr 10 mins
So, in closing, I left Charleston at the end of the weekend refreshed and feeling like a champion. I had conquered my fears, my health, and my own psyche in just 1 hr and 23 minutes. I feel that overwhelming desire to "find the next one"! & as soon as I got home, I did!
The Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon - October 23, 2011 - 13.1 miles - Myrtle Beach, SC
http://runmyrtlebeach.com/site80.aspx
Are you in??? M
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