Thanks to all of you for your support and encouraging words. I love you guys.
Things don’t always turn out as planned. It was hot in Chicago. So what. I have more marathons to reach my goal and I’m sure there will be other obstacles with those marathons as well. And I’m sure I’ll be a whiny baby again when I don’t meet those goals, but it’s okay, I’ll cry again and I’ll recover. That’s why we blog. Well, that’s why I blog.
But guess what? Training works. Go figure? I trained harder for this marathon than any other. I did the running, I lifted weights, I did plyometric exercises, I strengthened my core and my arms, I did speed work, I stretched, and I hydrated. No excuses, I did it. And those damn plate runners, too. (I’m sending off autographed Runner Susan plates to anyone interested, just shoot me an email)
I’m sure there are many things I could have done better or differently – but for the first time, I can honestly say, I tried my hardest. And while I didn’t reach my marathon goal time, I can see and feel the results of my labor. Okay, so I didn’t lose any weight (boo), but for once I can SEE results and I feel I am in the best shape of my life. Which is more than I’ve ever been able to say in the past. (Anyone who has not seen the buffiness of my arms, click here and call me a loser)
So my body isn’t built to run super-fast marathons, and I may never reach my goal of qualifying for Boston. But I will run a 4:30 marathon some day, that I’m sure of. (With a lot more speed-work and a few 5k and half-mara PRs along the way.)
I started my training back up today with a nice, easy bike ride. Oh, and lookey here . . . my second crash. Well, actually, it was more of a fall-over than a crash, but hey, doesn’t that make me a professional now? I think I might need stitches, or a tourniquet or maybe a leech. But for now, I’ll have to settle for a band-aid.
Note to self: don’t answer cell phone while driving bike.