The Marathon

THE VENTURA MARATHON

WOW... I can't believe it came and went already!

I feel like we just decided to train for it yesterday... Given we decided 3 months out (which is less then ideal for training) it still flew by... and good thing we were all already pretty fit! YEY runner life!

ANYWAY, I have to start out by saying... 
I was a skeptic...
 I did not believe all this nutrition, all this training for water stops, all this blowing up... mumbo jumbo!
I WAS WRONG!

I think the only thing I had right, and it was only because I have raced before, was pre-race regiment... 
Example: Have your stuff ready the night before
CHECK
Shoes, race wear, chafe cream, alarm set
CHECK
Restroom stops 
CHECK
after that.... lets just say I was a newby 100%
I thought I was ready! 
Super Super excited leaving in the morning with My Dad and Kyle! Awesome start to the day! 
They were the best, waking up early to get me started before their race! AWESOME! (this is a lesson that I don't have listed below... HAVE A GOOD SUPPORT TEAM... one of the things I was lucky to have right)

---

Other then the knowledge above, everything I learned was new....
 and little did I know what I was in for!

Lesson 1: Not only in the end but even the beginning... the race is only with yourself!
Lesson 2: Stick to YOUR pace plan.
Lesson 3: EAT BREAKFAST...real breakfast.
Lesson 4: When your pace is too fast... in a marathon... you don't just go with it! You more then likely still have a few HOURS of running left.
Lesson 5: You will feel differently about running then you ever thought....GOOD AND BAD... and not just in the end... this will waiver back and forth the WHOLE race!

BUT IN THE END YOU VALUE WHAT EVER EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE!

More then anything after the marathon I felt humbled. 
Humbled by my humanity
my legs burned, my heart beat, my body kept moving.
I wanted to quit, I thought I was going to DIE
There was no way I could go any further.
I thought, noway! Noway is this really as hard as everyone said.
Then it dawned on me its not.... ITS HARDER
I thought never will I run again.....
Then I thought oh no! I have fans up ahead
oh no!
I HAVE TO RUN
I have to run fast so I represent my friends and family well!
OH NO! There they are! 
SMILE! GOOD FORM! BE STRONG
and I WAS!

Then... I finished... I thought... oh my god! I DID IT!.... I really didn't think I was going to for awhile there...
OH LOOK WATER MELON.... I CANT BELIEVE I LIVED.... I AM ALIVE.... I AM SO ALIVE.....

I felt small when I stood beside the ocean....

.......I DANCED

I FELT SO INCREDIBLY BLESSED..... SPENDING MY BIRTHDAY WITH MY INSIDE TRACK FAMILY

On top of it all My MOM, DAD, and KYLE made me feel like the most special person in the whole world with all my favorite things, from songs to pictures, flowers and brownies! All I wanted was to share the day with friends and I got that in ten fold! I did not grasp just how close this marathon would bring everyone involved!

and I guess after such an amazing day we had to keep up the excitement with nothing short of crazy but to stretch it all out... share the lessons we learned and the personal journey we each had.... AND
SIGN UP FOR BOSTON

I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND EFFORT ALONG THE WAY. I REALLY FEEL THAT IN NO WAY DID I RUN THIS MARATHON ALONE. I CAN HARDLY CALL IT MY OWN. IT WAS EVERYONE WHO TOOK PART IN MY LIFE TOOK PART IN WITH ME. FROM THOSE WHO LISTENED TO ME TALK ABOUT IT... TO THOSE WHO RAN AND ROAD NEXT TO ME FOR THOSE MANY MANY MILES AND EVERYONE IN-BETWEEN! I LOVE YOU ALL!