13.1 Miles To Go
by
Denise Morris
on Aug 31, 2007 at 9:09 PM
So here's something: I'll be running a half marathon on Labor Day.
Most of you don't know me personally so you don't understand how ridiculous it is to hear me talking about running for multiple miles. I hate running and I always have. It's painful and difficult and exhausting for me. But for some reason I decided to run 13.1 miles in honor of my birthday this weekend. (Apparently I've gone senile in my old age.)
I began my training in June and have been huffing and puffing my way through mile after mile all summer long. There were many times I wanted to give up, many times I thought my goal was unattainable, but I've gotten this far. My long run last weekend was 11 miles, so if I can add two more to that on Monday, I'll have accomplished my goal.
I learned a lot about myself this summer -- I learned a lot about perseverance, discipline and Gatorade as well. I'll be sharing more in a TrueU article this coming Thursday if you want to check it out.
Anyway, if you think of it, pray for me on Monday morning. Ask the Lord to help me run and not grow weary! If I'm still able to move any of my extremities after I'm done, I'll let you know how it went. ;-)
1. xeres had the following to say on Aug 31 at 8:59 PM:
good luck, Denise :D. You will be on my prayer list. Anyways, happy early birthday. I know what you mean by through to follow through things especially if it is something important. For example, over the school year, I gained 25+ pounds :P, ended up with body fat that is beyond the recommended amount and having my body along with alot of the organs becoming congested with excessive acid due to cellular waste not being clensed out fast enough that I have a lot of water retention. The ironic part is I know gained a lot of weight but I didn't foresee the excessive acid part especially when you don't necessarily feel it. Now, I am participating the 6 month natural de-toxification program that will help out along with proper nutrition and exercise. Hopefully, I can stick to with my changes I started recently for this coming school year. It's hard to stick to something at times especially when you rationalize a lot. So far, I'm doing ok especially but it difficult. So in a sense, I'm in the same boat as you, only ti deals with my health issues.
On the sidenote, Gatorade is bad for you overall with the excessive sugar. Just drink water ;).
2. BDB had the following to say on Sep 1 at 1:11 AM:
Break a leg!
(No, wait, that's for a play...)
Beat your personal best time!
3. Brittany had the following to say on Sep 1 at 6:13 AM:
Woohoo! Great for you! I used to hate running, to include my four years of college (I was in the military during college). It wasn't until I came here to Iraq for the second time that, as a major stress reliever, I became a long distance runner. I did the Army 10-miler last OCT, a Baghdad 1/2 Marathon in May, and am signed up for the Houston 1/2 Marathon in Jan, and signed up TODAY for the Austin Marathon in Feb. So, be careful, once you start, it's sometimes hard to stop. With an 11 mile training run you will BE GOLDEN with the 13.1!! I am starting triathlons when I get back home too. The endurance bug can catch you, and good for you for pushing to do this! God bless, I'll be praying for you, and remember to ENJOY THE JOURNEY! Happy Birthday!
4. Helen had the following to say on Sep 1 at 7:01 PM:
aww, Godspeed, Denise!
5. Morgan had the following to say on Sep 1 at 9:18 PM:
Good for you, Denise!
I joined a running group to spend more time with my mom with the intention of walking a half (full marathoners are either insane or Olympians... I saw no middle ground).
I ended up running the full Houston marathon, lost 30 lbs in the process, and I'm hooked. I'm not an Olympian, and hoping I'm not the other... though at mile 18 or so you wonder how you got yourself into this mess. But, there's nothing like a long run to clear your head.
Anyway, just wanted to say many blessings, hope you run well, and don't forget to take *2* days easy, and LOTS of Alieve. The second day after a race is always hardest as far as sore muscles go. Running became a passion for me, I hope it treats you as well.
6. DannieA had the following to say on Sep 1 at 11:57 PM:
I've done 3 marathons and 3 half marathons....I've enjoyed every one of them. I wish you well monday and I will pray for you.
I envy you as I love the feeling of accomplishment at the finish line. However, I'll be there soon enough in January :)
7. Chris Krycho had the following to say on Sep 2 at 4:17 PM:
Minor correction to Xeres' comment: Gatorade is bad for you if it's all you're drinking. It's an extremely useful tool if it's combined with itself and large amounts of water. Just drinking water alone, especially when running for long distances, is actually bad for you, because it contributes to the flushing of necessary nutrients from your system. Gatorade is bad for you if you're drinking it all the time. However, your body needs those sugars when under stress of the sort you're subjecting it to when doing a half-marathon. Sugar isn't a bad thing! :-) If the high sugar content is a concern, mixing the Gatorade with water works; and actually the cheapest way to do it is to buy the Gatorade powdered and simply mix at a lower concentration than they suggest - somewhere about half to one third. It won't taste quite as good, but it'll still be useful for maintaining nutrition levels.
(I personally just drink it the way it is and let the fact that I'm exercising take care of the rest.)
Good luck tomorrow morning, and God bless!
8. Samuel PG had the following to say on Sep 3 at 10:53 AM:
Denise,
Are you by any chance doing the Disneyland half-marathon? I know some people in that today and just put two and two together that this might be the one you are doing.
9. Jill Anttila had the following to say on Sep 3 at 1:22 PM:
Denise did NOT inherit this desire to run from her maternal side. Her dad posesses that inferior gene. Anyway, Denise, I'm proud of you as your mom. I'm also pleased to know you as my sister in Christ. What a blessing. Happy 25th!
10. |)/\VE had the following to say on Sep 3 at 2:50 PM:
Praying for you. I'm several weeks behind you and running a half marathon for the first time in November. Friends who can inspire (con) you into trying challenging things are great.
11. RJEllie had the following to say on Sep 4 at 4:27 PM:
Way to go, Denise!
For my 20th in May, I ran a 12k (about 7.5 mile) road race. I detest running, but last summer decided to give it a shot. I quickly progressed to running 3 miles straight and then - car accident. No running at all until late April. I ran once or twice before that day, and didn't know how it'd go. It was insane, but so worth it - just knowing that you've completed a goal like that. My stepdad ran with me, and that was a good bonding experience, too.
I hope you tell us about it on here!
P.S. To whom it may concern - as apparently there's more than one Ellie, I'm switching from Ellie to RJEllie.
12. k. had the following to say on Sep 4 at 9:21 PM:
Good for you!! How did it go? :)
13. Denise Morris had the following to say on Sep 5 at 11:17 AM:
Hey friends!
The race is ... done!! I did it a little slower than I would have liked, but I finished and I didn't walk at all, which were my two main goals.
I didn't run the Disneyland one, Samuel PG. Mine was here in Colorado Springs.
It was tough the whole way, but I'm very glad that I did it. I am taking this week off from all exercise and eating as much junk food and drinking as much pop as possible. :-)