My Race History

I love, LOVE, LOVE doing races.

While I was losing weight I stuck to about 2 miles at a time at home.  In the same year that I began losing weight, my little family of 3 (at the time) moved to Florida.  That's when I began doing races.

 My first one was a Susan G. Komen race for the cure in Sarasota, FL.  It was a beautiful and BIG event.  It started my obsession.

 I did 5k's just for the fun at first.  Then I decided... "I can probably go faster."

So, I started training to beat my previous finishing times.  I got my pace from a 10-minute mile to about an 8 1/2-minute mile and signed up for a race.  I got on the course, my heart was pounding and I took off... FAST.  With a weak bladder from child bearing, and trying a high-caffeine energy drink (for the first time) before the race, this is what happened:

Sorry for the horrible quality of the photo-- It's the only one I have from this event though!

Notice that I am running OFF the course.  I was nearing the finish line and started wondering about the sweat dripping down my leg.  I felt behind my bottom to find that it wasn't sweat...I was PEEING.  As soon as I realized what I was doing and I saw my husband, I ran off the course and straight to the car.  Talk about embarrassing, right?

I didn't give up though.  I decided that if I "couldn't" go fast, I would go long.  So I trained and completed my first 1/2 marathon and it was amazing.  I'm so proud to say that I'm an Iron Girl!

 

 



Athleta Iron Girl 1/2 Marathon, Clearwater, Fl (4/2012)

I went on and did another 1/2 marathon three months later with my sister in Taos, NM.  It was quite the accomplishment because the elevation of the town there is almost 7,000 feet. 

Taos 1/2 Marathon, June 2012

Then, in August of 2012 I found out that I was expecting my second baby.  I continued running during my pregnancy.  But had to reduce my distance and speed quite a bit, especially after being put on pelvic rest for 6 weeks.  Even so  and with the doctors permission, I did a few 5k's.



About 5 weeks pregnant, Dirty Dash 5k



About 10 weeks pregnant, Great Pumpkin Chase 5k



Morning of the Cupid Chase, side view



30 weeks pregnant, Cupid Chase 5k

 I had a great pregnancy with little sickness and more energy than I could have imagined.  I still gained 50lbs but it came off within the first 3 months of having my sweet, sweet girl.

April 10, 2013

The night before I went into labor I signed up for a race that would kick my butt into gear.  The Disney World Marathon!  The race is in January 2014 and I am psyched.  Here's the funny thing though:  The first run I did around 6 weeks postpartum was an awesome 5 mile run.  Right then, I knew what I had to do and after discussing it with my sister (and much needed running partner), we signed up for the Duke City Marathon in Albuquerque, NM on October 20th, 2012.

I started training 3 months postpartum.

Stay tuned for more on this subject ;-)