Rough Week but Forging on!

Tonight I sit on the couch relaxing as I gear up for 3 weeks of awesomeness to come!  Last week was horrid for me for any sort of training…or really exercising at all!  I literally didn’t work out once & it showed in my general mood all week long.  [I have to remember that I can’t do it all…and I know I can’t….and we’re all going to be okay when I can’t.]

I did my Saturday run of 5 miles, which was long and difficult. But got the miles in and felt better on the inside than I had in days so thankful to have had that run!  Tonight I went to hot yoga and although it wasn’t my best practice, I’m already sore which means I did things to my body that needed to be done.  I also love ending my weekends with a yoga class.  Seriously is there ANYTHING better??

So goal this week is to get in 2 runs before ma’ gals descend on Music City on Friday for the Hot Chocolate 15k this weekend.  I seriously can’t wait for friends, laughing and lots of yummy food.  All good things for the soul!  

HILARY, WE WILL MISS YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lucky 7's

Last week I was determined to get all of my week day runs in and despite what felt like everything in the world going against me…I DID IT! 

You have no idea how good it feels to be able to say that.

It’s staying a little lighter here in the Volunteer state until about 5:45pm so I headed out last Tuesday after work for a 30 minute run.  [Well, after I called my mom and almost had a meltdown about the fact that how in the world was a person expected to train for a race in below 20 degree weather. LP is such a trooper.]  So I got home, put on my warmest running pants, TWO heavy tops, gloves, earmuffs & my ipod and off I went.  I was cold at first for sure but felt awesome being out in that fresh cold, air.

My second run last week was a post-work Friday run. Usually I try and shy away from the Friday runs so I can rest up for longer Saturday runs, but my determination set in and I did it anyways. 3 miles in 30 minutes was a great way to end my week.

Saturdays long run for me was going to be about 7 miles. I woke up not sure how I wanted to tackle it. I knew it wasn’t going to be a morning run…I also knew I’d be okay with 5 miles, but didn’t want to settle….so much going through my head.  So Saturday afternoon I put on a pair of shorts (do a double-take there, I said SHORTS) and hit the pavement on the most gorgeous afternoon.  When I was at about 4 miles I knew I had it in me to get to 7, so I slowed my pace a little to save up the energy and before I knew it, I had clocked 7 miles.

Two weeks in a row I’ve hit my longest distances since the marathon and it feels so good. 

WHAT A GREAT RUN-WEEK!

The past few weeks as I’ve been (unsuccessfully) attempting to train for the upcoming Princess Reunion weekend, I’ve been mostly thinking to myself, “Whose idea was this?!?” (bt-dub: It was mine.)

We’re all experiencing epic coldness & without access to a gym (meaning I don’t belong to one) my training, general working out and general eating healthy has been more than lacking.  Every Sunday I map out my food & exercise for the coming week with great intentions and then comes cold Monday morning and the week goes to shiz.

Well yesterday finally enough was ENOUGH.  I had an extremely crazy and stressful week at work, followed by something “to do” every single night and my need for hitting the pavement for a hard core run was just boiling up inside me.  One VERY PROMISING 5 mile run later and I felt like a new gal!

I’m thankful and lucky to be a runner.  Even when I’ve taken an un-planned hiatus.  Look for me the next 3 weeks to get ready for this exciting 15k & the invasion of my favorite princesses in my city!

Marathon Recap: My Cheering Section

I used to believe I couldn’t (as in COULD. NOT.) run a race without at least one person along the course that I knew to cheer me on.  I believed it in a scientific way that it was documented in a book somewhere that it wasn’t possible. 

I have definitely matured from that thought and run through many-o-races without a person support system.  But I have to say….having your own personal cheering section for a marathon is pretty awesome!

It was simply amazing to have my mom & dad come to Nashville from Richmond to cheer me on!  They showed up with posters & noisemakers in hand and I could definitely SEE them from about 100 yards out and my mom sure does love her clapper noisemaker.  (So much so that when I saw them at Mile 11 my dad said to me from the sides “I’m going to tear your mom’s arm off if she doesn’t stop clapping this thing!”)  I love them.

My friend Jill was camped out at Mile 3 with her travel coffee mug in hand sitting in her Virginia Tech tailgate chair.  She stayed there for a bit and I saw her again when I came back around at Mile 6.   This time as I was running up towards her I noticed she had made a new friend. Nothing about this surprised me.  She was chatting up with one of the Police officers there doing traffic control.  (Also, she later saw this same Police officer about a week later. Only Jill! ;) )  I saw Jilly again around Mile 12 and then finally one last time at Mile 25.  She was waiting for me to run the last mile with me, which was simply the best thing since it’s fairly uphill.  We chatted & laughed as a prepared to come down the finish line shoot.  I’ll be forever grateful for her support along the way.

At the finish line, I was reunited with my parents & other friends from Nashville that showed up with more posters & lots of yelling and cheering.  THEN standing right at the cross line was my Team in Training group bringing me home and waiting for me with open arms and hugs as my foot hit that time chip line.  I was simply elated! 

I’ll forever be grateful to the friends & family that came out that chilly morning to cheer me on for almost 5 hours.  I’ll also be forever grateful to EVERYONE that texted, called, voicemailed, tweeted & facebook’ed me that day.  All of those notes touched my heart and helped me along the way.

Best Posters ever!

Love these two! <3

Love this poster from my friend Allison

Marathon Recap: Miles 19-26

Miles 19 – 26 were an absolute test of finding what I’m capable of.  When we left off I was experiencing a quick sharp, shooting pain to my right knee and was leaving my running buddy.  I straight-up LIMPED when I started back running again. It was a feeling I can’t describe and truthfully want to forget about.  But I knew I had to power through.

Mile 19: Was slow and painful.  Really slow.  This was also the turn-around in Shelby park and I was a little confused on where I was going…(slight panic as I don’t have the best track record) but again, just went slowwww.

Mile 20: The tears came.  Not from pain.  Mile 20 was when I had “the moment.” The moment when I knew that 20 miles was the furthest I had ever run, and I was about to exceed that.  I felt great mentally.

Mile 21: Honestly….not much memory.

Mile 22: Ended up running with a girl, Haley from Kentucky, who was also running her first Marathon. We talked a little bit, but more just enjoyed having another person running next to you.

Mile 23: Tummy. Not good.  BUT FINALLY EXITING SHELBY PARK!  Hit the potty one last time & my TNT mentor was waiting at the end of the park. It was GREAT running a few minutes with her and another TNT’er. They were so encouraging and just wonderful!

Mile 24: The Knoxville TNT coach picked me up and ran mile 24 with me. He was great to get my head back on straight & when he learned my name was Natalie…he asked me if my parents were here with posters cheering me on. Haha, I loved it & couldn’t wait to see them in 2 miles!

Mile 24 Running with Coach!

 Mile 25: Ma’ girl Jill.  At mile 25, doing push-ups and squats because she wanted to get a work-out in.  She joined me at 25, texted all my group waiting at the finish line, “I got our girl” and everyone knew we were minutes away!

Mile 26: My coach, Christopher, joined me for my last few minutes. Crossing over the walking bridge and giving me so much encouragement.

Mile 26.2: I could see my friends, family & TNT teammates all cheering me down the final stretch. I’m tearing up right now typing this because it’s a moment I won’t ever forget. I felt AMAZING and was smiling all the way to the finish line. 

The Proof

So there we have it. I’m a marathoner. I ran 26.2 miles. Y’all, I’M A MARATHON RUNNER!

MARATHONERS!!!!

Can someone help me up? K, thanks.

Pre-Race Step & Repeat