"No, in all these things we are more than conquers through Him who loved us." Romans 8:37
Before I unpack all about Saturday, these are just a few of my favorites.
On Friday, I picked up my race packet for The Woodlands Marathon 10k. It felt a little weird not volunteering but I told them I'd be back next year. A good friend of mine signed up for the race after I told her I was doing it as my comeback race. So I met her and stood in line with her to get her packet. Bib assignments were only a few numbers apart. There was a different air about the expo. I guess it was filled with...yes that word again...excitement. We surveyed the expo and took a few pictures. Then it was off to prepare and be well rested for the next morning.
I feel like I should back up a bit but if you have been following me and keeping up with the blog, it may be a bit redundant. I actually kept that I was doing the 10k a secret. And believe me, that's hard to do! My closet friends knew but I hadn't really told anyone else. Saturday morning, still feeling ready, nerves were a bit shaky. Years past, the weather has been quite cold, rainy, but often a glorious day. Saturday was no exception. Sun came out in full force around 8:30 a.m. after a relatively cool start. The two of us started out doing good. I learned from past races, I took off running because, well everyone else did too and I wanted to be like them. But I would take off too fast then burn out early. My initial plan was to walk the first mile or so, then do some short run/walk intervals. That plan didn't happen. I psyched myself up days before thinking I could hit a goal of under two hours. Spoiler alert: did not happen. But the good things on the course were: my (new) hips and knees behaved and I wasn't out of breath. So, I am not sure why, after mile 3, things seemed to crater.
But the two of us finished! As we rounded the corner on the path to the finish line, and I don't know why they put the 10k people in the same lane as the full marathoners, and shared the 26.2 lane, we could see and hear the crowds. I knew the finish line was not that far off. I always try to save energy and run across the finish line. Today was no different. As we approached, I took off and ran across the finish line. No pain or discomfort. And did it happily....and smiling! I am very humbled to have had the support of so many. While others trained for the half and full, I trained quietly for a 10k. To go back a year ago, I initially deferred my half marathon to this year but realized after the second hip replacement, it wasn't conceivable (or smart) to train for a half.
After the finish, I felt a happiness I think has been lacking. There were tears but they didn't leave my eyes. It may have been the delirium. Or that I really did do a hard thing. The last race I did was in 2022, rather uncomfortably. But Saturday, my hips and legs carried me through and finished 6.2 miles. For the first time in a long time, I enjoyed sitting with the others and just soaking in all that was going on. Was I disappointed I didn't finish under 2 hours? Yes. Only because there was a time (and a different me) when I finished a half in under 3 hours. But as I was reminded, I finished a 10k after having two hip replacements within a year. I took more pictures than I remember doing in years past. I even posed for one on the course, which I always shy away from.
I have had amazing motivation, inspiration, coaching, and education this last year. These running friends and community have celebrated every bit of my recovery along with me, while they were out running 6-20 miles on Saturday mornings and I was giddy about completing 1, 2, and 3 miles, they still high-fived and cheered me on. They saw me at my worst and they stuck around to see me at my best. I learned that our accomplishments are not just ours. Somehow, this last year, I have been encouraged and inspired more than any other time. By an awesome group of friends, near and far.
So what's next you might be thinking? One of the things I look forward to while training for a race, is the rest and recovery after. Rest and recovery, I learned, is vital after completing a race. So, I have about 3 days of rest and recovery. I'm back on the pavement later this week. I do have a plan.....or concepts of plan. Okay, my attempt at some humor. A few people know, most importantly my coach. And she is on board with it. I might as well spill the beans. In 2026, it will be 10 years since my very first half marathon which was done in my own backyard. I thought it was fitting to celebrate by returning to where it started. I signed up for The Woodlands Half Marathon. I am enthused (ah, thought I was going to use excited again didn't you) about it. I will tell you it will be done with glitter all the weigh!
Christina
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