Goofin' Around

We are back home now after a long weekend in Orlando, Florida.  Justin and I ran the Walt Disney World Goofy Challenge - a 1/2 marathon on Saturday and a full marathon on Sunday.  It was so much fun!  

I trained for this more than I had trained for the Des Moines marathon, so I ended up about 15 minutes faster than my Des Moines marathon time.  My time was 5:21 for the full marathon.  My only goal really was not to stop and walk and I did it!  I actually felt pretty good.  No leg cramps, no upset stomach!  I think I learned a lot about what to do and what not to do from my first marathon.  I was also grateful to our friend who is a hydration expert - he helped me with some information on proper hydration because I think I got myself over-hydrated during the Des Moines marathon. 

Both races were absolutely amazing.  Disney characters and spectators lined the streets.  We got to run through Epcot Center, the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios.  

Before the marathon, at the expo, we got to see a presentation by Team Hoyt - the father who has pushed his son in 27+ marathons and hundreds of other running events and Iron Man races.  They were such an inspiration and I was bawling just listening to them speak.

Most of all, I learned that it is truly amazing what the human body is really capable of when you put your mind to it. 

Zen Running

My husband and I laugh about our different running styles.  Mine is "Zen Running" because I like running more for the meditative qualities and don't care too much about the speed.  For him, it's "Macho Running" because it's all about conquering a certain time or distance and oh yeah, did I mention the medals?  Sure, it's cool to say I've done a marathon, and it will be even cooler to be able to say I've done the Walt Disney World Goofy Challenge (half marathon on Saturday and full marathon on Sunday).  In fact, one week from today, I will be done with the half marathon part of the Goofy Challenge and awaiting the full marathon Sunday morning.  

I have to thank my husband.  Back in high school, I came up with a big list of stuff I wanted to do someday.  One of the items was to run a marathon, and I don't think I would have done it yet had it not been for my husband encouraging me to run longer distances.  I must admit, when he first started running, I was kind of jealous and crabby about his success and follow-through.  But now, I am happy for him, and myself for stepping up to the challenges.  Sorry to sound all corny and Brady Bunch, but thanks Justin!  

 

Running without Pieces of Technology

This morning when I headed out for my 6-mile run, I realized my iPod was not charged.  My first thought was just to plug it in and wait until it got charged, but then the running purist voice in the back of my head said to go ahead without it.  When I run with my iPod, I tend to just be in a zone, but without the music blaring in my head, I actually had some clear thoughts and was more in tune to what was going on around me as I ran down the rural highway.  I saw a lone deer standing in the harvested corn field.  I saw a farm cat on the prowl.  Maybe I would have still noticed these things anyway, but it was just kind of good to feel more connected to the morning.    

First Marathon

Well, I made it through my first marathon this past Sunday! I did it in about 5 1/2 hours, which is slower than I wanted, but at least I finished. I felt great the first 19 or so miles and then started to feel sick to my stomach. I walked a bit and by about mile 21, I was just speed walking. Goofy Hubby did great - he finished in about 4 hours 45 minutes. I am not getting these times exact, but close enough. There was a part that went around this huge lake and he passed me going the other way. He stopped when he saw me and gave me a great big hug. That was the best part of my day!

Yoga + Running = Sleep!

I have problems with insomnia from time to time and on Monday morning I woke up at about 3:00 a.m. and could not go back to sleep.  Whenever this happens, I make myself relax for thirty minutes to an hour and see if I can fall back to sleep.  Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.  Monday, it didn't work so I got up and waited until the YMCA opened at 4:30 a.m.  I was able to run about four miles on the treadmill.

When I was leaving the Y, I picked up a fitness class schedule and noticed the yoga class at 5:30 on Monday evenings (free for YMCA members!).  I have done yoga classes periodically since my college years and have always felt the tremendous benefits of it.  My mom and I have used it in the past as a chance to connect and we have been talking about taking another class together.  So, I decided to go on Monday evening to check it out.  It's always a struggle for me to try and rationalize spending another hour away from the boys and Goofy Hubby when I've just been away from them all day.  I may consider going every other week - that would help with the guilt factor. . .  

Okay, this class was HARD!  I am still stiff and sore from it.  The instructor is this really fit woman who not only teaches the yoga class, but proceeds to teach a body pump class right afterward!  She is amazing. . .  When I entered the room, I was not late for the class, but apparently everyone else knew the rule for getting there early enough to not have to go in the front row.  After walking in, grabbing a mat, and scanning the room, I realized there was only ONE spot in the room, that's right - front and center.  The rest of the ladies got a chuckle out of this!  

One of the main components of yoga is to obtain the pose as the teacher instructs and breathe into it.  It is important not to judge yourself or others.  However, another component is awareness, so it has been very difficult for me (and others, probably) to balance being acutely aware of my body without judging it.  Thanks to my 6'4" father and his Scandinavian genes, I am tall, big-boned, and well - sturdy.  I tend to remind myself of these facts a lot, not to mention in a yoga class when the ladies around me are graceful and aligned.  I guess there are some good points to being big-boned - I will probably never break a bone or develop osteoporosis.  Heck, maybe I will still be taking yoga classes when I am 90. . .

Oh, and I am happy to report that after the boys were snug as bugs on Monday night, I slept like a log!