Honolulu Marathon - 2 days to go!

 

Wow! Where did the time go?

Don't get me wrong - I couldn't be more excited that the Honolulu marathon is just 2 days away! Okay - maybe a tad bit nervous too! But who wouldn't be for their first marathon?

Not only first marathon - but first of three in 41 days! (Soon to be Marathon Maniac!)

Tapering messes with you a bit though. It has been 3 weeks since my long 20 miler. I keep trying to remind myself that I need to taper to rest my body and allow it to be ready for the marathon on Sunday. But sometimes I catch myself thinking "It has been 3 weeks since 20 miles - how the heck am I going to pull off 26.2??" I know I got this though. Your mind is a powerful tool when running - and staying positive is the way to go!

I'm ready! I am so excited for all my training this year to pay off and to be able to call myself a marathoner! I am so excited to be able to color in a state on my map of the United States and mark it completed!

Running a marathon has always been on my bucket list. Running a marathon in every state has always been on my bucket list. Although, sometimes, before I really started running - I wasn't sure how possible it would be. But it is possible! I am going to do it!

26.2 miles - I got this!

(Off to the expo now I go!)

Marathon Readiness Series: Part 2

HMSA 30k

 

 

 The 30k @ Kapiolani Park.... When I tackled the 30k it was going to be the longest distance I had run yet. 18.6 miles, let me tell you, is a long distance. I kept thinking to myself "just get to mile 14 and you are all set" ... For some reason I feel like if I get to the point in ANY race where I only have 4 miles left I am golden. I don't know what it is about the 4 mile away mark. This race though was tough. It was HOT and MUGGY and I have never sweat so much. I was completely drenched by the end. I also got off to a rough start. I forgot my bib at home (I know, stupid). What makes it worse is I pre-packed everything the night before, apparently, not the bib though. So we had to go home and get it. Luckily we were only about half way there when I noticed. But still we live a minimum of 40 minutes from the race site so I knew we would be rushing. I got there after the race started, raced off to get my chip and then just started. I didn't stretch, didn't do anything that follows my normal long run race routine. I started about 10 minutes after everyone else. BUT I finished it - despite never quite getting into my groove. Finished it in 3:52:58.

 

Val Nolasco Half Marathon - November 17, 2013
 

Half marathon @ Kapiolani Park... This was my first official race that was a half marathon distance. I know I've run longer distances and I've hovered around this distance but this was my first official half! This was also the first race of the marathon readiness series that hubby was able to join in on. He was fighting with an IT band injury and a couple weeks ago has begun to be able to run long distances without pain (YAY!!!). So this was his longest distance he had run so far. He did awesome! I finished in my fastest run over 10 miles (Another yay!!). Time: 2:26:02

Next race? Honolulu Marathon!

Distance Runner? Me?

What motivates one to be a distance runner. Honestly - I am still searching for that answer as I type.

My journey with running follows a love/hate type of relationship. I grew up playing fastpitch softball - I knew then I was a sprinter. I was fast. I made the loop from home to home quickly, and I loved to sprint. I took pride in knowing I was fast.

I always dreamed of being a marathoner. (As of yet, this is still a dream). A dream that will change the morning of December 8, 2013. I've always wanted to run the crazy distance of 26.2 miles. I've also always wanted to explore and travel. Hence the idea of running a marathon in every state really stood out to me. Why wouldn't I want to do that?

I tried numerous times before 2013 to become a marathoner. In college I started "training"..... I'd fit in a run here or there, and try to "train". I had no idea what it meant to train. I started and stopped training at least 3 times. But I wasn't determined enough yet then, I had other things that were priority and were important to me. Finish college, get a good job. Start your "adult" life.

My husband and I moved from Colorado very shortly after graduating college from Colorado State. Hubby had gotten a job offer at Pearl Harbor and we were so excited to be going to HAWAII! We made the trek to Hawaii, and fell in love with it instantly.

We have been in Hawaii now for over 2 years (Almost 2.5!) and I have been running, training, committed, and determined since the beginning of 2013. I WILL finish the Honolulu Marathon. I will run a marathon in every state. After that - who knows, maybe I'll attempt ultra running - 50k, 100k, 100 miles even?

Running and I certainly didn't start out as friends.

Now though, I couldn't imagine my life without running.