Back in the Saddle again!

I did it! I ran the Half-marathon a lived to tell about it!! However, I did take last week off from just about everything. I think I felt justified, but now I am back ready for my next goal. My dad asked me if I wanted to run another Half in November and I wasn't quite sure. I talked to one friend and she said why not you are already trained? And then today was the deal maker... I went to my Weight Watcher's meeting and my friend (who also ran Poky's half) said she is going to run the same Half my dad was coaxing me to run. Deal made. It's all maintenance right? Deep, deep, breath and exhale!

The day before, and even the week of the Half, I was doing tons of reading on what I should be doing the week and day before the big race. I also learned some things along the way and here is what I have learned...

1. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate! Water is good for the runner!! I even started the day before the race drinking as much water as I could. And keeping hydrated during the race.

2. I need to strengthen my hips. I learned that by strengthening my hips it will help with my achy knees, my hamstrings, basically everything below my hips! So that is on the to do list.

3. I learned (from my friends P.T.) that we need strong core muscles. A strong core will help a runner to propel forward causing us to run faster! Yea! I am all over the core strengthening now!

4. Yoga is not just for granola people it is good for runners too! I did a yoga video once a week to stretch out my muscles and I noticed the weeks I didn't my muscles were tight!

5. Sometimes it pays to have a little nicer equipment. I got some new shoes this summer and I really like them. If fact, the shoes were supposed to help with my over-pronating and I could feel them turning my feet in. And they felt much better on my feet!! Oh, ya and a really good no bounce sports bra is beneficial!

6. Running with a partner is essential! Well at least for me. Some like to run alone, me, it keeps me going knowing someone is standing outside my door in the dark waiting for me! It also came in handy on the race. I ended up running with someone for about 4 miles and it kept me going. Those miles seemed to go a lot faster.

7. Support from your family and friends is key! Who cheers you on better than your family? Friends come in a close second and I have some great friends who sent well wishes and cheered me on at the race. My sister was there cheering and coaching the whole race. She even ran the last .1 mile with me with her baby in tow! But tears came to my eyes when my kids and husband came running after me cheering me on to the finish line. Whenever there was doubt my family was there telling me I could do it.

8. Runner's come in all shapes and sizes! Tall, short, big and bulky, old or young even people who when you looked at them screamed athlete! Everyone of us had the same goal in mind, to finish and we all did! (And it was nice to see the larger sizes of clothing were being worn out on the course!! )

9. Loosing weight was much easier when I was focused on running rather than the scale!

10. Running is mental. The athletes that can run faster than the average runner have a big advantage, they know they can do it! This is by far the hardest lesson for me, but with every mile I run, and trying to stay positive I will get there!