I'm sorry I haven't posted much this year. The past year and a half has been really hard. I've felt like I have been such a failure. I let the stress with all of the moving get to me and I went the wrong way. I started gaining weight and gained so much more than I ever expected. It is so easy to fall back into bad habits and undoing all the hard work that I had done took a toll on me and my confidence.
When we moved here, I decided to stop and fix everything. I started going to a local gym and working with a personal trainer. For the last 9 months, I have worked with her, and I have not seen much when it comes to results. I tried getting back into a good running routine and that went well until a few weeks before my first half of my running season. Life got in the way and my last few long runs didn't happen. I still wasn't losing weight and I was very frustrated.
The morning of that race, I felt good but nervous. Four miles in, I felt great, then the rain started. By the time I got to mile 8, I was in serious pain due to blisters and I was seriously debating stopping. By mile 10, the debate was over. I called Mac to come get me. I knew if I walked those last 3 miles, my feet would be destroyed and I had so many more races coming up. It was not an easy decision, but it was the right one.
Attempt #1 at my 12th half marathon - FAILED
The next race on the list was Wine and Dine in November. I had every intention to buckle down and get in my miles between the Jekyll race and Wine and Dine. However, frustrations got in the way and I stopped running like I should. I was creeping up on the end of my biggest loser time frame and I had actually gained weight during those 9 months. I know a lot of that weight is muscle, but the fact that I hadn't lost enough fat to see a difference on the scale really had me down. I still felt like I was good for Wine and Dine but I did not get in the training that I should.
Wine and Dine ended up being a cluster. I tried to be smart and stay off my feet before the race since I learned my lesson at Tower of Terror Ten Miler a few years ago, but there was a big group of us doing the 5K that morning. After that, Mac and I took a nap and then went to dinner. The plan was to head out to Beach Club and catch a race bus. We got out there around 8pm and the race was supposed to start at 10pm. We hung around the staging area and the time we thought we should be headed to the corrals, we finally started moving, but soon found they were leading us into the stadium at Wide World of Sports. There was a storm in the area and they wanted to keep us safe. After lots of waiting around and no idea what was happening, they finally let us back out and told us the race was going to start an hour late and the course would be shortened. Our corral finally started some time around 11:40.
The course was just over a 10K but by the last two miles, I felt like I had done a half instead of 5 miles at that point. My feet were killing me from the early morning 5K and all of the standing around with the weather delay. I had big plans of living it up at the after party but once we actually got in there(and saw the crazy lines for all the food) we decided it was time to just go to bed. I know it isn't my fault that the race ended up being shortened but having another attempt come up short sucked.
Attempt #2 - FAILED
Next up on the list was Space Coast Half Marathon. I seriously considered not even showing up. I was so upset with how I felt at Wine and Dine that I thought there was no way I could do a half three weeks later. I looked to see if there was a transfer or deferral option and they had neither. I did find out that it had a 7 hour limit so I knew if I had to crawl it, I could finish in that time. I was cautiously optimistic as we headed down there. I was excited about this race. I loved the theme and REALLY wanted the medal. The morning of the race I did something I NEVER do and went for a group pic with some of my fellow sparkle skirt lovers. I got to say hello to a few of them before we all rushed out to the corrals. The Half started 30 minutes before the full and we had to get out there early. I did the race all on my own but I think I needed that considering everything that has happened this year. The course was amazing. It was very flat and the entire was was along the waterfront of the Indian River. There were gorgeous houses on the other side. Lots of the families came out to cheer us on and one had a whole breakfast area set up for runners to grab stuff including bacon, orange slices, beer, mimosas, pretzels, pancakes and almost anything you could want. It was a straight out and back so you started with the water to your left and ended with it to your right. Mac was hanging out around the 5K mark so I saw him twice. I wasn't fast, but I felt good during the race. As I neared the end, I was a little emotional because I really wasn't sure if I was going to be able to finish before I started and at mile 12, I was tired but still felt good. they had and awesome amount of food and stuff for the runners after the race including a pancake breakfast or pizza and beer. I went with the pancakes but I did get my beer for Mac. I sat and watched as people from both races finished. I had hoped to see a friend finish her first half but we had to get back to the hotel so I could shower and we could check out so I had to leave before I could see her. I left finally feeling good about my running again, but also dreading the following weekend a little. My next half was only a week away.
Attempt #3 - SUCCESS!!
So I finally finished my 12th half marathon but the possibility for 13 was way too close. Heather had mentioned earlier in the year that she wanted to do the Diva Half in St Augustine and I said I would do it with her. I wasn't paying attention to the date and didn't realize it was only one week after Space Coast. If I had realized they were that close, I may not have signed up for it. I was also worried because Mac and I were going to Disney a few days before the race to do another Christmas party and also to Sea World because they do a great job decorating for Christmas too. I knew I was going to be on my feet a lot and my knee has hurting more after Space Coast than I expected. The morning of the race, it was cold and rainy. I REALLY didn't want to start. Fortunately the rain stopped before the start of the race. The race was very disorganized though. No one was sure where the start was or how the waves were going to be split up. The race finally started and we were towards the back of the pack. If Heather hadn't been there, I would have gone back to bed. I wasn't that excited about the race and I didn't feel 100%. By the time we hit the 5K point, I was hurting. My knee was NOT happy with me. My IT band has been tight and it was definitely making me feel every step. The course was kind of crazy and the half way point was very close to the finish. I seriously planned on just stopping there and waiting on Heather to finish. I knew she wouldn't be happy with me though. I didn't want to slow her down because I knew the course had a time limit and they would be sweeping. I told her I would go as long as I could and if the bus got close, then she should leave me. About 9 miles in, I saw the bus was catching us so I told her to go ahead. Just after mile 10, I saw a few people heading back towards me to go get on the bus(which was about 20 feet behind me. I decided to join them. It just wasn't worth fighting the pain anymore and it started raining again. Around mile 11.5, someone asked if they could get off the bus so that if someone else needed to get in they could(it was completely full). The driver said yes but that if we caught them again, she would have to pick them back up. She stopped next to the end of an out and back turn around so they had a little head start on the bus. Everyone got out except for myself and one other lady. The reality was, I just didn't care enough about the race and I knew that I wouldn't have done the entire distance so 10 miles was good enough for me. The driver was doing her best to let the ladies in front of us finish. there was one that was doing her first half and she was determined to keep going. The driver decided that as long as the race directors or local police didn't tell her to hurry and pick everyone up, she was going to let them finish. As we passed the tiara and boa station at mile 13, she stopped and got them for the two of us on the bus still. Then just before the finish, she stopped and let us out to cross the line. I really just wanted to find Heather and leave but I crossed with the other runner and got my stuff. We ran to get on the last shuttle back to our parking lot. I was glad that it was over even though it wasn't the best race.
One of the best things about the race, even though it was chaotic and the course was crazy with all of its turns, the local police department was amazing. Some times with races, the town wants the roads opened ASAP. However, these officers were so encouraging to every runner. The police chief was riding around in an ATV checking on all of the officers out on the course. He never once rushed anyone and wanted everyone to finish. He was even picking up struggling runners and taking them ahead on the course so they wouldn't get picked up. He directed traffic when he needed and cheered everyone along. Every officer on the course was the same. When the last runners passed, they cheered and clapped and encouraged them every step along the way. It really was refreshing to see such genuine care and support from those working the course.
Even though I did not finish the race, I got 10 miles done. I enjoyed seeing St Augustine again and I was there when Heather did her first non-Disney half marathon.
Attempt at my 13th half marathon - FAILED
On the way home from St Augustine, I decided to buckle down and get ready for Star Wars Half in Disneyland in January. Monday after the race, I started trying to use the 21 day fix cups to help keep my food in check. I have been taking pics of my food again(but not consistently) and trying to refocus. I have started my back to back runs to prepare for the Rebel Challenge. I want to go back to California a little lighter if I can. It has been a week and I have lost 3 pounds. I am sure most of that was water weight but at least it is a start. I'm hopeful about where things are going. We'll see if I can keep the momentum going in the right direction this time. I have Star Wars DL in January, Princess in February, Star Wars WDW in April and Tink in May. Hopefully with all that running along with eating better and continuing with my personal trainer, I will see some real results in the coming months.
