Sunday, March 24, 2019: Cowtown Marathon!
On this beautiful day, I ran my first marathon! Going to be completely transparent with you, the farthest I ran in the past two months prior to the marathon was 10.26 miles. However, I did indoor spin at least three times a week which provided a great low-impact, high intensity cardio for cross-training.
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This was the first time I've never listened to any music while running. While I thought it would be hard, there was so much to see, and take in. Every step, every mile, every water-stop, adrenaline rushed through my veins and thoughts of my aunt kept me persistent to reach the finish line.
It's so important to find that fire to fuel your soul in times of exhaustion, fatigue, and pain. Mile 20 was when I began to hit the brick wall; I felt the blisters forming in the sides of my feet, the collagen tearing my knee and ankle joints, and the chaffing of my arms that made my skin burn like no other. Focus. When I got tired, I self-talked. So much goes into self-talk; it could be a game-changer or a deal-breaker. Self talk your mind into thinking your not strong enough, good enough, able enough, and down the rabbit hole you will go. My self-talk was my aunt talking to me. "You can do this. One step at a time. C'mon!" I found myself speaking these words out loud. Sometimes you gotta do exactly that to keep you going. It's a marathon, not a sprint. |
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I am thankful for all the support from my friends and family. I am so thankful I have an incredible aunt who has been a demonstration of strength and perseverance in her journey post-stroke every single day. I am so thankful for my body's ability to endure and recover from such a high intensity, endurance race. Nothing but gratitude for everything life has to offer. clear eyes. full hearts. can't lose. |