old port half marathon, in review

march 2nd, 2010 i wrote my first blog post, just three months after my second acl reconstruction, i wrote "today i started training for my first half-marathon." now, almost a year and a half later i can successfully say that my training is over, and i can finally cross that first half-marathon off the list.

in true fashion, i suppose i will start out with my thank yous. i am forever gratefully for my ever-growing cheering squad. i was lucky enough to have three of the most important my people in my life bouncing around the race course, cheering me on throughout the thirteen miles. i am not quite sure my parents fully understand how much it meant to me to see them there at miles one, three, four, four and half, six, eleven and the finish. and of course, papa schutte repping his steps foundation t-shirt was enough to make me blink back the tears when i first spotted them out of the starting line. along with my parents, having kayla reeves along the course was all the motivation i needed to keep my legs moving. although i could have done without the vomit comment at mile eleven, she has constantly been a source of motivation, inspiration and consolation since day one. i can confidently say that without her, i would have given up a long time ago.

the quote at the top of this page states that "if you run, you are a runner. it doesn't matter how fast or how far. it doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. there is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. you just run." i also believe this applies to the running community. runners accept and encourage each other regardless, which is why i am so thankful to have met another inspirational runner at acs. elise has been a constant supporter and partner as we simultaneously trained for our first half marathons. although she was not along the race course, her support during the weeks leading up to race day was comparable and i am unbelievably excited for her to experience her first half on august 7th.

the prizes of this weekend include much more than my finishers medal, t-shirt, or pint glass. i have forever joined the 13.1 club and proved to myself that i am capable of things that i, and many others, never thought possible. i tried to look at my second acl tear as a set back, knowing that a set back is only a set up for a comeback. i think it is safe to say that i have made my comeback and i have savored every mile.

this certainly isn't over, there will always be more roads to discover and new races to run.

mind over matter

as i fully expected, yesterdays long run through the backwoods of central maine was just what i needed to boost my confidence for next weekend's race. it still amazes me that in ten miles i was able to cross three towns, seven wild chickens, eight different people that i know, and four red pick-up trucks (including one spotted from the i-95 overpass) i've never run ten miles before. during my training for twin-lights the longest run i completed was eight, so even yesterday i was doubtful about my ability to run as far as i did.

yesterday convinced me that mind over matter is really most important and that by staying positive this week only good things will be in store for me on sunday.

summer in the city

and here it is, my long overdue blog post. seeing how my last post was following boston marathon weekend it is probably time for an update?

where to start... I didn't register in time for the twin lights half marathon in order to secure a t-shirt, so I never registered at all and that plan fell by the wayside. It wasn't a horrible decision because kayla's graduation weekend was hectic enough without attempting to run my very first half as well.

summer is more than halfway over now and the majority of it has been spent in my somerville, ma apartment with the lovely paige begley, hostessing at the russell house tavern in harvard square, and working as an intern on the making strides against breast cancer walk of boston put on by the american cancer society. between the irregular schedules and sometimes late nights at russell house I haven't always been able to get in the best quality runs, but when I do I am often dodging cars and waiting for stoplights. more often than not it is during my runs that I find myself missing home the most.

living just across the charles from historic boston makes it hard not to imagine myself running boston someday (see previous post), but before boston must come a half marathon..and none other than the old port half marathon next sunday! I am beyond both nervous and excited to run my first half in one of my favorite places in maine, and I registered in time to receive the t-shirt which is always an added bonus. kayla reeves will be making the trek to the maine-lands to watch and I know that having her there will only mean positive things, as well as a guarantee of finish-line tears. I have a fresh playlist lined up for next week, a new pair of sneakers in an attempt to alleviate my recent knee pains...all that's left is my daunting 10-mile training run tonight and then a week of mid-distance runs before race day on sunday!

I am happy to be home this weekend for my last long run and I'm confident that running some of my favorite routes will give me the final inspiration and confidence I need to be prepared for next weekend.