I wasn't going to do any more running events between Colfax and Apostle - I swear I had every intention of throwing myself head first into skate training for Apostle while putting running on the back burner... But then when I saw a few of my brand new running friends signing up for a very challenging 10 mile run in Manitou Springs; I just couldn't resist. It's a week before Apostle, I'll be fine: and besides, according to my training schedule I was set to do a 10 mile run this weekend anyway... So why not make it a race?
Me with my new running friends! This is an amazing group of people!
I won't lie, I was apprehensive about this one - it was at a higher altitude and had a lot more hills than I'm used to. But I was more excited about challenging myself, any fear I had was overshadowed by my desire to get out and do something difficult. (Colfax was difficult, but it was also very flat!) I got up at 4:30 am to carpool down to Colorado Springs with some of my running friends, we got there in plenty of time - shook off the jitters and took off into the Garden of the Gods...
It was absolutely beautiful, the scenery was amazing. It was a perfect day - warm but not too hot; clear and sunny. I took my time for the first half because I told myself I would treat this as a training run. I had no time goals, no intention of pushing myself too hard... Hah. Yeah right. At mile 5 my competitive nature awoke and I started to push a little. I had no illusions of winning anything, I just wanted to see what I had in me. My first half split was 54:44, second half was 48:06. Finished in 1:41:40 and I was very happy with that!! Yes, the course has hard, but I was grinning the entire time because I was having a BLAST! At one point my friend Leanne ran along side me and asked me how I was feeling, and when I told her I was having fun this lady in front of us turned around and snarled "who said that??"... I did! I WAS having fun!!! She was not. I felt kind of sorry for her.
I know I probably sound like a broken record, or maybe I sound like I'm full of myself or bragging about my accomplishments but you have to know - it's not that. Not at all. I'm amazed at what I'm doing because I never saw it coming. The life long jocks may not get what us late to the game athletes feel when we hit milestones we've never hit before. Been there/done that folks who seem like they're just going through the motions - the ones who've forgotten that sense of awe and wonder each time a barrier is broken. I had a moment of pure exhilaration while running down a hill today - I just felt ALIVE. I almost started laughing! It was so awesome. I hope I never, ever become a been there/done that athlete because this feeling is just too priceless!
We did it!!!!
Once upon a time, I was one of those "I wish I could do that" kind of girls. 13 years ago, I was also about 50 lbs overweight, depressed, hopeless, and lost. I've come a long way, and along this journey I have found people who inspire and amaze me - people who motivate and impress me; not actors or sportos who get paid to play; but real life people. I just love to hear about people who overcome obstacles to become so much more than they were. I am one of those people. My greatest desire is that I, too, will inspire someone to do the same.
Me, in 2000... I hate this fucking picture so much....
Next up for me? The Apostle Inline Marathon on June 15th - 26.2 miles of smooth pavement and beautiful scenery. I cannot wait!! I'm probably just going to treat it as a training skate..... ;)
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