Nike Women Half Marathon in DC! I did it!

There is so much to tell! I don't feel like I could ever possibly catch up. But let me just say in all caps, "I LOVE VIRGINIA!" Seriously, I do. There are so many reasons to share, but the one I'm focusing on today is the opportunity I had to run my first race because I'm here....in Virginia. I've always wanted to run the Sound to Narrow in Tacoma which is a 12k. But I have always either been pregnant, had a small baby, or just generally lacked the confidence to go out and try it. But this was the year! I have a wonderful new friend who got Thomas and I in even though registration was closed. And I commited to run 13.1 miles!

I've learned some lessons through the process of training for this. Most important is this...Your mindset is everything! Everything I tell you! The most I had ever run consecutively was four miles and I just truly believe it was impossible for me to do more. I've always been an exerciser, but it just seemed so hard to go more. So, one day I just said to myself, "Self, we're going to go six today. And it doesn't matter how long it takes." And guess what? I did six that day, I walked some but ran most of it and it wasn't really too hard. The next week I did seven, and on and on until this Sunday when I ran 13.1 miles in 2 hours 12 minutes. It was such an awesome experience. I've learned that when I'm thinking negatively that I can just STOP and change it. I've learned that I can do  things that seem really hard(of course I already kind of knew that, what with the seven kids running around here).

I love running! I'm seriously thinking that a marathon might be up next. At the very least I'm running another half and shooting to do it in less than two hours.

I have to thank Marley and Townsend for all the hours of babysitting they did for me. I could not have accomplished this goal withou you two!