So you think you want to run a marathon....

Wow, I was so excited to see so many views of my blog!  As I mentioned before, I'm not much a researcher and apparently I'm not the only one who thought to blog their journey to not only A marathon, but their journey to the Chicago marathon like me ha ha. 
A friend from work saw me and said she read my blog but will only continue to come back and read more if it gets "racy" so with that I realized I have to....not just to keep a reader, but because if I'm, hopefully, going to be a guide for others who decide to train for a marathon I need to give you the good, the bad and the ugly it's all a part of the journey.....

So you think you want to run a marathon...
I think it was a good idea to warm up to a marathon with other types of races.  If you are thinking of running a marathon I think you may want to do this too.  You are stronger than you realize so start small and build.  In 2011 I coached and ran with my mom, at 66 (3 weeks shy of her 67th birthday),  her 1st 5K.  If that isn't inspiration I don't know what is. As I mentioned before, I've run 5Ks, little 4 mile races in Central Park, a 10K Mud Run, 1/2 marathons, biathlons...if it sounds like fun or a challenge I'll give it a whirl.  Trying different types of races will give you a better idea of the type of runner you are.  I've learned I'm stronger with distance.  I don't get the speed I need in a 5K until it's too late. 

My mom @ her 1st 5K

My 1st 1/2 Marathon:

 

 

 (13.1)

 

Ladies, if you want to run a great 1/2 to start off with I recommend the Diva Half Marathon Series.  I did the one in Long Island.  Not NEARLY as amazing as as Puerto Rico, but it's everything else that made the race.  As we (my friends Alice and Sammy and I) looked over the race details we got more excited to about our choice.  While it's open to men and women it is mostly women.  (I saw 1 guy running).  Your bib has not just a number you are listed as Diva Kelly...unless you are like my friend, Sammy, and register too late then you are Diva and your race number-she was Diva 150 ha ha.

 

At mile 11 or 12 you are handed a boa and a tiara to look "fabulous" as you cross the finish line. 
Not only that, a "handsome firefighter" (I'm thinking aka hoping NYFD calender type) will hand you a rose and a "glass of champagne" as you cross the finish line.  Maybe some people got handsome firefighters, but I got some guy who had retired about a century ago, but after completing that race (which I was worried I couldn't do) I could care less.  Oh and the glass of champagne...more like a Dixie cup of sparkling cider but whatever ha ha.  You also get a "blinged out" medal that has a jewel and a spot to add your finishers photo-oh and it spins ha ha  This race had great energy.  Having "only" women racing gave it a less competitive feel and more of a "sisterhood" feel.  It wasn't girls rule boys drool or women rule the world feel either tho.  (if that makes any sense).  I took this race pretty seriously.  I looked up a training program online for 1st time 1/2 marathon runner and stuck to it. Although I will admit that my one downfall during training and something I continue to struggle with is the idea of REST!  In my eyes you don't rest because you fall behind or don't get as strong, but the truth is your body needs it to recover.   Also, the last month before the race I didn't drink any alcohol.  My original race goal was "not die" and then it changed to 2 hours....I did that race in 1:52:06.  I was quite pleased with myself.  I think the key to my success was my adorable outfit!  I think for your 1st 1/2 you MUST go all out on your outfit.   I also bought myself a 13.1 magnet for my car that I had packed in my bag for after the race....As ridiculous as it sounds, I couldn't wait to finish training and running to get it on my car.
Here we are after the race in our tiara, boa and blinged out medal glory!

The presentation of the 13.1 magnet! ha ha

 

 

Amazingly we all finished the race without any of us dropping dead like we feared...phew!  :)  Even after we finished we jabbered on all the way back to Jersey sharing tough times, energized times, points of dread, and moments of elation.  I couldn't stop smiling and talking about the wonderful experience my 1st 1/2 marathon turned out to be.  Note to all runners-I don't care how excited and proud you are after your race, you MUST take time to stretch and ice!!! I did not...OUCH!
Alice teaches with me so we opted to wear our race shirts and medals the next day to work.  Having to still keep the day professional we wore our standard nice black work pants and a sweater/blazer.  I also thought, "Hell, I'm a diva..I'm pulling this look together with a great pair or 4 inch heels"...bad idea.  Not only were heels a bad idea after not stretching or icing, stairs were a bad idea ha ha I could barely walk my 1st graders up or down stairs without wincing and using all my energy to not swear with each agonizing step.  Another thing you may find after a big race is stomach pains.  I'm talking it feels like someone has punched you repeatedly in the stomach.  It took my a few days for my stomach pains to really subside.

Some people pick right back up with running after a big race..I did not.  I took some time off and even when I went back to it, runs were 5 miles, max, for a while.  Give yourself that time to do something different at the gym.  The one thing I would recommend doing after you complete this goal....make a new one!  Your new goal could be a new type of race or the same type of race and work to improve your time (<--what I did).  Your new goal could be something different from running...the point is you need goals!

While it's only been 2 posts I hope you're enjoying my blog-tell your friends about it! 
Right now, pre-official training, posts will be a little random, but keep checking in! 
Stay tuned for a video on the best way to tie your shoes! (hopefully this week)