Running Diaries: The Labor & Delivery of a Half Marathon

Last month we brought you the half-marathon training stories of two of our Scottsdale Moms Blog contributors. Last Sunday they each completed the Susan G. Komen Women’s Half Marathon in Phoenix, and today we are so proud to share with you their thoughts post-race. Tracy’s shared her story this morning, and Angela’s is below (read Angela’s pre-race post here). Congratulations, ladies!

WOW, I can now officially say I have run a half marathon. If one year ago you would have told me that I would have accomplished this, I would have said you were c-r-a-z-y (or maybe I am the crazy one)! I am proud of my accomplishment, but I am more proud of the months of training, sticking to the schedule, and building my times and distances leading up to the race. This is no easy feat with all that it takes being a mom to three young kids and everything we have going on every day! I really have to thank my husband for fully supporting me in all of this!

Leading up to race day, the only way I can describe the experience is to compare it to the labor and delivery of each of my children. Let me explain my logic. . .

1. 1)      My anxiety and adrenaline was so high. I basically knew what was going to happen but I wasn’t sure exactly how it was all going to play out, so I was really nervous.

2)      I made a list and packed my bag with all the things I needed for the big day, just like for labor.

3)      Once the race started, my nerves calmed down. I was ready to go.

4)      There were times that I laughed, there were times that I wanted to cry, and the whole thing seemed much longer than I expected.

5)      Even though my family and friends were there supporting me (some in person and some in spirit), it was all on my inner strength to finish the race.

6)      I didn’t get a baby at the end, but I did get a big shiny medal and I am almost as sore as if I gave birth (but without the prescription grade medicine to ease the pain!).

Of course the race day wasn’t really quite as monumental as the birth of each of my children, but it did remind me of those fantastic days in so many ways. My three babies were right there at the finish line rooting their mama on. I hope that I made them proud. Isabelle said as I walked hobbled to the car that she hopes she can run in this race when she grows up and becomes a mom. To me that makes it all worthwhile, even if I can’t go up and down the stairs for a few days. I hope that my girls will grow up and run a half marathon or complete whatever goals they strive towards.

Everyone keeps asking me when I am going to sign up for my next race. Just like when people ask you right after you give birth, “when are you going to have your next one?” I think I need to recover from this one first before I sign up for my next one! But I am not giving up on running, just maybe not long distances for a while. . .

It was such an amazing experience that I will not soon forget. And I really am so amazed of what I was able to accomplish.

So I want to hear from the other SMB readers out there who ran last Sunday! How was your race day? Any other first timers out there like me? What are you going to do with your very large medal?