What’s another 6.9 miles?

For me, it’s a half marathon.

Not me, but I wish it was.

I think I’ve shared on here that I’m running an all women’s 10K on April 29^th that I couldn’t be more excited about. When I first decided I was going to run it I was looking forward to the challenge. Then something happened along the way. A friend who I have begun looking up to like a coach, kept asking me when I was going to do a half marathon? At first I laughed at her and told her she was nuts.

Then after awhile she got me thinking. I started thinking that if I didn’t have a full-time job next (school) year I would run a half. Besides, since September I’ve experienced first hand that training and being in shape is a lot easier when I don’t have a job. I started to embrace the idea of running a half next fall. I looked for one and while I couldn’t find one that called out to me I had a revelation! WHY wait until then? I am in the best running shape I’ve ever been in and once school gets out my schedule will change any my training won’t be as routine.

Before sharing my thoughts with my “coach” or my husband (who is running the La Crosse Half – Marathon on May 6^th) I ran 8 miles. I DID IT and felt great when I was done. In fact I went out to run 7 but was so hyped up I ran an extra mile…that has never happened to me before. I think I channeled Forrest Gump. So that day I came up with this list of reasons why I’m running the ½ on May 6^th.

1. My house is located at mile 8 on the racecourse so I can always stop there (which I know I won’t but the idea makes running 13.1 miles a little less scary). (Oh and my kids will be there to cheer me on).

2. This is the best way I can cheer my husband on during the race and see him at the finish line (even if it’s from behind).

3. I am enjoying running at this point in my life.

4. Because I am physically and mentally strong enough.

5. To show my kids I can.

6. Because after I finish it I will be so proud of myself.

7. Because I can run 8 miles. From mile 8-10 it’s my routine running area, and I have friends to cheer me on at mile 12.

8. Because it’s now or never.

9. It’s in my hometown!

Yesterday I ran 10 miles and frankly I’m feeling unstoppable. I was less sore after 10 miles than I was after 9 last week. This experience is truly unbelievable to me.

20 years ago if someone told me I’d be a runner and have my master’s degree I would have known you were talking about someone else named Daria. I am embracing and appreciating where my life has taken me.

Good luck to you on your next goal….with some support and self-motivation you CAN do it!

AND THIS IS NO APRIL FOOL’S!

I’m Starting my Training…Tomorrow

Some Monday morning running motivation for those who need it. Honestly, don't we all need it after eating our (my) way through the Super Bowl. I "officially" start training tomorrow for my April 10K so I have a free pass today.

The original link to my Monday Motivation courtesy of Women's Running Magazine.

I did it! I signed up for an all women’s 10K in the end of April. I have run three 10Ks in the past 5 years and truth be told I haven’t “trained” once. I’m imagining what I can accomplish if I actually train. Maybe a time under 60 minutes?! The first 10K was the BolderBoulder in 2007. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when my dear friend I was visiting in Boulder asked if I wanted to do it. It was an emotionally driven race for me. My mom had been diagnosed with lung cancer just 8 months prior to the race and my friend, Maggie was a great support to me in my time of need. It wasn’t long before that she had been battling similar emotions with her own father. WOW! It was A-Mazing and the spectators make that race what it is! Every May since I strive to be the most awesome spectator as I cheer marathoners on in the La Crosse Marathon.

Last year I ran two 10Ks; one in June in Green Bay, that I hope to repeat this year and then another in August which I have no intention of repeating.

Ok, back to my training. For the past 13 months I have been running with a small clip on iPod using Nike+ to track my runs. Nike+ has a 10K training program that I signed up for on their website. When I say I signed up for it I mean I clicked on it. For the past few months I have had many Monday morning runs, beginning my week off “right”. Well, because the race in April is on a Sunday this plan has me beginning my weekly runs on Tuesday. It’s going to take just a little bit of getting used to, but I am so thankful that I have a free pass not to run today. I am still full from my all-beef Super Bowl foods and it’s 9:30 the next morning.

Every Race has a Story: Part V: August: Kornfest 10K

Since I was gone for over two weeks and didn’t get home from vacation until the first full weekend of August, I procrastinated finding and registering for an August run. I knew there were a few to choose from and when I got home I figured I’d run the Kornfest 5K. Problem was I found out just days before that there was no 5K, it was a 10K. I figured it was the price I had to pay for procrastinating and embraced, albeit slowly, the idea that I was going to run another 10K. It was like the first (and only) time I went to Kornfest about 10 years ago and found out there was no corn; at least not on the Friday night when the fest opened. I have since turned my back on the illiterate festival held in Holmen.

I heard it was a flat course, but I failed to realize how flat and boring it was until I was running it. Before the pistol start the organizer warned us that somewhere along the course a (dead) deer spent too much time and to not inhale. Thankfully I never smelled it as I ran. The positive thing about the race is that it was mostly run on a packed dirt trail and it was shaded near the start and finish.  I ran strong and finished it in great time.

My husband and kids met me at the race and my kids ran across the finish line with me, which was awesome. I arrived at the race alone and ran without a partner, which made for a lonely race, but as I was running I had only myself to praise for my pace. There were few spectators, in fact there were few runners, but the volunteers were cross-country runners from the local college which in turn made most of them great supporters, with the exception of the guy who was texting.

I did find out the origins of Kornfest and feel a little more positive about the literacy of Holmen’s residents. There used to be a cannery in Holmen that canned corn. No one I asked knew why it was spelled with a ‘K’ but I was content thinking it was related to the name of the cannery, which no one knew either.

About an hour or so after the race there was a parade that we stuck around for which was really nice and we all enjoyed. Next year I’ll try a different August race, unless I procrastinate.

Every Race has a Story Part III: June: Bellin Run 10K

A good friend of my husband and I has been asking us for years to run the Bellin 10K in Green Bay, his hometown, with him. The idea of a 10K has always been intimidating to me. With that said I did run the Bolder Boulder 10K in CO in 2008 and it remains to be my favorite race to date.

Well, this was the year we were going to do “The Bellin” because not only could it be my June race; it was a weekend away complete with friends to stay with our kids and cheer us on as we ran.

The spectators were amazing, I believe that’s who really makes a race. This was certainly the case with the Bolder Boulder.

One of my favorite things about this race was being able to take my race number after the race to the nursery that was on the race course and pick out two annual plants for FREE! I have really enjoyed watching them grow over the summer. Also, because it was the 35^th anniversary every runner received a finisher’s medal. My least favorite thing was that my shirt that I worked hard to earn, had a hole in the seam. Then after sewing it, two weeks ago it got stained in the wash! I really like the shirt too!

The weekend was capped off by going to Bay Beach, where all the rides at the amusement park are either 0.25 or 0.50 cents and then off to tour Lambeau Field…impressive!

I plan to run this race again next year!