Moms In Motion : Connecting Moms Through Fitness

A MIM Leaders journey in training for a first marathon along with teammates.

O.K., here goes...  writing my first blog - ever.  I guess it's fitting since I started the week off with another "first," completing my first full marathon.  Wow, even as I write these words, it's surreal to me.  I remember laying in bed, just a few short months ago, watching a Nova documentary lent to me by a team member about a team of virtual "nobodies" in the athletic world of running.  A determined team of sport conditioning specialists, medical professionals and coaches had the task of preparing a dozen unfit and sedentary adults to run the coveted Boston Marathon.  Although they had several months to get it done, it seems like a job of making the impossible possible.  Looking back, that was the moment (whether I realized it then, I'm not sure) that I decided that I was going to run a marathon.  That's right....run 26.2 miles - really how hard could it be?

Fast forward 3 months - I'd borrowed and bought the books, I'd selected the training plan to use, I'd taken a close look at my diet and I'd even hooked up with other MIM teammates that were ready to embark on the same journey of the unknown with me.  It was now time to take on the longest run I'd ever done - 13 full miles.  Sure, I had run 6, 7, 8 miles...even an 11-miler, once, but now for some reason, 13 seemed l-o-n-g.  O.K., so I met my gals at 4:45 a.m. (who gets up that early, anyway?!) and we completed the whole 13 without stopping (an accomplishment by my standards) and it was on the ride home from this "long" run that I started thinking.... am I crazy?  Can I actually do this?  Yes, I just did complete 13 miles (small pat on the back) but could I really have gone any farther?  My legs hurt, I was tired, yada-yada, yada.  It is here I had that ah-ha moment....now I knew what "they" were talking about.  I'd heard it before, "the journey of marathon training is a mind game...."  Mind game - what did that mean?  Now, I understood.  Of course I could go further, next week.... one mile at a time.  One mile at a time.

So, the journey continued throughout the next few months.  Some runs were inspiring....sure I can do this!  I feel so strong....ahhh, a sense of accomplishment.  Other days, well....not so good - the days when no matter how beautiful the scenery around me was, I just wanted to cut off my legs they hurt so badly.  The days when I simply felt defeated.  What is wrong with me?  Why couldn't I finish what I had started?  The dreaded mind games strangled my spirit again.  Tomorrow was another day. 

Now, THE day had arrived.  Alarm goes off at 5 a.m., my bag is packed, my toes are taped, I have my fruit punch Sport Beans, the last few snacks are thrown into my bag along with a change of clothes for when this thing is finally over.  I make sure that I have all that one might need to run a marathon.  Just as I kiss my husband good-bye and hear my final words of encouragement I see my ride waiting outside.  Here goes.....

It's a cool, brisk morning when we arrive at the Maine Marathon.  An out & back course that I had driven - once.  Almost wished I hadn't, but I was prepared as I would ever be, right?  All those that asked me days prior to the race, "are you nervous....are you anxious....how do you feel?"  I can tell you now that I lied and I was nervous as - well, you know.  I use the port-a-potty one last time...I look for my teammates, we line up and before we know it, the gun goes off.  I set my watch and I look at my running partner, Lisa - who I am forever indebted to for getting through this most monumental moment, and all we could say was, "O.K. here we go...it's just another long run - just another long run with 3,000 other people."

The race itself was an indescribable experience.  I don't think that I can fully recount it in this blog - for one, it wouldn't justify all the feelings that flowed through me over the course of 26.2 miles, and secondly, it wouldn't be fair to set up expectations, good or bad, for anyone else wanting to pursue this goal.  Each individual's experience is unique and impacts him/her in various ways, so because of this, I will leave the details on the actual race off this template.  I will however share this, with every step I encountered people that inspired me and encouragement in things that seemed insignificant.  Bruce taking pictures as we started out strong and still making us smile until the end; women/men running with the 50-states club; John (a friend made along the way that we "danced" with); watching the race leaders fly past on their way back to the finish - amazing; teammates cheering from the sideline and those cheering as they ran beside me; thinking of Rachel as she marched ahead and hoping she was having the time of her life; feeling my legs burn but knowing Lisa wasn't going to give up so gosh darn-it, neither was I; finally seeing my husband at mile 19 and knowing that I was going to make it; coming to the last mile and trying to catch "Kelly" (another runner just ahead receiving cheers from family/friends) - and finally passing her; crossing that finish line with 4 minutes to spare from my goal time and seeing my dad waiting with pride in his eyes; seeing my teammates come through knowing we had all done this "thing" together.  We did it girls...not because we had to, not because someone else wanted us to, but because we knew in our heart of hearts that we could.  Perhaps not alone, but together.

We ARE strong inside and out and I want to thank each of you for proving this to me each day through practice, group runs, races "won" and success in our daily lives.  A special thank you to Lisa and Rachel for pulling me through this amazing journey.  We share this success together - you are truly amazing women and your light illuminates the path ahead for those around you.   Thank you to all my MIM sisters....many of you tell me that you've accomplished your goals because of MIM and you thank me for leading such a team, but it is because of all of you that I can now call myself a "marathon finisher!" 

So.... now the question is, "what now?"  :)

Lisa

Posted : Monday, October 6, 2008 by : Lisa Lewis
Posted In : Events 

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WOW!!

Posted: Monday, October 6, 2008 | Farley Isabelle  |   Isabelle Farley

Love your first blog! You are an amazing leader/runner/supporter/mother/sister...... I knew you would accomplish your goal! Congrats! Enjoy your victory. You have worked hard! xoxo Isabelle

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