First Half Marathon

In February of this year when I started my Running Journey, if you would have told me on September 9th of this year I'd be running in a half marathon, I would have DIED laughing.  I could barely do ONE mile let alone 13.1 miles! When I started running I always had my mother in my head, no matter how hard it was for me to do 1,2 or more miles she was home learning how to take 1,2 and more steps with her new leg.  When I finally got the courage to tell my mother exactly the reason for this "running" hobby I had started she cried and told me to do it for ME not for her.  As time went on I believe we were helping each other.  I would come home and my mom would say "Hey Dawn watch this" As she walked with a cane.  And again a few weeks later I'd come home and my mom would say "Hey Dawn watch this" as she walked WITHOUT anything around the living room.  I was just amazed how well she was doing and what an amazing woman she was.  She too wanted to hear about how I was doing. When I would come home after a run and say "Mom guess what I ran 6 miles today" She would tell me how crazy I was then how proud she was of me running so much.  In August while I was running with Team Truth my coach asked "So are you running with us in the Half" I answered "Nope, kinda sad now but I just dont have the money" From about 20 feet in front of us Jen said "OHHH Dawn I have a bib for you for the half.... YOU ARE DOING IT" Thats when the panic set in.  I was going to be running in the Chicago Half Marathon on September 9th! Okay now I thought PANIC TIME!!! I was still getting knee pain while I ran but I didnt let it stop me.  I just kept going! The 2 weeks leading up the the Half I got a bad cold and was not going to run being sick and then possibly not getting better for the Half I just thought "Take a Break, its your bodys way of telling you slow down".  The Saturday before the race we were so busy it kept my mind off running 13.1 miles, but at night thats all I could think about. 

RACE DAY: At 4am Sunday morning I was up and ready for this.  We drove downtown and met the team at 5:30am at the Museum of Science and Industry and I was so scared... will I finish?  We were at the start line at 6:45 am ready and pumped up for this! FINALLY crossing the start line I was excited. I ran with Cathy and her sister all the way.  The cheering and bands along the was were WONDERFUL kept my mind off running that long way! We were doing great started off at a little over an 11 minute mile.  Taking to interesting people along the way it was so much fun.  Finally on the way back I thought it would NEVER end! I remember being at mile 9 then 10 then mile 11-11.5 is where I was losing it.  I had hit my breaking point. I remember telling Cathy, "I can't do this, my legs are numb and I just cant push" She looked at me and said "Dawn YOUR mother just lost her leg shes WALKING with a prosthetic leg, and your going to give up with a little over 2.1 miles to go?!?!? Do this for your MOM!" I was getting tears in my eyes as she said that to me and thought YES my mother has gone threw all this and I'm going to let a couple miles get in my way!!!! HECK NO!!! So we started to run/walk again.  It was about 3/4-1/2 mile to go and as I looked behind me I saw the Chicago Police and maybe a hand full of people, I looked at Cathy and said, "There is NO way I'm getting picked up I'm FINISHING this race!!" She said , "You go girl, RUN!!!!" And I did I ran and pushed my self all the way to the FINISH... 3:01:53, Just over three hours! I cried as I crossed the finish line and received my medal for the Half Marathon!  I did this all for MY MOTHER she is my hero and because of her and a few other people I DID IT I finished a Half Marathon!!!! I have such wonderful friends and family that were so supportive through all our rough times as a family and its just an amazing feeling to accomplish something like this... My mom is walking and I can run!

YAHOOO!!!!

I did it .. Ran 5 miles today (inside of corse) I felt numb near the end LOL but I did it :) I told myself I would push to 4.5 miles then when I got to 4.5 I told myself ... whats an extra 5 laps! RIGHT?? A few friends of mine want to to the Hot Chocolate 15k in November, My goal in my head was to do a 10k next year (6.2) I guess Im training for a 15k (9.3) OH GOOD LORD what did I get myself into... can I get up to 9 miles by November?  Well have to see ;) Wish me luck!

4 miles!

In February of 2012 when a friend of mine told me she was going to make me into a runner... I laughed in her face and said "HAAAAAAAA Right!" Today I ran 4 miles 53 min with out stopping to walk... I run slow but running is running no matter how fast or slow you go.  Everyone told me, block everything out and just breath... that was so hard for me until today! I actually did it, wow what a difference I felt like I could go on for ever.  The first 2 miles were the hardest but after that I loved it! Its such an awesome feeling thinking that I was barely able to run a mile 4 months ago and now I'm running 4 :) Thanks who all believed in me! xoxoxo

I did it :)

ITS official I have lost 45 pounds! my starting weight was 185 lbs and I am currently at 140 lbs! I am so proud of myself and I do want to continue to loose a few more pounds! I feel so healthy and good about myself! I started running again thank goodness. I took some time off because I kept coughing but I have an inhaler now and feel so much better! Ran 3.5 miles on my own the other day and wanted to push more but stopped there for now, maybe I'll do 4 on Thursday ;) I'm still watching what I eat and not eating as much as I did before , I'm feeling more full now when I eat :) Well thats it for now :)

Finding time

I need to vent LOL. Finding time to run has started to be a difficult time for me.  I work two jobs and go to school! But today I did run 2.1 miles with my dog. man was that hard he is tough to run with! but he is so pooped now LOL.  I am officially signed up for the "Team Truth" Run team and I am having a hard time now.  Most everyone on the team is training for the Half in September and there is also a 5k on that same day.  I know I'm going to be pissed at myself if Im lets say up to 8 miles by then and then only fun 3 miles but I really don't think I can finish the half.  I dont want to fail because then that will make me so upset.  So I dont know what to do :(

My first race and then some

My very first race was the "Get Lucky" downtown Chicago with my friend Jen.  She is the one that got me to run in the first place! I was super scared to death! I ran a total of about 2 miles that day ran the rest.  I finished a 7k but I did walk most of it.  When I finished I was so proud of myself but had a new goal.  I want to run an entire 5k! So Last weekend I told Jen I want to do a mock 5k.  At mile 3 (I didnt know how far we went) she asked me if i wanted to walk, I said NOPE lets go.  Finally we were done Jen looked at me and said, "do you know how far you went".  I laughed and said "3 miles" she then looked at me and said "Dawn you just ran 4 miles in 50 minuets"  Holy cow!!! Awesome!!! I ran 3.1 miles last week and just about 3 miles today! My first official 5k is on May 28 and I can not wait!

My "WHY"!

Most people say "I run to get in shape, I run to stay in shape, I run cause I like it" well I run for my mother! Last year was the toughest year if my families life! My mother was in and out of the hospital from about August till December 24 when she came home! She always loves to do her mile walks from out house to a certain point in the subdivision. On December 9 th after her being in the hospital not knowing what was happening she had to get her leg amputated. I was pissed, mad, upset ," why my mom why Her she's a good person". Then when she came home I saw how much better she felt, she was back to normal! Just with a leg missing :) I thought what could I do that is difficult for me, what is something I say "I can't do"... RUN!!! so in late February I ran my first mile since high school for my mom! Every time I run I think i am doing this for her because she went through such a difficult time last year and got through it that I can do the same!!! I just wanted to put it out there how worried I was I was going to lose her, and now I know she's ok and she is an amazing woman! So mom I am your LEGS!!! I RUN FOR MY HERO!