2nd Houston Marathon!

Yesterday I ran 26.2 miles. I have now run two marathons and LOVE that it's pluralized! This year was just as challenging as my first, if not more, at least mentally. I was not able to meet the time goal I set for myself and while I am slightly disappointed in that, I am choosing to be thankful for the blessings I experienced in this race.

I knew this race was going to be hard as soon as I hit mile 6. I had slept a lot the day before and was concerned maybe it was because I was starting to get sick...(which it was, I am coughing today). I also could tell I had no energy. This is not the feeling you want so early in the race and I am still not sure as to why it happened. I ate all the same foods, did all the same steps as I had before our 21 miler and other long runs.

I ran with some other Katy Fit coaches until around the half marathon distance and I knew I had to pull back. I also knew then that I was not going to be able to beat my previous marathon time... I continued a walk/run the rest of the marathon.

However, I was determined to finish. I was overcoming knee surgery and a break from running and I wanted to finish and have the accomplishment of running another marathon. I had been training since July for this and I knew that it was going to be hard, but that I was going to do it. Quitting was not an option - I wasn't bleeding profusely, dying of pain (beyond the regular marathon pain), and so I had, in my opinion, no excuse to quit.

Another awesome running picture from yours truly... at least I was at the finish line! That's my excuse for this one.

Someone (okay, more than one person) has asked me why I would run a marathon or why in the world I would run another. The only explanation I can come up with is an analogy to child birth. Your body is programmed to remember pleasure and not pain. Hence the reason (pre-epidural obviously) that women had more than one baby. You forget the pain you experienced during/after the marathon and are left with the intense feeling of pride and accomplishment in completing a feat that less than 1% of the population does. (Currently, that pain has not wore off and I am hating my back and hamstrings... mental note to re-read this post once the pain subsides... ;-) )

Thank you Lord for pain, because it means that I have feelings and I can experience pleasure, fatigue, energy, etc. 

Thank you Lord for family, friends, and random people in the city of Houston who came out to support the marathon. Thank you for Nikki and Bo, Jenna, Jan, Sandra, Sam, Dustin, Maryam, Huy, Ruby, James, and Ramesh. You guys are amazing and you being out there to support means so much!!

Here are a bunch of the signs my friend Ruby made to have out for me. She and the rest of our Family Dinner crew were out at mile 24 to cheer me on!

Thank you Lord for the weather, because it could have been much hotter with the past few weeks and we had a cool start and I was able to get some sun and a fantastic tan line. 

Thank you Lord for my legs, because I can run and bike. Even after having knee surgery last year, I was able to run and for that I am grateful.  

Thank you Lord for my husband, without whom I could not have done this marathon. His support, encouragement, and belief in me made an indescribable difference. I have never met someone so selfless - someone so caring. He moved around the race course 5 different places. He kissed me and told me he was proud of me and that he knew I could finish when I stopped and started crying to him that I wasn't sure I could go on at mile 21. 

At the end with the AMAZING sign my hubby made to cheer me on. Man, I love that guy! :-)

Post marathon treat! 

A cupcake from my favorite bakery, Ooh La La. 

Finished my second marathon! This race outcome just means I have to run at least one more... ;-)

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Trendsetter?!

Let me preface this post by saying that I am not a trendsetter - in anything. Clothing, decorating, etc. However, I do have a passion for organization...

Last fall I saw a blog post from my Pi Phi sister Chelsea about her Erin Condren planner (read her post here). I fell in love with the planner, but was a little shell-shocked at its price tag - $50. This is where I will refute the comment that I am cheap. I am just fiscally conservative...

Then I got a Christmas gift early. One day in late October I saw a Plum District deal for $50 of merchandise for $25. On top of that I had a $10 off coupon for Plum District that I received as a Catalina from Kroger. (Don't know what a Catalina is? Read about them here and check out my blog post on couponing here.)

Score! I could now justify the sweet planner with its total price tag (including shipping) to be ~$23!

Here comes the trendsetter part... I showed my friend Nikki the planner on Erin Condren's website (click here) when I was trying to decide which one to purchase. In turn, Nikki, who is a trendsetter, purchased them as Christmas gifts for some of our mutual friends! My friend Brittney also ordered herself one and said her mom was going to order one too!

I am patting myself on the back since I know I will never have another moment like this - a moment where I, Darcy Stingerie, actually help start a trend in my circle of friends. Figures it would be with something organizationally-focused. :-)

And here's a snapshot of my own planner! (Sorry about the poor quality... iPhone 3. I'll update it with a better one later!)

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Less Than a Week Away!

Next Sunday is the Houston Marathon! I cannot believe it's already here. Last July, when we started training, seems like forever ago and just like yesterday at the same time.

This year has been a particularly hard year to train. I think there was some allure in training for my first marathon that I didn't have this go-round. Instead I had a harder work schedule, harder travel schedule, harder physical ailments, and tougher weather.

Yet I am still here. And still ready to take on the marathon. I have my game plan worked out and plan to spend this week hydrating and cargo loading. On Sunday, January 15th I plan to run my second marathon!

If you are in the Houston area, PLEASE consider coming out and supporting the race. Seeing a familiar face makes an indescribable difference and energizes us more than you can imagine. The marathon website  has numerous suggestion of places for spectators to go (click here).

I am blessed enough to already have several friends planning on coming out and supporting me - THANK YOU!

And a special thanks to my husband, Jason. He is my biggest fan, best friend, and without him I would not have the confidence to go out there and race my heart out. He supported me last year and plans to support me again this year. THANK YOU HUBBY!

If you would like to get updates on me as a runner, you can go to this website (click here) and search for my name. My bib number is 9292 (pretty good number I'd say!).

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