"There is something magical about running; after a certain distance, it transcends the body.  Then a bit futher, it transcends the mind.   A bit further yet, and what you have before you, laid bare, is the soul."

 The mararthon was such an amazing experience that I'm not sure I can put it in words. Luckily, my wonderful friends Mandy and Christopher documented the entire event on camera. Please check out their website www.thedirtieduckie.com :) The pictures and the video captured a weekend, a challenge, that I have been looking forward to for a very, very long time...

I was full of emotion as I met my very good friend Eric at the baggage claim at KCI airport. It was like a scene from a movie- people passed by us as we embraced in a hug while tears flooded from my eyes. Every emotion I had experienced in the last 6 months came out at that very moment in uncontrollable sobs. It was so good to see a familiar, loving face- someone who knows ME. After a few emotional minutes, we grabbed my luggage, hit the highway in his jeep, and headed for some food. I missed how it felt to be in Kansas City. The air, smell, sights, all of it- it is different. There are leaves, green grass, and water! I was instantly happy and  in awe that I was back home. I had a full schedule that day and I was so excited to spend every minute with people I loved and missed terribly. Eric and I enjoyed lunch at Panera- fabulous choice! I was planning on "carbo-loading" at each meal for three days prior. I had my routine for pre-race day that I didn't want to change up but knew I needed the necessary carb intake for Saturday's race. After lunch and a few other stops with Eric, I met up with another friend Misty for an early dinner (and belated birthday celebration!) at The Westside Local. Amazing food from local farmers and the restaurant's very own garden in the back. I encourage you to check it out if you have never :) Dinner with Misty was tons of fun, but brief. Next up was a quick meeting with another friend Jennifer aka Bootie! We went to our usual spot, Mi Ranchito :) No, I did not eat although I was very tempted! So many people to see and so little time. I loved seeing everyone but hated that it was always for a short visit before moving on to the next! I was staying with another friend for the night, Tara, and by the time I got there I was exhausted. Thursday was such a long day with flying and running around but I hardly got any sleep that night! I was a little stressed about it come Friday because two nights before a race is just as critical as the night before.

Friday was an exciting day full of all kinds of emotions! Race day was less than 24 hours away and I was feeling excited, nervous, confident, and terrified. Any given moment the confident, competitor in me would instantly be hit with thoughts of doubt and "What the hell were you thinking, you can't run 26.2 miles?!" Luckily, I only entertained those negative thoughts sporadically through out the day. I met up with Mandy and Christopher early that morning and they were able to boost my confidence all day with their words of encouragement (this being Mandy's third marathon I would consider her a pro!) We piled into Christopher's jeep and met up with Mandy's mom at the expo for packet pickup- she, too, would be running in the race the following morning, tacking on yet another half marthon to her resume! We made our way through the expo stopping to listen to the guest speaker, catching up with some fellow Herbalife Distributors who were sampling out my beloved Prolong endurance drink, and finally grabbing our race bags before heading off to lunch at Spin Pizza! It's official! With my t-shirt, bib, and timing chip in hand, I couldn't back out now ;) I was a little nervous about having pizza for lunch since I had not practiced this for the last few weeks so instead I opted for a sandwich. This would allow me to keep on track for my pre-race day routine consisting of a shake for breakfast, banana and protein bar for a snack, and my usual sandwich for lunch. I was feeling good but already tired after lunch and it was still early! We had a few more stops to make before we were able to head home and retire for the evening. With getting only a few hours of sleep the night before, I didn't know if I would be able to make it through much of the evening. But I didn't want to miss out on the festivities for the night! Mandy's tradition is to watch The Expendibles and have a glass of wine... How could I pass up a badass movie and wine?! Count me in! So all three of us piled onto the futon upstairs for the remainder of the evening :)

My alarm clock went off at 4:30a and I was already awake. Of course I slept horribly, typical before a big day!  As I got ready and sipped on a Rockstar, Mandy and Christopher were getting ready as well- documenting the morning routine! I wasn't too nervous first thing that morning but I don't think the reality of what I was about to do had sank in just yet! In less than 3 hours, I was about to put all my training and sacrifice to the test... was I even ready?!? I would soon find out...

After gathering our bags, bikes, and people we headed downtown! We made it to Crown Center in plenty of time with no traffic problems. As we stepped out of the parking garage, I realized that it was a GREAT deal colder than what I had been used to running in- which I was not too thrilled about! I did come prepared with a long sleeve tshirt but my legs would have to freeze :( We made a pitstop in Panera before saying goodbye to Christopher and heading to the starting line. When I first set out training for this marathon, my goal was to complete it under 4 hours. Throughout my training I changed my goal several times. The few weeks leading up to the race I was telling people I would be content "just finishing." HOWEVER, those of you that know me, know I would not have been happy with that. I wanted to do better than that but I also was afraid to choose an unattainable goal so I went with a 4:15. My game plan for the race was to keep up with Mandy through the hill at Liberty Memorial and then go from there. She typically runs at a faster pace so I wasn't sure how I would do. I set my ipod to the same song I began every long race with ("Momma Sed") and the gun went off at 7:05am!! Here are a few "mile markers" that I remember:

* Mile 3: Liberty Memorial hill- As I started climbing, the song "Determined" by Mudvayne began to play. Perfect!! Because I did the Half Marathon last year I knew what I would be facing and lets just say I kicked it's ass. I loved it! We conquered the hill and I was feeling great :) Approximately four miles down and 22.2 to go!

*Mile 5: Seeing a few familiar faces in the crowd! Thanks Nic and Drew :)

*Mile 8: At this point, the half marathon runners separate from the marathon runners! The lane to the left was full of people but the one on the right was sparse. I guess there weren't as many "crazy" people willing to do the full! It gave a little ego boost :)

*Mile 10: Up to this point I had been keeping up with Mandy as our pace quickened. Somwhere between 10 and 11 I stopped to grab my Prolong from C and struggled to catch up with Mandy. As we hit mile 11, we stopped for a brief minute to grab our gels and the only words out of my mouth were "Holy hell." This would not be the only time I used those words!! We hadn't even hit the half way point and it was kicking my ass. I knew I needed to keep up with Mandy... if I lost sight of her, I was doomed. So I did just that...
*Mile 13.1: We crossed the half marathon checkpoint at 2:00:34. I was slightly annoyed with being half a minute short of completing it under 2 hours but happy at the same time because that was faster than last years time :)

*Mile 18: My legs had never felt heavier nor hurt more in all my life! They felt like tree trunks pounding the pavement with every step. There were moments when I would have enough energy to belt out the words to Stanky Leg or Check Up On It to Christopher but in the next breathe I was struggling to pick up my feet. I felt like we were just shuffling our feet from one mile marker to the next.  I can't say that I was ever happy to see the mile markers. It was demoralizing at points to know that I still had many more miles to go being that every part of my body hurt.
PS. THIS pain was what I was expecting, hoping for, and wanting... It represented so much...

*Mile 21: Technically 20.90 lol. It had been a few miles since our last pitstop and I was donig everything in my power not to stop. I was hoping and praying that Mandy would want to stop and refuel SOON. There were a few times that I was either sleeping, blacking out, or in a complete trance. I was no longer in control of my body, it seemed. I had to get outside of my body and mind so somehow I blocked everything out and stared straight ahead- what a crazy feeling!! If Mandy had not been by my side, I would have given up. I was so ready to throw in the towel!! After our mini break, we both stated that we hurt like hell but we had to keep going, one step at a time...

*Mile 22- Watch the video!! You will see AND hear just how Mandy and I felt about that damn Mile Marker 22 :-P


Mile 25- Some point after seeing MM25, I saw my good friend Layne (who had just completed her first half marathon- way to go, Crunchy!!) It was so good to see a friendly face at that point :) Mandy and I made the final turn the final turn and the finish line look miles away! People were yelling and cheering as we got closer. and there it was- the final mile marker- 26!!! Ironically enough, my ipod began playing "Swim" by Jack's Mannequin. A song that Mandy introduced me to months prior- a song that got me through a little bit of hell. It was perfect timing :) With a few hundred feet remaining, I kicked it up a notch and began sprinting through the finish!! To my surprise no tears came. Probably because I had sweat them all out or because I had no energy left to do so- it was all I could do to catch my breath. I crossed the finish line in 4 HOURS, 4 MINUTES, and 29 SECONDS :)  I finished a full marathon... and in a faster time than I had planned (Thanks to pacer, Mandy lol). Every single part of my body hurt... and I LOVED it!! We'll just forget about the many times I told Mandy and Christopher that I "hate my life right now" during the race!
I saw Eric and Kristen after I crossed and of course the first words out of my mouth were "Holy hell" ha!  We visited for a few minutes as we made our way through the crowd. It was so good to see them at the end and share this experience with them! Kristen is a marathon veteran (8 notches on her belt) and Eric will be completing his first (of many) half marathons next spring- woohoo!! The gang and I hung out for a bit sipping on our post race beer and replaying the events of the race. Walking was nearly impossibly and sitting or standing required assistance from the guys! I was completely spent but so happy at the same time. I accomplished my goal of completing a marathon!!! I knew that this would not be my last :)

The rest of the weekend was busy! Somehow I managed to go dancing later that night and stay up until the next morning! My nap after the race was unsuccessful because laying still or trying to roll over hurt! Sunday afternoon I spent it with Nicole, Monica, and Sarah at Kona Grill and then Hamburger Marys :) It was so nice to see my friends and spend time with them. I missed them and I missed Kansas City terribly- this was life as I knew it!

Monday would be a sad day! I would be leaving that night and I wasn't able to see everyone that I wanted to. I had gotten comfortable again being in KC and I wasn't ready to leave.  It was a nice fall day: overcast, chilly, with brightly colored leave all around. I realized that I am definitely a four-seasons kind of girl! Warm weather is nice, but I like variety- and the color green ;) I saw Tara, Mandy, and Christopher for awhile before I headed out that night. If there was anything I could do about it, I would have stayed...

I enjoyed my weekend back home! I'm so happy to have seen my friends. The marathon was an incredible, life-changing experience like I had expected. I now know that I can do anything I want- it just takes a little dedication and heart!! I never thought it was something I could have done, but with all the support and encouragement I received, I did :) Thank you to everyone!! One marathon down, many more to go! I hope you all will be along for my future endeavors :)

Love always,

B

What does .2 mean?

It is only 3 days until the marathon. I wanted to share something I came across in one of my favorite books. I've been waiting until now to share it. I hope it sinks deep inside your soul like it does mine. Enjoy!

     ".2 is about completion. .2 is about having what it takes. .2 is about mastering pain. .2 is about getting it done. .2 is the "and over" of "up and over." .2 is about strength. .2 is about life."
     "If you have experienced .2, then you will never be the kind of person who does something "almost" or "half-assed." You will never hastily approve something that isn't done right. You will never take a shortcut on effort just because no one is watching. You will never say, "Eh, it doesn't matter." Because it does matter. If you have slogged or sprinted through the final .2 of a marathon, then you know intimately the difference between 26 and 26.2. And its not as simple as 200 meters.
     ".2 is the metaphorical distance between you and any finish line in your life, anything you have ever dreamed of doing or becoming. It's what's separating you from your truest, most authentic self and your most actualized life. It's what's worth thinking about, strategizing about, planning for, training for, and going for. "
     ".2 is simultaneously the end and the beginning. Because when we cross one finish line, we arrive at the next start line, carrying with us everything we learned from prior distance. Hopefully, we manage to drop a few unnecessary things that weigh us down along the way, making our journey lighter as we go along."-Kristen Armstrong, Mile Markers: The 26.2 Most Important Reasons Why Women Run

Thank you to everyone who has followed along, offered me words of encouragement and support! I would NEVER have been able to do this without you. I thank you from the very bottom of my heart!

Love always,

Brittany 

Desert Therapy

(Creosote Bush)

There has been a little piece of my training that I have failed to mention. I've considered doing so on several occasions but never found the right timing. I believe it has been a huge contribution to my love of running and my ability to relax and let go of life. There is nothing like it. If I could bottle it up and bring it home to Kansas City, I would! What is it, you ask?  Well, it's nothing more than the smell of the desert (aka Creosote) :D Until you experience it for yourself, it is hard to explain. It's nature's aromatherapy. It eases your mind, brings about an internal peace, and makes you appreciate life and the things around you. This is the reason why a large portion of my runs were mapped out the way they were-into the desert so I could enjoy the fragrance. Sometimes, if the wind is just right or there is a chance of rain, you can be standing in the middle of Tucson and still smell it. However, every single time you venture out of the city and into the desert it is there- I love it! In the future, when I've completed several marathons and I can't separate one training session from the next, I will always remember the smell of the desert. The way it assured me that life, with all its ups and downs, is still absolutely amazing- if I just relaxed, slowed down, and took it all in.

That's just what I did this morning on my last long run of my training. I woke up to a "freezing cold" Tucson morning- which was great preparation for next week's race! The thermometer hovered around 50 degrees this morning as I took off around 530. I was so cold that I opted to throw on a long sleeve t-shirt in addition to my "race day" attire- hoping I would not regret that decision later. Being this was my last run, I was determined to make it a successful one! If I had to dig deep, I would. If I had to fake how great I felt, I would do that as well. Much to my pleasure, however, it was a success, without any of that! The cool, crisp morning actually made me run faster. This familiar route made me smile as I remembered all the good times and the bad times we've shared. This same route at one point stole all confidence I had gathered as a new runner. But on this day, it would be restored! I have so much confidence going into next week :) Not the kind of confidence where I think this will be totally easy and that I will have a record-breaking time. The confidence I have is knowing that I have trained for 5 months- sacrificed, stayed committed, and developed myself into a runner. I have confidence that this will be the toughest physical and mental challenge I have yet faced. But, I also, have the strength and courage to meet it- head on- all while keeping my feet moving. I'm so pumped for next Saturday!! I can see myself shivering at the starting line from the cold and the nervousness. I can feel myself running through the streets of Kansas City- my home- reminiscing, with a restored sense of appreciation for the city I have missed dearly. I can even see myself struggling, having to dig deep- bringing forth all the pain and heartache I've been through on this adventure, allowing it to fuel me through all 26.2 miles. I have the confidence that I will cross the finish line completely spent, leaving everything on the "field", with tears streaming down my face, no doubt. I will stand (most likely lay) there with the biggest smile on my face :) At that very moment every single minute of the past 5 months and 9 days will have been worth it. I believe it is then that I will have "learned to love my journey."

NOTES of the DAY:
*Temperature: 51 degrees
*Song of the Day: "Determined" by Mudvayne- its perfect :)
*Tip of the Day: Tucson gets cold. FYI.
*Quote of the Day: "Its supposed to hurt like hell." Coach McTavish from UltraMarathon Man by Dean Karnezes

This little piggy went to the market...

I love "battle wounds!!" Whether it was nasty bruises post "Hit Day," scraped up shins from stealing bases, or a fat lip after getting elbowed during a basketball game, they are all proof of some sort of battle :) My feet (and body) have been fighting a long, hard battle since May, resulting in aching bones and joints, sore muscles, and mangled, purple toenails! The purple toenails have not been painful up until now... which is one reason why my 13.5 mile run on Saturday turned into 12!

After last week's 20 mile run, my body needed as much time to recover as possible. I was so physically and mentally exhausted from that run, all I could find the strength for was an 8 mile run on Wednesday. The run was a little difficult due to my still sore muscles and was *definitely* not the fastest 8 miles I have done. At this point, however, I just wanted to get the miles in. After finishing this run, I noticed the beginnings of yet another purple toenail :) In all my years of playing sports, I have never lost any toenails so, of course, I find it fascinating (haha)!  By the end of the marathon, I'm sure the number will easily amount to at least four. Yep, four of them- gone! I'll be sure to post pictures for everyone to enjoy ;)

Because of my toe pain,  the "easy" 13 mile tapered run was a bit more difficult then I had hoped. However, I would rather have dealt with that then the more serious heel pain I was dealing with last week. An update on that- my heel feels great! Occasionally I will notice a slight discomfort but it usually is mild and doesn't last long! Lets hope it keeps up :) Everything was a little off this last week as far as my training, nutritional habits, and sleep patterns, so I understand why this run wasn't as easy as I hoped. Part way through my run, I decided to cut it to 12 miles rather than the mapped out 13.5. This didn't bother me too much because the original training schedule had me only running 9 miles, so 12 was a bonus :) With only two weeks left, I'm getting back on track with my nutrition and hydration, and hopefully with sleeping as well. The remaining mileage has tapered greatly- 3, 5, 3, 8 mile runs this week! I'm excited about the tapering- I hope it will give me the adequate rest and recovery I am needing before the big day! Butterflies are already in my stomach as I write this blog today. My palms are sweaty and my heart is racing. Nervousness, excitement, and anticipation have been slowly filling me for weeks and weeks- I am ready to explode! I'm so ready to have my hard work and dedication pay off. This will be an incredible experience. I can't wait to soak up every amazing, emotional minute this adventure has in store for me :)

276 hours and counting... (I'm sure you already knew this, Layne!!)

NOTES of the DAY:
*Temperature: 69 degrees
*Song of the Day: "Sin with a Grin" by Shinedown
*Tip of the Day: I met a lady the other day who told me she used to run marathons but developed knee and ankle problems. I thought she was going to put down running but she continued on saying she tried long distance swimming and cycling which were both fun! But she finished our conversation with "There is nothing like running. None of it compares." I would agree. Try running: try to learn to like it, enjoy it,  and need it. There is nothing else like it.
*Quote of the Day: " I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat." -Winston Churchill

Pain is temporary...

Unbreakable. Resilient. A Badass. Those things could describe me, but really I'm just me :) I'm a gridiron girl gone runner. I'm a girl on an adventure discovering who she is and what she is made of in a land far, far away. I'm a girl, like many others, who has recently been disappointed by people who aren't supposed to disappoint you. I'm a lucky girl who has other people in her life who have stood their ground, continually offering comfort, support, encouragement, and reminding me of the Badass that I am :) Even being 47.5 marathons away, YOU ( you know who you are) are still by my side...Imagine that!

The above mentioned is what fueled my slightly injured body through 20 grueling miles this morning! Not having ran all week because of my foot, anticipation and nerves were at an all time high as I rolled out of bed at 330am. I needed plenty of time to tend to my foot. After seeing some progress yesterday, I was disappointed to feel the pain in my foot return as I took my first step. Listening to all the advice I had received, I made sure to stretch and massage my leg. Amazingly enough, it was having the anterior part of my leg massaged yesterday that relieved a lot of the pain. After only feeling a little relief, I popped some ibuprofen, laced up my Mizunos (we will have a discussion about these particular shoes later- I think they are a cause of my foot problem), shoved my PB& J into its snug little pocket of my Prolong filled bottle, and hit the long lost pavement.

20 miles covers a lot of ground if you were not aware. The route this morning took me to places I haven't traveled yet. Although it was new and unseen territory, it was not aesthetically pleasing. So I put blinders on and focused on the pain. Pain of running and the pain of life. Today, I wanted to feel it, savor it, and use it as my driving force. When my foot began to hurt more and my legs were heavy and on fire, I told myself that the pain was nothing. I had endured much more than that on this adventure. The mind is an amazing thing. It can hinder you, freeze you in place, or it can make you feel like you can conquer the world. Its really up to you as to how you will let it affect you. Mind over matter, right?

I completed the 20 miles- the most I have ever ran in my life. It was a challenge. In less than three weeks, I will run head first (without a helmet, I might add) into the biggest physical and mental challenge I've had to face. But that's what I set out to do! I've lost a little blood. Sweated more than I can even fathom. And cried only a FEW tears ;) I know there will be more of this come October 15th, but I welcome ever inch of that challenge.

...Pride is forever.

NOTES of the DAY:

*Temperature: 70 degress

*Song of the Day: "Hustle Hard" by Ace Hood

*Tip of the Day: Run when you can, walk when you have to, crawl if you must; never give up.

*Quote of the Day: "There is no star for completion. Even a task well done or a milestone met is not a conclusion; it is simply a transition to a new beginning." - Kristen Armstrong

Bluebird Cafe to Oklahoma Joe's

If I was in Kansas City, that would be the length of my run on Saturday. Kind of crazy if you think about it! It took me 2 hours and 44 minutes to run that distance! Do you know what "normal" people do in that length of time? All kinds of things!!! But I would say this running thing has turned me into a not-so-normal person... and I love it!! I've enjoyed spending my saturday mornings getting up before the rest of the world and running for several hours. Its incredibly rejuvenating- you should try it :)

I can't say that it was an easy run but it was as smooth as 18 miles can go! I ran the same route as I had last week which was an easy loop first heading east towards Davis- Monthan AFB for about 8 miles and then turning back westward towards home. I sipped on my Prolong as I ran and eventually got lost in my own thoughts. Once again, I can't explain just how incredible this product is... you all really should try it! Anyways, I had my Jet Blackberry GU gel with 2x the caffeine at mile 8, mostly because I was starving and need some carbs. What you intake during a run is just as important as pre- and post- runs, so I decided to experiment a little. At mile 14, I had 1/3 of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to help fuel my muscles for the remaining four miles! Althought it was semi-difficult to eat due to the dryness, I think it was rather helpful. If only I had a running buddy who could have carried it with them instead of smashing into the little pocket of my handheld water bottle ;) I may try this again for this Saturdays run! The last three miles were a little difficult because my legs started feeling extremely heavy and my hip flexors were exhausted. What helped me finish was breaking down the remaining miles into small goals, just like I have done before! I just had to overcome those small obstacles to get to the end goal- HOME!! Its so ironic how running mimics my life! ;)

Saturday evening after my 18 mile run, I started to have some achiness and pain in my left heel. It wasn't constant so I ignored it for the remaining of the night. When I woke up Sunday, it was slightly worse than the night before. It didn't bother me during my hike up at Mt. Lemmon, so I chalked it up to being just a temporary thing. However, when I woke up Monday morning and took my first step, pain shot through my foot! I had to limp my way through the apartment. Ive dealt with the pain off and on for the last couple days. I asked the "expert" runners at the Running Shop next door what it could be and how to treat it. They instantly thought it was plantar fascitis, but with the pain radiating through my leg I thought it could potentially be something worse... I decided to take this week off from running, but still getting some crosstraining in by cycling to work! Today is much better:) I had the therapists at work check me out and their diagnosis was plantar fascitis as well. They have given me some exercises to do and have offered to work on my feet as well. Yay!! *Supposedly* plantar fasciatis is caused by excessive exercise and not enough cushion in my running shoes. Good to know, but I don't have time to stop my training NOR the means to get new shoes! Looks like massage, ice, and ibuprofen will be my best friends for the next TWENTY THREE DAYS :) :) Hoooty hoo!!! 

NOTES of the DAY:
* Temperature: 70 degrees
*Song of the Day: "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen
*Tip of the Day: "Don't worry, be happy!" :)
*Quote of the Day: "Thou hast only to follow the wall far enough and there will be a door in it." - Marguerite De Angeli

Mile Marker: 17

    Its funny how when a long run goes horribly I have so much to write and complain about! However, when it goes well, it leaves me almost speechless! I guess that's a good thing, huh? ;) I'd rather have short blogs and successful runs over lengthy in-depth blogs and crappy runs- especially nearing race day!
    Saturday's run was a total of 17.2 miles and I couldn't be happier with how it went! I set off bright and early around 4:45am. I decided not to run it as quickly as I could but to relax and enjoy the run. I think this laid-back mentality helped take a little stress and anxiety off of me. I did run a completely different route than I have been running so I think that helped keep things new and fresh! I felt good and strong through out the entire run. I plan on doing everything the same as I had I had done last weekend. This routine I have developed seems to be working so well :) The clock is ticking and the days are counting down. The more I think about the run the more anxious yet extremely excited I get! This whole training experience has taught me so much. I know I have learned a great deal about myself: what I am able to handle and how to push through some difficult times. I've been told that running a marathon can change your life and leave you with an experience of a lifetime. I think this is the part I am looking forward to the most...
    Next long run will be 18 miles... each week from here on out I am required to run a distance I have never run before. I look forward to the challenge and know that I am capable of meeting each one! Thank you for all your continued support and encouraging words :)

NOTES of the DAY:
* Temperature of the Day: 62 degrees
* Song of the Day:
*Tip of the Day: Got a race coming up? Think positive thoughts! Have the confidence you can and will succeed. I know you can :)
*Quote of the Day: "Running restores my equilibrium, quiets the noise within, re-prioritizes my list, repairs my state of gratitude, and returns me to myself, but a better version, nice and roomy in my own skin." - Kristin Armstrong