#day17 of #30days of #radicalaccountability complete.
I still keep expecting to wake up and realize that yesterday was a dream, that I didn’t really complete an entire half-marathon. And then I move, and my legs remind me that it definitely happened, and that this is actually, totally, really my very real life. How weird is this?
I am a bit stunned still. Which I guess makes sense since it’s barely been 24 hours. But I have the sneaking suspicion that parts of my brain — the ones that try to tell me I can’t do things and are afraid of failure — are subtly rewiring in important ways. No wonder I feel not myself. I am not who I was two days ago. Not by a long shot.
I’m still processing this. But part of the effect is that previously overwhelming situations somehow seem less so. Situations like all the laundry that needed folding today, and the screaming toddlers in the middle of a work call. Because if I can run over 13 miles in under 3 hours, I can handle that stuff.
There are two moments from the last 48 hours I don’t want to forget:
- Yesterday: Rounding the corner after the last stretch of the race and seeing my friend Jen’s smiling face, as she clapped and cheered for me over the final yards of the course right to the finish line. As my eyes landed on her and I heard her shouting my name, I started crying. The realization that I. Was. Finishing. The. Race. literally took my breath away. It was the only time in 13.1 miles that I found myself unable to catch my breath. Crossing the finish line and running into my husband’s arms was incredible, but that moment before, that moment of realization when I knew I had done it — I don’t even have the words for that emotion. It was earth-shattering in the best possible way.
- This morning: Showing Miles and Emmett my medal filled me with a sense of nervousness and pride I have never felt before. I didn’t realize how much I wanted my toddlers to be proud of me for running this race until the fraction of a second between when I pulled my medal out from behind their back and when they reacted to it. They were literally stunned into silence. They both wanted to wear it immediately. When it was Emmett’s turn, he turned it over and over in his hands and studied it before breathing a hushed, “Wowwwwwwwww.” If you ask them, their daddy is strong and their mommy runs very fast.
I want to write about the feeling of elated nausea at the starting line, the moments of pure beauty I encountered on the course, the honor of sharing 2 miles with a 69-year-old man running his 91st marathon the day I ran my first half, the pride in Jesse’s eyes, and so many other moments.
Quick rundown of the last day or so. You know, all the stuff I left out when I was busy aching and being proud of myself:
- I can’t wait to do it again.
- My runger knows no bounds. I seriously cannot stop eating.
- My runner’s trots also knows no bounds. (If you don’t know what that is, I recommend you do not google it.) Hoping once my hydration levels return to normal, everything else will too.
- I’m surprised by how sore I am and how sore I’m not. I hurt, but far less than I did after my first 10-miler less than a month ago. I think my body is acclimating to long distances.
- I thought I knew tired before. I was wrong. We were going to have a celebratory sushi lunch after yesterday, but a mile from the restaurant I made Jesse take me home, where I proceeded to sleep like the dead for 2 hours before making him take me to Cracker Barrel, where I ate. all. the. things. Let’s just say I got four sides AND dessert, and there’s none left.
- Massages are amazing. Massages paid for with gift certificates are even more so.
I have 59.3 miles left to run this month to hit my goal of 100, and resting on my laurels is not an option. Starting tomorrow. Right now, I’m headed to bed and sleep is going to be so awesome.
Follow my #30day journey of #radicalaccountability here at Amateur Parenting and through my nutrition and lifestyle journal on Instagram. Want to join me? Add these hashtags — #30days #radicalaccountability #coachkristen #dayX – to your social media posts and let’s do this together.