I went into the marathon feeling a bit sick and rundown. Now, at the time I had an 8 month old who wasn't sleeping through the night, so I just figured I had yet another cold and I would try to run through it. I did everything I usually do to prepare and I just hoped for the best. I stuck to my game plan the morning of the race. I went in hoping I could possibly win, which would be a first for my marathon career. In the early morning light I saw what appeared to be a fast woman! Dang it! Maybe she's just trying to run sub-3 like me, or even trying to get the last ditch Olympic Trials qualifier in, where she may wind up blowing up and I'll blow by her late in the race and win. Whatever..I just wanted to run sub-3 and chalk up another marathon!
It turned out to be a very windy day on the Delaware shoreline. I was feeling okay at first, but by the time I got to about mile 10 I was whooped. Oh well! I had second place pretty well sewn up, and I had never placed second in a marathon, so I was determined to finish. Somewhere around mile 16 my training partner blew by me. He didn't say much, just left me in the dust. I didn't have it in me to try and stay with him. I had just enough mental fortitude to make it back to the finish.
As we all know with marathons, sometimes you just don't have a good day. I was glad I didn't quit, but I was very disappointed in my efforts. I ran 3:07, well off my personal best, and over 10 minutes off of what I had hoped to run. After the race my partner and I went to the Dogfish Head Brewery so I could drown my sorrows. (I really don't drink very much, so this involved about 2 beers.) Then on home we went.
In the days after the marathon I didn't run much and I was already planning my attack on a fast 5k in March. I noticed my stomach getting a little pudgy. I thought, "well, I've not been running much and it is the holiday season, guess I better lay off the cookies!"
On Christmas Eve morning I went for a 10 mile run with some of my regular running partners. We had a great run, and I don't remember feeling bad, but something told me I should make a stop on the way home and get a pregnancy test. So I did, and it was positive.
I waited in the kitchen for Don to get home so I could give him our good news, our third child had been well on his way for a few weeks. He had even accompanied me in my marathon, all the time sucking the life out of me so that I had barely anything left to battle the wind for 26 miles.
So here I am, so many months later, with a nearly 7 week old, embarking on the same journey I have already been on twice before. I am 37 years old and I have 3 children under the age of 5. Exactly whose idea this was I do not know, but I can tell you it wasn't mine. But, so far so good. Our new little bundle of joy, Tyler Joseph, enjoys the double stroller, and older brother Travis is in Pre-K until 1pm, so I just have to make sure I can get my running in by the time I have to pick up Travis. Or maybe I need a triple stroller!
Today I was given the okay for full on exercise. I've been running for almost 4 weeks straight. I am trying to maintain a running streak. We'll see how it goes. Soon I will have to go down in the basement and dust off the old treadmill!
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| Travis, Tyler, and Eileen! |
