Marathon Number 4!!!!!!!! DONE

I did it!! finished my 4th marathon, in Titusville PA this past Sunday. Great place, the course had its challenges, like mile 2 which was ALL uphill! and around mile 13 the humidity went wayyyyyyyyyyy up. Around mile 23 besides the nausea and headache I was feeling, my whole leg, hamstring, calves AND even my toes!! started cramping.....heat exhaustion. So Out of the last 3.2 miles I probably walked 2 1/2 of them. But I FINISHED!! in 5hrs 15 minutes AND to make it even sweeter (and thank goodness this happened) I come out of the woods and find out you have to do a lap aroud a track. I was DEAD! but my daughters were there and I grabbed hold of their hands and said "help me get around this lap pleeeeeeeeeeeeaseeeeeeee"...so we ran the last .2 of the 26.2 miles together and crossed the finish line together

And for the first time-my Mom got to see me run!! that was a WOW moment for me.

During the course you would frequently pass people (it was a repeat of the course for alittle bit) and everyone would say "good job" "looking good" etc.....except for me it was more like

"Are you OK?"
"Do you need me to get the course medic?"
"Do you always look so white and pale?"

But I did it!!!!!!

Next venture, Sept 20th 2009, a 24 hr race where my goal is 50 miles!!!

Remember-you don't have to go fast---you just have to go!!!!!!!

WTG!  What motivated you to start doing marathons?  I can't seem to find anything that would make me want to run in this heat.........hum OK, make that  any time, lol.
Your an inspiration to all of us, keep up the great work!

Hugs!
Mary

Thanks Mary!! The motivation came from someone in my past telling me "its Ok to run-but you cannot run a marathon! you'll hurt yourself"....

AMAZING what you can do when someone tells you you "can't"...

Wait till next month!! when I run a 50 miler!!!!!

Do you think you can get that person to say that to me.  Oh wait, I WOULD probably hurt myself or die of a heat stroke, lol. All joking aside, your amazing in what you have accomplished since your surgery. I wish I could get my mind set on getting in shape, maybe not running, but something that doesn't make me break out in a  nervous sweat just thinking about it, lol. Hunting season is coming up so I will be getting out and walking  more again, but it's not the same as what your doing. I think it would help if I had someone close to where I live that would like to work out with me, it's no fun doing it alone, I get too bored with it that way. 
Well take care and keep us informed on the big one coming up.

Hugs!
Mary

Thanks Mary-I am sure she would tell you the same, and next time I see my ex I will ask her LOL

And I'm nuts-it doesn't have to be a marathon or a 1/2 marathon or heck-even a 5K...I got this bumper sticker for my car that says

"You don't have to go fast-ya just gotta go". Just walk! or hike! or biking even-you'd be amazed how far you can go on a bike-you can COAST and still move!! (not like running, no coasting in running). Plus the places you'll see, the places you'll be (sorry-channeling Dr Suess there for a minute)

My uncle had the surgery and he bowls regularly to keep moving. Just find what you like and do it. If you don't like it-you'll never keep doing it.....so whats your passion-what do you like to do on a regular basis that involves physically moving??

LOL, I'm afraid to answer this one, it might get me thrown off the board. I like to walk, but according to one of the doctors at Dr. B's "it's not enough to get your heart rate up, it needs to be more than walking", so OK, I thought I was doing good with walking, but he made it sound like it's futile and a waste of time, not cardio boosting enough. I have fibromyalgia and according to my dermatologist, lupus, even though my blood work doesn't show it, but I do get the so called "butterfly rash" that is related to it and some other symptoms also, so it can be painful to do certain things. I try, but get to where it is limiting how and what I can do as far as exercising goes. I have a mountain bike and love to ride it, but since losing weight I have to get a different seat because my tail bone doesn't like that little "butt floss" seat it has on it. Anyway, no matter what the doctor says I will continue to walk, use the treadmill, and start back biking.  Well, thanks again for all the good advice.

Take care!
Mary

PS, did everyone get divorced after their surgery? because it seems like the list gets longer and longer, lol.