Thursday, January 19, 2012

Time to Roll

Carlsbad Marathon and Half logo


Wow, I absolutely cannot believe 21 weeks has passed since I started running and training for marathon #18.  A few passing thoughts before I catch a flight to California in an hour (like if I were packed an hour before I leave would be nice - ha!).

It's been once crazy, busy week at the runwithjill household, so I haven't had time to find the normal pre-race jitters I usually get before a marathon.  The boys were off school Monday and Tuesday so we crammed in as much fun stuff as we could.  I've been tweaking my resume so I can be a coach for the Girls on the Run program, and I had my first meeting for that last night.  Today I rode my bike for a few hours in our gorgeous 63 degree sunshiny weather.  To top off the frenzy of activity, my laptop decided to cop an attitude and stop working so it's been at the computer hospital since last week; let me tell you sharing a communal desktop computer with two teenage boys does not allow me much blog reading time. (I do apologize, I so miss the connections!)

Most likely, though, the lack of pre-race nerves is the fact that I'm just not prepared to run 26.2 miles in Carlsbad and therefore have absolutely no time expectations.  It's just the way it is this time around, hopefully one day there'll be other races, hopefully more marathons, where I will be stronger and compete.  Carlsbad will not be one of those races.

I feel at peace, in a way.

I'm happy not to be biting off everyone's head who walks the wrong way in my path.  I had no qualms to ride my bike for hours 2 days before my marathon - if I were expecting to toe the line on Sunday, this bike ride would be unheard of for me.  I ran a few miles at the state park by my house (I often wonder how many miles I've run there....it has to be several thousand!) on Tuesday, right after we had a fresh snowfall.  There was absolutely not another soul in sight for my few miles run.



It was so peaceful.  A couple miles into the run, I saw this guy perched up in a tree above me...



I'm actually shocked I saw him, usually I'm plodding along listening to my music and holding on for dear life at a pace with his probably a bit too ambitious for my abilities at this time.  But this run was different, this run had me looking around, being very external with my elements and enjoying every step I was taking.  I stood directly underneath the tree where the eagle sat and I just watched him for a few minutes, he couldn't have been more than 15' from me.

He sat there proud and tall (probably wondering how the heck he could eat me whole for lunch!) and I was just in awe.  I continued on my run, feeling slightly lighter in my step and had one of the best runs I had in probably several months.

My goals in Carlsbad are simple:  I want to enjoy the experience.  I want to be thankful and grateful I get to run a marathon just a few short months after the heel from hell fiasco.  I want to remember my eagle friend and feel light on my feet...and in my heart.  I want to take in the gorgeous ocean views and think of all the wonderful things I have in my life.  I will not worry about a finish line time, heck I'm not even going to wear a watch.  I get to spend a couple days with some of my best girlfriends out there (Meg, Tara, Marcia, Irene.  Marcia's plane is currently stuck in the snowy Midwest, I hope she makes it), I can't wait to share many laughs as we suffer through the miles together, I'm sure we'll have some great stories to share after.

Yes, it will be hard and yes it will hurt - a lot.  But this will be a different hurt than if I were racing, not that racing doesn't hurt, it just hurts differently is all.

And sometimes, that's good enough.

Time to roll....Carlsbad, here I come.

Run Strong and with joy, my friends!
Jill


Isaiah 40:31
“But those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.”

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good Luck - It will be great race! Iowa - Meg

C2Iowa said...

Have fun and enjoy the trip. It's all about memories.

btw - the Isaiah quote - awesome.

Shana said...

Jealous....
Have a great time girls!
I'll be thinking about you.

brg said...

hope you have a wonderful weekend!!!

ShutUpandRun said...

Good luck GIRL. Will be thinking of you this weekend. Glad you are at peace.

Raina said...

Jill, you snuck this post in! I am wishing you the best of running and great racing weather.
I love that scripture, perfect that you saw the bald eagle. I love runs like that :)

I hope all of your party can make it to the race. What a fun time it will be!
Go race in grace!
hugs - R

Black Knight said...

In this moment you are running your marathon. Good luck and .... run strong my friend!
Now 13.8 mi in 2:11:46 pace 09:19
Go jill!!!!!

Anne said...

The weather gods were kind to you today, weren't they? Sorry I couldn't join you all last night but I'm hoping as I type this you are nearing the finish and very happy with the race.

Black Knight said...

4:34:53 Brava!!! Congrats.

Tara said...

Congrats to you sweetie, I am so proud of you for sticking it out on that brutal course. You are officially back!!! xoxo

Ana-Maria RunTriLive said...

Jill, you did awesome, particularly with little training and so close from the injury! Great job!

Lindsay said...

hope you had a fun weekend! i mean hello, meg, how could you not :) i know you guys missed me.

ps i tagged you http://www.chasingthekenyans.com/2012/01/33-randoms.html

Adrienne Langelier, MA said...

Love your perspective and hope you enjoy your marathon. I know when I run with a sense of gratitude it adds a special element.

And what's not to like about Carlsbad, CA?! Looking forward to hearing about the course.

Run strong and take it in!

Karen said...

Hope you had a great race and an awesome weekend! My blog reading has been out of control so am just now catching up... Marathon #18 - AMAZING! I tagged you in my post if you want to play along with the latest game making it ways across the blogosphere. :) http://runkdubrun.blogspot.com/2012/01/11-bits-of-randomness.html

Molly said...

I can't wait to hear how it went!!!!! LOVE that you saw that eagle!

Kate Geisen said...

Gah--this JUST showed up on my blog feed! I'm hating blogger these days, or it's hating me...

Oh, I hope it was everything you were looking for. I hope your peace followed you through the race. I hope you savored the experience. I hope it was a good day. I totally know what you mean about the expectations thing. Still, so often my goal is finish/don't die. It does give you a sense of peace...all you have to do is be, and run (or walk).

Hugs to you!! I'm sorry I missed wishing you luck beforehand.

Christi said...

You did it girlie! I am so proud of you and all you have accomplished since your injury. You are well on your way to your speedy self. Just believe!

Amanda@runninghood said...

I'm just not seeing this...did you post this twice? Sounds like you were in such a good place before the marathon! So happy for you Jill...can't wait to hear more about the marathon. So happy for you.

Average Woman Runner said...

Looking forward to all your race recaps!

Terzah said...

This just showed up in my reader....technology hates me this week.

Beautiful post ("eagle's wings" indeed) and I'm so glad you had one of *those* runs before your race.

Anonymous said...

Well, how did it go? They have not posted 2012 results yet. Are you still on the plane?

Hope you had fun and that your foot didn't bother you much.

pensive pumpkin said...

Have fun!!!

mighty termitey said...

i know you'll do well, i can feel it. :-)
enjoy your weekend and most of all have fun!

xo

2 Slow 4 Boston said...

I saw on FB where you already finished it. Talk to ya soon, a.k.a. write.

Char said...

It's actually nice to be able to go into a race with no expectations. It can be incredibly freeing. Good luck. I hope you get wonderful running weather.

Liz said...

Great goals! Good luck, have a great time!

Teamarcia said...

And run strong you did...ultragirl! So good to hang with you this weekend!

Running Librarian said...

Good Luck Jill! Enjoy your race experience :)

Julie said...

Well missed this one! Never showed up on my blog reader.... grrr...Love you girl and so proud of you! You ran a good race!

And you rode your bike! Yea! :)

Jenn said...

Congrats Jill on a great race and a great stepping stone to a future of great races! So happy you could have a good experience and ESPECIALLY for the fact that your body cooperated!!

Chris K said...

Hi Jill, hope it went well. It was cold last weekend. Sorry about that. Thanks for the bday wish.

Caratunk Girl said...

Hey stranger!! I hope all went well!