CONQUERING CHICAGO MARATHON

Well that's me at the Chicago marathon Expo with famous runner, now writer, Bart Yasso. So it's over now and I'm still on such an endorphin high. 18 hard weeks of training, with a Career change, move to North Carolina, and complete life overhaul thrown in for fun. It was challenging and at times a difficult road to this marathon. But I can tell you, it is so true that marathons are a metaphor for life, you get out of them what you put in. And boy did I get a ton out of my difficulties of training in the steep hills of N.C. It was a very lonely road at times, and I struggled to stay motivated. The mind will play many games with you when you are running alone, in pouring rain for 22 long miles, or 19, or 16 or speed work. I spent more hours running in rain than I care to remember. But I set a PR (Personal Record) by more than 24 minutes. And best of all I was strong in the last 6 miles, something I have never experienced in any of my former marathons. It was freezing cold, coldest day in history of the Chicago marathon. Lucky us, I ran with my brother Eric, his wife Teresa, and their dear friend Bill (that I've seen grow up) and friends Nicole and Sheresa. Everyone set a PR that day. It was glorious.
So many fond memories I will hold forever, like locking arms with my Brother and Bill as we approached the start line. (it took 20 minutes just to get to the start line, good thing it was a chip timed race.)
I dedicated this race to my friend Wendy who is currently battling Brain Cancer. She is a champion and a fighter, and when things got tough I just thought of the strength it takes to go through what she is going through and never ever giving up.
So I will close for now and hopefully have more time for post in the future. As I start now to cross train, biking, weight lifting and swimming and then December 1st start my new 18 week training program for the Paris Marathon. I plan on running for a Charity for that one. Chicago was my only marathon that I did not raise money for Charity. I want to always pay it forward, so if you have any suggestions as to what charity I should raise money for for please e-mail me at info@milestonessportsjewelry.com I have a few in mind that I am very passionate about but would love to hear your feedback, maybe a charity that not too many people do fundraising for, that really needs it.
so I leave you with a quote from the song "If this was your last day" by Nickelback; "EACH DAY IS A GIFT, NOT A GIVEN RIGHT"
Go out there and give it all you got. You never know what you are capable of until you try.
In Health,
Melody