Story from a marathon runner friend of mine....

This is a post from one of my running friends on facebook. I wanted to share her story as I thought it was a pretty moving one. -Tread lightly, Mouseruner

"So yesterday I ran my second marathon and finished 25 minutes faster than my first with a 4:48 finish time. I want to share this story with all of you because I have shared it with some already and you never know who it may inspire or for what obstacle.

Marathon training is typically done in a 16 week period but I only had 8 with the last two weeks of that being taper weeks to get my body and muscles ready. I am a mother of two, a full time student, a wife, and..a runner. My first 6 weeks of official training I was injured with a groin injury and could not run at all. That down time also hurt my cardio fitness. Then I had about 3 weeks that I was running 40-50 mile weeks and then I had another two weeks down off my feet going through a miscarriage. That left me with 3 weeks to get 3, three hour long runs complete to get my body adjusted. I had two 2.5 hour runs and 1 two hour. Mentally I was ready but physically I was unsure. All year I had been running stronger and faster and setting personal records but I still lacked appropriate training for 26.2 miles. I rarely get to run alone and most of the time it is with my two little ones and up to 9 miles for a single run. If I run alone it is because I wake up at 5am to run before anyone wakes up. Gratefully I had a good friend able to watch the kids for a few hours so I could get my long runs in (thanks Alison!).

Two days before the race I got a sinus infection and knew that it would be tough running when I couldn't breathe well, so I took mucinex for two days. I didn't study at all for finals Saturday so I could mentally prepare for the next day. I woke up at 2am Sunday and felt great.

So here is my experience...I used a run/walk/run method since my training was shortened, BUT, when I was running, I was running fast. 3 minute running then 1 minute walking, the entire race. The walking helps erase fatigue on your legs. Anyway, miles 1-8 I felt great, running a 8:30-9 min pace and my stomach was handling my drink mix just fine. It was a mixture of Sustained energy and electrolytes. Works great! On with the story, mile 7 had to stop for a little tinkle break...but then tackled Diamond Head with no problem and then... I was hit like a brick wall with dehydration. The mucinex I took for two days dehydrated my body. All I could handle in my stomach at that point on was water, and a lot of it. From mile 10-13 I had tears in my eyes thinking I may have to drop out of the race because of it and my legs were also feeling fatigue early. My pace slowed to a 10min mile. Not what I was wanting at all. I was just running to get to the next aid station to gulp down tons of water. I didn't want to drop out so I kept pushing myself. At mile 17 is the turn around point where we backtrack and are on the home stretch and mentally I knew that and used that to keep going. My pace then quickened back to a 9:30 pace. On my walk sessions I started texting my coach for support, I also started saying prayers of my own. At mile 19 I stopped again to help another runner who was hurt. I knew the pain she was going through so I helped her stretch out. Then I continued on and happened to look at my garmin and noticed my time and the fact I only had 7 miles left. I noticed that I could beat my first time and got a renewed dose of energy. My pace went to a 9 min mile pace and believe me I was pushing it. I kept looking at my watch and kept getting support from my coach and from my friend Tonya who was waiting for me at the end. Each mile that passed I got more excited and more determined. Mile 24 I had to run up Diamond Head again but this time I ran it at a 9 minute pace and was weaving in and out making my way around everyone else. Mile 25 the pain in my knees was getting to be a bit much and I had 20 minutes to finish to be under 5 hours. My pace went to a 8:30 min mile but tears came with it. A mixture of pain, numbness, and sheer joy of accomplishment. My last half mile was painful but at a 8 min mile pace and I crossed my finish line with tears and a huge smile!

The girl I had helped found me at the end when she finished and gave me a hug and thanked me for stopping. I cried when I saw my friend Tonya. It's hard to understand what a feeling like this is. To accomplish something that demands so much of your mental and physical strength. I was overwhelmed by this whole experience and I am still on that "runner's high".

I guess my whole point of this story is, just because you think something may be impossible, don't count it out until you try. Everyone has an inner strength, sometimes you just need help in finding it.

Don't follow your dreams, chase them!"

-Jennifer Hurst-Heiligenman