On April 7, 2012, my mom and I did the Lincoln Presidential Half Marathon one month after completing the Disney Princess Half Marathon in Orlando. We completed the race in 3:08:16. Actually, we did both half marathons in about the same amount of time.
After those two endeavors, we all know that I gained a lot of weight back. A LOT of weight back. However, nothing was going to keep me from doing the Lincoln Presidential Half Marathon on April 6, 2013. I contemplated just picking up my race shirt and not doing the race but I felt like I would be cheating myself. I knew if I dug down deep and just went for it that I would be able to finish it. Even if I was the very last person to cross that finish line. I was going to get that penny medal!
And we did.
We finished the race in 3:42:18. Quite a bit slower but not a whole lot. I am still very proud of myself for finishing that race and guess what? We weren’t the last people to cross the finish line. There were 2 people after us even. No matter how fast or how slow you go… nobody can take that kind of a victory away from you. I woke up on Saturday morning at 6:00 to complete 13.1 miles on foot. I did it. Overweight, blistered feet and painful hips could not stop me from achieving this goal. I had to prove to myself that I was still strong enough to do something this physically and mentally challenging.
Now, let me just give you a comparison from 2012 to 2013:
April 7, 2012 April 6, 2013
Notice: I am a lot heavier, and I am shoeless! HAHA! I decided that part of the race needed to be done in my socks and I am so thankful I did that. My feet needed a little bit of a break and I think that honestly helped me to finish the race.
There are a lot of times when I get embarrassed by my weight. Mostly it is in pictures. However, my race pictures are nothing to be ashamed of.
At 240 pounds* I completed a half marathon.
I am damn proud of that.
*Since joining WeightWatchers meetings again, I have lost 10 pounds in 4 weeks.
