A Marathon

The dream of running a marathon has always been on the back of my mind. As my family grew and life got busier with kids, my running and fitness goals were interrupted by pregnancy and taking care of my family. I always made time for exercising, with the help of the daycare at the gym, but making the time and commitment to train and run the distances needed for a marathon was overwhelming. I began to tell myself it wasn't in the cards dealt to me. I talked myself into being okay with it just like I had to talk myself into being okay with never giving myself the opportunity to try for college basketball....and so life went on.

I have always enjoyed going to the gym. It has been my sanity in the midst of little kids hovering around me 24/7. Run, weight lift, aerobic classes, crossfit, etc I LOVE IT ALL! One of the trainers at the gym (Sherrie Sheppard) had been coaching a running boot camp. She tried to convince me to sign up but my knee had been causing me pain when I ran so I turned her down. Next time around she convinced me that through her camp she could help improve my knee improve. I decided to give it a try. I had been frustrated with running lately because every time I ran my knee would hurt and I'ed have to stop. I felt that I didn't have much to loose because not running wasn't healing my knee and there was no way I would quit exercising all together. This defines a big part of who I am. I met my new best friend Jessica Hess through this camp. Together we discovered a whole new world of running that started at 5:30 am. I new people did this but it never occurred to me that I could get up, go outside, and train in any season, winter, spring, summer, or fall. This was a whole new world for us and it was exhilarating. We trained, my knee improved and I was ready to run the Salt Lake City Haunted Half Marathon. It was amazing.

A PR!!! Sherrie's training worked!

Jessica and I were stretching at the gym on day when she said, "Let's do a marathon." I agreed, not knowing if I was committed or not but thought lets go with the flow and see what happens.

The Marathon Mind is where it all started. The plan was in place. Sean-Paul asked me what I wanted for my 36th birthday and this was it. The plan and coaching (physically, mentally, and nutritionally) needed to cross off a bucket list item for Jennifer O'Neal. Next thing Jessica and I were signed up for the Ogden Marathon and well on our way to training for a 3:30 (8:00 min./per mile pace) with high hopes of qualifying for Boston.

We were dedicated runners. Stuck to the plan almost to a tee. We were ready. It felt like I was preparing for child birth. This time my body looked awesome and there was no guessing on the date. May 18th was the day, rain or shine.

May 18th came. Six or less hours of sleep. I had finally got into bed after laying out everything for the race and rethinking over and over my outfit choice. The rain in the forecast made my clothing choice so difficult. I didn't look at the clock but must of been lying in bed for over an hour before I feel asleep. 3:45 am came and I jumped out of bed right when my alarm rang.

We barely made it to the port-a-potties at the top of the canyon before the gun went off to start the race. We had planned to stick with the 3:35 pacer to give us and good guideline as we ran the long road down the canyon. Oh, and down is not all true, up hill was just as generous in this trek. Now Jessica and I missed that pacer and had to stick to our brackets to guide us to our goal.

A running friend, Jefferson made it.

First half, feeling good! Loving the race despite the cold and rain. Actually, the light rain was refreshing and I was thinking the weather was perfect for running. Took a 10 second potty break around mile 5, that was needed really bad! Managed to catch up to Jessica, which I hope didn't spend to much of my precious energy at the beginning. I was happy and feeling good. I was thinking we would cross the finish line between 3:30 and 3:35. I was doing it! We passed a couple of friends and I slowly fell behind Jessica. I don't know why...maybe I was worried about spending to much needed energy for the end or maybe it was to hard already. As I look back I think I could of kept up, why didn't I?

Jessica's bright orange rain jacket was the thought that kept me running as fast as I could. Earlier on in the race I asked her who she was running for. She said the only one who cared was her. She was running for herself and I said I will run for you. She said, "I will run for you." So we ran! I always saw her jacket, not to far ahead. That orange jacket kept me running. We met up again at an aid station. Thank God for all the aid stations they were my checkpoints. If I could make it to the next aid station I was rewarded a drink, orange slice, Gatorade, which required a few second walk to get it down. This aid station relief started to kick in around mile 15-17. I had a hard time realizing I wasn't running quiet fast enough to make my goal. Like I do with my everyday life I tell myself that some how the extra time needed will appear or I will magically do what is needed to be done in an unrealistic amount of time. So...

I kept running, faster in spurts slower when the terrain got tough or when my lower body ached. At mile 20, I thought, 6 miles! Yeah! I have run 6 miles before. Cheers from my phone were coming more frequently from family and friends and I was anxious to see my hubby, kids and of course, crossing the finish line. The emotion of wanting to cry was on the surface a lot. I think it was all the emotion of everything that had led up to this point. I decided to settled into my music, the beautiful scenery, and run to that next aid station. I think it was past mile 21 that I noticed my toes starting to cramp. This is a sign of not enough fuel or hydration for me. I reluctantly stomached another gel and more water and it subsided. Turning the corner by the river and seeing one of my coaches (Camie Draxler) brought all emotions to the surface. She ran and gave me a pep talk as she told me it was okay to cry. I started but it was taking to much energy so I buckled down to her other advice and kept running. I met Jessica at the next aid station, ah...her orange jacket was in reach. I wasn't going to let it go. Unfortunately, I did. I gave it my all and saw one of my other coaches (Emily Riddle) who ran me to the finish. The last 2 miles were a test of mental power over the pain in my body. I had four babies with no meds, I can do this! The question was how fast? I remember thinking, if only the marathon was 24 miles or maybe 22! My coach was my legs and my mind that last mile. Seeing the finish line so far away was playing tricks on my mind and body. I wanted to cross that finish line so bad but wondered if I could make it there. I felt like my coach took me there. The Marathon Mind coaches understand everything it takes to run a marathon and I knew she understood everything I was going through at that very moment and maybe that is what kept me running.

Crossing that finish line was a mix of all kinds of emotions that I can't even describe. I do know that I felt like I accomplished something big! The other thing I knew was I might fall over at any minute which friends, family, and coaches kept worrying about. I have never pushed my muscles that far before, a new feeling for me but a great one!

I DID IT! I RAN A FREAKIN' MARATHON!

• If I took less time at the aid satiation would I of made my goal?
• Why didn't I move my legs faster, just a little, would I of made my goal?
• Were my mental thoughts the cause to slow me down?
• Should I have done more tempo runs up hill, then would I have made my goal?

I have been asking myself these questions but find myself just as happy with the race. I gave my training everything I had and gave the race everything I had.

To see detailed results CLICK HERE