Houston Marathon!!!

Firstly, I'd like to thank everyone who made it to the mile 24 "Inspiration station".  I had goosebumps as I ran past, high-fiving everyone. 
Now then, let's rewind to several months ago when I truly believed that I'd properly train for the marathon.  Perhaps my plate was a bit full, but I convinced myself that I'd make time to train for the marathon in between my OlyAthlete and  Dallas ACO training.  After all, running a marathon was on my "Have-to-do-it-before-I-die" list.  Weeks turned into months and before I realized, the marathon was a few weeks away.  How hard could it be? Well, according to everyone around me I was fated to be miserable and suffer the consequences of not training.  For a split second, I questioned whether or not I should follow through and run.  Thoughts of injury and pain quickly flooded my mind.  Not many know this, but I was about to withdrawal from the race.   Not even ten minutes after I decided to "quit", THE Vic Zachary walked up and asked me if I was still in for the race.  I was overcome with shame and didn't have the heart to tell my boy that he'd have to suffer the 26.2 alone.  "Yep", I said cheerfully, "I'm down for sure". "SHIT!!! Now there's no backing out", I thought.  However, the panic and fear dissipated days later as I heard myself coaching one of my athletes through double-unders.  "How do you know you can't do double-unders if you've never tried", I asked. "You'll never do one unless you actually try it".  Guess what?! She did multiple double-unders during the WOD, and was ecstatic that she'd overcome something she thought was impossible.  Then I asked myself, "how do you know you won't finish the marathon? How do you know you'll suffer painful injuries?"  From that point I decided to just show up and do my best. How cliche, right? If anything, I'd put the CrossFit methodology to the test. I train for the unknowable, and my training was about to be put to the test. 
Sunday morning I woke up not knowing what to expect.  Butterflies set in and I thought to myself, "THIS IS IT!!!" I prayed and hoped that my 3 mile run the Thursday before race-day, and my CrossFit training would be enough to get me through the 5+ hour WOD.  
Guess what?! It was enough AND more.  Granted, I wasn't running at a supersonic pace, but as the miles and hours passed I increasingly gained confidence.  To my surprise my legs, feet and spirit were minimally taxed....until mile 22, that is.  Only two miles to the inspiration station where I'd be greeted and cheered. That was enough motivation to keep going.  

Mile 24 - I couldn't believe how many people came out to cheer and support me.  I quickly caught my 9th wind and noticed a bounce in my step.  Unfortunately the bounce only lasted about half a mile. The last mile and a half were the most challenging.  Luckily I had an awesome running partner to push me through the suck, all the way to the finish line - THANKS ASH! I DID IT!!! It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but then again, nothing is ever as bad as we imagine.   

Following the marathon, Vic and I thought it would be a good idea to do a post marathon WOD. Turns out, we are CrossFit.  We made it injury free and in one piece.  All of our athletes and coaches who started the race finished it.  Congrats to everyone who endured the challenge and THANK YOU to everyone who came out to support.  You have no idea how much it meant to me to see friendly, familiar faces during the hardest part of the race. 


WOD: Sunday January 30th
-26.2 mile run
Then...
-12 Pull-ups
-12 Push-ups
-12 GHD Sit-ups
-12 Hip Extensions
-12 KB Swings
X 3