Run.

Well followers it's here! The weekend of my half marathon is finally here!! I couldn't be more excited, either that I am ready for it to be over or I am excited due to the fact that I LOVE half marathons! This is my absolute favorite distance to run. I am running the IMT Half Marathon. Last year I ran the full marathon! It was a challenging and very rewarding experience! My friend Lauren and I have been training together for about a year and a half now. We have run a few races together. Unfortunately, last year she was unable to finish the marathon with me but this year she is all healed and ready to run! I couldn't ask for a better training partner. She is so dedicated and has an uplifting spirit. This weekend our strategy is to run together at a good  fast pace and use this race as more of a run to train for the marathon rather than a half marathon race.

Our count down to our next marathon is less than a month! I could not be more excited for it. After my first marathon I knew I wanted to run more but it took me awhile to get back into the training mind set. It is a lot of hard work to train for a marathon. It takes time and effort. Once Lauren kindly reminded me early June that we had about 6 months to train, I finally realized it was time to get serious. We had been training since the last marathon and had some shorter races in the meantime so we were already on track to run a half marathon. It took us awhile to decide where we wanted to run our marathon. We settled on the Northface Endurance Challenge in Kansas City! There are a few Northface Endurace Challenges in various locations. Some are trail runs but the KC one happens to be a road run...Thank the Lord! Check out the website! http://www.thenorthface.com/en_US/endurance-challenge/kansas-city-mo-road/?stop_mobi=yes Doesn't it look like so much fun?!

After my first marathon I set a goal for myself... run 10 marathons in my life. Later I got to thinking when did I want to accomplish that by? I decided I would just run one a year until I reached 10! I'm well on my way to accomplishing that. After November 17th I will only have 8 left. That's 209.6 miles... :/ This number may change, meaning it will probably be higher coming off all the excitement of my second one! The feeling I got when I crossed the finish line is unexplainable. I just started crying. Either because I was SO glad to be done running for the day or I had just finished a marathon!! Running 1 was on my bucket list and now I've uped it to running 9 more at 10 total. Am I crazy? Possibly. Next years marathon is taking place in Las Vegas! Running the Vegas Strip at night with all the lights...Can't wait! Who wants to join?! I would love to qualify for the Boston and NYC marathons someday. Until then I will train a little bit harder and become a little faster. Anything is possible if you put your mind to it and stay focused on your goal right?! Here I come Boston/NYC 2014! If I ran the NYC Marathon I would get to see Katie and Josh!

I grew up in a very active family. My mom and dad are both avid exercisers. My mom has been my training partner since I was 15 and was somehow convinced, by my neighbor, to run cross country in high school. That is when I began my love affiar with running. I have had a great support system through the years which helps A TON. My family and friends may think I am crazy but they are always running beside me or cheering for me from the curb!

I got two of my friends to run the Dam to Dam this summer with Lauren and I. They weren't big into running but they did it for fun! During the race they said they were asking themselves "Why did I let her talk me into running this?" but when they both finished they were overjoyed and so happy they did it! If you are from the area and love to run but don't think you are cut out for long distance running you need to sign up for the Dam to Dam. I promise you will feel overwhelmed with happiness when you cross the finish line. It may open a door or two to a whole new you! It is in early June and it is such a fun run. The course is full of runners...ones that are out to win and ones that run just for fun! You run from Saylorville Dam to Downtown Des Moines. It's about 12.4 miles. There are bands playing at every mile marker and people are cheering you on the whole time! It would be a great starter race. I have run it 3 times now and I can't wait for next year!

Have an active day! Happy Running!