1. I love how running makes me feel. It might sound crazy, but I like when my legs feel sore because that reminds me that I am blessed to be able to run and with each run I am getting stronger. The time I spend running helps me focus on all of my responsibilities and makes me happy!

2. The biggest training hurdle for me was the time commitment. It was hard to coordinate my family, work, graduate school and long runs for so many months. Training for the took over my life, but crossing the finish line and feeling strong at the end of the race was worth all of the hours I spent training.

3. I started running in 2011. My aunt is a runner and I have always been aware of her healthy lifestyle. I knew I wanted to adopt a lifestyle that would show my children the importance of setting goals and being healthy. Blake is ten and Amy Beth is two and they both know how much I love to run. They both like to go with me and they are learning how much fun running can be. Amy Beth often tells me that she runs fast like mommy! I know that I am really not fast, but to her I am doing something awesome.

4. My advice for someone just starting to run: Just start! You might only run for one or two minutes before stopping to walk, but that is ok. When I started I would walk and run. I was trying to get back in shape after having a baby and I knew running would help. It took me over two months to run three miles and it took much longer before I was able to run five miles. I just refused to give up and I had great running partners. It took about a year before I really loved running and at that moment I was very proud that I had not stopped.

5. My favorite post-run food is a turkey sandwich on wheat bread with cheddar cheese and avocado.

6. When I run I think of my children. I want them to see the confidence that running has given me and know that even when things get hard, we all have the inner strength to keep going. When I want to give up on a run I tell myself that I have to just try harder. I talk to myself (out loud) when I am running! I have learned that running is a lot like life!

After the Marathon

1. The hardest part of the marathon for me was my mental attitude. I was nervous. I started training in July for the Marathon on December 8. An ice storm canceled that race for the first time in 44 years. The Dallas route is fairly flat and I have run the course. The day the Dallas Marathon was canceled, I signed up for Austin. I did not really think of all the hills that would be along the route I just knew I was going to run a marathon. Training through the holidays was hard and by the time February got here I was exhausted: mentally and physically. I knew my training was solid; I just had to make sure I kept my thoughts positive. I had so many people who were supporting me and cheering for me I did not want to let any of the down. That added lots of mental pressure to my race. Around mile 17 I started feeling sorry for myself. I had never run so many hills in my life and while my legs were still strong, I had been separated from my pace group and I felt all alone in the run. None of the people around me seemed to have a pace that I wanted to copy. I called my running partner, Racheal Roberts, who had just finished the half marathon and she talked me through my slump. By mile 20 I was running again, but at mile 23 I got a text message from Blake. It said, “I am so proud of you!” At that point I knew I had the strength to finish strong and that is just what I did.

2. I am going to keep running, but I am not sure if I will run another marathon. I am already signed up for a half marathon in April and I know my family will not miss the SHAC 5K! Running is something that is fun for me, but marathon training is not fun. Crossing the finish line was fabulous, but it took a lot of work to get to there. For right now I want to work on beating my best half marathon time and just run for the run of running.