That first summer, I registered and ran 3 half-marathons. Dave ran the first one with me (well, not WITH me but in the same race). I vividly remember hitting a wall at mile eight only to see his smile as he looped past me on the return path motivating me to continue on. I trained longer for subsequent races that year and felt strong and accomplished. Near the finish line for two of that year's races, Cole sitting atop Dave's shoulders cheered me on through the final shoot.
My first race of 2011 was a cold and blustery early May day. It felt more like March than May and the wind coming off Lake Minnetonka was unrelenting. Dave and Cole rode the route in the truck and found me about mid-way to give me a boost and found me again at the end where my cheeks were chapped and my feet cold but I was oh so happy that I finished. Three more races that summer with my loyal cheerleaders dropping me off early at the starting lines and meeting me with their waves and blown kisses as I completed another 13.1 miles.
My goal for 2012 is five races, consecutively building each year. I have tackled four of them thus far with my first B2B (back to back), two half-marathons with less than a week in-between. Surprisingly, despite some bruised toenails, my body has acquiesced and allowed me to conquer the mileage. I haven't been able to beat my best time of 2:04 but I am pretty happy with myself regardless that I have dedicated myself to this cause, myself. LOL
I think it has been good for Cole to see me committed to something that means a lot to me. He gets excited when it is race day and he even wants to be sure he wears something that will make it easier for me to see him (like a red shirt or hat). He has even asked me if there are kid races. There are and I'd be happy to get him involved next summer (most entries require them to be six years old).
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