There will be no race recaps this Spring

The coronavirus is on the loose! While there are much more serious things than having a race cancelled, it is something that runners around the world have been anxious about as events they have trained months for drew nearer. This is usually the first big month of the spring race season but major events have been cancelled all over and it seems I hear of a new one every day! First off these are certainly the right decisions and I was not surprised when my race joined the ever growing list of cancellations. That does not mean I was not tremendously disappointed and yes, I cried!

I cried because I am exhausted and just had the rug swept out from under me! Runners train for typically around 3 month for one single day - ONE. SINGLE, DAY! All the training miles, all the early mornings, all the mentally preparation, all the decisions not go out or not have the french fries or beer take their toll on the body and mind. Runners believe it is all worth it so you could say we have tunnel vision but when that light at the end is gone, then what?! For me, I cried! I felt a little selfish but I let myself boohoo. It helped me move on and after attending my own pity party for a bit I felt better.

Lots of races have set new dates for this fall and I hope participants will still be able to enjoy their victory lap. I am getting deferrels for Wilmington Marathon and Craft Beer Half for 2021 so don't see a road race in my near future. I will continue to run but think will switch gears and head to the trails as soon as possible to hopefully get lost {in thought} in the woods or on a mountain side.

2019 Top Nine

Some good run, some bad runs, muddy runs, chased down new PRs, supported others in their run goals but all with the backing of my beautiful family. That's a wrap {Insta}2019! #itsarunderfullife #topnine #runcltrun #runclt #nuunlife #teamnuun #hshive #stingorbeestung #withoutlimitz #onhermarques

Ironically what I consider my biggest race accomplishment this year, (see WC50 race recap), was not included because realize I never posted it to my Instagram feed. I must have been more tired then I even realized. Looks like I now have worthy material for my first ever Throwback Thursday post.

L to R: shaving even more to set my current PR at The Boston Marathon, the finish line of the Boston Marathon, volunteering at Charlotte Marathon's expo, enjoing a beer post crashing during the OrthoCarolina 10k, flat runner before pacing Craft Beer Half Marathon, family picture, Steve's Trail, winning the Massacre Marathon and setting my first marathon PR, inaugural Around The Crown 10k and a new PR

Opting Out

I feel the need to make a confession. I did NOT register for the 2020 Boston Marathon. Whew, there I said it but honestly it still doesn't fully sit well with me. I love the marathon, I identify as a marathoner and I love The Boston Marathon & identify as a Boston Marathoner!

I worked hard, persevered through the humidity to run a personal best, 3:15:22. This gave me a qualifying time of over 20 minutes! I am proud of this and was excited to learn I could have been in and done on the first day registration opened. Today The Boston Athletic Association announced the official conclusion for entry into the 2020 race. The B.A.A. added 1,500 qualifying spots but still shut out over 3,000 who met the new, faster Qualifying Standard. The cut off for next year's race came down to 1 minute and 39 seconds... meaning if you ran 1:38 faster then what you needed for your age/gender, you still did not get in. {More on the registration process for my non road runner friends.}

Congrats and Good Luck to all that made it in! Enjoy this world class iconic event. It is hard to believe I won't be a part of it next year. I will absolutely be back but I am choosing to shift my focus from Boyston and looking towards some new challenges.

Boston Marathon Expo 2018

Pity Party Over

It's taken me awhile to get passed, step back and gain the needed perspective on what was an extremely painful race, both physically and mentally! While I am epically disappointed in my time I had an awesome trip to the Windy City with amazing people! The clock cannot show the months of great training, tears & bad words I fought thru but never quit (even picked up and pushed an older gentleman to not quit either), the money raised for an amazing cause and how much I love my grandmother. Thank you to so many for reminding me that being strong doesn't always look the same and every finish line deserves celebrating. Some days it's simply about putting one foot in front of the other and that is okay!

There were a few good pictures. I remember literally wiping tears, taking a deep breath and putting on a happy face for the camera (why you cannot believe everything poeple put out there on social media) but this one is accurate of my race experience... head down and just pushing.

Team CC does Myrtle Beach