Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. Thus I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing. No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified. - 1 Cor 9:24-27

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Cellcom Marathon - May 15th

I am a marathoner!!!  Finishing my first marathon through Lambeau Field was incredible!


On Friday, I drove from Iowa to Green Bay.  We had been house hunting all week.  Saturday, my mom, my sister, a good friend, and I visited the expo and picked up our packets.

We also stopped at a local sporting goods store.
Me, Mom, and Sister with Cheese on our heads.
A free pasta dinner came with our race fee ... inside Lambeau!

The temperature was around 45 deg on the morning of the marathon.  For me, it was nice ... for my mom and sister, it was freezing.  You can tell by how much warmer they are dressed.

We had matching shirts made for our first marathon.

I had name bibs and grace bands made from Races to Remember
The name bibs were sweet.  Spectators were yelling our names and cheering us on.


We also wore a grace band.

Every mile, we prayed for a different intention




I decided to wear my Camelbak Octane XCT with Nuun in the bladder.  I had used it on all my long training runs and didn't want to chance an upset stomach with the Gatorade.

The first half of the marathon went well except for the five minute bathroom break at mile 5.  Our half marathon split was 2:36:48 (11:58)



The second half was very windy ... 30 mph with 40-50 mph gusts and it was coming straight at ya.  Mom started to have a lot of problems with her knees so we walked more.



Running through Lambeau was the best last mile of the race that I have ever experienced.

Running around Lambeau field

Finish time:  5:38:06 - 12:53 pace




Thank you Mom and Little Sister for the memories of a lifetime!

Oh the places we go!

It's been crazy for the past two months.  My husband was unjustly let go from his job up here.  Fortunately, he saw the writing on the wall and had been applying for jobs.  They let him go on Friday and the new job offer came Monday morning.

The week before my first marathon, the kids and I were house hunting.

So, we are moving from this (3950 sqft):








To this (2233 sqft):


Also, we were in the middle of remodeling part of the upstairs.  It was set up as an apartment.  We were taking out the kitchen and making it into a master bedroom and bath.  Dear husband sanded the floors before leaving for his new job.

After my first marathon on May 15th (recap coming soon),  I refinished the floors, painted the walls, replaced outlets, and moved furniture in.

It turned out beautiful ....