Who Stole My Ham? - Natter Half Marathon

If the first half marathon is any indication of how this year might go....I could be in for a lot of problems or a lot of hilarity.  I'm hoping it is the latter!

After my sister (Genny) and I Carb-loaded and hydrated all day Friday, we woke up Saturday morning to an email from the race organizers saying that the half marathon was cancelled due to a tornado warning.  But also that they would offer the participants the chance to run it on Sunday.  Since we were flying out Sunday and the weather didn't look too promising for Sunday, we started to toy with the idea of running the course on Saturday by ourselves when the weather got better.  My main concern was that a few of my LLS donations would be coming in after the race was finished and I wanted to ensure that it would still 'count' if we went out and ran it on our own.  Thank you to all the friends that said 'Yes, it would count'!!  After making the decision to run the race on our own, my brother (Michael) told us that we had a 3 hour weather window of time starting right then at 8am.  So we bolted out the door to start our own personal race!  We named it the first annual 'Who Stole My Ham?' Natter Half Marathon - 2 participants, 4 race organizers! 

Because of the storms, it was 100% humidity and about 65 degrees outside.  Hot for January!!  And hilly by my standards!  My hill standards are pretty low, I see an overpass bridge and start to stress.  I've alluded to the fact that my sister Genny is a phenomenal runner and I owe her a world

of thanks for running with me on a less than ideal day.  She didn't have to do it and she certainly didn't have to stay with me.  My sister's incredible running talent is one of the things about her that I am most proud of ....and also very jealous!!  She is all grace and speed, I am all stubbornness and power.  I'll kick the door down and she'll realize it was already unlocked!  She put all of her speed aside and ran with me the entire time, something that is very tough for such a good runner.  In looking back at this race, I can honestly say that the support from my family started from step 1.

My parents drove ahead every 3 miles in order to be a water and gatorade station for us.  Even a changing station when I decided it was too hot to be wearing my running tights!  There were also a few other runners on the course and my family served as the cheering section for all of us on the course.   My Dad was our own personal photographer, ensuring that only the good pictures of us would be online!  Michael, my sister in law (Heather), and their ever-enthusiastic golden retriever (Zoe) drove along the course, honking and cheering us on!

As we were happily running along on a wooded  secluded portion of the course, I suddenly had the eery feeling that we weren't alone.  I glanced over and saw a man crouching behind a bush with a crazy look in his eyes.  In that split second, I thought, we are surely going to die!  Then I realized it was Michael as he jumped out and sprayed silly string at us.  Heather and Zoe came running at us through the woods to show their enthusiasm and support!  After our hearts stopped racing, we continued on our half marathon journey happily distracted, but a little more aware of our surroundings.

As we neared mile 13 and ran up our last hill (thank goodness!), we saw the smiling faces of my Dad, Mom, Michael and Heather.  Michael and Heather had made us finisher medals fashioned from an Auburn feather Boa, a paper plate and a piece of Ham!!  The medal said '#1- I Win Bitches!'. If you happen to know my brother, you can picture this medal perfectly.  Dad poured us a celebratory beer and we toasted the conclusion of the first annual 'Who Stole My Ham?' Natter Half Marathon and a rocky, but successful start to 12in12in2012! 

It isn't a coincidence that my previous post was all about starting this journey where I knew I had support.  I've always thought my family was incredible, they continue to prove it to me everyday.  I can never adequately say thank you and I can never fully express how much their support meant to me.  So, I did what only seemed right........I sent them each a ham!

Family - Auburn Half Marathon

The Auburn Half Marathon is this weekend and the first in my 12in12in2012 campaign.  Why Auburn Megan?  Well, I'll tell you!  Little known fact is that I was the black sheep of my family and was the only sibling that didn't go to Auburn.  I went to Birmingham-Southern College in order to play collegiate soccer.  But Auburn is my Football team of choice.   Additionally, the state of Alabama is home and my heart truly resides there.  The word Alabama literally equates to Family in my head.  And this race and this entire challenge is all about family.  My amazingly fast runner sister, Genny, is running the race with me (God help me) and we'll be staying with my brother Michael (who loved Auburn so much that he went back for a second dose).   My parents are even coming down from Birmingham in order to cheer us on!  There is no better place to launch this challenge then in a place where I feel so supported by my family. 

Many of you know that my oldest brother, Dennis, passed away in 2003.  Because of life and living in different states, it is rare for our family to all be together at once and there is always a painful realization that we will always be missing Dennis.  This race will be one of the first times in a very long time that the remaining siblings will be together with our parents.  It is, of course, bittersweet. 

While my brother did not pass away from anything associated with Cancer, he is always a reminder to me to do whatever I can to prevent someone from feeling the loss that we all have felt.  I'm a believer in Science.  I know that we will eventually find a cure for cancer if we help to give the doctors the tools they need to do so.  We must never lose hope in this.  I believe that running these races and begging people to donate money means that a family somewhere will have a little more time with each other.   I'll happily fight and run hard for those families, starting this weekend!  War Eagle!

New Years Resolutions!

Well, it is 2012!  Which means that it is officially time for 12in12in2012!!   Don't worry, after a few 10mile runs and one 12 miler, I'm feeling ready to officially get this party started!  I'm looking forward to charging ahead in both the physical aspect and the fundraising aspect!  There is no better feeling than knowing it is time to put your head down and focus at the task at hand. 

The New Year always equates to resolutions and I've been asked recently what my resolutions are for 2012...and then most people stop to laugh at themselves because they know fully well that 12in12in2012 is my main resolution.   But I'm finding the need to focus on a few smaller and more easily achieved resolutions as well.  I need some resolutions that aren't quite so daunting as running 12 half marathons over the next year.  I realized and additional resolution as I was in my Yoga class.  And....drumroll please....the resolution was GO TO YOGA.  Sometimes, I skip Yoga purely because I'm tired and lazy.  But I am quite certain that it is one of the best things I can be doing for my body right now.  Additionally, I enjoy it!  Isn't it funny that you will sometimes allow yourself to miss out on things in life that you truly enjoy?  I still don't know why I allow myself to skip Yoga when I truly enjoy every moment of it.  But no more skipping for me!

I'm sure that other resolutions will emerge throughout 2012.  I am a firm believer in always trying to better yourself in some way.  I could go on and on about the areas of my life where I need improvement.  But for now, I'm obviously sticking with the big scary resolution of 12in12in2012 but then also the resolution that doesn't quite scare me so much....going to Yoga!!