Wow! So yesterday, I had a really great run. If you can believe that in 100 degree weather, with heat index of 105 plus. I was slowly jogging along and wondering how the run would turn out, being the sun was blazing and already tired from a busy Monday at work. But yah, all of a sudden midway through the run, my head was clear and I didn't focus on the sun or heat, rather just the rhythm of my feet hitting the trail. Even that really hot area crossing the I35 bridge and running along Riverside Dr. didn't bother me as much as usual, and I may have even had a smile on my face as I felt like, wow, this will be the first run in a while where I don't need to stop and rest a minute and let my body cool down. I was getting near the finish, about a quarter of a mile away, and I could hear the breathing of a runner behind me. This triggered me to finish off with a strong semi sprint and in the end, a great sense of accomplishment. It's funny because I was quite elated with the run, but almost instantly wanted to cry. I just felt this sense of peace, and it was like Ryan was there to let me know the training sucks in this heat, but it will be okay in the end. But I didn't bust out in tears, instead just smiled to myself and happy that my mental focus got me through a grueling run. My running times are a lot slower than the winter training I did for the Austin Marathon. But, I am okay with that now, just knowing I need to truck along enough to make it pass the finish line for the NYC Marathon. Max comes home tomorrow from summer vacation with his dad, so I plan on hanging out in Austin for the evening, grab some grub, maybe listen to some music somewhere. Max starts kindergarten in 2 weeks! I cannot believe how fast time flys. Less than 3 months from NYC...momentum is building!
I just want to throw it out there that if you are already registered to run the ING NYC Marathon on November 7, 2010 and want to help raise money for a great cause, please email me at
runningforryan@gmail.com
Anyone is welcome to join the team, and you can choose your own goal amount. It's quite easy to join, just let me know!
THANKS!
Bro. Nate in Korea, 2009
About Me
- Run Girl, Austin
- Austin, TX, United States
- I moved to Austin with my son about 5 years ago. Previously, while living in Maryland for a year, I was often at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. You can imagine the many servicemen and women I saw with life altering wounds. One evening I was grabbing something to eat in the cafeteria, and a young man bumped into me with his wheelchair. He had obvious traumatic injuries and I was speechless because he apologized for bumping into me with his wheelchair. I was the one not paying attention where I was walking and so I became more humbled each time I took my son to WRAMC. I have continued to wonder what I could ever do to give back to the men and women who are often forgotten as we carry on day to day. During the time I lived in Maryland, our brother, Ryan passed away in the 2007 Olympic Marathon Trials in New York. He hovers over me with his spirit, and I swear, he's the one who made me get out of bed and decide to try my first marathon. So in his honor I will raise money for Team Ryan Shay Memorial (found on donation link on home page) to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. Anybody can help...just contact me...as I am learning along the way. runningforryan@gmail.com
WWP's Chad Watson and Melissa Stockwell training for the 2009 Accenture ParaTriathlon Challenge in
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