To be completely honest – I never really LOVED running before a couple years ago.  I’ve done 5K’s – and I even ran the Soldier Field 10 Mile race in Chicago 5 years ago, but I was only able to run the first 5 miles before having to walk/run the remaining 5 miles.  I average walking about 15 miles every week, and I look forward to getting my miles in – but running was never something that I really looked forward to doing.  That changed sometime early last year.

Last spring I started having some health issues.  When you’ve had perfect health your entire life and then you begin having issues, it’s scary.  I was having stomach issues from stress, and I wasn’t taking the best care of myself.  Fortunately, I found a great doctor that helped me fix what was causing my stomach issues instead of just treating the symptoms.  After investing a lot of time into getting myself back on track, I felt better than I had my entire life – and still do.

As part of my improved health, I started to increase my workouts.  I had worked some running intervals into my walking schedule to help change things up a little bit and build my endurance.    The more my health improved, the more I actually started to enjoy running.

My friend, Heidi, and I completed the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Event five years ago.  For those of you not familiar with it, the participants walk 60 miles in three days to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer research and treatment.  I remember thinking to myself while we were walking those miles that we were close to walking a marathon for three days in a row.  (We walked 20 miles each day.)  When my cousin, Sarah, met me at the finish line in Soldier Field, she asked me, “Could you walk or run another 3 miles?”  When I responded, “Yes,” she smiled and said, “Then you could do a half marathon.  Don’t forget that.”

I never did.

I don’t remember there ever being one specific moment where I decided that I wanted to do a half marathon – I’ve always just had it in the back of my head.  My friend, Kelley, has ran a couple of them, and I always regretted not joining her.  So when I learned about the Detroit Free Press International Half Marathon, I was intrigued.  Running over the Ambassador Bridge, running in Canada, running back through the Windsor Tunnel….it all sounded fun and challenging.  So – I decided to add that accomplishment to my “Year of 40 List,” and I signed up.  In the weeks and months that followed, I learned so much about myself and what I’m capable of.

Every time I hit a new distance milestone, I was amazed at how strong it made me feel.  Every week I was running longer distances on the weekends, and I began looking forward to them.  I remember the first time I ran 6 miles, then 7, then 8…..and each one felt amazing.   I ran 10 miles for the first time the morning of my 40th birthday, and that was the first time that I really felt ready for the big event.

Our group headed down the day before the race.  We picked up our packets, had a great dinner, then headed back to the hotel.  All of a sudden from out of nowhere, the doubts started to set in.  I was scared that I wouldn’t be able to run the entire 13.1 miles without having to walk some of it (my goal was to run the entire race).  I was scared it would take me a lot longer than everyone else to finish.  I was letting my fear suck all the fun out of it.  I went to bed and tried to get a good night’s sleep to forget about it all.

I woke up the next morning and started getting ready.  I started getting more and more excited, and when I put my race bib on – things started to feel real.  We all headed down to the starting line and got in position for the race.  Once I was in my corral, my fears were entirely replaced by excitement.  As every corral in front of me was released and I got closer and closer to beginning my 13.1 mile journey, my heart started beating faster and faster.  When the countdown was over and they released our group, I was all smiles as I started running.

Some of my favorite moments from the race….

1.)  Running over the Ambassador Bridge
2.)  Seeing the sun break through the clouds after we had feared a thunderstorm the night before
3.) The high five and “Go Blue!” I got from a bystander in Canada
4.) Feeling the breeze and fresh air when I ran out of the Windsor Tunnel
5.)  The “You Could Have Picked Chess” sign one bystander had
6.)  Running my fastest miles of the race at miles 11 and 12 after mile 10 almost killed me

I turned the corner onto Fort Street at the end of the race, and I was almost on “E.”  I was exhausted, but I could see the finish line.  As I got closer and closer to the finish, there were people lining both sides of the street cheering all of us on.  As I ran past a certain point, I could hear the cheering get louder.  It’s so hard to hear and see people as you’re running, so I wasn’t sure if it was anyone I knew or not.  And then I heard a voice louder than all the rest yell, “You’ve got this Donnellon!!  Go!!”  I immediately got a burst of energy – and I sprinted the rest of the way to the finish line.

As soon as I crossed the finish line, the tears started.  I was completely overwhelmed.  13.1 miles – and I ran…every…single…one.  It was one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever had in my entire life.  I made my way to the medal line, met up with the rest of my group, and we headed back to the hotel to meet up with everyone and headed home.

I was a little sore today, but not bad.  Any soreness that I have can’t compare to the pride I feel when I see that 13.1 sticker on the back of my car.

Lesson Learned From Item #1: Never believe yourself when you think you can’t do something.  You can substitute out the “half marathon” for any accomplishment in this saying that I found online – “There will be days I don’t know if I can do a half marathon.  There will be a lifetime knowing that I have.”

 

 

 

I’ve always loved to read.  One of my earliest memories when I first started elementary school was how easy reading came to me.  I remember specifically a workbook that we used in the second grade for reading comprehension.  We would read a (lengthy) story and answer questions afterwards.  Some of my classmates hated it, but I loved it.  As my schedule has filled up over the years, I find it harder and harder to sit still long enough to finish a book.  However, reading is still a pastime very close to my heart.

Recently while attending a workshop, our instructor told us that she was a member of a Book Club that met on a monthly basis.  She shared with our group how her Book Club was an amazing group of ladies that got together to discuss their ‘pick of the month’ and enjoy some quality time with each other.  I was immediately jealous, and I thought to myself, “I really wish that we had something like that around here.”

I have been thinking about my “Year of 40” list for quite some time, and I’ve also been trying to think of ways to keep myself on track.  The more I thought about my jealousy over not having a local Book Club, the more I heard a little voice saying, “Mary – if you want to join a Book Club and can’t fine one – START a Book Club.”

So, I created a group message on Facebook – and did nothing.  Created the group, but sent no message.  I started to talk myself out of it.  I thought, “Just because I want to do this, no one else will.  I’m sure everyone will think this is just a waste of time.”  Not realizing that people could see I started the group, I had some people ask me what the group message was for.  That made me feel brilliant that I had forgotten to delete the darn thing.

As September grew closer and my “Year of 40” list started to materialize, I kept thinking about my non-existent Book Club – as well as the long list of books I wanted to read this year.  My sister-in-law kept asking me when – if ever – I was going finally going to utilize my group message.  The next night I went home, pulled up my message, had a glass of wine, and sent out my message.  Looking back now – I laugh at how nervous I was when I hit the “Send” button.

Just as I thought would happen, it wasn’t everyone’s thing.  Some people left the group.  Some people said, “Thanks, but I’m just too busy right now.”  Some people said they would like to be kept in the loop, but they weren’t sure how many times they would be able to attend.  Everyone said that if they changed their minds or their schedules changed, they would let me know.  I appreciated everyone’s honesty.  Then there was a group that was just as excited as I was to finally have a group of ladies to read books with.

In the weeks that followed, I started to get messages from everyone saying how excited they were and how much they were looking forward to getting together.  I think my favorite part was how some ladies sent me Snap Chats and texts showing me pictures of our first book when their copy had been delivered.

This past Sunday we had our second Bearcat Book Club get together.  Every time I saw someone walk through the front door of my friend’s home, my smile got a little bigger.  Here was a group of some amazing ladies that were taking time out of their busy weeks to spend some time discussing our monthly read, and (more importantly) spend some time with each other.  As cheesy as it sounds, I almost got a little teary eyed as I sat around the table listening to the conversation.  Our book this month was “The 5 Second Rule” by Mel Robbins – and every single lady sitting at the table discussed the positive changes they had made or experienced as a result of putting what they learned in the book to work.  Each one of these ladies was responsible for making these changes on their own, but I couldn’t help but think to myself – “Just think what would have happened if you never would have hit that ‘Send’ button.”

Not every member can make every meeting, but that’s okay.  For the ones that can attend, we always have a great discussion.  It’s so refreshing to take some time out of our schedules to talk about something positive and just spend some time with some great ladies.

Lesson Learned From Item #5: Never be afraid to put yourself out there.  To quote an amazing lady that just shared this with me recently, “When you put yourself and your ideas out there, you’ll get back so much more in return.”