A Day in the Life: Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon!

The day before the race at the expo

Last Thursday, March 15, I flew to Washington D.C. to run the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon with my little sister. This race was HUGE! There were 30,000 runners! It was definitely the biggest race I've ever been to!

I was nervous about running because I hurt my back a couple weeks before. I knew I could make it because I had trained well, but the back injury was definitely getting in my way!

My back was killing me from Wednesday to Friday before the race. I was really worried. I didn't want to hurt my back worse, but I really wanted to do it since I made the trip all the way across the country!

I couldn't sleep the night before. I called my husband, Patrick, at 12:30 a.m. and told him I wasn't going to do the race. He is sweet. He supported my decision. That must have been hard since he took time off work to watch our little girls so I could go to D.C. and run the race.

I didn't get much sleep that night. I was so torn on what to do.

The next morning I woke up at 6:30 and felt a little better, but not great.  

The sunrise from the Metro

I decide to go to the race and run at least 4 miles. My friends that we stayed with said they would wait for me at mile 4. I wanted to at least make it to that point. So we got ready and rode the metro to the race.

This is me at the beginning of the race

We started the race slow. A lot slower that we usually run. I felt okay. I thought if I at least run / walk the race, I'll be happy.

So we ran.

We ran all the way to mile 3. At mile 3 we saw a man running with only ONE leg and crutches. We thought he was AMAZING! We couldn't believe he was running the 1/2 marathon with only one leg! 

I thought, "If he could do it, maybe I could too."

So I kept running.

Running towards the Capitol

Mile 4 was near the Washington Monument. As we got closer I thought about stopping and getting out of the race. That thought only lasted a second because I kept going. My back felt okay. I knew I could go further, and I knew I'd regret it if I stopped then. 

Mile 4 near the Washington Monument

Some people say running is a spiritual experience. I think it is. It's a combination of your physical ability, with the power of your mind to help you make it to the end, along with support from a higher power. I definitely felt carried during this race. I didn't fell like I was doing it alone. There is no way I could have made it past mile 4 without some extra help.

We ran all the way to the half way point. I knew if I stopped, I might not be able to start again. Every mile was an accomplishment for me through this race. My sister was an amazing support too. 

My little sister, Kelli. She's 8 1/2 years younger than me.

I took ibuprofen before the race. I think that really helped get the inflammation down in my back. I couldn't take it before I left because I was nursing my baby. 

We celebrated each mile we ran. There were rock 'n' roll bands at almost every mile with people cheering us on. I couldn't believe how many people were running the race! The course was packed with people the whole way. 

At mile 10, a man passed us who was running the race BAREFOOT! We couldn't believe it! I thought if he could do it, I could make it to the end! 

I made it all the way to mile 11, and my back was really hurting. I started to run slower to see if that would help. I really didn't want to stop and walk because I knew I wouldn't make it if I did. So I ran slower. This made it worse. 

At mile 12, Kelli gave me her ipod to have some better music to keep me going. I started to run even faster. I knew the faster I went the faster I would finish. So I ran as fast as I could possibly run! I ran all the way to the finish line. 

At the end of the race I saw a lady with a shirt that said, "I only have one lung, and I did it. What's your excuse?"

I realized I didn't have any. 

We made it!! We ran it in 2 hr. and 20 min. This was our slowest time running a 1/2 marathon, but we DID it, and that's all that we cared about that day. 

That day I realized there are no excuses for being healthy and fit. There are so many people out there overcoming huge obstacles. If you have the determination to accomplish something, you CAN do it. All you need to do is stick with it EVERY day and don't give up! You may make mistakes along the way. You may not see progress every week like you'd like, but as long as you are moving toward a goal, you are successful.

The possibilities are endless on what you can do, and there really are NO excuses. 

A Day in the Life- An Update on My Weight Loss Journey

Post by Shannon
As many of you know I am training for a half marathon that is on March 17 in Washington D.C. You might be thinking, "Oh she's good at running so it's easy for her."

Well, actually it isn't so easy...

At the beginning of August 2011 I had a baby via C-Section. Two weeks after I had our baby I went to the  mall to pick up something for her newborn pictures. I could barely walk from the car to the store because it was so painful. If any of you have had C-Sections before, you know what I mean. It's a hard recovery. I felt like a wimp because it was so hard for me.

Since that day I've taken it one step at a time... literally. I started with walking. I did a one-mile walk about a month after our baby was born to support an autistic boy. It was really hard. I could barely make it. I was trying to act tough, but it was really hard. I did it though.

This is me and Patrick on Oct. 15, 2011
(I really hate this photo!)

I did another 5K walk a month later to support diabetes research. It was hard too, but it was easier than the first race.

Then I started doing Beachbody's Insanity Workout, really slow at first because it was really hard for me. I ended up doing the first month twice because I was nervous to start the second, but I did it!

Then I ran a 5K in October to support the Make-a-Wish Foundation. I was proud that I ran the whole time, even though it was a really slow pace. I ran the whole time, and that was all that mattered to me.

I made a goal to run 5 miles on Thanksgiving Day. I did it! It was REALLY hard, but I did it with my little sister.

I made another goal to finish the Insanity Program. I did finished it at the end of December, and I felt great!

Last Saturday I ran 7 miles. I still can't believe I actually ran the whole time. I felt great. I felt like I could keep running, which is amazing when you think of where I started in August.

In August I made a goal to get my weight down to the 140's. It was in the 190's in August. My weight is now 148.5.

Jan. 30, 2012 photo
(A little fuzzy, but getting skinnier!)

So I'm on my way to running the Rockin Roll Half Marathon in Washington D.C. in March! I'm nervous, but excited! It is a goal of mine to run a half marathon after every baby we have. I hope to be able to run the whole time. I'll need lots of cheering though! :)

A Day in the Life- Exercising Together

Post by Shannon


Patrick and I like to exercise together. Lately we've been running together on Saturdays. Patrick has been helping me train for my half marathon in March. It is fun running together and talking about the previous week. There is a always a lot to talk about.

We also like doing workouts together at home like P90X or P90X2, or going to the gym together. When it is warm we also like going to the park and kicking the soccer ball with our 2-year-old daughter.

It is fun to find something active you can do with your spouse or family. What do you like to do?

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D.C. Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon

Post by Shannon

I love running! It is one of my favorite things to do. 

One of my goals is to run a half marathon after every baby we have. I ran the Provo City Half Marathon after our first little girl, and my little sister and I plan to run the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Washington D.C. this time.

It is on March 17. Less than two months away!

I'm excited, but a little nervous. I've only run five times total since our baby was born in August (two times this week), and my sister is a really good runner. 

I'm taking a different training approach this time.

After we had our first baby I went walking or running for about an hour a day. It was hard because I had so much weight to lose. My knees hurt and my stomach hurt a lot (I had a c-section).

This time, I am working on losing the weight first, then running. So far it's working! I've lost about 45 pounds since she was born in August by eating five times a day, doing the Insanity & Turbo Fire workouts, and drinking Shakeology every day. 

I ran just over 5 1/2 miles last Saturday, and felt great! Losing the weight first while building up my endurance with the other workouts has helped me so much. 

My plan now is to continue doing the Turbo Fire workouts that I started on January 2 and run three times a week until the race. 

Wish me luck! :)