Lace Up With Liz - My 1st 1/2 Marathon Recap

Oh boy I can't believe how fast this day has come and gone! Last year I said I wanted to run the 1/2 marathon for the - OKC Memorial Marathon. It was a huge goal that I didn't think possible. Here is the journey as short as I can make it!! 

Jan 2014 I started couch to 5K weighing 222 pounds at 31 years old. I Hadn't run since middle school and gained a lot of weight after having two wonderful babies back to back and never really worked to get the weight off. So very out of shape! I was asked if I wanted to try to do the Memorial 1/2 with my cousin but training was to much to soon and I injured my IT Band. Took a few weeks off and then completed couch to 5K. 

I volunteered for that race for the 1st time that year which is sad because My hubby is the Volunteer Chairmen and has been involved in this race for over 10 years. I'm so proud of him. This is a huge highlight of his year! He absolutely loves it and that year I understood why! I loved meeting many of the Key people that make this race happen. I remember talking to Mark Bravo (running/wellness coach and speaker) and telling him I really wanted to run but couldn't this year just because I wasn't ready.  
There is nothing more rewarding than cheering and supporting those runners. I have out hugs, medal and encouragement to so many that day until the last one came across that line! I knew I had to run the next year. 

I continued running, training for a faster 5K pace, then 10K. I had other injures I had to work through but kept running all through 2014. 

Jan 2015, a year later, I started preparing for 1/2 marathon training. 16 weeks of that 1/2 training. Since January to April 25th I ran 265 miles in prep for the big day!  In April I also reached a weight loss goal of 72 pounds lost weighing in at 150!! 

So moving forward to race week! I was ready and there was nothing more I could do to prepare but do a little carb loading, drink tons of water and rely on my training! 

Friday was Expo day! I was looking forward to working the info booth. Met up with my hubby around 6 pm for the last two hrs of the expo. Picked up my race packet and walked around with my hubby checking out race gear! He already bought me a few fun shirts, a hat and a 13.1 car sticker.  I was thinking about getting new shoes but I decided not too but only because I WON A PAIR OF BROOKS!!! So I get to pick out a new pair that I want for free. It's going to be hard to choose! I was so excited. I love my brooks! 

My hubby told me Mark Bravo wanted to talk to me. He'd remembered I said I was going to run this. He was so proud of me for putting in the hard work to make it happen, gave me some encouraging words and a free, singed copy of his book. He's just an amazing inspirational man. I can't wait to read his book. Momentum. (I read a little bit of it friday...its a good read already, so check it out!!) We worked the booth for the last few hrs, cleaned up and headed out before the rest of the busy weekend.  

We enjoyed a dinner at Zio's downtown and then got a good nights sleep at the Hotel Friday night we knew we wouldn't get much sleep the rest of the weekend. 

Saturday we got up and ready for a full day at the Expo at 8:00. I passed out volunteer t-shirts and helped with many common race questions all day! I met a lot of other 1st time 1/2 marathoners too! 

Saturday - Expo -Info booth! Love the lime green volunteer shirt sponsored my Sonic this year!! 

While the expo closes around 6. We provide late packet pick up with isn't really something we advertise but there are usually a few delayed by flights or other things they can't control so we make it  possible just for a few more hrs for them to pick it up! We didn't finish that till around 9 pm. Again thankful for the Hotel so we actually made it to bed around 10:30. I had trouble sleeping and I knew 3:00 would come early....yes set alarm for 3:00 because hubby has to get up and do whatever needs to be done as a chairmen for the race!! I try to rest but filled with excitement get up at 3:45 make coffee! Grab a quick shower to wake me up and have a tasty bagel. Get all my race gear ready to go and do a few little exercise warmups. 

All Ready for Race day! 

I was nervous about waking downtown around 5 am alone, I prayed for safety and opened my door. Answered prayer immediately, another coordinator friend of my hubby was headed that way so we walked together and I didn't get lost. She probably doesn't know how much that meant to me. 

Texted hubby I made it and then headed to meet up with my local running group "Edmond Moms Run This Town" for a group pic at 5:45. Of course I was a little early and the sun wasn't up. My tank top wasn't warm. It was looking to be perfect race weather though and it was, so I wasn't going to complain to much. Got a group pic and chatted for a minute then made my way to 11:30 pace area in Corral D! 

EMRTT Group Pic Pre-Race - Many 1st time Marathoners!! 

Messaged a friend that I was hoping to meet up with to run and thankfully we found each other very easily. I was glad I not be alone for 13.1 miles. 

Rebekka and I ready for our 1st 1/2 marathon. I never had a chance to do any training runs with her but we enjoyed each others company encouraging each other along the way! She did great!!! 

Corral D was so far away you couldnt really hear anything so I felt like we missed out on the starting ceremonies which are a very important part of this marathon to honor those in the Bombing. This is a Run to Remember after all! That's part of what makes this race so very special! 

The start line is so far away!!! Almost there!!! 

We took a few quick pics and slowly made our way to the start line. It took about 17 minutes from the official 6:30 time before we got there. Started my watch and started running.

Miles 1-3: These were fun and slow. Sometimes that 1st mile is the hardest but it went fast. So many walkers you just have to work your way through. Didn't have to worry about getting out too fast. Start soaking it in and enjoy the crowds and people cheering you on. 

Miles 4-6: were good and got into our rhythm but with much water comes need for a quick stop, (I knew I should have used the the potty at the race before the start it had been a good 2 hrs, but so did everyone else so pass several potty stops in hopes for shorter lines else where. Consider stopping at Mcdonalds but so did everyone else....Find short line......not so short waste 5-7 minutes. Decided to leave find a quicker stop but still lose a few minutes, but feel much better. 

Miles 6-8- gorilla hill! Fun area of local people offering all sorts of food, donuts, chocolate, bacon, beer, I think we'll pass... Let's just run..... or walk up this hill because  there are lots of banana peels. Don't slip!!! I'm starting to struggle with some annoying pains but try to ignore it. 

Miles 9-11 This is usually went the run gets mental and hard and it did, my pinky toe is yelling at me..... Stop. I blistered it good on my 11 mile training run a few weeks back. It's healed but the skin was tender and oh boy today it wasn't liking this. I told my buddy to run on, I'd be fine but I don't want to hold her back. I turn up my tunes and do some intervals walk/run sorta. More walking then I prefer, but get excited realizing I'm about to go farther than ever before start to get a little choked up and can't breathe when the perfect songs on my playlist are shuffling on! Turn them up to get pumped. (You Move Me by Natalie Grant) Only God was going to get me through this. I played this song for the remainder of my race on repeat! 

Mile 12 - After to much walking I try to run more, My caves are kinda seizing so go back to walk/run. Decide to text hubby that I only have 1.1 left. I'd had my phone in airplane mode to save the battery so when I turn my phone on to text I saw a flood of messages cheering me on and asking if I was finished yet. Got more choked up, trying to just breath and smile and walk through near the end of mile 13 so I can run it in!! Text hubby again from a few blocks away. Since He's a chairmen he was allowed right at the finish line!!! 

Run in and here them say hear comes  "Liz" over the loud speaker. I'm dumbfounded and I forget hubby knows all these people so they're giving me a special moment. Mark Bravo gives me a huge high five and says I'm so glad you made it!!  Hubby has a big hug and a Great big medal for me. He was so proud I finished.

Finished my 1st, 1/2 Marathon

My goal today was to "Finish what I started and enjoy the journey" oh boy did I. while I'm not happy with my pace today that is not what this race was about so I can say with confidence I can't wait to try again because I know I can improve from here. It was a wonderful first 1/2 marathon experience! 

My Race results! My pace was much slower than I had trained at but I still finished in under 3 hrs.  I think minus waiting in line for the porter potty and my pinky toe issues it really is a great time. I used to worry I'd be last LOL! 

Map of my run from my Garmin - I forgot to turn it off at the finish line.  :)

The fun part was the mile journey back to the hotel. I was just praying I made it back with out collapsing. I was feeling very sick to my stomach, I grabbed a banana, kind bar, water and my finishers t-shirt and made my way back to the hotel slowly!! 

I really wanted to go back and pass out medals again like last year but my body said "no way your going to walk back again today."  So I cleaned up, stretched, snacked and rested for a bit and decided I better keep moving or I'd fall asleep at the hotel and not be able to move when I woke up. Lol. 

It's been a long, emotional, eventful, wonderful weekend! I think it still hasn't quite sunk in! I don't have my race pics yet and I know I smiled for several official cameras along the way so I hope they got some good ones. I know I'll have a finish line shot. I'll post those asap! Oh and I might have a 2nd 1/2 marathon lined up in about 3 week because once you do one....you get marathon crazy :) LOL! 

Thanks again for all the support! There are so many I could thank but they know who they are. Thanks for making this a special day. I couldn't not have done this without so many people that helped encourage along the way. I'm also so glad I've inspired many to get into shape, run and take better care of themselves. You are precious and you worth it!!! Thank you! I think I just might do this again next year! :)

Lace Up with Liz Update - Marathon Week

So if your here for crochet...this post is more personal about me and life right now :) Don't worry I'm working on some new things but this Month is filled with excitement personally outside of crochet! Although my mermaid pattern going viral was super awesome!! We'll save that for another post! 

It's been a while since I shared an update about my weight-loss journey. I think my last post was the end of  Dec 2014.

 I've accomplished some amazing things since then and I'm just so excited I want to share them with you. If you haven't been following my journey you can read this past post about myself and the what I've been working on here : LACE UP WITH LIZ

In April I finally reached my weight loss goal that I'd set Jan 2014. Those last 5-10 pounds were being stubborn! I've lost a total of 72 pounds! 222 to 150! I feel amazing and so much happier in my skin! 

In January 2015 I started my 1/2 marathon training again. If you remember before I was training for one but due to injury had to take a month off and start back up slowly. 

I was nervous and excited, but the last 16 weeks have been absolutely amazing! I've had highs and lows in my training but I've completed it all but the race....(insert emotional happy cry!!)  

There have been fast runs, slow runs, long runs, short runs, cold, snowy, windy, rainy, sunny, (insert all types of Oklahoma weather) runs, and early before the sunrise on the weekend runs! 

Thankfully the training has been injury free aside from a few holes stepped in or sidewalks tripped on. LOL. 

I could not have made it through my training with out lots of encouragement.

Thank you Rachel for giving me a treadmill. I have a love hate relationship with it but it helped when I couldn't get out the door due to weather. (7 miles on a treadmill is awful...)

 Thank you to Alisha for doing many early morning long weekend runs! You truly have been an inspiration and blessing! 

Thank you to many of the gals from Edmond Moms Run This Town - I've made new friends that understand this crazy love of running and are so encouraging.  

Thank you to the Runhers and Landrunners for hosting long runs and providing water! It makes it so much more enjoyable when you have others to run with! 

Thank you to my Big Life Voxer gals! You have been a daily encouragement in so many ways! 

I LOVE YOU!!! 

Thank you to my hubby for taking care of the kids on early Saturdays while mommy ran all over town! Thank you for letting mommy run!! I need to run now or I get cranky.....:) Just ask him about how the past two taper weeks have been :) Sorry...I love you too! 

April 2014 - after a run- selfie! Purple is my power color! 

My 1st 1/2 marathon (13.1 miles) is Sunday April 26th, 2015 - It's the OKC Memorial Marathon. 

It's a great year to race as it's the 15th anniversary of the race and it just means a lot to us in Oklahoma to Run to Remember. I've volunteered with the race years before but 1st time running!! 

So if you think of me say a prayer that everything will go awesome on Sunday! 

I'm getting pre-race jitters! 

My goal is just to 'Finish what I Start and Enjoy the Journey!" 

I know I'll be surrounded with so many with amazing people with stories too, but this truly has been such a great journey in my life. It's not the end of the journey, and I can't wait to see what's next!

If you want to track my race or follow me for more updates feel free to visit my Facebook page for more details!
Lace up with Liz

Have you ever tired Younique Lashes? Review

Okay I'll warn you up front this post has nothing to do with crochet at all! I just recently fell in love with a new product and have to share it with you. Make-up products are one of my other obsessions but probably not as much as crochet. LOL I have to share a review on it! 

Have you ever tried the Younique Moodstruck 3-D Fiberlashes? 

I have to say I watched a ton of youtube tutorials and reviews and I was very skeptical. I didn't want to spend the money and hate them. I had been invited to several parties over the past few months and I finally gave in and just had to try them. I do the fake lashes sometimes and they just don't work for me so I wanted to try them for less hassle.  I have to say I'm in love with them!! 

My 1st concern was that some said you get "spider eyes" look. Well if you take your time doing it (like a few extra moments) you can make them look amazing with out spider eyes. 

My 2nd concern was um fibers....near my eyes... no way! I have sensitive eyes and I thought of little feathers near my eyes would make me itchy and watery! I've worn this stuff for two weeks and have very little to no fall out and never had my eyes itch or get fibers in my eyes even thought it's allergy season! 

I don't usually like a water-proof masceara  but honestly with a little make up remover it's comes off very easy. I like to use coconut oil to wash and remove makeup and its great! 

You can use it with your favorite mascara or just the gel &  fiber lashes, but I wanted amazing long lashes! LOL

I've used it mostly with my favorite mascara. I use Clinique High definition or if I want super long lashes I use my Julep length matters! 

I used the Clinique High Definition in the photo below. 

I'm totally sold and these are fabulous or I wouldn't even attempt a party! 

I've haven't tried any other products from Younique but I heard the lipgloss is awesome! 

So if you love trying new beauty products I would love to invite you to my online party!

Here is the Facebook even for more info or to ask questions. 

Here is the direct party link to shop! 

This is an online only party and will close out on April 8th! 

Oh and no waiting to get your products till the end of the party! Order now and they will ship out pretty quickly! Still not sure about these lashes well have no fear they do have a money back guarantee so you will be 100% satisfied but I know you will love them! 

Thanks for reading my review. Don't worry I won't bother you much with parties like these. This is just a one time deal for me since I do love them so much! 

now back to my regularly scheduled crochet project......