April Runners Log

April is Earth Month. What better way to start this month then to do a race for the park.

My participation in the "4 the Park" Fun Run helps the Conservancy to plan, protect and preserve Memorial Park. Approximately 4 million people visit Memorial Park each year, with the Seymour Lieberman Exer-Trail being the heaviest used park amenity in the City of Houston. Memorial Park Conservancy, in partnership with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, is working towards forest conservation and trail improvements within the park to ensure Memorial Park is a healthy and sustainable environment.

Alba

4 the Park Fun Run

04/02/11

0:46:23

4 Mile Run

I have never been to the trails at Memorial Park. I have only driven by.  I have seen all the runners, joggers, and walkers out there on my way home.  Boy, have I been missing out. The trails are surrounded by beautiful trees. It was great to see so many people come out and support.

So I thought this was it for the month of April but we are not done yet. Yep, I did 2 challenges again this month. What do you think I did?

I never ever, ever thought in a million years that I would think of running a half marathon or that it could be done by me. The first time my bestfriend told me about doing a half marathon, I was glad it was too much money and there were no spots left. And when I got sick in January, I almost felt good about not having signed up, like it was a sign that I could not have ever finished.

When my bestfriend brought it up again, I was like my bestfriend is trying to kill me. In the back of my head, I kept thinking my bestfriend did it, why can’t I. Not because it’s a competition or anything like that, but because I felt like my bestfriend had the courage to sign up and do it. Where I, no matter what, could not convince myself I could. Get it, I kept telling myself I could not, therefore, I could not. I have faced several obstacles in life where people told me I could not, and I took that as a challenge/bet/dare and I finished and finished strong. Whatever it was. Baby Daddy said I would never make it without him, I proved him wrong. Single mothers can never become homeowners, you cant afford it, but I did. I bought a house, and am paying for it. These are just some things that have pushed me to the limits, and I have gone all out to prove to those people I could do it. But when it comes to proving to myself I can do it, that’s where the problem lies. I do not believe in myself, well at least I didn’t.

My bestfriend put the challenge out there. My whole entire goal was to just finish. And I finished. It does not matter what place, or what time, the point is I actually proved myself wrong. The first 2 miles, were very hard for me. They were a battle within a battle. I had already giving up on myself. Anything negative I could think about, I was thinking it. When my bestfriend smacked me in the butt as she was passing me up, it snapped something in me. Somewhat of the whip hitting a horse, or the gun actually going off this time for the first time. My bestfriend believed we could do it and we did. I thank her for pushing me. Like her coach,Coach T said, it is good when we are held accountable. I like that we push each other. I am so glad that I did this. Here are some pictures of my wonderful achievement. I am so proud of myself. And yes, I am tooting my own horn, for the first time!!

The miracle was not the finish, but that I had the courage to start!

"Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves. It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go. It helps us to find out what we are made of. This is what we do. This is what it's all about."
-PattiSue Plumer, U.S. Olympian

Alba- Hippity ROC 04/23/11 2:57:53 Half Marathon 13.1 miles

"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that."
-Fred Lebow, New York City Marathon co-founder

Wanna join me? Do you want to start? I started out doing walks. One of the first walks I did, and still do is the March of Dimes which is coming up on May 1st, Houston.

"Ask yourself: 'Can I give more?'. The answer is usually: 'Yes'."
-Paul Tergat, Kenyan professional marathoner