One accomplishment I would like to share!

Im not shy, so I will start. This is more of a running related accomplishment than an actual running accomplishment.
Im proud of what this website is becoming and positive vibe of the members. I never thought it would have 400 members in 4 months. Its a side project of mine that I always wanted to do and finally got started on it and did it. I love reading the threads where people are helping other people.
I have to credit the members for this great site. Im glad we have a place we can all meet up. Its a lot of fun watching the progression of the site. Your posts give me something to look forward to everyday!

I am pretty proud of myself that finished my first (hopefully of many) marathon.
I really doubted I could do it. I was posting miles here and asking questions about whether or not I was ready.
I thought about the encouragement I found on Runners Rule from other members and I just thought...
Im just going to do this. Sometimes near the end of my longer runs I picture myself posting my miles to the forum. keeps me motivated. I think "thats going to be pretty cool to post 16 miles tonight!" because i think its so great when i read through and see everyone elses miles. Just a good feeling to know that there is actually a group of motivated people out there, bettering themselves everyday, and keeping positive.

Another Amazing thing is when i posted the question of whether or not I should try, I did not get one negative response on the forum. Thats Awesome! Geeley even took time to message me days later and say "are you doing it or what" that actually motivated me a lot. was the kick in butt i needed.

I know if I would have asked my family or friends that didnt run they would have said,
"your not ready! what are think, what are you going to do if you dont finish?""

Joe.

for my first marathon my FIL said I would never finish. two days ago while asking a question he called me an accomplished athlete.

I am stronger than I thought I ever was. every mile, every race, every thing that looked scarey on paper, I took ahold of it and crushed it. ( now I didn't say I did it perfect ) but I never said no I can't.

When people talk to me of running, that is the message I want to come out. Yes you can...you just have to try. It may not be perfect the first time but if you do the work it will come.

I am an accomplished athlete. thank you very much.

WOW - Admin, Joe, Geely - AWESOME!!! Those are all three huge accomplishments. Geely - I can't even imagine how proud you felt to have your FIL call you an accomplished athlete - it is really something when someone who didn't believe comes around to a completely different point of view. BTW - you are an accomplished athlete! You too Joe and Admin- this is the only place I can come to (besides my dinner table with my DH) and get my fill of running, healthy eating talk, all the things that others may think you are just bragging when discussing them - what a great forum.

I am proud of myself for bench pressing 100 lbs the other night. I couldn't for the life of me get past 95 and I finally DID IT!! It only took me since last October Ha ha, so I guess it wasn't a quick accomplishment! Oh, and it was only one rep but it was a start.

Great bunch of people here is what makes it so great. I found my way to this forum in my peak week training for Napa (My 1st Marathon) Officially trained only 9 weeks. The self doubt started to sink in heavily. I actually did a search on Facebook because I needed support from runners and I needed it fast. No one that doesn't run could understand what I was going through. I linked through to here and haven't left since. Not one person I knew came to see me cross the finish line. The hugest accomplishment of my life and no one was there. It didn't matter at the end though. The reward was inside me. I told my son well I guess I'll just have to run another one so you can see me finish First thing I did when I was near a computer was post my 26.2!!! And genuinely people were excited and congratulating!!! Means alot to me! Really is a great group of people here and Admin you are a part of it. I love following peoples accomplishments and stories.

Runaway Joe amazing accomplishment with running your 1st Marathon! I remember when that went down! It was right before Napa for me! And Reading and Running tearing it up on your half marathon. Your going to have a mighty fine time for a full Marathon, should you decide to do and Geely you gave me encouragement right before Napa via Facebook. Something like sending you my mojo. I won't forget that. Rock it this weekend Geely. We will all send you our mojo

Thanks Guys!!!!

Oh ps I had a awesome 10 mile run tonight and I am feeling good!!!!!

Aileen I want to cry reading that no one was at the finish line for your marathon. I didn't realize that. I am sorry. Just another reason this site is so special...you had your RR peeps cheering you on. I have run several races where no one was at the finish line. I always had in my head my hubby would show up and surprise me. I never asked him to. I don't think he understood how important it was to me. The Red Flannel Run I ran in February was an exception. Halfway through I thought I heard someone yell, "Kim!" I looked up and he was there with our 3 kids. Honestly, that was one of the nicest things he has ever done for me! (and he is awesome but I was incredibly touched by this) He couldn't believe how much it meant to me. I think he finally got it. Now he and my 3 kids are coming to cheer me on in Chicago. I know they can't always be there but I understand how special that is.
Is there someone who can get your son down there for your next race? I think that would be the bomb! Yes, now you have to run another so he can be there. Good inspiration for the next race. We will always be here to cheer you on Sister!! XOXO

This is why I love the gang~

Everyone had great intentions with coming. I thought my sister was going to be there at the finish with my boy. I pictured my son for the last 10 miles at the finish. They didn't leave the hotel. It's ok though because I really want to do it again and Bizz is closer to home so I will make sure he gets to see me finish this time. My son was super proud of me either way. He bragged to his school friends. Made me feel great. He was my biggest supporter. Always saying, "Get out there and run mom." I love him. He is turning into quite the young man and my best friend.

I was really blessed to to meet a wonderful gal and run the entire 26.2 miles with her. So someone was looking out for me.

You guys rock! Everyones so supportive and I look forwarding to seeing everyones post. I love race days! I check the computer all day waiting for my RR friends to post their race status.

Everyone here inspires me~

Can't wait to hear your Chicago experience Pixie(even though I know your name I am so used to calling you Pixie)

I didn't realize no one you knew was there either Aileen! But you know what? you did it all on your own and found the internal fortitude to get it done. I've always done races with either friends, or had people that I knew at the finish, so that's always been a big motivator for me, so it many respects I think it would be even a bigger sense of self-accomplishment knowing it all came from within. Kudos to you!

These are great accomplishment stories and I'm really really enjoying reading about them.

for me, my one and only marathon last summer was an accomplishment. I ran it with a large group of runners that I've become good friends with via an online running forum similar to this. We've posted together for 3-4 yrs now and a few I was meeting for the first time in Seattle and others I've met up with before at races. Plus, I ran it with my "in real life" running/training partner. It was a first marathon for both of us. We are both running Newport together this June also. (well, we don't necessarily run it physically together, like side by side - come race day, we each run our own race)

The fact that I actually ran a marathon is pretty amazing to me. I was never an athlete and didn't start running until a bit before I turned 40 (I'm 43 now). If someone would have told me I'd be able to run a marathon someday, I'd have told them they were nuckin' futs! that would have been laughable to me.

After running for a couple years, I thought "well, maybe I'll just run ONE marathon" - something on my bucket list I guess. But apparently, running "just one" marathon is along the lines of just wanting "one small tattoo" lol - hard to stop at one (from what I hear that is).

I think my most important accomplishment is that I changed my whole life in a year and a half. I lost 168lb and went from a couch potato to running a half and working out 6 days a week! I learned to eat right and think positive. I think that the running and this forrum helped and is helping me to be a positive thinker and keeps me on track because of the people who consistantly give positive feedback! When I was looking for a running partner, I found this site and although I never hooked up with a person to physically run with, I feel that I have 400 people running with me in spirit every time I put on my shoes!

This is an interesting thread...

Aileenamber your experience is similar to my first marathon, when I finished Chicago in 04' I crossed the line exhausted, in bewilderment, & weepy... looking for someone to share the experience with.

My 3rd marathon my children ran the last 100 yrds with me through the finish line, I've photos, that was pretty cool!


Then last spring I ran the Drake 1/2 marathon alone while my family was snoozing back at the hotel, I liked it too.....I cheered the last runners coming in as they were tearing things down.



...And CD, your amazing!