Livin' the life of 6 Rileys: Triathlons, Marathons and Ragnar...Oh My!!

As many of you know, I completed my first marathon on December 6th 2009 in Las Vegas, 10 months after my little Ayden was born. While this post may be a bit self indulgent (I mean it was 26.2 miles.....that should buy me some sort of bragging rights, no?), it is truly a testament to my closest friends and family, so bear with me. Though I have said 'thank you' in person and through many other avenues, I thought no better way to 'shout it from the mountain tops' than to post it on my blog for the world to judge!!

[Plus, I now have pics to add substance to the saga....(I know you only read for the pictures and videos!) - this is like one of those movies where you have to sit through all the credits to see the deleted scenes...there is a special video at the end ;)]

Before I unleash all the visual aids, a little back story. My whole life I have been an 'athlete'. While my time and passion was dominated by soccer, I was into anything you could throw at me, however, I couldn't force myself to run a mile around the track if my life depended on it.

Shoot forward to Thanksgiving 2007. I find myself in Nashville, TN with my Dad, his wife Trish and my husband J. I am doing some soul searching. I need a new goal; a goal that questions that which makes me comfortable, that pushes my physical capabilities while constantly challenging my mental strength. I want to learn to RUN. The thing that has forever eluded me, frightened me, and stunted my ability as a soccer player. Not in the literal sense of moving my legs and arms in synchronization to produce acceleration and speed, but to to enjoy the run. The solitude. The sound of my feet pounding the pavement. The rhythm of my breath. The scenery. The high. And with that, I made a choice. A deep down guttural choice....I was going to become a runner. Whatever it took, that was my goal, my lifestyle.

And with that decision I set off on the first true 'run' of my life. No training for soccer. No coach (or dad) telling me I had to. No,.... I set off for a 'run for the hell of it' run around the neighborhood...........

............and very soon found myself sucking wind not 2-2.5 miles in. This was not going to come easy.

It just so happens I had a friend at home by the name of Candice. Now, Candice is a true runner. She is tall and slender and runs with an ease that flat out makes me jealous. She ran in school and has continued to run, 'for the fun of it' ever since. I will never forget the day we went for our first official run together since making my life changing decision. We did three miles - and let me tell you it was no easy feat for me. In fact, I probably didn't make the whole thing without walking (truth be told, I can't exactly remember, but it certainly sounds better that way!) Candice, bless her heart, stuck through it with me and we went for our usual Starbucks afterward. Sitting outside on the corner of Swan and Sunrise, I told Candice of my desire to learn to run. And that one day I would even like to try a half-marathon - 13 WHOLE MILES......at one time!! She, in true Candice style, didn't bat an eye at what some (those who know my 'running' past) might consider a huge proclamation. Instead she said, 'OK, no problem. We will work you up to it.' The key word being WE. And that we did. In fact we began to run, bike and swim together.

In March of 2008 I did my first sprint tri (with Sharon!!!) and in April 2008 my first half-marathon.

I had made it. I could call myself a runner. I actually ENJOYED running and felt blue on days I wasn't able to. Amazing.

Then in June of 2008 I had another first. My first positive pregnancy test which meant my first child was on the way. While my gust for running did stop, my body slowwwwed way down. After my thanksgiving turkey trot (really a gander) of 5K, I hung up the running shoes for the last month and a half of baking. And as you all know, out popped beautiful little Ayden.

The entire pregnancy I worried whether I would be able to regain that passion for running I worked so hard to attain. But, if there was one thing I had learned, it was to believe in myself and set goals.

When Ayden was 12 weeks, I ran a sprint Tri in Saguarita, AZ. And from there grew the idea of a marathon. On December 6th 2009 I accomplished that goal.

I owe this feat to my unbelievable support group. Candice and Stacy, The O'Hagans (and Cunningham!) who constantly push me to try new and different things and above all my mom and husband who are always on the sidelines cheering me on. Rain or shine, freezing or hot. I couldn't have reached my goal without you.

So this is a little thank you to my friends and family. It is you that I think about when I want to quit and it is those thoughts that get me through the next mile.

Next up....RAGNAR!! A 210mi 12 person relay. Stay tuned.