Bradley Family Life: it's been a while....

I haven't posted anything in so long, I've almost forgotten how to do this! I've gotten used to posting a pic here and there on facebook with a quick update on what's going on. But I do miss the blog and the ability to capture moments of time that have changed me.

So - here's a big one.

This year I've really faced my fears of failure and I've gone all out in running. I have worked so hard on my goals this year. I've finished the Red Mountain 50k, Zion 50k, SpeedGoat 50K, Southern Utah Half Marathon and now, the Saint George Marathon. I've already put in over 1000 miles of running this year alone. I have NEVER put that much mileage in!

I joined the Saint George Running Club hosted by Steve and Kendra Hooper - and it changed me. It literally changed who I am and how I look at myself as a runner. As I've spent the year running with such incredible and talented people, I have pushed myself to become more like them. It gave me hope of accomplishing something greater than I've ever dreamed. Knowing there would be a group of people to run with, I got out of bed Tuesday's, Thursday's and Saturdays in anticipation of being with them. I found the excitement in running again. I found the joy of pushing hard, sweating, and doing the best I can. I had a LOT of fun talking, solving problems and conversing about food choices. It has been the best running year of my life. I don't want it to end!

When I signed up for the marathon at the beginning of the year, my goal was just to beat 4 hours. But as the marathon drew closer, I realized that I could maybe do better than I imagined. I wasn't sure, so I asked the running club leader - Steve. He believed in me, and helped me map out a plan to run a 3 and half hour marathon. I knew I was crazy...and I knew it was a long shot... but I just HAD to TRY.

I followed my race pace as best I could - sometimes going a few seconds faster or slower, but I was right on pace up until mile 23. At that point my mind started taking over. It kept telling me that I would never finish - this was too big of a feat to achieve. I believed it for a few miles as I tried to keep going, but I kept slowing down. With one mile to go... I did stop. I walked. I was so close to the finish line, but my mind kept saying I wasn't going to make the 3:30 mark, so why keep trying? Can you believe that for a moment I let that take over my entire race. My entire 25 previous on target miles were almost thwarted by that LAST overwhelming mile. I almost gave up. I wanted to - that's for sure! But someone in the crowd called out my name and said, "keep going, Maria," I didn't recognize him - maybe I should have? Maybe he wasn't even calling out to me and I just heard what I needed to hear? Whoever it was - thank you... it snapped me back into the race and I told myself I could jog. Maybe I didn't have enough left in me to run, but I could jog. I could't quit. And yes, maybe I wouldn't hit the 3:30 goal...but I was going to come as close as possible to it!

And just like that I started jogging again. That last mile felt more like 10. I tried not to think of anything. I just tried to put one foot in front of the other. Just as I had taken the entire marathon one mile at a time, the last mile I took one step at a time.. just focusing on not stopping.

And then... there it was - the finish. I didn't sprint to the end, but I did jog...and do you know, I made it! I made it to the end! :)

3 hours 32 minutes and 56 seconds.

My fastest time by far... and I'm just so happy I didn't quit. I would have been so upset with myself for quitting. I would have been so frustrated to give up 25 miles of hard work to loose all of it in the last mile.