Half Way

"Half way there". This is something I'm used to saying in just about all of my races. 5k's "half way there" meant push through that burning sensation in my lungs, move my arms just a little faster to get the legs going just a little faster, don't get passed by anyone yet pass that person 20 yards ahead, then the one 20 yards ahead of them. Longer races like 10k's and 1/2 marathon's "half way there" meant check my watch for my time. Am I on schedule? Whether the answer is yes or no, the result was to pick it up just a little bit more. For my marathon "half way there" meant the excitement and adrenaline of the first half had slowed down a bit and I was just hoping I had enough in me to take me to the end. In fact, I didn't really want to focus on half way there because I was only.. "half way" there. I just wanted to see that finish line.

With all the running and racing events I've done in the last few years, everything becomes about training. So why would pregnancy be any different to me?! So for the past 4.5 months, I've been training. For the next 4.5 months I'll be training. Training for my health and yes, self esteem (as I see the scale climbing higher and higher and those clothes feeling quite snug), and training myself for that day the baby decides to come. Natural birth maybe? But most importantly, I'd like to think I am training for the baby. Training for the baby's health and well being now and after he or she is born. A part of me is also hoping it will inherit some of those self disciplined traits as he or she gets older. Parenting can't start too early!

Half way there this time around is marathon mentality. Excited to be through the first half and all the excitement that was building up during that time. I know I still have a long way to go, especially in the Arizona summer heat, but I am totally looking forward to that finish line. The built up emotions you experience during the long and hard training season finally come out knowing you accomplished something beyond your craziest dreams. Being half way there only means the best is yet to come.