After the Marathon

Two weeks ago I finished my first half marathon. It was quite an accomplishment since I remember when I could not even run a mile. I was sore and very tired after but it was well worth the pain and suffering. I had been training for 6 months on and off through bronchitis and a small dose of pneumonia I managed to run the full 13.2 miles in 2 and a half hours:) A lot of people thought I was crazy to do such a feat but this was the first thing I can actually think of in my whole life that was for me and it was a huge deal. I felt like I was on top of the world and that I can and will do anything that is in front of me.

For years since I have been a trainer I have always told my clients you can do it or you can put your mind to anything and it will happen and for this one time I actually took my own advice. If you would have asked me two years ago if I would ever finish a race let alone a half marathon I would of laughed and told you there was no way my little self could ever make that. I figured out that I was scared and not challenging myself to full potential. I have always thought that I would just not be good enough or strong enough to conquer such goal, but I am here today to say yes world Shauna Stoddard made it and I can live to tell the tale and of course am already planning my next race in October:)

This life changing event has helped me grow and learn more about who I am and what capable of. I can live my life to the fullest and I am definitely going to do so:)

Less Than Two Weeks Away

Lately I have been getting lots of use out of my new running shoes. As of a little less than two weeks I will be running my first half marathon and am so pumped for it. I have been running for the last year and a half and have done one other race. I participated in the Market to Market race last October and I must say that is one of the most challenging things I have ever done in my whole life. It really showed me what I was made of and that is more than what I thought. So the Lincoln Half Marathon is my next challenge and man I am I hopefully ready. I have been training hard for the last couple of months and have put a lot of effort into it. I even bought my fitness business a elliptical trainer for cross training in the winter for this run and also for client purposes, but there was a tiny hidden agenda for my own use as well.
I love running I would say that out of all the things that I have done as a trainer running by far has been one of the most rewarding. I am in the best shape of my life and having two kids that can say a lot. Running is what I call my Prozac. It helps me when my days may seem a little crazy and puts my mind at ease, especially lately because my husband has a what you would call high stress traveling job not just for him but for me as well, so when my days gets bad I put on my running shoes, get my I Pod and run my worries away. One of my goals is to go to the big NYC and run the marathon and I will hopefully be able to do that in the next year or so. That would be one of the most rewarding things I could do for myself. I have a fitness business that I run from my home and love my job to death. It is so rewarding not only for me but for the clients that I train, I love every minute of it. I am going to start keeping track of my progress for the big run to NYC as well as posting some useful information on training for health and fitness, and probably some of my family life since they all run together so well. I consider my first job to be a wife and a mother and my second a trainer. If anyone has a question feel free to ask and I will try and give you some useful info. Have a great day:)