Bold Moves: Diary of a First Time Marathoner

By Diane Wilhelm

It started out as a simple Bucket List goal but became much, much more. Bold Moves chronicles Dianes journey as a first time marathoner. You will quickly discover, as Diane did, that the training journey involved more than running. Her nearly six month commitment to train and eventually run 26.2 miles brought forth lessons about family, work life balance, faith, leadership and sacrifice. Aiming to be a one and done, the training journey takes Diane through some surprises as she discovers the parallels of running and facing lifes struggles. Bold Moves is an inspirational story that will prod readers to assess the items lingering on their Bucket List. If Diane can turn her dreams into reality, why cant you?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 19, 2012
• ISBN: 9781479736348

Diane Wilhelm

Diane Wilhelm grew up in Phoenix, Arizona and thanks to the US Army, has lived in and visited many different states and countries. Leveraging her leadership background, she has excelled in the business world and enjoys a successful executive career. She is active in her community and church, and is an avid supporter of various charities. Diane holds an undergraduate degree from the United States Military Academy and an MBA from Baker University. She was honored by Diversity MBA Magazine in 2008 as a Top 100 Under 50 Leader. Currently living in the beautiful country community of Smithville, Missouri, Diane relishes family time with her husband Patrick, and daughters Kelsea and

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Copyright © 2012 by Diane Wilhelm.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012919680

ISBN: Hardcover 978-1-4797-3633-1

Softcover 978-1-4797-3632-4

Ebook 978-1-4797-3634-8

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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CONTENTS

Dedication

Introduction

Committing to Run

Balance

Serious Miles

Molding Moments

Home stretch!

The Taper

Race Day

Now What?

AAR

Notes

DEDICATION

My marathon journey was possible because I am blessed with the most amazing husband and family any woman could hope for. Thank you, Kelsea and Morguen, for your continuous support and energy. I especially want to thank my husband, Patrick, who remains my biggest fan and rock of stability through every challenge, victory and the many in-betweens! He is my soul mate and I thank God for him every day.

My biggest thanks must go to God, who has blessed me with a strong character and body to achieve the goals that I set; and who continually blesses me and stretches me beyond my comfort zone—praises to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Special thanks to Coach Helen and Coach Jen, the amazing volunteer coaches of the Mid-America Chapter of Team-in-Training (TNT). Their belief in me gave me confidence to continue to trust them and their training plan.

INTRODUCTION

A BOUT TWO YEARS ago I looked in the mirror and realized that I had somehow lost control of myself. Rather than live my life, I was allowing life to live me. I was working a ton of hours and had allowed my weight to creep up to a point where my favorite exercise (running) was becoming almost impossible. I had way too many sizes of jeans in my closet. It was time to make a dramatic change.

I believe in bold moves. Bold moves require conviction. Bold moves push us beyond our comfort zone. Bold moves catapult us forward shaking loose the shackles of complacency. And so began my marathon journey.

Since my knees hurt to merely walk up and down stairs, and hurt when I ran my routine three miles a few times per week, I knew that my first Bold Move would be to drop weight. Over the course of five months, I lost 30 pounds. That was in the summer of 2010. In November of that year I told my husband that I would run a Half-Marathon the following year. Yes, that eventually turned into running a Full Marathon!

My next Bold Move was to tie my goal to a cause bigger than me or a Bucket List goal. I committed my race to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). There is no turning back when you are committing to support a cause like finding a cure for blood cancers!

It is my sincere hope that by sharing my marathon journey you will be inspired to commit to your own Bold Move and turn a life goal that may reside in your dreams or on a Bucket List into reality.

My ongoing Bold Move is to live life to the fullest and never, ever allow life to live me again!

COMMITTING TO RUN

I N EARLY SPRING of 2011 I started surfing the internet to find out how to set up a fund raising website. My original thought was to run a half-marathon and dedicate the proceeds to one of my favorite charities. While in this research mode, I received a postcard invitation from Team-In-Training (TNT) in the mail. I had never heard of them and didn’t know how I got on their mailing list. I had been praying about what charity to support and here I receive an answer in the mail. Who says God doesn’t talk to us anymore???

The informational meeting was in early May at a hospital about thirty minutes from my work site. That seemed convenient as I could drive directly to the meeting after work. I sent in my RSVP to the meeting and put a reminder in my Outlook Calendar. On the day of the meeting, I started to get cold feet. Although I had been increasing my weekly running mileage, I started to second guess whether I could really run 13.1 miles. My knees weren’t as sore since I had lost thirty pounds but they still felt sore after every run, especially my left knee. What if I couldn’t finish the race? How would I face all of my donors? Maybe this is a stupid thing for a 49 year old to do, I thought to myself.

Throughout the afternoon I started to rationalize putting off my goal for another year. As the excuses accumulated in my mind I noticed that I wasn’t feeling particularly proud or good about it. My own declaration that accompanies every email is a quote from Jim Collins—"Failure is not so much a physical state as a state of mind; success is falling down and getting up again, without end." As my afternoon progressed, I realized that the only true failure is never trying. So that’s it then, I thought to myself, It’s on!

Courage is an interesting thing. There comes a point where you literally have to stop thinking and just act.

Driving to the North Kansas City hospital after work for the TNT meeting, I began to coach myself into a positive frame of mind. You can do this! I told myself. I reminded myself of all the challenges I have overcome in my life. I thought about scripture and proclaimed, Okay Lord, you’re running with me! By the time I reached the hospital conference room, I was totally psyched to take on 13.1 miles!

At the meeting I was greeted by several TNT members. As interested participants started to gather, I chatted with one of the TNT volunteers. She asked me if I planned to run the half or the full marathon. I replied the half and she immediately gave me a sizing up, tilting her head just a bit and asking me, Why not the full? I told her that I really didn’t think my knees would hold up and taking on 13.1 miles would be more than enough of a challenge. She was pleasant and polite enough, but told me that she thought I would regret not tackling the full 26.2 miles. It felt like she was labeling me as a slacker. I do not take well to that type of insinuation. Said another way, she ticked me off!

Later in the meeting we viewed an informational video and a TNT Alumnus gave us his first-hand story of running in his first marathon with TNT. The volunteer’s question haunted me throughout the meeting, Why not the full? Wow. 26.2 miles? And then there was that whole insinuation thing; slacker? Me?!

After the meeting we had the option of either signing up right then and there or returning the form at a later date. I knew that if I left the meeting without signing up that I likely wouldn’t sign up at all. I wanted to run in the Kansas City race but which distance should I run—the 13.1 mile half-marathon or the 26.2 mile full-marathon? 26.2 miles just seemed so, well… . loooooong! All those fears started to rush back into my mind. What if I don’t make it? What if I get injured? What if I’m not as tough as I think I am? My thoughts were interrupted by the TNT volunteer, who sat down next to me and said, You know, you don’t have to commit to the distance until around July-August; that’s when we have to submit the race registrations. She continued, Why not train for the full and then make your decision based on how you feel with the training? My heart lifted; what a great idea! So I signed on the dotted line to race for TNT and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, distance TBD. Funny thing though, I knew in my heart that training for the full meant that I would run the full. It was really just an easy way to give myself time to get used to the idea.

There is something about signing your name to a commitment that makes it real. Signing your name means there is no backing out. My Japanese mother always told me, Your word is like a rock. I was taught early on that commitments are met; always. I left the meeting that day feeling energized and refreshed! Now that the decision was made I felt a sense of relief.

Soon thereafter TNT set up my fund raising page and blogging website. In early June I began my official training and the journey of a lifetime! My first blog entry—

Jun 15, 2011

Training Has Begun!

Hello Everyone! Welcome to my Team in Training (TNT) home page!

My training with the TNT group officially began last weekend with a five mile run at Mid America Nazarene University. It was so fun to meet and train with other people "racing