LA Marathon 2012 Results

I did!  I can't believe it sometimes what we are able to accomplish and over come.  This is my 3rd full marathon and the 2nd time running the LA Marathon.  I was hoping to complete the course in under 4 hours and I was on pace to do just that until I hit about mile 18 and I started falling apart.

I started thinking I was wasn't going to be able to finish and I my legs couldn't carry me any further.  I forced my self to start running again after I my heart rate lowered a bit and it hurt to run.  I went from running under a 9 min pace to over a 10 min pace and I forgot how hilly the entire course was.  It was cold and my calves were starting to cramp.  Did I push to hard at the beginning?  Did I hydrate enough?  Did I over train?  These were some of the questions going thru my mind and I was worried about how Fredy was doing since he wasn't doing well when I saw him at mile 10.  He was sick and the car accident we were in the day prior we taking a toll on him.

I pushed and pushed and I walked when needed and then I finally told myself to get over it and take control of your body.  This struggle went on long enough and thank god the last two miles where all down hill after a climb up from mile 15 with only short downhills before another climb.  Check out this link to see how my race broke down and the elevation change on this course..

http://runkeeper.com/user/NathanRWise/activity/76206989

I crossed the finish line in 4:08:15 according to the official clock which is a major improvement from last years LA Marathon but about 4 minutes slower than the Honolulu Marathon but according to my watch I finished in 4:03:43 which is a minute improvement from Honolulu Marathon.  The difference between the two clocks is that my watch stops with me and the official clock does not.  I did stop for the bathroom a couple times and to see Holly at mile 15 - Thanks for being there Candle!

I pushed as hard as could at the very end and I could barely walk to get my medal.  My legs were done and they wanted to stop and sit but the best thing to do after a run that long is keep moving, plus Holly and Fredy were picking me up.  So I walked to the race exit where there were thousands of rude people crowding the exit and wouldn't move to let runners out to go and meet their friends and families.  Seriously people that is why they have a family reunion area and seriously LA Marathon maybe you need to consider how other marathons do it with exit by last names so there isn't such a back log.

Anyways enough about that!  It turned out to be a rain free day and a huge day for me by being able to over come the pain and frustration of my body and pushing on to have a strong finish.  I am use to pushing thru pain and ignoring it as a dancer but running is a different beast that I am still getting use to.

So what is next?  Well I have Pajama Game coming up that I will be choreographing and as far as running goes we may do the OC Marathon, San Francisco Marathon, Chicago Marathon, or the New York Marathon.  Stay tuned and don't forgot to click on some ads to help support my blog.

Inspiration

Inspiration!  There are several people in my life that inspire me to be better, do more, love more, judge less, be more patient on  a daily basis.  I want to thank them for being such an inspiration in my life.  

My beautiful boyfriend Fredy.  He is so smart, loving, caring, and all around amazing.  He makes me want to learn more and push myself to new heights.  He was the inspiration behind running my first full marathon and pushes me to be faster and stronger as I run and he also helps me as I choreograph numbers.  He will tell me when it isn't looking well or when he loves it.  

My sister, Kirsten Erickson, inspires me everyday to be all of the of above and more.  She is such an incredible woman, mom, sister, and person.  She is raising three beautiful children and is constantly helping out our family with simply to complicated time consuming tasks, volunteers at her kids school as well as her church.  

Valerie Swartzman Hartford is a dear friend and my adagio partner also know as my fiancee.  She is raising two children and soon be a third.  Her husband is out of the country every 3 weeks for 3 weeks at a time.  She helps watch her sisters 3 kids while she works and she is helping care for her mother Denise Swartzman who is going thru cancer treatment.

Denise Swartzman is Valerie's mom and momma loves me best.  She is has spent her whole life helping others and making a difference in thousands of young kids lives thru her former dance studio and the Arizona Cinderella program.  She has remained strong and inspirational thru her cancer treatment and shows me love and support every time I see her or talk to her.

Holly Haynick, my candle.  She inspires me with her incredible talent, her drive to teach kids to dance.  She is such a strong and beautiful person and is always there to support me whenever I need her.  She is never threatened by other only inspired by others which is incredible and a lesson that some many need to learn.

Greg Kirby for all his work with kids, his family, his church.  We have been friends for almost 15 years and I have learned so much from him.

Donny Fox for his drive to always be better and do more.  He has always knows how to help you.

Janet Renslow taught me a whole new world of musical theatre and took me under her wing to teach me how to see better patterns and staging ideas.  Every time we talk she is inspiring me and making me feel like an incredibly talented dancer.

There are many more people who inspire me and I will do more to let them know that they inspire me.  

How inspires you and do they know how they inspire you?  What inspires you?  Tell us below in the comment section and share inspirational stories for others to learn from.