Looking back in time

As the runDisney WDW Marathon Weekend quickly approaches, I often think back to my first marathon - WDW 2007.  It was the scariest and also the most exhilarating experience of my life.  I learned that day what I could really push myself to do when I set my mind to it.  I completed that first marathon in 5 hours 18 minutes.

Hubby & I after the 2007 WDW Marathon

I recently took the time to log all of my marathon and half marathon PRs in one place, along with various other distances.  It is rather baffling to see the progress I've made since I started running - with my first race being a 5k back in March of 2006.

Marathon - improvement 1:26:53
7 January 2007 WDW Marathon - 5:18:10
18 November 2012 Tulsa Route 66 Marathon - 3:51:17

Half Marathon - improvement 0:24:46
19 March 2006 St. Louis Track Club Half Marathon - 2:06:41
6 October 2012 Hero Run Half Marathon - 1:41:55

10-mile - improvement 0:07:15
25 November 2006 Alton Great River Road Run - 1:29:29
29 September 2012 runDisney's Tower of Terror 10-mile - 1:22:14

10k - improvement ~0:10:xx
Sometime in 2006 at a race I can't remember - ~ 58:xx
9 June 2012 Route 66 10k - 47:52

5-mile - improvement ~0:07:30
March 2006 Irish Parade Run - ~44:5x
28 May 2012 Highland Lion's Run - 37:27

5k - improvement 0:06:50
5 March 2006 Toolen's AOH run - 28:23
22 September 2012 Italianfest 5k - 21:33

On those days when you question your abilities, take a look back at when you first started and see how far you've really come.  This doesn't just apply to your finishing times, but your endurance and other aspects of life.  Every step we take is one more in a positive direction.  Despite all the crummy run days I've had, looking back at this, I can really see the progress I've made and that the hours of training have really paid off.