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• » Danielle Plantz

Danielle Plantz

Des Plaines, IL
Total Raised: $1,005.00

Journal

November Update  •  Thursday, November 01, 2007

A little something from my heart ...

Even though the marathon was nothing like I pictured my first marathon would be, I took so much from it.  I didn’t get to enjoy it as much as I would have liked but what I did enjoy was the love and generosity of the people.  The spectators along the sidelines were honestly amazing.  They were giving out their own water, ice, and using their own hoses to cool off the runners.  We are called to Love One Another and what a better example then that.  Yeah, the marathon was a disaster as everyone is saying, but when you truly look deeper and take the runners out of the perspective, the true story lies in the hearts of the individuals who took time out of their day to encourage and love the hurting (me). Those are the true heroes of the day.  I finished the marathon but I couldn’t without the people encouraging me or giving me ice and water when there wasn’t any.  They are the ones that will be blessed and I hope they realize what a blessing they were that day.  So, for them, Thank You.

Other than that, the marathon was an amazing experience and something I hope to do next year.  My mom was such a huge blessing throughout the marathon and helped me keep running when I thought about giving up.  I never thought in a million years that I could complete a marathon let alone four months of training.  However, with the strength and comfort our Lord gave me throughout this time was so abundant that it has helped me accomplish the marathon.  Training for and running in the Chicago Marathon has honestly changed my life.  I know so much more about dedication, determination and discipline more now than I ever have.  Not only in the physical aspect of my life, but mentally and spiritually like school, my spiritual life, work, family and friends.  This has been an incredible experience and one I will never forget.  The many hours spent running for a marathon to be cancelled was a hard thing to bear, but crossing that finish line and realizing I just ran (and walked) 26.2 miles was such a rush and one I will never forget.

2 Timothy 4:7
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

1. Would you or are you planning on running this distance again?
I would love to run this distance again.  I am planning on running the Chicago Marathon again next year.  Hopefully next year will be a much different and more pleasant one. ;)

2. Explain what it was like to run on the hottest day in the Chicago Marathon 30 year history?
Wow, the day couldn’t have started off worse.  After my alarm didn’t wake me up and waking up in a frantic after my mom woke me up minutes before we had to leave, I didn’t get enough fluid or food in me.  First mistake.  However, once I got to Grant Park I took a gel and got some water in me.  I felt ready and was excited.  Standing in the start corals was such a rush!  Finally, we started walking to the start line and I had so many emotions running through me.  With a tear of joy I was ready to complete the 26.2 miles.

The first few miles were amazing.  I felt like a hero with all the people yelling, “Go Danielle” or “Keep running, Danielle.”  I finally saw my family and friends at mile four right by Moody Bible Institute with a huge Green sign that said “Plantz Team.”  What an encouragement it was to see them!  However, from that point it was a fast downhill.  The sun was getting higher and the temperatures were rising…. FAST.  (Side Note:  I do not do well in heat.  Not only does my body hate it, my thinking is to drink a lot not realizing how my stomach would react.)

With that in mind, at Mile Six I was starting to feel it.  My stomach decided to reject everything I put in it and it all came out.  I felt okay afterwards but then I realized I still had 20 more miles to go and I can’t keep anything in… was freaking out.  My mom continued to push me (what a blessing she was) and we kept running until mile 11 where we met my family and friends again.  I wasn’t feeling so great at that point.  My body felt great it was just my stomach and lungs.  I couldn’t breathe because of the heavy air from the terrible humidity.

We finally got to the half way point.  I thought, “I have to do what I just did all over again… not fun!”  I then realized I just had to run/walk the rest.  I couldn’t push myself anymore or I would have ended up being one of the hundreds of runners that were taken to the ER.  However, my mom was a HUGE encouragement and pushed me along.  I definitely couldn’t have finished that race without her.

We got to about mile 16-17 when the water was getting scarce.  My mom and I began to worry.  However, there was still plenty of water it just took awhile to find it with all the runners swarming the tables.  After taking a cup to drink and cup to pour on my head, I kept going.

At about mile 19-20 is where we found out that the race was canceled.  All I could do at that point was cry.  I worked so hard the last four months to complete the marathon and now I couldn’t even finish my first marathon.  I looked at my mom and just started crying.  However, we proceeded and began walking, like the police told us.  As we were walking, I had never heard so many sirens in my life or seen so many dazed people.  The sights that I saw seemed like we being evacuated from a city that just was hit by some disaster.

We ran/walked the rest of the marathon and were able to finish in about 5 ½-6 hours, which seemed like FOREVER!  However, I still finished and even thought it wasn’t anything that I thought, I didn’t care.  I did it.  Well, that was my day. I finished and I got my medal.  I am a 2007 Chicago Marathon Finisher!  As so now, I just wait until October 12, 2008 to finish my 2nd and hopefully much different marathon.

3. Lastly please write something to each of your sponsors, it can be a thank you, share a verse, something from your heart.
Thank you so much for sponsoring me. I couldn’t have done it without each and everyone of you.  You all took time to continue to encourage and support me during my training and for that, Thank You!  Running the marathon was one of the hardest runs I ever had to accomplish but with your continued support and placing that in my mind, it helped me get through those last few steps.  May the Lord bless you for your huge heart and generosity.  Your actions and words have not gone unnoticed.  So, Thank You from the bottom of my heart, you truly helped make this one of the most interesting experiences of my life.

October Update  •  Monday, October 01, 2007

1. Please tell us how many months you have been training for this race and if you have your training totals please share.  (include running & biking mileage and any other cross training you have done)
I have been training since June 1st.  When the Marathon is completely over, the total amount of time I would have trained for, is a little more than four months.  It just seems like yesterday that I started training and I can’t believe the marathon is so close.  My total milage is going to be off a bit because I am not exactly sure how much I did of each but I will give my best approximate answer.

Running:  Approximately 450
Biking: Approximately 250 (I didn’t bike as much as the training came to an end ... :) )

2. Tell us what you’ll be doing the Saturday before the race?
I have my last college Homecoming the same weekend as the Chicago Marathon.  So hopefully ill be able to take it easy with all the Homecoming festivities going on like the football game.  However, I will definitely be getting ready for the big day by eating lots of carbs and drinking A LOT of water and hopefully getting to bed super early.

3. The race is almost here, please share your thoughts about the endless hours of training, your sacrifices and what this has done to impact or even change your life?
Wow, where to begin.  When I first signed up for the marathon, I had one of those stomach pains, I was nervous.  I had never ran a marathon or even trained that much before so I had no idea what to expect.  When I started training for the marathon the weather was just unbearable.  This summer was so warm and waking up when the sun was not even out was a extremely difficult.   However, I quickly learned to go to bed at a decent time, ate right and drank plenty of water.  After adding a mile on top of another mile, I soon realized that I was able to do this ...

I learned dedication, discipline and discouragement right away.  If I wanted to train right and be healthy I needed to be dedicated to my running, eating, and sleeping.  I also had to be disciplined to get up every morning and do my scheduled run or bike.  However, I also learned discouragement.  There were times where I thought of giving up or just not running.  It got really hot or it was too humid, or just the amount of time dedicated to training or being injured was overwhelming at times.  However, with encouragement from friends and family and especially from the Lord, I overcame those discouraging obstacles.

Toward the end of training and even now, I have been having terrible shoulder pains. After going to the doctor and a few times at physical therapy I am slowly overcoming the pain and hopefully it won’t bother me when I run the Marathon.

However, even through everything, I have learned so much.  The Lord has given me so much strength, endurance and encouragement, which has helped me get through the four long months of endless running.  This experience has allowed me to learn so much about myself and really how to discipline myself.  This experience has been life changing and I am so glad I decided to run it.  Chicago Marathon… here I come!

September Update  •  Friday, August 31, 2007

1. Share with us your workout schedule for August?
August I ran in the Chicago Distance Classic Half Marathon, which wasn’t my favorite race at all.  I also ran a 16 miler in Michigan, & an 18 miler & 19 miler on the lakefront. Along with the long runs, I also ran long midweek runs. Running the 18 miles really showed me that I can actually complete this…

2. How are you holding up physically and mentally?
Very well actually.  I thought starting school would hurt my training but it hasn’t really affected it negatively. Physically, I am exhausted but doing well.  Mentally, fantastic!  I have been so encourage by others & the Lord that it has helped me complete those long, long runs.

3. Athlete’s Journal:  Please make this your journal for the month of August and share with us everything and anything you would like?
I can’t believe I am one month out from the Marathon.  It seems like I just started training.  It has been an amazing experience sharing it with others & my mom.  My long runs have been very encouraging.  I look forward to the final weeks of training & completing the marathon.

August Update  •  Friday, July 27, 2007

1. What makes you keep going on a day when you just aren’t having a good run or training day?
These are the worst days... :) However, I just run one mile at a time.  When I know I am having a bad day I just try to push myself.  Although, there are times where I have to walk but having an awesome run the next day wipes out the discouragement from before.

2. What things are you doing to prepare physically and mentally for the marathon?
Physically just eating right, getting enough sleep, resting and doing different training techniques other than just running.

Mentally, just having time alone with the Lord and constantly telling myself that running is 99% mental.  Allowing myself to continually encourage and tell myself that I can run and complete training helps me accomplish my daily workouts.  The Lord by far gives me that type of mentality!

3. In what ways are your family or friends helping support you while training?
My friends have been very supportive.  When I tell others about my training, people are so encouraging when they hear that I am running 26.2 they tell me they are so inspired.  I also work with two other individuals who are running the marathon so we talk about our training a lot during work, which helps.  My family is great as well.  I have my mom training with me and she has been a phenomenal running partner.

Is there anyone in particular that helps motivate you?
My mom.  It has been very encouraging running with her. Running my long runs are much easier with someone else than just myself.

4. Athletes Journal:
For my 21st birthday my mom created a marathon journal for me.  It was one of my favorite birthday gifts and it has been incredible to write my thoughts about my training.  I have been able to write everyday after my daily workouts and runs and describe how my run was, what I was able to think about and what my emotions/feelings were.  The other day I was able to run a 14-mile run on the lakefront at 5:30am.  There were not a lot of people out and it was a beautiful morning.  I felt great the whole run and watching the sunrise during the first few miles was an incredible experience.  Nothing is better than that.  God is Good.

July Update  •  Monday, July 02, 2007

1. With three months remaining before your race what’s going through your mind?
With three months remaining, I have mixed feelings of excitement and nervousness.  I look at my running calendar at my long runs and ask myself, how am I going to complete them and where am I going to find time?  However, each run has encouraged me more and more and these past few weeks have been more positive than negative so I know I can do this, especially with the Lord.

2. What is your training schedule for the month of July?
July gets more intense.  I train with my mom, which helps tremendously.  However, she will be at Camp Harvest for a few weeks and then we travel to New Mexico for a week so our training schedule will be a little shaky.  July consists of hill runs, longer midweek runs, cross-training, and of course, longer Saturday runs. 

3. What is your long run up to?
For the marathon training, I have ran about 12 miles.  However, my mom and I had a good base to start with, running the Indy Mini in the beginning of May and the Soldier Filed 10 Mile at the end of May (which has helped!) so I am feeling encouraged with my current long runs. 

4. Athletes Journal:
One reason why I enjoy running is how it allows my mind to open up.  The other day I went running really early in the forest preserve by my house (beautiful to run through).  I was discouraged by my shin splints, normal issues of life and the HOT weather.  However, while I was listening to my ipod I was able to worship and truly concentrate on the song that was playing:

Morning by morning I wake up to find
The power and comfort of God’s hand in mine
Season by season I watch Him, amazed
In awe of the mystery of His perfect ways
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He’s always been faithful to me.

My runs have been either really good or to the point where I want to quit.  However, during the run I knew with the Lord’s help I was able to do this.  He has helped me continue to persevere.

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