To race or not to race

[pikaboo27]

Hey everyone (sorry this is long)

I'm trying to decide what to do. I'm registered for the tinkerbell half marathon and myself, DH, the kiddo and my parents were all planning to go down to DL. But a couple months ago due to financial reasons, I decided to defer. Which would had been great except all the deferrals sold out. Sigh. So I decided I was just going to have to eat the cost of the race. It made me really sad.

A little back story, several years ago I signed up for the Princess half, but a bad case of shin splints came up and I chickened out and didn't go. I didn't even go and try. To this day, it bothers me. I had also wanted to do the Tink but was smart enough to not sign up that time. Instead I went along with friends and cheered them on, jealous that I wasn't getting the medal with wings.

That's why I wanted to sign up. I wanted the Tink to be my first 1/2. I'm healthy and I know I can do the distance. I want to have that redemption.

But for financial reasons, we just can't all go. But I was thinking about just going myself. It's about a 7 hour drive, so I was thinking of driving down on Saturday, doing the run on Sunday and driving back home. But...it's Mother's Day. My son is 3 and I hate to miss the day with him and I hate to miss the day with my mom as well. So as much as I want to go, I feel like I am being selfish for even thinking about going.

I guess I just don't want to keep being the kind of person who gives up. Who doesn't finish things. I don't want to regret something I didn't do. I just don't know what to do. DH says he'll support whatever decision I make. I guess I need to talk to my mom since it's her Mother's Day too.

Anyway, thanks for reading and sorry for the long post.

 

[Geemo]

Mother's Day to me it's just another day.

If your husband is okay either way.....
If you really want to do the run then do it.
Look at your families calendar and talk with your mom. There's no reason why you can't do a family Mother's Day on a different day.
We've done just that for many of the so called Hallmark Holidays. You need to do what works for you and your family.

Geemo

 

[disneyhopeful4]

Do it. Seriously, just go. Your mom will understand... Maybe she will even want to come be your cheerleader! Your son is 3... He honestly won't even realize or care about the significance of the day... He won't remember. And you are a mom and this day is for you. Celebrate your motherhood, your health, and acheive your goal. Go.

 

[ludari]

I would recommend you go.

 

[Butterfly123]

I agree with Geemo. Your family is behind you. Go! But make sure if you do you get your head in the right space so that you can enjoy it! Guilt is such a wasted emotion...it doesn't help anyone. The last thing you want is to go and feel bad the whole time.

 

[coaches24]

Do it. Seriously, just go. Your mom will understand... Maybe she will even want to come be your cheerleader! Your son is 3... He honestly won't even realize or care about the significance of the day... He won't remember. And you are a mom and this day is for you. Celebrate your motherhood, your health, and acheive your goal. Go.

I agree with this ^^^^

 

[Angrose]

Yes, please GO! You will regret it if you don't. Besides, it's Mother's Day, it's about doing what you want to do on your day. If mommy wants to run a race, then she SHOULD DO IT! Then you can celebrate Mother's Day AND your amazing accomplishment the following weekend with your family. Good luck!

 

[AmericanItGirl]

I agree with all of the other responders. I'm not a mom myself, but my mom is choosing to run the 10k the day before, which means not celebrating Mother's Day with her mom on the day of. The way she sees it is that this is what she wants to do as her choice for Mother's Day. You're queen for a day. See if your mom wants to go with you and turn it into a girls-only road trip, which could be the best gift you can give your mom for Mother's Day, one-on-one time with no other family distractions (being the mom of a three year old, how much one-on-one time have you had with her lately?).

 

[kirstie101]

Do it. Mothers Day can be celebrated with your family any day you want! Go do the race yourself. You'll meet people while you're there. You'll have a great time and you'll do something you've been working towards for a long time! You already paid for it. You deserve to go down there and complete it. Celebrate mothers day the weekend before or after with your family. Go celebrate you and all your hard work!!!!!

 

[kim3339]

I second what people have already mentioned, if your family is okay w/it, then do it. For last year's W&D, my dog died the night before my flight out to WDW and race night, I wanted to be anywhere but at the start line and thought about dropping out and going back to the room pretty much every step until about mile 6. But I stuck it out and finished and I was so happy and glad I stuck w/ it when I finished. Out of all my races, that was mentally the hardest race I've ever done and the one I'm most proud of finishing.

As for the financal part of it, I know you mentioned that the rest of your family isn't going, but w/ a 7 hour drive, are you close to an airport were it might be cheaper, and more time efficient coming back on Sun, to fly? SWA still has some great flight prices available. I live in the Bay Area and the price of gas for going down and back is about the same as a flight, maybe $10-20 more, but I'd be there in 1 1/2 hours vs the 6 hour drive. That Way you could still have the afternoon w/ your mom and son.

 

[2tinkerbell]

I would definitely go for it. Mother's Day is just a day. You can celebrate it any day that works for you and your family.

I, too, question the 7 hour drive back home on Sunday. If you could possibly have another driver that would be best. If your Mom can come then make it a real Mother's Day celebration. I know that there is no way that I could sit let alone drive that after running a 1/2 Marathon. Check out SW and Alaska to see if they have a cheap flight.

 

[Geemo]

Jet Blue sent me an email for $49 flights. Shop around and see if you can find a flight.

 

[pikaboo27]

Thank you everyone for your encouragement and support.

I talked to my mom and it turns out that my parents were planning to head down to Disneyland on Monday after Mother's Day! They didn't even say anything! They have a vacation home in San Diego and they were planning to drive down on Monday and stop at the Happiest Place on Earth on the way down. So now, mom, dad and I are driving down together on Friday (Bonus day in the park!) and then I'm doing the race on Sunday and they are going to drive me to the airport and I'll be flying home.

So, basically, it's working out better than I originally planned. I'm so excited I get to do my race!

 

[kirstie101]

Thank you everyone for your encouragement and support.

I talked to my mom and it turns out that my parents were planning to head down to Disneyland on Monday after Mother's Day! They didn't even say anything! They have a vacation home in San Diego and they were planning to drive down on Monday and stop at the Happiest Place on Earth on the way down. So now, mom, dad and I are driving down together on Friday (Bonus day in the park!) and then I'm doing the race on Sunday and they are going to drive me to the airport and I'll be flying home.

So, basically, it's working out better than I originally planned. I'm so excited I get to do my race!

Yay! I'm so happy for you! You're going to have an amazing time!

 

[jina]

Yay! Sounds like the perfect Mother's Day. Have a great race!

 

[kim3339]

Thank you everyone for your encouragement and support.

I talked to my mom and it turns out that my parents were planning to head down to Disneyland on Monday after Mother's Day! They didn't even say anything! They have a vacation home in San Diego and they were planning to drive down on Monday and stop at the Happiest Place on Earth on the way down. So now, mom, dad and I are driving down together on Friday (Bonus day in the park!) and then I'm doing the race on Sunday and they are going to drive me to the airport and I'll be flying home.

So, basically, it's working out better than I originally planned. I'm so excited I get to do my race!

Yay! That's great news, so happy everything was able to work out for you.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm so glad it's working out.

And I did want to say a huge YES to this:

Besides, it's Mother's Day, it's about doing what you want to do on your day. If mommy wants to run a race, then she SHOULD DO IT!

First, it's just a day. And second, yes yes yes.

 

[Eclectic Goddess]

When in doubt, Disney.

Also, when in doubt, race.

 

[kirstie101]

When in doubt, Disney.

Also, when in doubt, race.

Love this!