“I’m so proud of myself.”
A phrase I told myself countless times over the last eight weeks! I really enjoy working out and moving my body but not necessarily running…
Last April 2024, after watching General Conference, I wanted to go and watch the runners at the finish line for the Berlin Half Marathon. It was sunny and the air was full of excitement. It was Justin’s first time being in an environment like that watching a race.
& it was so inspiring! To see so many people work so hard to accomplish something. & to join with more people to cheer those strangers on.
Walking down the cobblestone median with the Brandenburg Gate behind us, Logan in his stroller, I had the thought I want to run this race so badly next year. I hope when the time rolls around, I still want to do it.
Last weekend I did it!!!!
I registered for the race in June 2024 - 10 months before the actual event haha. I was locked in.
It was truly something I looked forward to and thought about almost daily until my training began.
I convinced Brynn, who is living in Spain with her husband to run it with me. (Biggest blessing!!)
We trained and sent selfies back and forth updating each other on how our runs went.
Every Saturday morning, I would wake up and drive to my parking spot by the Victory Column to get my “long run” in. After every mile ran I would say out loud, “Good job, Claire. I’m so proud of myself.” I’ve always been confident in myself, but doing that positive self talk was a special experience. I really am so proud of myself for doing training especially when I didn’t want to do it!
Justin & Logan called me on almost every run (sometimes multiple times). They kept me going and I’m so grateful for their support.
Race weekend arrived & so did Brynn and Jamie to Berlin!! I started to get butterflies the night before but they were quickly overshadowed with the excitement and anticipation that had been building up for almost one year.
I had prepared and I was ready!
Our cheerleaders drove us to the Reichstag & we walked with the other thousands who were crazy enough to sign up for the race
Don't let the sunshine surprise you - it was still pretty chilly! Thankfully we had some jackets and sweaters we could wear & donate at the start line.
The energy and music at the start line carried me through the first few miles. It was so exciting!! So much energy & anticipation to perform after all of those preparation runs and weeks of training.
The actual race was a blur. It was HARD. Every month of 2025 so far (yes, even April), I’ve had some sort of cold which affected my training. I definitely could have trained better but it was what it was and wow I’m so thankful I had Brynn to keep me going.
She was so positive and encouraging when I’m sure she was tired too. Each kilometer we passed, I said, “Good job Claire, I’m so proud of myself."
The last 5 kilometers were brutal. Longest 5k I’ve ever ran. Ha! But the race course and spectators were so motivating. We had people cheering for us quite literally every step of the way. & if there weren’t people, there were bands playing their drums and singing for us.
It was so cool!!!!!!!!
Right before we hit the Brandenburg Gate, my scanning eyes found Justin, Logan, Jamie, and Walli, standing in the spot I had stood one year earlier - cheering for us!! It made me want to cry. I was so happy to see them and relieved to almost be done.
My slow pace picked up and after crossing through the gate, I saw my Brazilian sisters with a big neon pink sign cheering me on to the finish line.
What a blessing to have so much support and feel so loved.
I’m so thankful I stuck with that goal and followed through. Crossing the finish line was surreal. How are you supposed to abruptly stop your legs after they’ve been going, going for almost two hours.
We got our medals and couldn’t keep the smiles off of our faces. We did it!!!!!
I’m so thankful I got to share that experience with Brynn. & so thankful that Justin could be at the finish line for me. He’s rarely home on Sundays with his schedule, but everything truly lined up in the best way possible for him to come support me for a few minutes before heading straight to his home game.
Forever grateful for him. (Xoxo)
My legs are still sore (3 days later) but at least I don’t look too stiff when I’m walking. Ha!
We went home and rested for a few hours before heading for the airport to the NETHERLANDS.
The airport and our airplane was full of runners proudly wearing their medals. We got a big congratulations from our flight attendant and I have never moved so slowly walking down the stairs from an plane to the tarmac.
I’m sure I was quite the sight walking crookedly down the stairs with a huge toddler baby on my hip!
It was such a special, cool, amazing, hard, rewarding experience & I'm so thankful I could share it with the people I love in Berlin.