My First Marathon aka race recap: Honolulu Marathon

When I first start running consistently in 2011, I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would someday complete a marathon. The idea of run 26.2 miles was daunting to say the least and I felt that women like me don't do marathons (plus size and slow.) Thanks to an increase in plus size/fat role models in the running world such at Latoya Shauntay Snell (aka runningfatchef,) Mirna Valerio (aka the mirnavator,) Martinus Evans (aka 300poundsandrunning,) Jill Angie (aka not your average runner) and other, they inspired me to tackle the challenge of completing a marathon!     

Below are photos from the marathon expo, race day, while on the race course as well as post race and finisher expo photos. If you're someone planning to check complete a marathon off your bucket list, I can't recommend this race highly enough. There is no course time limit so you can take as long as you need to complete the distance. I finished the marathon in 8:51:26 however the marathon course stays open until the very last person finishes which were two participants from Japan who finished in 17 hours.  

 

 

 

The race course was beautiful and the course support staff where friendly and helpful. I enjoyed that I could take my time to fully take in all the sights and sounds of Honolulu. The aloha spirit was definitely in full effort on race day.

 

 


After completing the marathon, finishers were given a shell necklace as well as the medal. On the following day, finishers had the opportunity to pick up their official finisher certificates as well as have the certificate laminated and framed.I am so happy to be able to check this off my bucket list as well as having completed my big running goal for the year of completing a marathon.This was absolutely the best way to end my 2019 year of running!

 
 

2019 52 Books in 52 Weeks Reading Challenge is Done!

Each year, I take on reading challenges as a way to get outside of my reading comfort zone. This year in addition to doing the 2019 Popsugar Reading Challenge, I also added the Mrs. Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks which contains a total of 52 books. 

Below is a list of all the books I read for the 2019 52 Books in 52 Weeks Reading Challenge along with their reading prompt. If you wanted to see more of the books I've read this year, you can check out my Goodreads profile at: https://www.goodreads.com/user_challenges/15431036.

2019 52 Books in 52 Weeks Reading Challenge:

1. A book published in 2019: Howard Stern Comes Again by Howard Stern
2. An author you've never heard of before: Introvert Doodles by Maureen "Marzi" Wilson
3. A book you've read before: Quiet Girl in a Noisy World by Debbie Tung
4. A book with a strong female lead: Counting By 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
5. A play: Antigone by Sophocles
6. A book set in Southern USA: Miss Julia Delivers the Goods by Ann B. Ross
7. A memoir on someone you admire: The First Time by Cher
8. Set in the Victorian Era: The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber
9. A character with a career you wish you had: Cabin Fever by Mandy Smith
10. A plant on the cover: Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss
11. Published the year you graduated school (1997): The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
12. A graphic novel: My Boyfriend is a Bear by Pamela Ribbon & Cat Farris
13. Featuring music: Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks
14. The re-telling of a well-known story: Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
15. An ugly cover: Zombie Raccoons & Killer Bunnies by Martin H. Greenberg and Kerri Hughes
16. A teen as the main character: Kingdom Keepers Disney After Dark by Ridley Pearson
17. Set during a holiday: Anything For Thanksgiving by Wanda A. Wallace
18. A book picked out for you by someone else: Six Scary Stories by Stephen King
19. Gothic fiction novel: The Mirror Sisters by V.C. Andrews
20. A book about time-travel: Chronin by Alison Wilgus 
21. A title that starts with the letter "J": Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
22. Fantasy novel: Forerunner by Andre Norton
23. Ture crime novel: Murder Beyond the Grave by James Patterson
24. A self-published book: Delay, Don't Deny by Gin Stephens
25. The name of a color in the title: Gift of the Red Bird by Paula D'Arcy
26. A one word title: Vox by Christina Dalcher
27. A book that makes you mad: The Trump Prophecies by Mark Taylor & Mary Colbert
28. A book that discusses mental health: (Don't) Call Me Crazy by Kelly Jensen
29. A book published by HarperCollins: Wait, What by James E. Ryan
30. An author who uses initials: The Mister by E.L. James
31. A book that everyone's talking about: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
32. A western: The Black Hills by Rod Thompson
33. A book about a cult: Marcus Wesson by Nancy Veysey and Ryan Becker
34. Nominated for (but didn't win) the 2018 Goodreads choice awards: The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
35. A sports related book: Ringside : A History of Professional Wrestling in America by Scott M. Beekman
36. A humorous novel: Problems by Jade Sharma
37. Set in South America: The Lady, The Chef, and the Courtesan by Marisol
38. An allegorical book: A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond
39. Military related: fiction or non-fiction: It's My Country Too by Jerri Bell & Tracy Crow
40. A character that is an immigrant: Lupita Manana by Patricia Beatty
41. A book suggested by someone else in the challenge: A Summer To Die by Lois Lowry
42. A family member's favorite book: Sex and the City: Kiss and Tell by Amy Sohn
43. A children's book: Tell Me a Tattoo Story by Allison McGhee
44. An author who uses a pseudonym: Naked in Death by J.D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts)
45. A "beach"read: Welcome to Moonlight Harbor by Sheila Roberts
46. The first book you set in a bookstore/library: The Atlas of Reds and Blues by Devi S. Laskar
47. Set in a country you've visited (Canada): Childhood by Andre' Alexis 
48. Set in a post-apocalyptic world: The Walking Dead Vol. 1: Days Gone By by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore
49. A speed read: Art Matters by Neil Gaiman
50. A fairy tale: A Wolf at the Door and Other Retold Fairy Tales by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling
51. An book about organized crime/the mob: Smaldone: The Untold Story of An American Crime Family by Dick Kreck
52. An audiobook: The Elephant in the Room by Tommy Tomlinson

Bakersfield Half Marathon Race Recap

I recently completed my last half  marathon for the year which was the Bakersfield 1/2 Marathon in Bakersfield, California on November 17th. The course was fairly flat and the community support while running the race was top notch. Below are photos from before the race, at the start line, after the race and a final photo of the race medal.

Me before the start of the race

Bakersfield 1/2 Marathon Starting Line

Me after the half marathon

Me and online Facebook friend meet in real life

Me at booth after half marathon

Bakersfield 1/2 Marathon Medal