Time for my FAVORITE race.
After Erin and I were done with our tour at Graceland we grabbed a quick lunch down by the convention center so we could grab our race packets and then head on over to the Peabody to get checked in and rest. I needed to get off my feet and rest b4 the 26.2 miles on Saturday.
My delicious pizza for lunch. It's been a LONG time since I had real pizza and not cauliflower crust. I figured I better carb up. Hee Hee ... Plus the place just smelt so good when we parked that I couldn't resist.
Standing by our race.
Loved all the HEROES welcome signs at the expo!
Had to get pic for my mom. :>) We sure missed her this year!
My shirt and bib.
Me, Jennifer, Krista & Frank before Erin and I headed to Pasta dinner at the expo. Love the shirts Jennifer had made for us! See the heroes in our name? so cool!
Did I mention it rained off and on Friday? And then it really came down when we left the pasta dinner headed back to our hotel. We got soaked and the wind broke my umbrella. :( My favorite Sanderson umbrella that I keep in my vehicle. I should have known it was a sign for what was coming on Saturday. Ann captured this picture of my broken umbrella. We did get a big laugh while we were all running in the rain. We felt like we were going to be Mary Poppins. :>)
The family that spoke at the hero pasta dinner was amazing! I sat in my chair with tears running down my face. I looked around and I think everyone at our table and all the other tables were doing the same. Listening to a mom talk about her child having cancer not once but twice, really reminded me why I created Team Run4TheKids. Every year they have a different speaker and they are all unique, but this family just really touched my heart. It was a mother and a son. I sat there thinking how I would be if it was my son. They smiled and held it together so well as they both spoke! Yep, the son also spoke and then he played the guitar and sang for us. I had to video it. It was amazing! See the 2nd time he had cancer it was in his arm and he had to have part of his arm bone removed. He thought he would never be able to play the guitar again and he LOVED playing. But through physical therapy and most importantly the love of God he can play again. What a blessing. The hero pasta dinner usually never disappoints! It will fire you up to run the next day. There were 6,500 hundred heroes this year running among the total 27,000 runners and 2,500 heroes at the pasta dinner. It's amazing to be in the same room with so many people that share the same desire as you ..... to raise the must needed money for St. Jude Children!
Here is the video.. it's kind of long, but so worth it. The first video is of his mom telling their story The 2nd video is of her son playing the guitar.
Here is the video.. it's kind of long, but so worth it. The first video is of his mom telling their story The 2nd video is of her son playing the guitar.
Not every family has a happy ending like this family. Kids are still dying of cancer every day. But if we keep raising money for St. Jude ..... maybe one day NO child will die. I'd love to see Danny Thomas dream come true!
So race morning the races were all delayed an hour due to weather. When I got up there was weather reports of lightening close by. The marathon was supposed to start at 8am and now the start time would be 9am. I ended up hanging around in my room most of the extra time. My stomach just wasn't right. Maybe it was the pizza from the day before or something else. Not sure...but it just wasn't right. I did go down to walk Erin out to start the 5K and while down on the street took a few pictures with teammates waiting to start their races.
Me, Frank, Krista & Daniel
Me, Sunshine, Liz, & Erin
So it was finally start time for the marathon and I made my way through the crowd and found my friends who I had hoped to run with most of the race.
Penny, Ann, Be & Me
Penny, Ann, Be, & Me
They were in the corral with Joe who was a 4:30 pacer and I hoped to try to hang with my teammate Joe. It's been a couple of years since I did a 4:30, but I thought it was doable. I felt strong and that's like a 10:18 pace so I figured I'd at least give it a try. I had ran a 5:01 back in February coming off hip bursitis and I've trained so hard all year for the ironman that I figured if I hung with a pace team that I might come close to that 4:30 again.
I did manage to stay with Joe till mile 5 and then the bathroom hit me again. Oh and I forgot to mention that they changed the course this year. Lots of HILLS. By mile 5 we had already had a pretty nice climb on a hill that in the past we typically ran down. I missed the downhill! LOL
I had hoped I would catch back up to Joe and the group after the bathroom stop, but then the bathroom hit me 2 more times!!! My stomach was just not right for some reason. I never saw the 4:30 pace group again. :( By mile 17 I was walking more and more. I was so over the HILLS. They seemed to just keep on coming. And we had wind from the weather that was 15-20 mph, plus it had turned off hot after the rain left with the sun blazing.
By mile 21 I really wanted to quit. It was at this point that I saw one of my friends family waiting to cheer her on. When her dad saw me he gave me a big old bear hug and encouraged me. I wanted to just cry in his arms. My whole body hurt all over. I had started getting bad cramps in my bad foot and my stomach was just a mess. I was so mad that I told myself that I was not quitting. I don't quit. I push on. So that's what I did. I didn't care that I was walking more than running. I was covering ground and getting closer to the finish. Oh I wanted that finish! I had to stop several times to stretch too. One time a guy stopped and asked me if I was ok. I told him not really, but I'd be ok. He just smiled and said I know what you mean. Around mile 23 we came into an open area where there were no buildings to block the wind and it felt like it was going to blow me over. It was all I could do to push through it and continue. It stayed windy until like 1/2 mile to the finish line. Those last 3 miles were the LONGEST miles ever! This was truly me for this race. Every marathon is different that's for sure! This was my 12 and none of them have been the same feeling!
I finished with a time of 5:33.... not what I had hoped for by a long shot. I was so disappointed. That dang new course was HARD!! Don't let the smile in the picture fool ya... I was just glad to be DONE!
The bathroom hit be again and I barely made it to my room when I pooped in my pants before I could get in the bathroom! Yep, crap happens! :) I didn't even go into Autozone park for the food or after race party. I had to get to the tub! I was also following my friend Krista who was doing her 1st marathon. I had just enough time to get in a bath and soak for 20 minutes and then get clean clothes on and walk back out to the finish to see her. I'm so PROUD of her! They tried to put her in the car around mile 22 because they were shutting down the course, but she told them no! She was doing her 26.2 miles. Now that's a true marathoner! I've watched her train hard all year to accomplish her goal. I'm glad she didn't give up at mile 22. She would have regretted it. Can't wait to see what she accomplishes in 2019!
Me, Jennifer, Krista & Frank
Erin and I got dressed and grabbed a picture by the Peabody Christmas tree then headed out for supper and a little fun on Beale street. We meet Sunshine & Dave at BB Kings where we heard some good music. I even danced with my sore toe. I had a HUGE blister on it after the race. We had a good time and my stomach seemed to settle down. Thank goodness! Erin and I drove home Sunday with my sunroof open (weather was perfect) listening to her playlist and just had the BEST time. I need to get her playlist. She's got some good songs. :>)
Looking back at results and hearing others say how hard they thought the new course was made me feel not so bad about my time. I finished and that's all that matters. So if there is one piece of advice I'd give you it is.... NEVER EVER GIVE UP.
The St. Jude kids don't give up! This patient was out cheering us as we ran through the St. Jude campus. Her smile says it all. Just look at that radiant young girl! She's happy seeing all the heroes that are running because she knows the money we raise goes to help them. :>)
Thank you to each person that donated and help me meet my goal! The kids at St. Jude are truly blessed to have people like you that care so much and I'm blessed to have awesome friends!
So that's a wrap! Me and my daughter had a great weekend! We missed my mom who usually does the 5K with Erin due to my dad deciding he would climb a 10 foot ladder and fall!
Go for it! If I can do a marathon... so can you!
and Don't forget to put GOD first.
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