This was my 13th year to run as a St. Jude Hero! Well, actually I didn't get to run last year (dang kidney stone issues), but I was still a hero raising money. I only ran the half this year and I actually loved the shorter distance. 😁
10 years ago when we had 40 team members run on Team Run4TheKids in Memphis! What a great year that was! Team Run4TheKids is nowhere near 40 people currently, but we still have a few that continue to run for those precious kids in Memphis every year. Thank you, Nestor Raul Anzola, Joe Raymond, Richard Walley, Shanan for running this year!
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT HAS DONATED THIS YEAR! 🥰 This is my 💓 race! No child should die at their dawn of life, as Danny Thomas once said.
Shanan and I traveled together to Memphis. Our room was at the Hampton on Beale right at the start & finish line and right down the corner from the Peabody. Shanan had never seen the ducks at the Peabody so we went there on Friday when we arrived. I'm so glad we did because Shanan fell during the race on Saturday and we had to come home after the race so we would not have gotten to see the ducks on Saturday afternoon or Sunday. More on her fall later. The Peabody was beautiful as always and the gingerbread display was of the Peabody. I just love Christmas at the Peabody!
The weather was cold as usual, but we had sunshine! YIPPIE. We made it to the expo on Friday afternoon and then had time to stop at Aldo's for Pizza. It was a great afternoon!
Virginia drove down Friday night to surprise Susan, a friend of hers from TN that was doing the half. She wanted to come cheer Susan on. Well..... One of Susan's friends that was supposed to also do the half backed out so Virginia got to do the half with Susan and cheer her on while doing it along with her! How great is that?!?!?!
Race morning was a beautiful cold and sunny morning. Just the way I like it for running. 😛😍 Since our hotel was right at the start we sat and watched runners on the street walking around, trying to stay warm 😁 while we were nice and cozy. Joe was pacing the 5 hour marathon group so I decided I would run with them until the half and full split. Shanan was the only one in our group doing the full this year.
Around mile 5 I came up on Shanan and she was walking. I was like what's wrong.... I quickly noticed her knee was bleeding, her elbow was bleeding and she was holding her arm like a child does when they have nurse maid elbow! She told me she had fallen between mile 2-3! She said she felt like her shoulder was broke! I tried to talk her into stopping or at least walking and going in with me for the half. But she would not have it. She said she would walk and finish the marathon! Talk about determination! I could tell she was in pain, but she refused to stop.
I finished the half and stopped by the hero hospitality room for some food. I met a lady there that works for ALSAC (St Jude fundraising group, etc.). She asked me what I liked and didn't like about the race and why I ran as a hero for 13 years. I briefly told her my story as I was worrying about Shannan the whole time. I would of loved to have stayed longer and enjoyed the music and food, but I opted to go take a shower and get dressed. I felt like I would be taking Shanan to the hospital or even picking her up if she didn't finish the 26.2 miles. I tracked her and waited.....
When Shanan finally crossed that finish line the medics took her to the medical tent. Praise Jesus! 😇 They quickly asked for the actual medical doctor to check her over. She agreed with Shanan... broke shoulder. Shanan is a nurse practioner so she had already diagnosed herself! They put her in a sling and told her to go see her doctor when she got home.
So we missed our Saturday night dinner reservation and drove home. It seemed like a long ride home! Probably cause we were both tired, hungry, and it was DARK. I think we were both finally home around midnight. Ronnie had met us in Collins to get her and her vehicle because she was not able to drive. I worried about her the whole way home. I felt so bad for her. I know the feeling of something happening in a race that makes you feel like you can't do anything without something happening... and the feeling of when or if you'll come back from the injury.... It is very heartbreaking...
She did see a doctor on Monday and they confirmed a compact fracture to the humeral head aka shoulder! Sling for 4-6 weeks and checks to see if bone is healing properly. I'm praying for a speedy healing for her. 🙏
So that's a wrap of my St. Jude weekend. Next year is the 25th anniversary of the race and I plan to be back!
One more St. Jude medal to add to my board that is nothing but medals from St. Jude races. 💕
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