These are words that I uttered over and over on race day. They just don't seem to cover my gratitude for all the people that helped me get to the finish line. My race weekend started like any other....off to the expo. Bought my traditional pin (I have one from every race), necessities, and walked around for a bit. The next day brought our TNT Inspiration Dinner which always puts things in perspective. We heard from a teenager from Tucson named Gabbi, who is a survivor who has seen more in her 15 years of life than any girl should. We got out last minute instructions and took pictures. We all headed home where we would try to sleep but most won't. Of course I didn't, I was too busy getting updates and then watching my friend, Jennifer, get 3rd runner up to Miss America. What is even cooler than that is the fact that her platform helps kids with life threatening illnesses and her ambition is to be a pediatric oncologist. So, she helping the fight in her way while I am helping in mine.
Race day is here! I got up too early....after getting very little sleep due to my hacking cough. One thing that I have not had happen before a race is getting sick. I had come down with the crud that everyone had right before Christmas and had the lovely residual cough, one that would haunt me for 26.2 miles.
So, we all meet up and head to the start. Check in our gear bags and head to the corrals. Almost all of us were in corral 8, so it was really cool starting with all my friends, even though we all run at different paces (waaaaaayyyyy different in my case). Our rolling/walking pit crew, Denise, Mary, and Sarah were at the start as well. I knew that I was going to appreciate their jobs, but at that time, I didn't realize how much I would. Delayed start. WHAT? I just want to get this show on the road for pete's sake! Finally! We are off!! Here we go.....no turning back now!!
I was doing pretty well for a few miles when the cough started in. Bummer! I was trying to keep my run/walk intervals going but this cough was making it a little hard. It made my first half slower than I would have liked. Thank you Coach Sara for walking most of this with me!! I loved hearing your opinions on the different houses we passed and just chatting with you. Luckily, you got the normal side of me before things got ugly.
Before I forget, our rolling Pit Crew: Denise aka Ribbon Girl, Mary, and Sarah - they were on bike/foot/car and each time I saw them, they had different signs, gu, crack beans, and anything else anyone needed. Some signs were for any runner, but some that were inside jokes for just me. They made me laugh and helped me get to the next time I would see them.
Next up, the second half.....the half that I was so eager to see. Saw Ed at mile 14, which was nice. Love that he's a realist and said, "See you in 3 hours." Yep, you sure will.......more than that even. LOL!! Was still doing okay until about mile 18. Here's the wall that I had never experience. Judging from the text sent Mary, it was about 18.5 where I, and I quote, "wanted to die." Who shows up when I am feeling horrible? My rolling pit crew. Mary sent Denise my way with a sandwich that I really couldn't eat but tried, crack beans that helped later, and moral support that was much needed. Thanks Coach Gary for getting me through this portion of the race.....the ugly one where I got really quiet and you just walked or talked to me. I heard you were good at the "ugly" part of races. Yes, you are!!
Mile 22: An obstacle that I tried to avoid and will remain nameless for now. I was feeling pretty defeated because of this and who should appear but Denise, Mary, Sarah, Heather, and Vanessa. We walked for a bit longer and I heard my name again........Meredith and Amber from the LLS staff. They joined up and walked with us too......at the wrong time because not far ahead was a hill. I may not have looked like it or sounded like it because I had become pretty silent at this point, but all of these people walking with me was keeping me going. I wanted to give up so many times at this point but knew that I couldn't. I had gone so far and trained so hard, I wasn't going to let a stupid cold keep me from finishing a race that I was running for people who can't. At one point, I remember Amber saying, "remember those names on your back....you are doing this for them." Thank you Amber for reminding me of that.....I needed it!
Okay, now I see the Mill Ave bridge......the greatest bridge ever at this point. The last mile of the course. I think it was right before the bridge that more coaches joined us, including my own coaches, Emily and Tom. Not that I don't love the other coaches because all our TNT coaches are amazing, but it was great to see faces that I had trained with every Saturday and who had helped me each week get to this point. Later on the bridge, more coaches, including another one of my EV coaches, Steve joined us. I had a posse! Somewhere on the bridge, my sister, Hope was there. She joined in the posse. I am pretty sure that at this point, the race officials just wanted the stragglers to be done, so no one said anything about a quarter of my posse not having race bibs!
Almost to the finish line: LLS Staff - the girls I had worked with for 6 months and gotten to know and love so much. They had made good on their promise to me at the finish line.....LOL.
Finish line: Greatest feeling ever! Finished something that I said I would NEVER do and I did it with the support of people I love for a cause that I love. While I said I didn't want to be the last TNT participant to cross the finish line, I would not have it any other way. While I love every race and every experience, nothing can top this one.
THANK YOU!!
My Teammates who waiting around hours for me to finish: It meant so much to have you at the finish line! Seeing you guys as I came around that curve is where I started to lose it. You all have been there for me through a lot this past year and I could not have gotten this far without you.
LLS Staff: I really had no idea what you folks do until I helped do it myself and I will be forever grateful for all you do for us participants. Thank you so much for what you do to help our mission. So many people have no idea what they don't see that goes on behind the scenes. I very much enjoyed getting to know you guys a little better and will forever have your backs! How can I not?
EV Coaches: Emily, Tom, Steve: You all rock as coaches and I could not have done this without you. Whether it was out on the canal, in the Biltmore loop, in an email, or out on the race course, your encouraging words got me to the finish line. Thank you so much for all you do to get all of us to the finish line for this cause.
Pit Crew: I cannot emphasize the fact that I probably would have keeled over and called a cab if it weren't for you guys. Denise: I am so thankful that you biked the course and helped me, as well as other runners. It was comforting when I felt bad knowing that I would see orange in the distance and know you were there. Mary and Sarah: Your signs were amazing!! They brought laughter when I needed it the most!! I wish I could do the same for you guys in CA but know that I will be there in spirit and someday, I will repay you for that race course support. Mary: My playlist was amazing and made me laugh several times. Thank you so much for that as I know it was a little time consuming!! I hope you think of me and that you guys get a space blanket after Tinkerbell!
Family: Whether you were cheering for me from afar or the race course, you always support me in whatever I do. Thanks for those who have supported me financially or through kind words. All of it means a lot! I do every race in memory of Grandma Vanderlin and thank you all for being a part of that in your own way. Thank you Hope for being out there! I know it was a long day for you but I don't think that I could have walked very well, let alone danced at the victory party if it weren't for your magic hands. I know you know how it feels to be out there and I am so glad you were there and part of my posse at the end!
Ed: Thanks for being the best finish line photographer ever! I appreciate that you don't care that my new found love for races takes you different places and that trips end up getting planned around marathons. I also appreciate that you end up getting the raw end of the deal when I get up the stairs and won't come back down and you end up bringing me ice packs, water, food, and anything else needed post race. You are the best and I love you!
So, for those who weren't out there, here is video courtesy of Mary and Sarah:
http://youtu.be/PCQ1uQ3DMqg - Part One
http://youtu.be/YJ3EAcooDKA - Part Two
Thanks again to everyone involved. I apologize if I forgot anyone. I am grateful to everyone who helped me get to the finish line! If you are interested in having an amazing experience of your own, visit http://www.teamintraining.org/dm/ to find out how. You can join me in San Diego this summer!!
Love,
One Proud Marathoner!
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