I DID IT!!!

Happy Tuesday to you!  I hope that you were able to enjoy some great times with friends and family over the last weekend of the summer.  I know that I certainly did!  It seemed to fly by in a blink of an eye!  It is hard to believe that summer is over already.  I fought back tears as I put my daughter on the bus this morning to begin her first day as a third grader.  I am not, and never will be one of those moms that looks forward to the day that school starts up every fall.  I fully enjoy my time with my daughter. It feels like part of me is missing when she isn't here. Today, I just can't wait for her to come home and share, in full detail, all about her day.  

Well, as I promised, I am going to share with you today about my weekend and most importantly...my half marathon!  

Friday afternoon, we headed south to Indianapolis for my big race.  I was a complete mess!  I was sad about leaving Emma home and knowing she wouldn't be there to cheer me on throughout the race like usual.  I was also very excited with a touch of anxiety about the actual race itself.  I was down to the final countdown before the gun start of a 13.1 mile race.  

Upon arrival to Indy, we checked into the hotel, went to packet pick-up and headed out to grab a sandwich for dinner.  I needed to at least attempt to get to bed at a reasonable time.   I laid out my clothes, pinned my race number to my shirt, checked and double checked that I had every last thing all set and ready for the morning, as I knew it would arrive quickly.  I finally climbed into bed around 10:30p.m.  As always, I laid there visualizing how the morning would play out and myself running.  The excitement always makes it hard to sleep the night prior to a big event.  

Yikes!  I had set the alarm on my phone for 4:45a.m. but, the A/C fan blowing was too loud for me to hear it!  Thank goodness, I woke up at 5 o'clock!  I never, ever, sleep through alarms!  I literally jumped out of bed and ran to the shower.  No chance in this world was I going to begin this race without my normal routine of showering.  I had to meet Jen in the lobby at 5:30 for coffee and a little breakfast to fuel my body through 13.1 glorious miles.  I got to the lobby and Jen had already eaten and had her coffee.  She was on to the water to hydrate herself.  I felt behind the game already.  After eating a granola bar and a few bites of fruit, we headed up to our rooms to get our hubby's and head out to opening ceremonies.  

Stepping out of our hotel, women and their supporting family and friends, flooded the street.  It was a rush just to see this!  We shuffled into the crowd and headed toward the starting line.  We stood in the darkness of the early morning as the national anthem was sung.  We all looked up at the American flag that was lit on top of a building.  This sent chills through my body.  

Everyone was readying themselves by giving loved ones hugs and receiving all of those last moment "good lucks" & "I love yous", adjusting their headphones and choosing their music, making sure their shoes were tied, stretching a bit and smiling with excitement.

And we were off... I forced myself not to get caught up with the excitement and start out slow.  I tried not to let it bother me as I let other runners pass.  I lost sight of Jen right away.  I just kept my focus. This was my race and I was there to compete with myself.  As I mentioned before, I struggled with numerous issues in my training and at this point, I was in it to finish.  Let me tell you that this thinking was not all that easy for me to accept.  I am a competitive soul.  It is not as much fun to only compete with yourself.  

The first 8 miles went quite well.  I was able to run a pretty good pace and was just taking in my surroundings and how incredible it was to see all of these women run through the streets of Indianapolis for this inaugural half marathon.  I kept thinking about how amazing it was that each of these women was running this for their own reason and each individual also ran at their own capability.  This was really awesome to not only think about but, also to witness with my own very eyes.  I was so very thankful to be able to participate in this event.  

It was after the 8th mile that I started to face some issues with my body.  The funny thing is, they weren't things that I had dealt with in my training.  Up until mile 8, my shin splints were hardly bothering me.  Perhaps, it was because I was just so inspired by all of these women runners that were surrounding me, that I didn't notice.  Well, my hip began to really give me some pain.  I slowed down and walked through the water stations and then some.  By mile 10, something new struck me.  I was running and suddenly felt like my left leg was going to buckle under me and leave me on the asphalt.  It tightened up so tight at the base of my heel and up into my calf.  Once again, I had to move to the side and try to stretch it out and hopefully loosen it up enough to keep running.  I just kept thinking....Oh my goodness, I do NOT want to injure myself and not be able to run anymore.  That would be like a death sentence for me.  I kept on repeating in my head....Never, never give up.   I would rather cross that finish line in complete pain than to throw in the towel when I only had 3 miles to go.      

It was at that point that I was trying to push through the pain but, it just kept tightening up.  NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP....NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP!  Another blessing was bestowed upon me....

A woman that had been running behind me and seeing that I was having problems with my leg tightening up, ran up next to me and asked if my leg was cramping and asked where it was bothering me.  I told her and she said that would be my Achilles and I was also probably dehydrating because of the extreme heat and humidity, which would make the muscle cramps worse.  She offered me a sport chew with electrolytes and potassium to help get me through to the finish line.  This kind woman and I continued to run together for the remainder of the race.  We chatted about a little bit of everything from how long we had each been runners, to our families, to how I tend to be obsessive about things such as checking my blood sugar and cleaning, and how she spent 14 hours one day washing the windows on her 5000 square foot home.  I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason.  If I hadn't been struggling with my leg cramping up, I may have never met this woman.  I told her that I didn't want to hold her back but, she reassured me that I was not at all and we both expressed to each other how much we were enjoying the last few miles together.  She truly inspired me in every sense of the word.  I am always so very thankful when I meet people who are genuine and care about more than just themselves.  The kind of person that will put their needs behind others needs.  

After much more walking than I had ever planned on, we rounded the bend to the last mile. I thought to myself...I got this!  I can most definitely run the remainder of the race. Picture this...the course was a little long, my GPS said 14 miles at the finish. Also, just after I finished, they black flagged the race which means that they ended it because of heat conditions made it unsafe for the runners.  

Anyway, at about the last 1/4 of a mile, everyone was handed American flags to carry. Another thing to be thankful for....our country and the freedom we have is an amazing thing that some people in this world will never know.  

I finally crossed that finish line!  Not with the time that I had in my mind but, I finished.  I pushed through some struggles but, stayed strong, focused and positive.  I did it!  I felt that sense of accomplishment as the finishers medal was placed around my neck and the rose was handed to me from, ironically, the husband of the woman who stuck by my side.  She made sure to take me directly to the medical tent so I could have myself checked out.  Diagnosis...strained Achilles, both sides, and possible dehydration.  They wrapped my heels in ice packs and I was off to enjoy Einsteins bagels with my hubby, my awesome running partner, Jen, her husband and our great friends that came from Cincinnati, as well, just as our cheerleaders!  I am truly blessed in every sense of the word.  

Will I be hanging up my running shoes, you ask?

Not a chance in this world!

Enjoy your day!