So since I started this adventure, one of my biggest goals was to get to run the st george marathon. Well since thousands of other people have this goal its been difficult. It does not matter that I was born there, my mom and her family grew up there. That I spent almost every school break and summer there. That my behind has been burnt by I think as many metal seatbelts in that 110 degrees temp as any washington resident. Besides the fact that my grandma could have just signed up and I used her bib:) No I decided to be fair. I tried the lottery 2 years and luckily 3rd year is always a charm. Well I signed up the begining of april and I have been training the last 4 months. After a long fabulous 22.5 mile run a few weeks back I even drove to st. george to drive the course. But in life we all know there are things you cant prepare so instead we learn from them, we grow from them and thats how we become a better stronger person. So I gotta tell you all about it now.
So friday at 11 we headed to St george, nicki(one of my fabulous runnin buddies) We wanted to get there earlier so we could get to the expo, get our bib, have some dinner and get to bed early, so we could load the busses at 4am, Yes Not a type error 4 in the morning, they give away some super cool prizes, we thought we would give it a try with no luck.
So I set my alarm for 325, I was sound asleep dreaming away I dreamed that we slept in till like 11. woke up startled looked at my clock it was 319. So I hoped up, I had been battling a head cold so I thought I would shower to feel good, usually no shower before runs, Oh I had to shave to before I wore my new running shorts. So we hoped in the van headed over and loaded the school bus at 405. We arrived at the start line about 25 minutes later, it was amazing. In a small town off the side of the road, this huge set up. Tables of hot chocolate, coffee, gatorade, water, vaseline, bandaid, safety pins, tape, your a runner you need it they got it. Unless you forget to charge your Ipod and the low battery is flashing and you are going to cry, because you dont want to do this with out your music. I was having a heart attack really.
Anyways here goes the whole 26 of the marathon for me...
1- one strong mind, ready to do this determined
2- two strong legs, trained and strong.
3- three hours of my ipod playing me music, by some miracle
4- four gels, I brought my own my favorites!!
5-five hours of sleep night before race.
6-How many ambulance races runners to hospital(pysching me out a little)
7-seventh mile Veyo hill, there was a sign that said Leukemia sucks, veyo hill sucks they both can be conquered and it said some kids name that was running. Big tough one mile long hill, ( huh what hill:))
8-eight oclock that night, what time I was ready for bed.
9-nine pictures taken, along route, there are few I will admit it I am not smiling.
10- ten toes screaming, yup my toesies are not a fan after mile ten, they are pretty much done.
11- Eleven oclock in the morning I was all done and laying in the grass unable to move.
12- twelve is the number of times I thought I might just be crazy for doing this.
13-thirteen minutes in my ice bath, it felt good, really I liked it.
14-fourteen cups of gatorade I consumed along route.
15-family members there cheering me on, I just cant even tell you how amazing it is when you feel tired and not sure if you can do it to see them, It gives you that extra little push and it makes me cry alittle, I love em'
16- sixteen ounces of delicious recovery chocolate milk, We love winder dairy!
17-Seventeen weeks of training! Some good, some bad, but all of it neccessary.
18- Eighteen kids I gave 5's too, I'm a mom I see those kids cheering us on, waiting so patiently, yup I will run to the other side of the road to give em a five. I hope my kids got fives too...
19- nineteen cups of water(4 dumped directly on my hot head)
20-It was TWENTY degrees hotter than I wanted it to be, really.
21-Mile marker 21 I was feelin great, 5 miles to go(the loop) was all I had left.
22-Mile marker 22 you are coming into town, I know I am getting closer, I am approaching the crowds the sounds, I am almost done.
23- Mile marker 23, finally someone I recognize, I know I am a big baby, I cry. Run accross street give them five, uncle kyle and Shanna. It revives me a little I gotta look strong now.
24-Mile marker 24, I see a girl to guys carrying her, she is dilerious, shes fallen blood down her shorts. Starts to pysch me out more, its hot people are dropping its hot, i am tired, Can I really do this.
25- mile 25 A lady has a cup of big ice cubes from her fridge I take one its pure heaven, I suck on it, I rub it all over my face, I dream of my ice bath. I stop for water at the table. My legs are a little shaky.
26- mile 26 theres my family, I had been watching for them the whole time, there they were, I cry some more, I tell them its to hot and I dont like it. 84 degrees. TOOO HOT for me.
.2-Most the time I sprint in, one time I even carried Brady. Not this time, most people were walking. I told myself I had worked to hard, I was going to finish this, I reached way inside, I could not sprint, But I kept runnin clear up to that finish line. THey put a neat metal on me made out of native rock.
I just wanted to sit down, before I passed out and I wanted my shoes off and I wanted ice water. Not lukewarm water or gatorade. Really cold water and I did laid in the grass and felt like I might die. But you know what I did it. Not in my goal of 3:40 I was a little over 10 minutes over. But I didnt give up I worked through it all and Guess what else it may sound awful, But it wasnt it was AMAZING. I finish 1810 out of almost 6000 people and I am ready to do it again. Thank you everyone for all your love and support!!
