Mile 1: Seeing familiar faces of neighbors standing on the sidelines cheering and thinking only 12.1 miles to go….the support of the crowd was incredible.
Mile 2: Thinking that 3 months ago at approx. this time my cousin, Brian, was “giving up” because he couldn’t handle the obstacles in his life any longer. Since that I day I find myself trying to imagine how he must have been feeling….how impossible was the pain. I caught myself scanning the crowd looking for his face as I catch myself doing several times….as the lump started in my throat and my eyes filled with tears. Man do I miss his random text messages and phone calls!
Mile 3: As I climbed the BRUTAL hill up and around the Liberty Memorial thinking I hope there aren’t many more of these, I found myself talking to my cousin, Matt, whom I was dedicating these 13.1 miles too. Thinking “Matt, stop focusing on the Texas Rangers and get me UP THIS HILL”. As much as everyone misses him, I am thankful that he has brought my family and his back together over the last 2 ½ years.
Mile 4: Thankful to be running this race with 20 of my friends…wondering where they were at on the course….how were they feeling….thinking of how far each of us had come over the past year….how each of them have inspired, motivated, challenged and made me laugh at myself throughout this journey. Excited to know that we would all be at the finish line together! (a BIG thank you to my friend, Kelley, for challenging me to run this race with her this year)
(Kelley & I Post Race)
Mile 6: Seeing Mike & the kids standing along the side of the road smiling and waving…..I made my way over to them for a quick “High 5” with each of them….hoping that they remember this day as much as I will…..that nothing is too difficult for them to conquer.
Mile 7: Wishing I had brought my sunglasses and nose plugs…..running down 47th Street through the heart of the Plaza….the sun was intense and the smell of “sewage” was awful. Seeing the J.C. Nichols fountain and thinking of my Grandpa “Big Bull”…knowing that if he had been alive he probably would have been sitting at “his fountain” watching me.
Mile 8: Seeing my neighbor, Rachel, who just 2 weeks prior said “I am backing out of this race” and I said “oh no you won’t….if you can conquer 9 miles today you can conquer 13.1 on the 16th”…..I was glad to run with her for a bit before she stepped on her internal gas pedal and left me in her cloud of dust.
(Part of the 20 who I shared today with)
Mile 9: The timing was perfect….climbing the final hill of the course….thinking I am not sure that I can do this….looking up and seeing Mike and the kids at the top ready for the second set of “High 5’s”…….THANK YOU!
Mile 10: As the 1st Marathon Runner passed….time 2:13:09 on the clock…..I paused for a moment in “awe” of his athleticism.
(Here he is crossing the finish line)
Mile 11: The Girl Scout in me made a mistake! I was taught to always be prepared….debated all week on whether or not to run with my own water and hitting the wall at Mile 11 really WISHING that I had.
Mile 12: As runner #2 drops in front of me….thinking “Feet don’t fail me know” and listening to those on the side lines saying “You’ve Got This…only 2 miles to go”…the eyes filled up with tears again!
Mile 13: Seeing my very own “Paparazzi” on the sideline snapping photos of all of us in our group….thankful for supportive friends who have encouraged me through my training and tolerated my obsession over this past year.
Finish Line: The Finish Line is an AMAZING place! Instantly placing a “checkmark” on my mental bucket list….a bit disappointed that right before my finish they ran out of ½ marathon medals and would have to mail it to me….thankful to see that I finished under my goal time of 3 hours….instantly realizing how “starving” my body was and enjoying the bananas, cinnamon rolls and M&M’s that were there…..and then letting my emotion get the best of me when they played an incredible version of “Amazing Grace” over the speakers.
DONE!
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