Sunday, June 22, 2014
Grandma's Marathon
First off I am so thankful for everyone who helped watch my kids during this intense training so I could get my long runs in! Everyone who tracked me, sent messages, phone calls- it was amazing the love and support I felt. And yes every single one brought tears to my eyes! The random people all through the course who would read your name on your bib and yell "keep going Erin, your doing a great job" - yes they made me cry multiple times! So other than being emotional how did it go????
Slow- not by best run ever- but I finished and that was my goal! I started out fast... Crashed around 15 when my knee was really hurting and my stomach was really upset. Then I saw my dad at mile 16- bawled my eyes out. He put his arm around me and said get back to running and ran me down the course for a while... That was the second wind I needed! So I trotted on. Hooked up with this sweet energetic girl around 17-18 miles. I think she felt bad because I cried as the 5 hour pacer passed me... So we did a sprint run walk combo for a few miles- which I had never done before. Kind of liked it and picked up my pace. We ate some bacon, bananas and oranges and may have had a few beers- ha. Why not my 5 hour pacer had passes me and I was feeling blue. The last few miles were filled with cheering fans and of course I saw my dad a few more times! He seemed to show up ever few miles. I would hug him and cry. He would run with me for a little, then say I will see you down the road :) it was Sooo great he came to cheer me on and truly he got me to the finish as I was ready to get on the drop out bus when I saw him! Then finally I saw the light at the end of the tunnel... And slowly I crossed that finish line! When I saw all of my friends waiting (who had finished ahead of me)- I of course cried again. The whole day was such an amazing wonderful emotional experience. Unbelievable.
The best part of my day were the running wings following me... Some of you may find this part a little crazy- but I have to share. When my struggles started around mile 15 I started walking more. Every time I stopped to walk I had this sensation that someone was RIGHT behind me and I was holding them up or they were going to run into me. I turned around multiple times to see who was there. No one. I could even hear their shoes on the pavement. I was staring to feel crazy- and it happened many many times. Some with no other runners around. So I finally chalked it up to dehydration/early shock (ha!) or some spirit encouraging me along. First I thought maybe it was my grandpa- but he wasn't much of a runner so I wasn't convinced it was him... I just made peace with whoever it was and allowed them to keep pushing me along. At the big hill near the end of mile 21 I saw a man with a sign that said "Jenna's fight club" Jenna was my beautiful friend who passed away much to earlier from cancer. The man was her dad. I started to bawl- big surprise!- and gave him the biggest hug ever! I told him she was such a fabulous lady and so missed. I knew immediately it was Jenna running behind me. He took my picture with her sign- crying and all- and I continued on my journey to the finish line- feeling truly blessed for my wonderful happy life and everything in it. Life is such a blessing and Jenna's life was cut way to short. I know it sounds a little out there- but it was truly an amazing experience.
What a day! #blessed #happy #proud
Thank you everyone! Love you all!
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)