You did what?????

It has been a while I know since I have blogged. No excuse, just haven't done it lately, but I felt that with this weekend's bucket list check off I should blog about the experience, the emotional journey, and the physical journey. So about 15 months ago a friend mentioned that we should try and do a 5K. Key word try! I had always danced and been active, but never had a drive to run. We started the program in July with Fleet Feet and in October of 2011 I ran my first 5K. I got the bug then. I ran a few other 5K's and then began the training for 10K, with the Cooper River Bridge in mind as a goal race. That training was what I would call a little physical on your body, but it was accomplishable. I was exhilarated to reach the end saying that I had run my first 10K. Then I got this crazy idea, as all runners do, that I would train for a half marathon. I thought at least I can try and then if I am not able, then I will stay with 10K's. So 16 weeks ago training began. We met every Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/ Saturday for our scheduled runs. I did fine and was very excited with each mile that I ran. Towards the end of training though I had what we thought in the beginning to be plantar fascitiis, a runner's nightmare, so I began phsyical therapy and it wasn't getting any better. I had to back off running and began to think that a half wasn't feasible. After more therapy we discovered that it wasn't PF that it was bursitis in my heel. I kept running because I had a goal in mind and I wasn't a quitter. This continued and a few weeks ago I was running a basic 4 miler and at mile 1 my knee just quit. I couldn't run anymore. I couldn't go, I couldn't bend it, I could barely walk... It felt like the walk of shame back down Augusta Rd and back to Fleet Feet! Phsycial therapist said that it didn't look torn or terribly swollen, so I doped up on Advil for weeks and kept icing my knee and foot. We fast forward a few weeks to Saturday 10/27, I had not been having trouble with knee terribly and was excited and scared both. Getting to the start line and being ready to run is the most awful waiting time in the world. I was fortunate to have a pacer named Pete who was the most wonderful man. God sent him to run with me without us even knowing each other's last names. We had a goal of running a 2:30 race. I wasn't sure that I could make that as I had never run that pace before, but I was willing to give it a try to see. I did ok for about the first 5 miles with that pace, and then my body starting acting up. My hands were beginning to swell severely and my steam was dwindling. Pete mentioned that my body wasn't processing electrolytes as they should. He offered me a sodium pill, but I was so queezy that I couldn't at that time. So the emotions kicked in and I had a breakdown. A breakdown that I couldn't do this, that my body wouldn't let me. So I gave into the pill and took it hoping it would help me. Honestly I don't remember looking back at my hands but I do think that it helped my stomach... So onto mile 8, which I hit another wall. I had to walk, which I didn't want to do, but was required to get through. Around mile 10, my blessed Pete had convinced me that I could do this, that I wasn't a quitter and I needed this! He was truly my saving grace. So I round the corner and come up River St and I see Wayne. Wayne has been my coach and cheerleader through this entire journey. As I ran up Main St. to see his BRIGHT yellow shirt and clapping his hands and screaming out for me was amazing. He came to my side placed his hand on my back and said, " we got this girl!". I was tearing up and telling him I was tired. He encouraged me and said, " you got it! ". As I came to the top of the hill and rounded at the ticket booth I saw my husband, dad, and step mom. To see them was enough to help me get through the last 1/2 mile. By this point I think that I was delerious and just wanted to be done. So I came into the stadium and hear my name called and Pete says, "we are almost there girl." So I look ahead and see the clock, which is always my inspiration to blast it. I did and finished in 2:41:48. We didn't want it to hit 2:42. I get to the end and we hugged and cried, and hug and cry... Was it in the time that I had hoped for?, no, but hey I finished, and I finished with a smile on my face. So I sit and write and still am in awe of what not only I accomplished this weekend, but what every runner who ran a race accomplished. Whether you ran a 5K, or the Marine Corps Marathon, we all did something that we didn't think we could! If you have said to me through this journey, "Congrats!," "Proud of you", " I know you can do this", or anything encouraging, then you helped me cross that finish line on Saturday and I am forever grateful!