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Monday, February 15, 2010

I don't go all the way just 13.1

It all starts with carbs. Good friends send you Edgar's cake to carb up on! Thanks BRE!
Son got to run his last mile of the kid's marathon. He ran his mile in 8 minutes and 25 seconds.

My Grande View running buddies decorated my doors and mailbox. This all started this summer sitting on the chairs at the pool. Kerri and Tracy adopted me to tag along behind them on their runs. At first it was like pulling teeth. One would yell at me and one would encourage me. The months past by and they would always be ahead of me whispering. Whispering about how many miles they were going to make me run. Next thing I knew, they were training me for my first half marathon. Tracy was injured this fall and could not run. It was sad for her and all of us. Hard to run without her and her singing. So what does she do? She loads me songs on my ipod for me to listen to...her songs she sings to me when I hit my wall. Usually at MILE 8. Kerri never gives up on you. Even though I am always a mile behind her she is constantly cheering me on. She calls you and gives you heartache when you don't show up to run. She keeps your kids so you can run. She calls you and ask you when you are going to get your miles in...she is your coach. She is also your friend. When others were telling me I could not do it. When others were tearing me down...she was building me up. A running friend is a friend forever. I am happy for my forever running friends.
Me and my Valentine!
Grande View Hoodies, Kerri and Paige, who I trained with ...they ran all the way ...26.2!!
This is mile 5 when I see son for the first time. I was so over come with emotion that I ran up on the sidewalk and kissed him. He said, "go mommy, you can do this!!" *sigh*
My hero, my husband, my Valentine. He torn his ligaments in his ankle on mile 4. He ran through the pain and finished the race in 2 hours and 31 sec. Unbelievable. He can't walk without crutches but he says it was worth it. When I saw him at the finish I thought is he about to cry for me or is he hurt? He was hurt. When he made it to me, I took one look at him and knew he was hurt bad. But despite his pain, he stayed out there to yell at me and love me. That is the best Valentine's present I ever received. We ran our first 5k together and our first 1/2 marathon together. Not many couples can say that.
Me approaching my cheering friends on MILE 8 up the biggest hill known to men. Seeing my running buddy who is injured and can not run...the one who yelled me through many of miles while I was trying to learn to run. She would sing to me and take my water to make me run to her. It was a bitter sweet moment that she was out there yelling at me to keep running. I heart you Tracy my yankee friend. The man right behind me quit right after this. All day I kept thinking, well at least I did not quit.
Son and April's husband and boys waiting on us to finish this thing.
Me and April about to kick this thing. This is when I see all my friends. I start the ugly cry right about here.
The hug at the finish. Such and emotional and euphoric feeling.
I have cheered for this little boy so much in his short life. I have been there for every game and almost every practice he has ever had. But on this day he came to cheer his mommy and daddy. That is a moment I will never forget. He was so excited for us. I saw him at mile 5, 6, 11 and the finish. I know that is a moment that will live in my heart for ever.
April, my finisher buddy. April and I met when our son's played tball together. She and I have run together many miles and ran my first 5k togher last year. We caught up with each other at mile 9.5. We were done. But we rock so we finished!!!!
You know your true friends. They get up at dark, ride with people they don't know. Cheer you on in cold weather just because they wouldn't miss it. And if that wasn't enough. They end up baby sitting your kids that same day so you can take your husband to the doctor. And then they end the day by feeding you steak and lobster for dinner. It was a great Valentine's thanks to friends like this!
I still heart her after coaching me to do this! She is my hero. 26.2 for her! And how can she look this good after funning for close to five hours! Because she rocks! She is as sweet as the day is long and thankful God brought her in my life.
The Roach Finishers!!!

7 comments:

Amy Leigh said...

So proud.

Kelly M said...

you are my inspiration girl! AMAZING! I had tears in my eyes reading abyout you and your sweet boy!! I'm going to try my first 5K at the Peachtree on July 4.

Karen said...

I am crying now.

Erica said...

Congrats for a big accomplishment! I wish I could even run a mile! I hope Joey feels better!

Tricia said...

So proud of you! You are so very blessed to have such good friends who were there to support you... the friends who I thought would come to support me, especially since James was out of town, decided not to come... all this to say, do not take those good friends for granted, they are definitely a gift and a blessing!

Faith's Place said...

WOW Marsha....I read this with a big smile on my face! What an encouragement you are!!!!! I am so proud of you... Ir eally wish we lived closer, I would love to be able to run with you!!!! I totally admire you for your courage to run a half!!!! Not in my wildest dreams could I do that! You rock!!! Great blog entry....made me want to cheer outloud as I looked at the pics! :)

Bre said...

Love it and you!