11 days in and the grand total is ...... 231!!!!
Some things I've heard this week.
- - - - Me talking to my son Zak - - - -
Me: I need figure out a way to reach more people to give food.
Zak: I know mom, why don't you tell them you'll give them $1,000.
Me: Well, if I could do that then I wouldn't need to be collecting food.
Zak: Laughing, oh ya, let's keep thinking. :)
- - - - Me and Gracie after school - - - -
Gracie: We had our physical fitness drill today mom.
Me: How'd it go?
Gracie: Mom, I told myself if my mom can run 50 miles for food, I can run around the gym 35 times.
Me: ..... I couldn't could speak. She's either learned how to tell me what I want to hear or she is the little girl I hoped she would be. I'm going with the 2nd answer. :)
- - - - @ Church on Sunday - - - -
Scott and I were waiting for the kids to come out of the restroom before church on Sunday. We both stood mesmerized looking at the food donations that were coming in for the food drive at church. They have one every month. We give but never bother looking at all the donations. Sunday we both stood at the back of the entire collection of food. It was neatly categorized into cereals, pastas, soups, you get the idea. I kept thinking, that has to be what 3,000 looks like. Probably more. I caught a glimpse of our reflections in the glass, you would have thought we were kids on Christmas looking at all the presents under the Christmas tree.
Thanks to all who have donated. This is going to be a success because of you guys! Onward and upward!!!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
A Lot's Been Happening
Got my 1st donation yesterday!!! 24 cans of green beans from my friends Barbara and Jeff. And today a very generous donation from a friend from Minnesota's mom!
There is still more work to be done. A lot of work. Running the 50 miles is going to be easy. Part of me is thinking, why did I put it out there that I want to collect 3,001 cans and part of me is thinking I should have said I would collect more.
I have heard from so many people offering to donate not just food but their time and their energy. Initially I knew Caro would run a couple loops with me as well as TR and then the emails started to come in with friends saying they would run a loop and then the phone call from MJ. She's the president of Tri-Smart Triathlon club. She not only offered help with raising food but also informed me that the club will make sure I'm not out there running alone.
I visited Together We Cope yesterday and made a quick video of the director of the food pantry explaining who they serve.
I'm not Steven Spielberg so the quality of my video isn't what it could be but I think it gives a brief description as to who they serve and what their hours are. If you can't hear Carol, this is what she is saying ....
There is still more work to be done. A lot of work. Running the 50 miles is going to be easy. Part of me is thinking, why did I put it out there that I want to collect 3,001 cans and part of me is thinking I should have said I would collect more.
I have heard from so many people offering to donate not just food but their time and their energy. Initially I knew Caro would run a couple loops with me as well as TR and then the emails started to come in with friends saying they would run a loop and then the phone call from MJ. She's the president of Tri-Smart Triathlon club. She not only offered help with raising food but also informed me that the club will make sure I'm not out there running alone.
I visited Together We Cope yesterday and made a quick video of the director of the food pantry explaining who they serve.
I'm not Steven Spielberg so the quality of my video isn't what it could be but I think it gives a brief description as to who they serve and what their hours are. If you can't hear Carol, this is what she is saying ....
- Together We Cope is located at 17010 South Oak Park Avenue, Tinley Park - our hours are Mon., Tues., Wed., and Fri. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Thurs., 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. We service between 50 and 70 families a day and our boundaries are from 87th St. to the North, Western Ave. to the East, 183rd to the South and Will Cook Road to the West.
- What isn't in the video but I asked about is this .... Are there any items of food that you may need more of than others .... Carol made it very clear that she will take ANY donation but there is a need for things like Peanut Butter, Jelly, Pasta, Noodles, Canned Soups, Ramen soups, Spaghetti Sauce, Rice, Canned Meats, Tuna, Beans and Cereal. These are all items that are filling and can make a semi-nutritious meal.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Will Run For Food
So, I'm sitting in church and we have a visiting pastor talking to us about world hunger. He's telling us how children are fed dirt to feel full because the soup kitchens and food pantries run out of food. I always cry when I hear this. Of course that's why we hear the story and that's what motivates us to donate to the cause.
I always pray and ask if there is more I can do. I feel like there is more but I just don't know what I can do to help. Right here. In Illinois.
A couple weeks back I ran a 50 miler. There was a man there, that ran, he raised 3,000 cans of food for his food pantry. Here's his blog, http://brandonmulnix.com/ you can read all about him. It's a pretty remarkable story. While I read it I started thinking, hey, there's another 50 miler coming up at the end of October. I'll run that and ask friends and family to help!
But something just didn't sit right with me and that decision. The 50 miler has a race entry fee of $75 right now and it's gonna jump in price in a couple of weeks. I kept thinking how can I ask anyone for food while I'm spending money on a race when instead I could be spending it on food to donate.
So I came up with the idea to run on my own. Let me make this perfectly clear. I'm just running 50 miles. This isn't a race. There's no website to go to check on this. I'm completely independent of any organization and this isn't an "organized event". I'm just trying to make a difference and not have it cost me or anyone else anything more than a couple of cans of food.
I plan on documenting this journey on FaceBook with pictures and updates of everyone who is giving. I plan on talking about this a lot because I think that's one of the best ways to spread the word. Heck, I talked about it to my teller at our bank yesterday and she's ready to help!
So, here goes nothing. I Will Run For Food - and I need you to come along with me. I need your food to help make a difference!
I always pray and ask if there is more I can do. I feel like there is more but I just don't know what I can do to help. Right here. In Illinois.
A couple weeks back I ran a 50 miler. There was a man there, that ran, he raised 3,000 cans of food for his food pantry. Here's his blog, http://brandonmulnix.com/ you can read all about him. It's a pretty remarkable story. While I read it I started thinking, hey, there's another 50 miler coming up at the end of October. I'll run that and ask friends and family to help!
But something just didn't sit right with me and that decision. The 50 miler has a race entry fee of $75 right now and it's gonna jump in price in a couple of weeks. I kept thinking how can I ask anyone for food while I'm spending money on a race when instead I could be spending it on food to donate.
So I came up with the idea to run on my own. Let me make this perfectly clear. I'm just running 50 miles. This isn't a race. There's no website to go to check on this. I'm completely independent of any organization and this isn't an "organized event". I'm just trying to make a difference and not have it cost me or anyone else anything more than a couple of cans of food.
I plan on documenting this journey on FaceBook with pictures and updates of everyone who is giving. I plan on talking about this a lot because I think that's one of the best ways to spread the word. Heck, I talked about it to my teller at our bank yesterday and she's ready to help!
So, here goes nothing. I Will Run For Food - and I need you to come along with me. I need your food to help make a difference!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
North Country Ultra
Ok, I promise not to go on and on. You guys know me well enough now to know that I probably will get off track, but I will try my best to stick to the points of what I'm trying to say and not start talking about my kids or why hated what I ate for dinner when I was 9.
I'm being honest here ....
I signed up for this race thinking it was going to be easy. Yup, that's why I signed on. Why would I think a 50 mile run through the woods would be easy? This is why, "There is no high altitude to contend with, no rocks to jump over, and no stream crossing to wade through just beautiful forest with a few roots to remind you you're not on pavement." I took this quote right from the race website. When I attempted and failed McNaughton in 08 I wanted the toughest muddiest course out there. Bring it on I thought. I obviously wasn't thinking clearly and got just what I asked for. Well, this time I knew better. What I failed to read was the sentence just before the one that made me believe this would be a cake walk. It states .... "The trail is a single track hiking trail with enough hills to make for a challenging race." Um, note to self, read and re-read all material before clicking the send button on the race application.
No Excuses .... but here's one
I loved training for this race. LOVES is an understatement. I proudly made the best of the time that I had to train. My kids came with me on probably half of the long runs that I had. They rode their bikes while I trotted out the miles. We would sometimes stop at IHop or Dunkn Donuts. It was fun. Unfortunately there was little training on the trails. PLEASE NOTE - I'm not complaining!!! I do wish that I was able to get out there though. I think my falls would have been cut in half.
Falls? Did you says falls?
The 1st 25.5 miles I fell 4 times. I won't go into exaggerated detail like I FELL HARD. YOU COULD HEAR THE THUMP IN THE NEXT STATE. When running 50 miles and falling at mile 3 you're ego is put in check. The next fall, well the ego slowly begins to crumble. You see where I'm going with this right? On my second loop I didn't fall until after mile 35. And then, I think I fell 4 more times. I was tired at this point so my math may be off. My ego would tell you but I don't have one right now. It's rebuilding from all the falls I took.
Don't confuse tripping with falling, duh!
You're out there running, in the "woods". Trees are what make up the forest or "woods". It's a big beautiful forest. Dense. It was a hot sunny day but we were extremely sheltered from the sun because of this fact. A cool breeze would whisp through occassionally and remind all of us that there is a God and he just sent us a little gift. Oops, sorry I'm straying here. Well, tree roots are EVERYWHERE! At mile one I watched a man fall. Me trying to make lite of what just happened to him told him "well, at least you got that out of the way early". And just like that I tripped. Ok, note to self, keep your comments to yourself, even if you are trying to make someone feel better. And then I tripped again, and again and again. To the point where I thought I was tearing my left leg out of the hip joint. I would just find a good pace and boink, I'd stumble.
Yes, I did ask myself "What the hell am I doing out here?"
It was around mile 18. I was deflated. I had good, consistant training runs and even though my training wasn't on a trail but I felt like things should be going better than they were. The thought of doing a 2nd loop was killing me. Much to my surprise I kept the "I'm just not gonna do it, I'm gonna stop at 25" thoughts a bay. But I couldn't stop thinking about the fact that I paid money to feel this way. I was being physically and mentally beat'n up and I paid for it. I was doing something wrong and had to figure out what it was and turn it around.
Yes, that was me at mile 19 on my phone.
1st, I texted to my sister. It just made me feel better. Then I called my husband ....
Husband - hey, where are you?
Me - Around mile 19
Husband - what?
Me - mile 19
Husband - WHAT? Hey, I can't hear you!
Me - mile 19 (geesh)
and then he says ....
Husband - Pam, are you ok?
Me - yeah, I'm ok, I just needed to tell you that.
Husband - I love you, call me later.
Me - Good luck at your game. I love you.
And that's why I'm still married to him.
And the attitude started to change.
The following thought started going through my head ....
I paid for 17 and I'm gonna use 17. Actually I paid for 14 hours but the original statement is 17!!! I started doing the math in my head and I could walk, keeping a 20 minute pace and still finish the race. It would be close but I could finish. So that was my plan. At that point I thought I could feel the smile returning to my face.
You don't know what your miss'n!
A man ran by me around mile 25. I had past him earlier and he had been struggling. But now, he ran by just like he had just started running the race. As he's going by he said "man, if you passed up those blueberries back there, you don't know what you're missing." My ears rang. For 2 reasons. 1. For the most part I trained with cereal bars and dried fruit and bananas. Out here I was running on cereal bars and Gel. ??? Why I changed it up a little, who knows butI needed to go back to what I knew worked best for me. 2. Well, my dad died in April. We weren't close as adults. And when he passed away I was worried about feeling angry and bitter about not communicating as adults but thankfull I don't feel that way. I hear something someone says and it reminds me of him in good ways. "You don't know what you are missing" was one of his favorite sayings. And hearing it then well, it made me smile. I stopped smiling around mile 2 so if felt really good to smile again.
I'm still in the woods at mile 25?!?
I was shocked to see that I was still in the woods at mile 25. I was feeling good now but felt cheated. What the heck, where is everybody? What's going on. A half mile down the trail was where everyone was. At that point I was gonna change my socks and shoes, eat, maybe pee and head off again. Instead I got a piece of Bazooka bubble gum, some more gel and salt, filled my camel and started to head out. I was really feeling good, tired but good cause there were other runner there starting their 2nd loop. I didn't feel so alone or slow. Just as I'm leaving the aid station I hear the volunteer tell a man that those white things on the table are potatoes. WHAT, I almsot left without eating some salt and potatoes. I ate 2 and that was the best decision I made all day!
Yes, I run with music
Not all the time but today my plan was this - the 1st 25 miles are a warm up and the 2nd 25 are the race. May sound strange, a 25 mile warm up but that was the best way I could think of to mentally keep my self in the game. No matter how hard or bad the 1st loop was it was ok, cause it was just a warm up. But no music the 1st loop. That was my prize for finishing the 1st loop. So the minute I started the 2nd loop the ear buds went in and the music went on. It's funny cause when your tired you don't need it blasting. You just need to hear it. And it was like angels singing to me. The potatoes were kicking in, the salt the water and the music. Life was good. So good that for the next 6 or 7 miles I felt like I just started. Not kidding. I was laughing (probably sounding a little crazy out there laughing and running) but I just felt that good that it was just falling out of my mouth. Hey, just thought better that falling than me to the ground. At the aid stations I would fill up with water and any natural food item they had. Every hour that would pass I would take salt. I was thinking this 2nd loop would be a breeze. And then, well, not so fast there trail baz'n Pam ....
Why did I start thinking about time?
I stopped thinking about the music, the scenery, my life and the kids and started thinking that I'm feeling so good I just might subsplit my second loop. And then .... thump! Yup, I fell. Right then I told myself get all thoughts of time and speed out of your head and enjoy. And I did. Until ....
NEVER TURN AWAY HELP!
I went to take my next round of salt tabs and found myself sucking the last bit of water out of my camel. How the hell that happened I am clueless cause I was taking care of every detail like a mother takes care of her children. But it did happen and I was high and dry without water for about a mile and a half. At this point I was jocking with a really nice man who came out behind me and wanted to know if I decided to take a quick nap. We were throwing these kinds of comments out to each other each time we passed, it was pretty funny. Anyway I told him about my water situation and he kindly offered me one of his bottles!!! And what did I do? In all my politeness? Said no thank you, water is ONLY a mile and a half away. With that he offered it again and told me he had plenty and for some reason, maybe dehydration was starting to set in at this point I turned him down again. So off he went. About a half mile after that I realized that it would be really stupid for me to run and dehydrate anymore than I was. I walked about a mile to the aid station filled up, drank a couple of cups and off I went.
Lesson learned, I will never turn down help again.
The Hubby Tells Me I don't have Rhythm but What I Thought I Had Was Lost After That.
My good feeling was gone. I was stumbling again and falling occasionally. I jockeyed with the same group of people until the aid station at mile 37 it was there I started to think that I had to keep my own pace and not worry about keeping up with others. My goal was to finish and God forbid I'm running, stumble, fall, break something and don't finish with only a mile to go. So I would run the flats and walk the hills. Mile 42 I was feeling tired, sore, sad - well not sad but emotional so yeah, kind of sad. It was then I decided to just walk. I kept about 15 minute mile pace for the next 7 miles. I talked to everyone that passed me and honestly, I was feeling good. I wasn't thinking clearly though cause in my mind I was just gonna make the deadline. I was actually gonna finish about an hour and a half before the cut off.
Where the Streets Have No Name
There was a mile and a half left. The smile on my face was huge. Like I was trying not to smile cause it was annoying me that it was so big. There were 2 women about 50 yrds ahead of me and a man about 25 yrds behind me. Having them there was very comforting for some reason. Until, I started to cry. Yup, it was an ugly cry too. Cause the smile was still on my face. I was thinking about my 1st 50 mile attempt, I thought about the Graves disease and how I couldn't run, I thought how I truly believed I would never run again and that I needed to find other interests to fill my time and I thought about how glad I was that I was wrong. That I am running again. It was a long, slow journey back but I'm here. I'm running. And then I hear the beginning of the U2 song, Where the Streets Have No Name. How did I time that so perfectly? It was time to run. I know this sounds to fairy tale to believe but just like a movie the song starts playing and I start running. I pass the 2 women in front of me and I remind myself not to fast, you don't want to fall. The tears are gone. I'm just smiling my big old smile. It's a great feeling. The sun is going down, Bono is sining in my ear, I'm heading toward the opening of the forest to the finish line. People are cheering, I choke a little but still smile, what an amazing finish .... until .... wait, hey, where is the finish. Yes, I managed to mess up my movie perfect ending with getting lost on my way to the finish line. Granted it was only a couple of steps in the wrong direction, I was going back to the 25.5 mile turn around while the finish was just right of that. DOH! My mistake managed to slow me down enough for me to know I wasn't going to trip or fall over the line. I was done. I did it. 12:35.09.
BLING - Now that's some bling!
I did this race with my good friend Dennis. He finished about 25 minutes ahead of me. Maybe I'll get him next time. :) But one of the things he talked about for this race was the size of the finishers medal. And honestly, it was HUGE! It made me laugh when they put it around my neck. Now, this may sound strange to some but I don't like finisher medals. Sorry Jeff, if you are reading this, you have a wonderful business and I know you bring so much joy to so many with your medals but I just have this quirky oposition to them. Well, I did. Not anymore. You see, I left my medal somewhere at the race. I was talking to so many people when I finished and changing my clothes and packing the car and waiting for the drop bag and eating that I lost track of my dinner plate size medal. The medal I thought I didn't want, well it turns out I wish I had it. I wrote the race director. I know he's busy but almost a week later I still haven't heard from him. Crossing my fingers he answers me soon. :)
I'm being honest here ....
I signed up for this race thinking it was going to be easy. Yup, that's why I signed on. Why would I think a 50 mile run through the woods would be easy? This is why, "There is no high altitude to contend with, no rocks to jump over, and no stream crossing to wade through just beautiful forest with a few roots to remind you you're not on pavement." I took this quote right from the race website. When I attempted and failed McNaughton in 08 I wanted the toughest muddiest course out there. Bring it on I thought. I obviously wasn't thinking clearly and got just what I asked for. Well, this time I knew better. What I failed to read was the sentence just before the one that made me believe this would be a cake walk. It states .... "The trail is a single track hiking trail with enough hills to make for a challenging race." Um, note to self, read and re-read all material before clicking the send button on the race application.
No Excuses .... but here's one
I loved training for this race. LOVES is an understatement. I proudly made the best of the time that I had to train. My kids came with me on probably half of the long runs that I had. They rode their bikes while I trotted out the miles. We would sometimes stop at IHop or Dunkn Donuts. It was fun. Unfortunately there was little training on the trails. PLEASE NOTE - I'm not complaining!!! I do wish that I was able to get out there though. I think my falls would have been cut in half.
Falls? Did you says falls?
The 1st 25.5 miles I fell 4 times. I won't go into exaggerated detail like I FELL HARD. YOU COULD HEAR THE THUMP IN THE NEXT STATE. When running 50 miles and falling at mile 3 you're ego is put in check. The next fall, well the ego slowly begins to crumble. You see where I'm going with this right? On my second loop I didn't fall until after mile 35. And then, I think I fell 4 more times. I was tired at this point so my math may be off. My ego would tell you but I don't have one right now. It's rebuilding from all the falls I took.
Don't confuse tripping with falling, duh!
You're out there running, in the "woods". Trees are what make up the forest or "woods". It's a big beautiful forest. Dense. It was a hot sunny day but we were extremely sheltered from the sun because of this fact. A cool breeze would whisp through occassionally and remind all of us that there is a God and he just sent us a little gift. Oops, sorry I'm straying here. Well, tree roots are EVERYWHERE! At mile one I watched a man fall. Me trying to make lite of what just happened to him told him "well, at least you got that out of the way early". And just like that I tripped. Ok, note to self, keep your comments to yourself, even if you are trying to make someone feel better. And then I tripped again, and again and again. To the point where I thought I was tearing my left leg out of the hip joint. I would just find a good pace and boink, I'd stumble.
Yes, I did ask myself "What the hell am I doing out here?"
It was around mile 18. I was deflated. I had good, consistant training runs and even though my training wasn't on a trail but I felt like things should be going better than they were. The thought of doing a 2nd loop was killing me. Much to my surprise I kept the "I'm just not gonna do it, I'm gonna stop at 25" thoughts a bay. But I couldn't stop thinking about the fact that I paid money to feel this way. I was being physically and mentally beat'n up and I paid for it. I was doing something wrong and had to figure out what it was and turn it around.
Yes, that was me at mile 19 on my phone.
1st, I texted to my sister. It just made me feel better. Then I called my husband ....
Husband - hey, where are you?
Me - Around mile 19
Husband - what?
Me - mile 19
Husband - WHAT? Hey, I can't hear you!
Me - mile 19 (geesh)
and then he says ....
Husband - Pam, are you ok?
Me - yeah, I'm ok, I just needed to tell you that.
Husband - I love you, call me later.
Me - Good luck at your game. I love you.
And that's why I'm still married to him.
And the attitude started to change.
The following thought started going through my head ....
I paid for 17 and I'm gonna use 17. Actually I paid for 14 hours but the original statement is 17!!! I started doing the math in my head and I could walk, keeping a 20 minute pace and still finish the race. It would be close but I could finish. So that was my plan. At that point I thought I could feel the smile returning to my face.
You don't know what your miss'n!
A man ran by me around mile 25. I had past him earlier and he had been struggling. But now, he ran by just like he had just started running the race. As he's going by he said "man, if you passed up those blueberries back there, you don't know what you're missing." My ears rang. For 2 reasons. 1. For the most part I trained with cereal bars and dried fruit and bananas. Out here I was running on cereal bars and Gel. ??? Why I changed it up a little, who knows butI needed to go back to what I knew worked best for me. 2. Well, my dad died in April. We weren't close as adults. And when he passed away I was worried about feeling angry and bitter about not communicating as adults but thankfull I don't feel that way. I hear something someone says and it reminds me of him in good ways. "You don't know what you are missing" was one of his favorite sayings. And hearing it then well, it made me smile. I stopped smiling around mile 2 so if felt really good to smile again.
I'm still in the woods at mile 25?!?
I was shocked to see that I was still in the woods at mile 25. I was feeling good now but felt cheated. What the heck, where is everybody? What's going on. A half mile down the trail was where everyone was. At that point I was gonna change my socks and shoes, eat, maybe pee and head off again. Instead I got a piece of Bazooka bubble gum, some more gel and salt, filled my camel and started to head out. I was really feeling good, tired but good cause there were other runner there starting their 2nd loop. I didn't feel so alone or slow. Just as I'm leaving the aid station I hear the volunteer tell a man that those white things on the table are potatoes. WHAT, I almsot left without eating some salt and potatoes. I ate 2 and that was the best decision I made all day!
Yes, I run with music
Not all the time but today my plan was this - the 1st 25 miles are a warm up and the 2nd 25 are the race. May sound strange, a 25 mile warm up but that was the best way I could think of to mentally keep my self in the game. No matter how hard or bad the 1st loop was it was ok, cause it was just a warm up. But no music the 1st loop. That was my prize for finishing the 1st loop. So the minute I started the 2nd loop the ear buds went in and the music went on. It's funny cause when your tired you don't need it blasting. You just need to hear it. And it was like angels singing to me. The potatoes were kicking in, the salt the water and the music. Life was good. So good that for the next 6 or 7 miles I felt like I just started. Not kidding. I was laughing (probably sounding a little crazy out there laughing and running) but I just felt that good that it was just falling out of my mouth. Hey, just thought better that falling than me to the ground. At the aid stations I would fill up with water and any natural food item they had. Every hour that would pass I would take salt. I was thinking this 2nd loop would be a breeze. And then, well, not so fast there trail baz'n Pam ....
Why did I start thinking about time?
I stopped thinking about the music, the scenery, my life and the kids and started thinking that I'm feeling so good I just might subsplit my second loop. And then .... thump! Yup, I fell. Right then I told myself get all thoughts of time and speed out of your head and enjoy. And I did. Until ....
NEVER TURN AWAY HELP!
I went to take my next round of salt tabs and found myself sucking the last bit of water out of my camel. How the hell that happened I am clueless cause I was taking care of every detail like a mother takes care of her children. But it did happen and I was high and dry without water for about a mile and a half. At this point I was jocking with a really nice man who came out behind me and wanted to know if I decided to take a quick nap. We were throwing these kinds of comments out to each other each time we passed, it was pretty funny. Anyway I told him about my water situation and he kindly offered me one of his bottles!!! And what did I do? In all my politeness? Said no thank you, water is ONLY a mile and a half away. With that he offered it again and told me he had plenty and for some reason, maybe dehydration was starting to set in at this point I turned him down again. So off he went. About a half mile after that I realized that it would be really stupid for me to run and dehydrate anymore than I was. I walked about a mile to the aid station filled up, drank a couple of cups and off I went.
Lesson learned, I will never turn down help again.
The Hubby Tells Me I don't have Rhythm but What I Thought I Had Was Lost After That.
My good feeling was gone. I was stumbling again and falling occasionally. I jockeyed with the same group of people until the aid station at mile 37 it was there I started to think that I had to keep my own pace and not worry about keeping up with others. My goal was to finish and God forbid I'm running, stumble, fall, break something and don't finish with only a mile to go. So I would run the flats and walk the hills. Mile 42 I was feeling tired, sore, sad - well not sad but emotional so yeah, kind of sad. It was then I decided to just walk. I kept about 15 minute mile pace for the next 7 miles. I talked to everyone that passed me and honestly, I was feeling good. I wasn't thinking clearly though cause in my mind I was just gonna make the deadline. I was actually gonna finish about an hour and a half before the cut off.
Where the Streets Have No Name
There was a mile and a half left. The smile on my face was huge. Like I was trying not to smile cause it was annoying me that it was so big. There were 2 women about 50 yrds ahead of me and a man about 25 yrds behind me. Having them there was very comforting for some reason. Until, I started to cry. Yup, it was an ugly cry too. Cause the smile was still on my face. I was thinking about my 1st 50 mile attempt, I thought about the Graves disease and how I couldn't run, I thought how I truly believed I would never run again and that I needed to find other interests to fill my time and I thought about how glad I was that I was wrong. That I am running again. It was a long, slow journey back but I'm here. I'm running. And then I hear the beginning of the U2 song, Where the Streets Have No Name. How did I time that so perfectly? It was time to run. I know this sounds to fairy tale to believe but just like a movie the song starts playing and I start running. I pass the 2 women in front of me and I remind myself not to fast, you don't want to fall. The tears are gone. I'm just smiling my big old smile. It's a great feeling. The sun is going down, Bono is sining in my ear, I'm heading toward the opening of the forest to the finish line. People are cheering, I choke a little but still smile, what an amazing finish .... until .... wait, hey, where is the finish. Yes, I managed to mess up my movie perfect ending with getting lost on my way to the finish line. Granted it was only a couple of steps in the wrong direction, I was going back to the 25.5 mile turn around while the finish was just right of that. DOH! My mistake managed to slow me down enough for me to know I wasn't going to trip or fall over the line. I was done. I did it. 12:35.09.
BLING - Now that's some bling!
I did this race with my good friend Dennis. He finished about 25 minutes ahead of me. Maybe I'll get him next time. :) But one of the things he talked about for this race was the size of the finishers medal. And honestly, it was HUGE! It made me laugh when they put it around my neck. Now, this may sound strange to some but I don't like finisher medals. Sorry Jeff, if you are reading this, you have a wonderful business and I know you bring so much joy to so many with your medals but I just have this quirky oposition to them. Well, I did. Not anymore. You see, I left my medal somewhere at the race. I was talking to so many people when I finished and changing my clothes and packing the car and waiting for the drop bag and eating that I lost track of my dinner plate size medal. The medal I thought I didn't want, well it turns out I wish I had it. I wrote the race director. I know he's busy but almost a week later I still haven't heard from him. Crossing my fingers he answers me soon. :)
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