Rock & Roll Savannah Half Marathon

I must admit that I went in to this race with a lot of trepidation and exhaustion and just holding on to the motivation to be done with racing and running for a little while. Not exactly where I wanted my head to be at this point. But having been promoted to manager at Nutrition Warehouse and working 50+ hours, my training was lacking, as was my motivation. What I felt most motivated to do was sleep. And well, let's just say I experienced enough personal drama in the midst of all of this to be completely just emotionally and physically worn out.

Originally, we had planned for this race to be a finisher for the season. Cathy and I were going to walk this one just for fun. Since we would be running Myrtle Beach a couple weeks before this, this would be for recovery and fun. Cathy was unable to make the trip but I was still expecting another friend, Deanna, whom I had met in Philly to make this race. Unfortunately, Deanna, was not able to make it either and I left Friday afternoon for Savannah with my dear friend, Ann, knowing I would be completely alone on race day.

It was crazy trying to get in to the expo to get my race packet. In fact, it was so insane, that all I did when I got in was get my race packet and t-shirt and get out of there as soon as possible. We grabbed dinner and checked in to the hotel. I knew I would have to get up early so I tried to get to sleep. I didn't manage much because I was afraid I wouldn't get up when the alarm went off at 3:40 a.m. It was the earliest I have ever had to be up for a race and I SO could have used a cup of coffee but my hotel did not have a coffee maker in the room and the one in the lobby looked questionable at best! So, I ate my breakfast, got dressed and headed out to the Savannah Mall where I could park for free and take the shuttle to the start line. I was on the first shuttle and we arrived a little bit after 5 to the starting line.

Of course, as is always the plan, I hit the port-a-potty. It was so early that there were no lines!! And then I just attempted to stay warm and keep from freezing my butt off...oddly enough that meant standing behind a line of port-a-potties that was blocking the wind! A few others huddled with me as we tried to stay warm and wait to get in our corrals.

I also had the opportunity to meet a friend that I have known online for about two years. Laura and I met on a weight loss site a couple years back and have been reading each others blogs and encouraging each other as we journeyed to lose weight and started running. She had completed her first marathon the weekend before and I was shocked that she was going to run the half in Savannah. We finally got to meet in person and got a great photo taken!

I hung out with Laura and her friends for a little while until it was time to head to the corrals and then made my way over to my corral. I was in the 23rd corral and I edged over into the group to try and stay warm and wait for the race to begin.

It was while I was waiting for the race to begin that I observed and overheard some of the conversation of the group of ladies in front of me. It was clear that they were encouraging one of their group to be amazing. There were lots of encouraging words and hugs and it was such a great pep talk that I mentioned that it was an amazing pep talk.

It was to be Maria's first half marathon and her friends were concerned because she was going to be by herself after the race started. They wanted her to stay focused and encouraged her to just keep going no matter what. I started talking with Maria and the girls and when I found it was her first half marathon and she was going to be by herself, I told the girls that she would not be alone. She was going to be my race buddy for the day. I knew that I wanted to be with Maria for her first half marathon and help her achieve her goal. And your first half marathon is certainly not one to be alone.

So, for my 10th half marathon, I set out with Maria and got to know her. We chatted as the corral slowly inched up to the start line. We did not actually cross the starting line until after 8 a.m. (the race started at 7:30!) It was the first starting line that I did not take off running with the group. Surprisingly, though my body wanted to run, I enjoyed the walking. As Maria and I got to know each other and shared a bit of each other's lives, I learned that she had been recently diagnosed with MS and had been suffering through some back pain as well as some numbness and her legs. She had intended to run this half and her dreams of running this had been dashed.

I knew that I had to distract her from thinking about her diagnosis and that she really wanted to run this and the other million things that could start her to wondering if she would finish this race and all the other million questions and frustrations that start to lead you down a bad path. So, I remembered what Tripp Worthy does when I get down on myself or start to doubt myself or just get sad, frustrated or depressed...I started talking nonsense and blonde stories and told her about me and frankly, I think I just talked and kept talking to try and keep her mind off of pain and walking and everything else. It was crazy but it worked.

I shared with her the wisdom of Ricky Rikard and how you never get on a bus unless there is bone or blood!! (I do so love Taz!!!) And I told her that she could do this every step of the way and that we were doing this for fun. (Yes, Taz, I finally learned how to just have fun during a half marathon! It was a blast!) We people watched and wondered how and why certain people got out of the house dressed like they were. I mean some of these people had some horrible friends...when your friends let you put on shorts that triple the size of your butt and don't inform you, it's time for new friends! Not to mention, there were some crazy people on the course...Beetlejuice was there for the half marathon, there were couples holding hands like it was a Sunday stroll, people who clearly didn't color coordinate their bags with their outfits and so much more!! Was it wrong to pick fun at these people?? Not a bit....they got us through the half marathon because there was no way they could cross the finish line before us. Maria and I both about lost it when I guy in front of us turned and around and yelled to his significant other behind us, "Are you coming, Seabiscuit?" Now, honestly, maybe she had a horsey look to her, I can't recall. Regardless, when your nickname is Seabiscuit, you need to rethink your relationship! But thanks for the laugh Seabiscuit and mate!!

Maria did amazing. I could tell she was in pain for some of it. So, I tried to distract her. We both got teary eyed as we passed a gentleman with two prosthetic legs completing the half marathon. I had to stop and tell him how amazing he was and inspiring. And seeing the full marathoners coming in around 4 hours was awesome...some looked like they had taken a stroll while others looked like their legs were about to give out and that they hardly had anything left.

We kept moving. As I noticed the bus coming in from behind, I determined we had to pick up the pace. And Maria was a champ, she gave it her all and matched me as I set goals of people for us to pass. And do not let anyone tell you that Savannah is flat. There may not be many hills but we did do hills for this race. Though they may not be the hills of Nashville, they were hills nonetheless!

When we got to mile 13, we saw Maria's cheerleaders. They were so amazing. As I saw the finish line, I knew that, even though Maria had not been able to run this race, if she had anything at all left, I wanted her to know the victory of running the finish line. So, I asked her "Do you think you can run?" She didn't think she could, but I knew she had a little left in her. So, I grabbed her by the hand and said, "Come on, we can run this one in." And we ran to the finish line and her friends were moving quickly through the crowds to get there as well. It was really emotional! And when we crossed the line, they went to hand Maria her medal and I knew, she had to have that medal placed around her neck. So, I grabbed it and put it around her neck. She earned this medal. She was to be awarded the dignity of every athlete...just like in the Olympics, you get the medal placed around your neck!

We got pictures made and caught up with her friends. I was hugged and thanked a million times. The truth is that as much as Maria needed me for this race. I needed Maria. My heart was not quite in it from the start and my body was just plain exhausted. She distracted me from all of that. As much as God had me there for Maria, He placed her there for me too. It was by far the best half marathon finish ever. I may not have set a PR but I made an awesome friend!

Here's a pic of Maria and I after the race:

Maria is amazing. We have some very similar situations. We have both lost 100 pounds and have crazy, but lovable trainers. We are both motivated to live a healthier lifestyle and have great friends for encouragement and support. I look forward to getting to know Maria better and hopefully getting to hang out with her again, whether it be just hanging out or doing another race. She is awesome! And I was so thrilled and honored to be a part of her special day!! And I loved her friends, they were so awesome and encouraging for me as well.

This is my first race that I will honestly say that I would not have changed a thing about it. They ran out of Cytomax at the very first water station, but it was fine. The water and Cytomax tasted terrible the entire race but we drank it anyway and kept going. I threw my first piece of clothing on the course at this race! They had great cheering sections and people in the neighborhoods came out to cheer us on. I honestly could not tell you a thing about the course except that there were some hills and some questionable neighborhoods, but perfect coverage and street closures. The volunteers were awesome and great cheerleaders. Although, the wind could have died down, it was a great race and one that I would consider doing again.

For now, I am looking forward to some rest. I will be having surgery on my wrist in a couple weeks (perhaps I will blog about it when I am doped on pain meds...that could be fun!!). I have a triangular fibrocartilage tear in my left wrist which was caused by the fact that my ulna is too long in that wrist and it is degeneratively moving and causing me pain and apparently tearing cartilage. So, Dr. Ekman will be going in and repairing the tear and cleaning it up. He has said that he will not put a cast on it, but I think I may ask for one because I am a hardheaded and very insane person and will likely pick up something I shouldn't if there isn't a cast there to remind me. So, I will be asking him about this at my pre-op appointment. Other than that, I will be taking some time off for running...at least a month. I will still be doing cardio and strength training legs when Ekman approves of it. But I want to give running a rest so that I can return to it and enjoy it more. My love/hate relationship with running has gone more towards hate and dread lately, so it's time to give it a small break and restart when I have better rested.

I have signed up for two races for next year. The NC Half Marathon in Charlotte is in March and the Divas Half Marathon in Myrtle Beach is in May.

Number Six & Done :) Oh yeah!! Goal Achieved!!!

Some said it couldn't be done last year after having surgery to repair the labrum in my hip. There is no way I could complete 6 half marathons in one year and furthermore, I would be insane to even attempt it. Insane, yes. Goal achieved...100%!!!

Last year when I came up with this crazy idea, I had no idea how I would feel towards the end of this. I had no idea where this path would lead me. What I did know was that this was a goal that I could achieve. I had some naysayers along the way. I had some people tell me that I had some screws loose. And I had some amazing cheerleaders who supported and encouraged me along the way.

The funny thing is that none of these half marathons turned out like I expected they would. I thought I would beat my best time. That didn't happen. I thought I would improve my running form...maybe I did a little. I even thought I would learn to love running even more but towards the end, I just wanted to be done.

No half marathon is the same. Even if you are doing the same course that you have done a million times, the run is never exactly the same. Circumstances and conditions are never 100% alike.

Charleston was an interesting run. I went along with my good friend, Chuck, who was completing his first half marathon. He did amazing and I was so proud to be there with him. It was perhaps my fastest run this year but it was not without its quirks and frustrations along the way. I never look behind me, but it was the first time I have ever had a bus (one that picks up those who do not complete or are injured) pass me and make me feel like I was failing in my race and I was way ahead of my schedule! Talk about a mental game!

Then came, Columbia, the half marathon that almost defeated me. I started it with a stomach virus and made it half way through before I allowed the virus and seeing the finish line and knowing I had 7 more miles to go defeat me. My body gave out and my heart just could not continue on. It was a tough decision but I gave it everything I could before walking off.

Next was a fun race, the Palmetto Half Marathon...completely drenched in the rain storm that just didn't want to go away. Completing it with a broken pinky toe on one foot and a twisted ankle on the other...that was insane! Having my best running buddy, Cathy, come along with me was the best thing ever because with her I knew I could finish it. It took the sting of walking off the other half marathon out of the picture.

Then came, the Historic Half Marathon. No one can do a half marathon with Marines and not feel pleased and honored to be a part of it. And to have gotten to meet Drew Carey at the same time was just awesome!! It was a good race but there was a lot of pain in this race in my legs that made me wonder if I would finish it. But I ran that finish line. And my dear friend, Ann, was at the end with a bottle of water and snacks for me. It was a great finish. She also got me tons of pics of Drew Carey too :)

I took the summer off to regroup and mostly lifted weights all summer. I got in a few long distance runs and a few days of shorter runs but not much. I hate running when it is so hot! Mostly, I got in some walks and just hit the gym regularly with Tripp for strength training.

September brought Philadelphia. It was here I would meet my friend, Deanna. She was so amazing finishing this race with me with a broken foot and in a boot! That was so awesome!! I loved doing this race with her and hearing about her awesome work with training dogs. She is an amazing woman and she pushed me through that race!!

Back to Myrtle Beach for my surf board medal in October. By this point, I was tired and not very well trained. Having started my new job, time for running was lacking and so was my dedication to training. But I could not let that stop me. Cathy and Tripp were doing this one with me, so I had plans that I could do it with them and it would be a great finish. I thought Cathy was wanting to run it and try and beat her time so I did not want to hold her back, so we got separated early on. Tripp was unable to run due to an injury to his knee that even kept him from attempting to walk the entire thing. So, I was on my own. And I tried to stay to myself the entire race but by mile 10, my hip hurt and my head was failing me. So, I met Cindy who also was hurting and we helped each other make it to the finish!

But Savannah, race #6, stands out as the absolute best race this year and perhaps my best race out of all 10 half marathons I have completed. For the full story, read my next blog. But let's just say having met Maria in the corral, I knew that she and I were going to be together all the way to the finish line. I had no idea at the time how much I was going to need her to get to the finish. By trying to distract her, I was able to focus on the race for her and about helping her finish. It was not about me. It was about helping her to achieve her goal. And that by far made it the absolute best race ever! (Again for all the details read my race report!)

Will I ever do 6 half marathons in one year again?? I have no idea. What I do know is that I did it. I accomplished my goal. I stuck to my guns and made it work, no matter what. I didn't let lack of training or frustration or anything else keep me from finishing what I started. So, I proved once again that I am stubborn and hard headed and crazy, but I also proved to myself that I am worth it and that I have a lot more in me than I have ever imagined!!

What's next for me?? I don't know. Will I complete a FULL marathon? Perhaps someday. Will I ever let anyone else's doubts keep me from dreaming big and achieving my goals? Absolutely not!! I will keep on dreaming! I will keep on hoping. I will keep on moving! I will keep on running!