This last year, I decided to embark on a list of 30 things I
always wanted to accomplish- and in a moment of haste- decided I could do them
ALL in my 30’s! One of those was the Kansas City Heartland Series, which
consists of (3) Half Marathons (13.1 Miles) in 5 weeks.
Last Saturday was part one of the series, and I have never
been so nervous for a race. I am not sure why I was so anxious, as this would
the 4th Half Marathon I had done, but I was! My poor husband and
children had to deal with momma’s anxiety for a full week before the race!
Friday night came, GU had been purchased, clothes were laid out and by 8:00 pm
I was in bed!
The weather on race morning was perfect- 60 degrees and although
it was humid, it wasn't a scorcher.
I decided, in honor of the horrific new song “Selfie” (I am sorry if you like this song-- I think it's terrible) that I
would document this race with a selfie for each leg of the race! And so please
enjoy our journey on part one of the Heartland series….
And it begins…. Nerves were at a high, but the weather was
perfect and we were ready to get this party started!
Mile 1
I was planning on running “with” my sister for a while; this
is what running with Amy looked like at Mile 1! (We will call this a Sister-Selfie)
Mile 2
At this point, I was surprised by the pace I was able to
maintain thus far- faster than any practice run! And I had caught up with my
partner in crime! Luckily the race did an EXCELLENT job at water stops and mile
2 gave us a break
(please note my faster sister is BEHIND me).
Mile 3
We were conquering those long and never ending hills with a
great pace, and still smiling!
(Again, note the relation of who is first…..)
Mile 4
Although the humidity was in full effect (note the beautiful
glisten we are rocking), we were still cruising right along…. However once we
both noted the 4 mile sign was approaching we ended up racing for this selfie –
turns out she didn’t want to be noted as the slower one in each picture!
(How
many chins can I get in a picture?)
Mile 5
My sister had past me up at this point, and I was set to
conquer the path alone. As we passed by mile 5, I noted the bathroom stop- and
look who was BEHIND me again in this picture (the circled figure is my sister)
Mile 6
The sun was out, and we were fast approaching halfway… The
happy face I was rocking was obviously ebbing away quickly…. BUT at halfway as I
checked my goal and checked my actual- I was ROCKING IT! I was going to get a
Personal Record on this course and I felt GREAT!
Mile 7
Remember my blog, “What goes up, stays up?” For this
particular stretch of race, that was exactly the truth! Up, up, up….. And it
was starting to hurt
Mile 8
Hello Wall. I had hit that wonderful wall where nothing seemed
to be able to get me to go faster. But even though I wasn’t smiling, I pushed
on.
Mile 9
Somewhere right after this sign, it happened. I wasn’t looking
at the pavement and in a second, I stepped on uneven ground. My knee took the
brunt of the step, and sheer pain shot through the joint and all the way up to
my brain! OW!!! Fighting back tears, I pushed on. Hoping at some point, my brain
would just push out the pain and finish it… What are 4 more miles??
Mile 10
At this point, I pulled my phone out to take a picture, but saw
a text from my husband instead and called him for support. Not the best idea
when you’re in pain and trying to push through 3 more miles… However, it got me
through and I was DETERMINED not to leave anything unfinished. Have you ever
heard someone say “leave it all on the field?” That’s what hit me, and after a
quick prayer for strength, I pushed on…. 3 more miles.
Mile 11
Probably one of the best signs I have ever seen. I had 2
miles left, and when I realized I only had to do 15 minute miles for each, and
still make a PR, I was going to do this!
Mile 12
If my face doesn't show you how much pain I was in at this point, I am not sure what would, but besides the sweat, anxiety and pain I was
GOING TO DO THIS!
Mile 13
Although I knew she would be waiting for me, I wasn’t prepared
for all the emotions to hit. What you may not know about running something this
big- it can be very emotional, especially when you see someone care
enough to stand and cheer you in. There at 13 mile marker was my sister, taking
my picture (knowing I needed a selfie) and cheering me in. Even though I know
she had just finished her own race, she ran onto the pavement to meet me and
help me finish that .1 mile, the hardest part of the race. And it hit me, tears
just fell and I couldn’t keep them in any more. And it wasn’t really the pain;
it was the overwhelming happiness I felt that someone wanted to help me finish! When I hit the
chute and she turned off, I saw them- my husband, sister-in-law and
sister-in-law (who had also just finished). And in those moments I knew I had a
little more to leave on the course- and with everything I had in me I sprinted
that finish and cried all the way through it!
This was my 13 mile “selfie” my sister took for me and when I
saw it I had to chuckle… She was way too emotional to take a closer picture it
turns out- which is ok with me!
We finished…
We all did it! And guess what—despite it all I made a Personal Record! I have never made it in under 3 hours- and I did it! Turns out leaving it all out there is the way to go!
To those that helped us leave it all on the course....
The support matters, and from the bottom of my heart…. Thank
you
Even if your message isn't here, or we don't know each other at all, and you have supported someone in this way-- you are awesome. You cannot fathom how much it means to the one being supported to know you went out of your way to do this for them.
If you know someone that is taking on an accomplishment in their life let me say in this fleeting sentimental moment- do what you can so that they know you support them! Text them, cheer them in, like it on Facebook… It doesn't matter how you do it, JUST DO IT! There is nothing that makes me want to leave it on the course more than seeing someone support me enough to do one of these things!
And to those of you who fellow racers that recently completed this race (or any other accomplishment you have put in front of you)-- CONGRATULATIONS YOU ARE A ROCK STAR!!! People like you make me want to keep going and leave it all on the pavement!
I'll see you all in two weeks for Part 2!
Love and Laces,
~K
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