So many of you have ask for a play by play detailed description of our day. So, here you go.
The race officially started at 7:00am. But we were assigned to corrals since all 31,000+ could not start at the same time. We were assigned to corral 16. I believe our start time was about 7:36am. I must say it was a gorgeous day for a run, not a cloud in the sky but it started out very warm. Can I just say right off the bat that our entire training was done in temperatures in the 30's 40's and 50's....but NOT in the 70's and 80's which is how our run started and ended. Ugh!
The first 5 miles weren't terribly bad. Aside from a few side stitches and a little sweat, it was a fairly good run. At mile 8, things began to change a little. There weren't many shady areas and there were a lot of hills and it seemed the water stations got fewer and fewer as our miles got longer and longer. Let me just say it was a scorcher! We felt like we were dying.
The entertainment along the way was fabulous and a great distractions. Country music bands, a gazillion fans and cheer leading squads cheering us on and a flat out mob that we were running with. When we came upon an area that had water stations, it was almost like herding cattle down the road because of the congestion. It was insane.
Our team was determined not to stop for a walk until mile 10 which is what we did, but I don't know if it was a mistake or a lifesaver. Immediately after we stopped running and started walking, every muscle our bodies tightened. It caused terrible pain. It felt impossible to begin running again. However, had we pushed our selves in the heat, I am afraid it could have been life threatening. We were all suffering from cramping, dizziness, light-headedness, nausea and stomach issues. We were joined in the suffering with many others who were passing out and throwing up all along the way. I realized somewhere around mile 11 that my left heel was kicking my right ankle bone because of fatigue which caused a nasty bruise as well.
We pushed ourselves best we could to run across the finish line. It was a proud moment of accomplishment. I sure wish it would have been a better run for us. We worked so hard to be prepared. We were prepared for everything but the heat. It did us in. But we made it.
We checked our pace at the 5, 8 and 10 mile marker and we we right on track with our training. It wasn't until mile 11, 12, and 13 that we lagged behind causing us to finish at 2 hours and 36 minutes total. We're happy though.
I must say... just to give you an example of the heat that we all were badly sunburned when it was over. We finished at 10:00am. I have never gotten a sunburn early in the morning like that. Also, I say this lightly as it was a terrible tragedy, but as we watched a few people being wheeled off on stretches that we learned that one of the guys (26 yo male) tragically died when paramedics got him to the hospital. It was a really hard day in the heat to do a marathon.
But, just like child birth (aka- the valley of the shadow of death) when we look back on that painful and difficult day, we can usually say.....ahh, it wasn't so bad and it was totally worth it. And so it is with my 1/2 marathon.
Thanks to all for praying for us.
Here are some pics. We should have some more pics up soon. There is also a link that shows live footage of our finish line if anyone is interested. Here
Here is a picture of our team shirts. We were known as "Team Pink" during the race.
Here we are kissing our medals and very thankful for a finished race.
Has someone seen the life I planned?
It seems it's been misplaced
I've looked in every corner
It's lost without a trace
I've found one I don't recognize
Things missing that were dear
Promises I'd hope to keep
And dreams I'd dreamed aren't here
Faces I had planned to see
Hands I planned to hold
Now absent in the pictures
Not the way I told
Has someone seen the life I planned?
Did it get thrown away?
God took my hand from searching
Then I heard him say,
"Child, your ears have never heard
Your eyes have never seen
Eternal plans I have for you
Are more than you could dream.
"You long to walk by sight
But I'm teaching eyes to see.
I know what I am doing
'Til then, you must believe."
He's done so much, I felt ashamed
To know He heard my moans
To think I'd trade in all He's done
For plans made on my own.
I wept over His faithfulness
And how He'd proved Himself
How He'd gone beyond my dreams
And said to Him myself,
"No, my ears have never heard
My eyes have never seen
Eternal plans you have for me
Are more than I could dream.
"Yes, I long to walk by sight
But You're teaching eyes to see
You know what You are doing
'Til then, I must believe."
I felt His great compassion
Mercy unrestrained
He let me mourn my losses
And showed me to my gains.
I offered Him my future
And released to Him my past
I traded in my dreams
For a plan He said would last.
I get no glimpse ahead
No certainties at all
Except the presence of the One
Who will not let me fall.
Are you also searching
For a life you planned yourself?
Have you looked in every corner?
Have you checked on every shelf?
Child, your ears have never heard
Your eyes have never seen
Eternal plans He has for you
Are more than you could dream.
Perhaps you long to walk by faith
But He's teaching eyes to see
He knows what He is doing
Child, step out and believe.
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind
has conceived what God has prepared
for those that love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9
The most precious man I've ever known.
We LOVE you papaw!!
(Feb 18th 1921--Feb 4th 2009)
