#14. Go on a Weekend Get Away
#168. Go to the casino
#153. Eat Somewhere New
#160. Get Dressed up for dinner
I'm only half crazy... for now.
Yes. A half marathon. 13.1 Miles.
The Race: Joplin Memorial Half Marathon
The Date: May 16, 2015
The Distance: 13.1 Miles
I've always wanted to participate in a half marathon. It may be because it is something I never imagined I could do a few years ago or my slight obsession with medals. It is crazy how much you can push yourself to do something when you have the right frame of mind. These days what I used to think of as a challenge has become my warm up. The once long, dreaded 5k distance has become a quick and easy for me. This will not be my last half. I want to do more. I will probably walk/jog/run/power walk through most of it. But I am determined to run a full half marathon someday.
Some people have asked me why I picked the Joplin Memorial Half Marathon as my first one. Well the short answer is I didn't give it much thought actually until after I signed up. I had originally planned to do the Bass Pro half in the fall, but thanks to me getting distracted with work and lack of motivation, I didn't feel like I was ready for it. A friend of mine had signed up for the Joplin half and asked me if I wanted to do it with her. Reluctantly, I said yes.
A few days after I signed up I started thinking about the reason behind the half. It's a memorial half for those who lost their lives to the Joplin tornado a few years ago. I decided to dedicate the race to my dad. While he didn't die during the tornado, his house was affected. And due to the tornado, when he found out he had cancer, he was transferred to a specialist in St. Louis right away because the hospital was destroyed in Joplin. I can't help but think that was a way of prolonging his life a little longer. So my race is in honor of him.
A few weeks ago, marked the year anniversary of my dad passing. To say it's been an emotional couple of weeks is an understatement. But more about that in another blog. On the year, John and I drove to Joplin for the day. We went to the restaurant a few of us went to after the funeral. It was a restaurant I had been to with my dad before he had passed. After lunch, we drove the half marathon course from start to finish. It was an emotional course, and a challenging one. There are various reminders of my dad throughout the course. A Steve's auto body store within the first mile. (My dad's name was Steve). The course also takes me right by the funeral home and about a mile away from his house. It's bittersweet. I would give anything for my dad to be at the finish line that day. To see what I've accomplished. But he is not going to be there. But he will be there in spirit along the way. Constant reminders that he is with me.
Post Race Update:
Be prepared there are a lot of pictures. :)
We left Friday afternoon for Joplin. There was no way we were going to be able to wake up to drive to Joplin on Saturday morning. Especially when the race started at 6:30am... Nope! I am not a morning person. John was nice enough to drive us, be our photographer, and our cheerleader.
Ready for the road trip to Joplin
First stop in Joplin: Runners Expo @ MSSU
All checked in!
After we checked in at the runners expo and got all of our free stuff, we drove the course one last time. It was still a long way. Lol. Then we went to our hotel to check in.
Next stop: Super 8.
Our room was nice. The hotel was recently remodeled. The only problem I had was there were no stairs... and we were on the third floor. Normally I wouldn't mind, but I knew that stair climb after the race was going to be rough. But we toughed it out. After we got checked in and freshened up, we met up with my mom, aunt and uncle for dinner. They had drove in just to see me in the half marathon. Their hotel ended up being right next to ours. We went to Cheddars for dinner. It was good, as always.
Our alarm for the Saturday morning: gross! We were up before the sun!
Unfortunately, I let my nerves get the best of me the morning of the race and I got sick... several times. But I pushed through it. It was rough to say the least. I haven't been that nervous/anxious in a long time. I used to let everything get to me and end up getting sick. I thought I was over it. Clearly, I'm not. I'm a work in progress.
Getting our last minute layers on
After the threat of storms all week leading up to the race, the weather ended up being perfect.
Cool and cloudy.
Before we started... Notice I look like I'm gonna throw up?? Because I had just thrown up. :(
Rounding up the racers
Like I said, the race was rough. After throwing up three times before the race, I thought I had got it out of my system. Shelley and I started running the first part. The first few blocks were lined with banners of names of the 161 people who lost their lives on May 22, 2011 due to the tornado in Joplin. It gave purpose to the runners. We were going to run the whole length, but after about two blocks, I had to start walking. The more I ran, the more I felt more sick. I ended up walking the entire thing. Every time I tried to jog, I felt sick or I felt like I was going to pass out. Note to self: drink more water!!! When you think you've had enough, drink more.
Though out the course, there were moments I wanted to stop. I wanted to text John or sit down and cry. But John told me that he wouldn't come pick me up even if I asked. I would have to finish this... spoken like a true cheerleader. He randomly showed up through out the race at points for both Shelley and I. Around mile 8, which is the road by my dads house, I got sick again. I threw up about 5 times on one stretch of road. I wanted to give up. I didn't want to do this anymore. I felt like I had disappointed everyone. My family, my friends, my dad.
Then a song came on my playlist... Stonger, by Kelly Clarkson. I looked down at my tattoo "strength" and remembered I could do this. I was stronger than I have ever been. And I could do this. I had to do this. For me. Not for anyone else. Around mile 9, the race was giving out energy gels. They gave me an apple cinnamon one. Sounds weird but my dad loved apple cinnamon. It was like a sign he was looking down. I had the gel and stepped up the pace. Before I knew it I was killing it. Still not able to run but I was walking with the best of them. Passing people that I had in front of me for miles. It got a second wind. After I turned the corner and saw the finish line about 1/2 mile down the road, I couldn't believe what I had just done. Me. I just did that. No one else did it for me. I had support, yes. But they couldn't run for me. I had to do it.
When I crossed the finish line, my mom was standing there to give me a hug. She has always been my number one fan! After I got my medal, I made my way over to my "fans." My mom, my aunt and uncle, my boss Jessie and her husband, Michael, Brandon and Shayla, Shelley and John. It was humbling that they came. I felt thankful for people in my life. Family and friends who feel more like family. Day made!
Jessie and I
Shayla and I
Me and Shelley!! We did it!!
Jessie, me, and Michael
My mom, me and my aunt
Shayla, me and Brandon (they totally surprised me by coming down)
Me and John
Me and my medal!!! 13.1 baby!!
My aunt captured this picture of my uncle Scott and I after the race. He has always been a big support to me. He and my dad were very close. As he gave me a hug, he told me my dad would have been proud. I almost started crying. It made me so happy to hear that.
My uncle Scott and I
Me and my mom!!
The results are in!
I finished!!! :)
After the race was over, we all went to Denny's for breakfast. Then said our goodbyes. John, Shelley and I were staying the night, but everyone else left to go home. The three of us went back to the hotel for showers and a nap! That evening we decided to go to Downstream Casino for dinner and gambling. I had never been and I wanted to cross something else off my list. We also decided to get dressed up because it's fun!
We made reservations at Red Oak Steakhouse at the casino. Fantastic! It was delicious! I didn't take pictures. But it was on point. Next, we went out to the casino floor and played the slots. I brought $5 with me. The first machine I played was penny slots. I ended up winning $19.45 so I cashed out. I did end up spending the other $4, but I didn't win any on those. I was happy I won something. Beginners luck.
Back home...
Progress.
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