Before the Race
A week ago today, we were picking up our race packets.
It was hot and a bit muggy. We were standing in line for the porta-potties....very important pre-race ritual. Also, a great place to chat with fellow racers.
We were nervous, and excited. For FRB ( Fabulous Running Buddy) and I, it was our first Half Marathon ( I really feel it deserves capitalization).
I could give you a blow-by-blow....but, over 3 hours of my struggling to put one foot in front of the other, though huge accomplishment for me, may be absolutely mind numbing for anyone that stumbles across this blog.
However, there were some pivotal moments.
At the turn-around point, FRB was having a tough time. We'd made it up the long steady hill ( I do believe they call it the Widowmaker), we were past the half-way mark. She had a horrible cramp in her side, and had for some time. It was a tough point in the race for her...but, she didn't quit! We walked together for a few minutes, then got back to it. She was amazing! I could see the pain on her face, hear it in her voice....and she kept on going. I was so proud of her!
Around this time, another gal from WBB who was doing the Half was hurting as well....her ankle was sore, her knee taped up.....let me take a moment here to say that she is one of my running heros. She never quits, has run more races than anyone I know, is incredibly supportive of everyone around her.....she deserves a medal for being so fabulous!
Next one for trouble was me. Around the 15k mark, I hit my limit. Call it The Wall if you like.... I felt a little like Simon Pegg's character in "Run Fatboy Run" , when he hits his Wall......he was much funnier about it though. ;)
My legs were weak and watery. My back hurt. I was so hot, then I'd feel chilled. I could hardly stumble in a straight line ( yes, I find walking without bumping into folks on a regular day a challenge, but, this was worse). I was on the verge of tears.
FRB came up behind and stopped to see how I was....and then she heard me, and saw my face. I told her I didn't think I could finish. Then she did for me what I did for her when she was struggling. She told me I could do it. She made me say "I am a runner." She put her arm around my shoulders and made me believe I could make it. ( During this pivotal race moment, my Running Hero tried to snap a pic of us with her cell phone, but, it was too smeary from the heat :) )
The rest of the race is a blur of water stations and distance markers.
Coming around the last turn, people were getting in their cars, having finished their races (There had been a 10k, a 5k, and a kids 2.5k) and were getting ready to go. So many of them stopped to cheer on the last of us. They clapped and encouraged...it was touching. One lovely gentleman we had chatted with in the porta-pottie line before the race stopped his car, rolled down his window and told me to keep going.
Then, I saw Asher ( son #3) waiting at the last corner for me! I was ridiculously excited to see him. Made a fool of myself shouting and waving at him ( who knew I had the energy!). He rounded the last turn with me, then I dug in to get over that finish line.
Hubby was there with the other 2 boys, and our spazzy dog Dexter. I was so happy they were there ( the Littlest was at Gramma and Grampa's for her visit with them)...and I was ever so glad to be DONE.
Race time: 3:15.48....15 minutes over my goal. That''s fine though. The ultimate goal was to finish, and I did that. :) Was I dead last? Yup. Do I fell bad about it? Nope!
Highlights of the race: the people, especially the volunteers. They were the most encouraging, fabulously supportive people I have ever met. Yes, it was my first race of this length, but no matter. All those people gave up their mornings to sit in the hot sun, with the mosquitoes and other assorted bugs. Every single one of them had a smile and a kind word for everyone one of us along the way.
To the gentleman that stuffed the ice packs down my back and put them on my neck, even though I insisted I didn't need them....pretty sure you saved me from over-heating.
So, my thanks to all of the volunteers. Without you, there is no race....the fact that you were all so kind and supportive was a bonus!
Biggest Disappointment: After we had crossed the finish line, we were told they had run out of medals. 10 of us would have to wait and receive ours in the mail.
Seriously?
I was, and am, upset about this. My understanding was, that due to the larger than expected number of race-day registrations, they didn't have enough medals for everyone. There was a group of people that had been ordered to run the Half in preparation for the Death Race in Grande Cache. These people that probably didn't even want to be there, that most likely could have cared less about getting a Finishing Medal, who probably tossed it on a counter and have never given it another though, all went home with one.
As I have stated numerous times.....THIS RACE WAS A VERY BIG DEAL. I was so looking forward to having that medal around my sweaty neck. Taking photos of us with our shiny medals on our dirty shirts, tired but smiling after accomplishing something we never thought we could.
We were cheated out of that. I don't think the running club that organized the race thinks of runners like us. (They seem to be at a more..... ummmm..... elite level than folks like us who are still novices.) At the Spring Fling ( Our first 10K), they ran out of food, and were packing things up at the finish line as we finished. We did not have out names called like the rest of the runners, or our times announced. We pre-registered for that one as well.
This time, they had plenty of food ( my kids enjoyed the pasta, I was thankful for the watermelon and oranges), but ran out of medals...yup, said it twice. I feel it bears repeating.
I have a solution, maybe they should think about it:
If you have pre-registered for the race, you get a medal set aside for you. Let the folks that register the day of the race wait to receive theirs in the mail. Think about it.
So, what's next for this Barefoot Mama?................................
................... We're running a 5k race tomorrow. :)
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