Ka mate, Ka Mate - Aotearoa Maori Chorale

So yes, I heart football.

The Pita?  Yes.

but

the man . . . eats. sleeps. breathes.

R U G B Y .

Tonight game one of the World Cup [thank goodness this occurs only once every four years].

The match up . . . .

All Blacks [NZ]

vs.

Tonga

Did I mention Dawn is a bit of a Tonga fan? . . . due to that awesome hubby of hers.

Every [best] friendship needs a rivalry right?! ;]

Did I mention the world cup last not weeks but months?!

Life as I know it ---- is over.

Any one up for a "haka off"?

You bet cha - I've got a video of lil ole' blonde, white girl me . . . . doing the Haka.

It's. freaking. Hilarious.

Happy.  Haka [All Blacks]. Thursday!

"My Own Private Idaho" [Thanks PRR] - B-52's

Sooooooo
ummmmmmm
yaaaaaa

It's been quite a crazy 4.94 days.

If you want to see a real write up click here [ yep here ]

Loved finally getting to see Dawn again.  [it had been a whole 4 months]

soooo happy when I saw her pull up at the airport.

Then I had 2.44 hours to talk her ear off all the way to Pokey.

Then I got to talk all three girl's ears off.

Then we did that blogger photo thing.

Then we went to that mandatory expo thing.

Side note because I'm an idiot........I get tapped on the shoulder by this guy who says, "you ran the IMS AZ marathon"
Me: yep [hello it IS my PR race!]
Him:  you passed me at the end.  You like kicked into turbo and chicked me at the end.
Me:  [thinking Jamoosh would be so proud] Want a rematch?
Him:  [laughing, like did she just say that?] yes
Me: deal.  See you in February.

this conversation may or may not have made my day.  [Holy. freaking. made]

Then . . .

holy. freaking. potatoes.

[side note] there is no where to eat in Pokey.  And according to our server, "no demand for Italian food". Soooo...  Bring your own food.  unless you can eat Mexican food, ice cream or a burger the night before.

RACE DAY.

Even though I probably drove Dawn nuts........

i. loved. running. with. her.

She has this photo but I was trying to motivate and trying to NOT talk her ear off.

She kinda tried getting rid of me a few times but I wasn't having it.

The.
Home.
Stretch.

Happy.  Finish.  Line.  Girls.

PR for Dawn.
PR/BQ for Erin.

Awesome.

Enjoyed seeing my family at the finish line.  [holy. huge. smile. right?!  See my PRR tats?  Loved them.]

Two of my uncles passed away within a week of each other so----not the best of circumstances but . . . . loved that there were there.

My family loves Dawn just as much as me [I'm pretty sure my mom adopted back in December when we met.]

Got a sweet photo with Haley.

Have I mentioned her kids?  Holy. heart. melt.

Dawn and I enjoyed a nice dinner together in SLC then off to see her crew.
They. are. awesome.

One more yummy breakfast and my girl's get-a-way was over. 
On one hand WAY too soon.
On the other . . . . was ready to see my Pita & Peanut.

Just kinda wishin' I'd be able to see all these awesome women again on 9/17 [Top Of Utah Marathon].

I kinda have something to settle with that race.

"Who Gon Stop Me [them]" - Kanye West JAY Z

One more sleep until I get to see this girl at the airport.

RacingDawn. 

BQingDawn.

This trip is going to be freaking awesome for at least 444 reasons but no worries . . . . I'll just share a few with you . . . .

1.  Duh, I get to see Dawn [ya we'll probably still text each other - talking would just be weird.]

2.  I get to meet Erin.  Yes - THE Erin.  The superwoman/mom Erin.

3.  These two above mentioned [SUPER] women will be PR-ing & BQ-ing.  So this is going to be like the freaking awesomest day ever.

4.  {ahhhhh Four 444444444} I get to drive/run Dawn nuts the whole freaking time.  Heaven knows she doesn't NEED me to "pace" her but I'll keep pretending that's my job title. ;]

5.  I get to finally meet Cari!  I heart Cari.  She was sooooo "there" for me during my 24 hour treadmill run. 

She. Is. Such. an. Inspiration.

6.  I get to see Haley!  I met her once in July.  For [no joke] like 4.4 minutes.  She. freaking. rocks. 

7.  I get a sack of potatoes.  Yes.  Seriously.  Each entrant gets a sack o' tots.  Who does this?  Ummmmm.....Pokey Peeps!

8.  [drum roll please . . . . . ] I have never left the Pita & Peanut for a get-a-way / sleepover.  Rephrase/explain:  the Pita has always done all the going [London, Fishing, fishing, fishing, fis...]  I'm a home girl.  I like home.  But this will be a freaking blast!

9.  Hence - the Pita and Peanut will catch up on their much desired Daddy/Daughter Dates.  Loved hearing them throw out ideas for the weekend . . . . "movies, pizza, sushi, ice cream PLUS we'll go to the store and buy all the crap food mom won't buy."

10.  The Pita asked for "a list of things you want me to do while you are gone."  Heck-freaking-ya . . .don't have to ask me twice.  Signed. Sealed. Delivered.  Now . . . get er dun.

11.  [there's a surprise] - - - sorry can't spill.  Then there would not be a surprise Saturday.

12.  My outfit [ubber important] is coming together nicely.  It's my jailhouse/punk look.

So you'll want to stay tuned to BQTV [AKA Dawn & Erin Social Media] come Saturday morning.

Because.  No. one. is. going. to. stop. these. two. ladies.

?    ?    ?    ?

You racing this weekend?  If yes, spill!

If no - - - Any Big LONG weekend plans?

"Good Morning" - Chamillionaire

So this post should be the last in the 24 hour Run Emz Series.  That's a big "should" .  You may have to deal with me bouncing back to this event on occasion.  I'll try not to reference it too often but . . . to say it was a life changing / life defining day [as dramatic as that seems] doesn't even cover it.

here. we. go.
but first click here if you have [so sadly] missed any of the past installments. ;)

1am.

My parents took Peanut and her cousin to the hotel that the Sheraton had donated.  Yep, donated.  How awesome is that?! 

Reason # 8,744 why if you do a 24 TM run you should do it outside and downtown . . . . drunk people. . . . super funny. . . . super [probably] unknowingly generous . . . drunk people. 

To put it mildly, there was not a "dull" moment from 1am-2am.

DG [drunk guy]:  dude what are you doing?
MC [my{awesome}crew]:  she's running for 24 hours for charity.
DG: no way.
MC: way.
DG: no way.
MC: way.

[repeated 44 times]

Then there was the semi-DG [drunk girl] who ran barefoot with me, in a dress.  I did try conversing [in word form] with her.  It was more just a lot of smiles and semi-awkward looks.  but she was something else.

Then.  it. happened.  funniest. moment. of. the. night.

I look up and see this:

Get. freaking. out.

I was laughing so hard.  all the while yelling, "I so didn't call you!  You keep right on moving down that road."

At the same time my sister "happy" is yelling "stay here!  stay here! OMGosh need a photo!"

Guy in van:  what cha doing?
Me: not needing you. [insert ha ha ha]
GIV: how long you runnin'
Me: 24
GIV:  hours?

[I'm a huge fan of stupid questions]

Enter [run to the bathroom] potty break - this bathroom breaks are now being escorted by the Pita.  Thanks Pita.
Enter powerade
[I'm seeing a pattern here]
Enter Protein shake [2] not the ones I "like".  Can you tell from the photo?

Start running again.

ummm not good . . . .

Feel a blister coming on at both of my heels.

Thanks to Aaron and his Engo pads + the Pita's mad skills . . .

I/We are off and running again.

At this point I'm eating [and acting like]:

nuts
dried fruit
and
sour patch kids, awwwww yaaaaa.

Where's the 5 pound gummy bear you ask?

I. have. no. freaking. clue.
I'm sure Peanut took it to the hotel with her.

Enter 3am.

Dad is back?! 

JUST AS . . . . the TV cuts to an infomercial for a  "male enhancement device" and I mean device - like a huge freaking contraption.  We all busted out. [laughing]

My brother says, "Ya, watch Dad come back now."

enter. . . .
dad
coming
back . . .
"now"

Oh, man, it was just like being 12 and having a feminine hygiene product [commercial]come on TV.  You can't watch that crap with your dad around.

Hilarious. 

After we all got our giggles out.

There was a bit of a lull.

lull = emz zone [thinking happy thoughts]

[pretty quiet . . . . my dad is walking in front of me]

Dad: "I couldn't sleep knowing you are out here doing this."
Emz: I'm doing really good Dad.

Somehow I have failed to properly mention [feeling sheepish].  my dad.  MY dad.  He'd stop by at least every 90 minutes saying/asking.

"how you doing honey?"
"you feeling alright?"
"can I get you anything?"
"You're doing great."
"This is amazing"
"Need some more water?"

always in the sweetest tone.  calm voice.  clear voice.  assuring voice.

I hate using the word "proud" because I feel it sometimes has a negative connotation/feeling to it....but I knew . . . .  HE .... MY DAD....."Mr. Twinkle Toe's" himself. . . was proud of me.

and
it
meant
everything
to
me.

I've always [ALWAYS] had an amazing relationship with my dad.  He has a unique and awesome relationship with EACH of his FIVE children that is truly amazing.

I. love. you. Dad.

[small iPod break]

Oh ya, and did I mention my family rocks?

My sister Evie [Y-von] staying the whole freaking night.  yes.  whole FREAKING. night.

I remember joking with my brother Mike and sister Y-von.  And seeing them joke with each other.  Reminded me of when we all lived under the same roof, traveled in the back of the same HYUNDAI for 13 hours to Logan, Utah . . . listening to "The Pet Shop Boys" and "Duran Duran".  Good times.  They are pretty funny and incredibly awesome characters.

okay.  wiping the tears.

About this time we [Dawn and I] started doing intervals.  6 minute run / 3 minute fast walk [4.3mph].

These potty breaks, vitals checks [required by channel 12 and my mom ;) ], clothing changes, shoe changes, treadmill moves [3] had all really started adding up, time wise. 

So Dawn got me rolling.  And the texts and tweets were rolling in again, thanks to you people back east {MCM} + early morning risers.

Was I tired . . . . yes.

but oddly, it felt more like an "I want to sleep" tired than an "I want to stop running" tired.  I just told Dawn to tell me when to start / stop on the intervals ..... I'd do whatever she told me to.

Did I mention Dawn is awesome? Well, I'm going to tell you again. 

Dawn, my texting, lashing, emoticon queen.  I needed her there.  And she was there.  The girl even picked up my nasty clothes in the bathroom [changes] and had to deal with me peeing with the door open [just in case I fell in the toilet --- didn't want her to have to army crawl into the stall].  She was there for me in a way no one else could have been.  Because she's tough as nuts, doesn't take any crap, she speaks her mind, she's not all girly & she "gets" me.

I got to 5am. 
I knew WE had the "100" in the bag.  No this wasn't a day about my "personal goals" but heck if I'm that freaking close . . . .why the heck not?!

I had decided hour 23 was for one special reader who emailed me her story.  A story I'll never forget.  A story that had an awesome ending.  A story of survival and more importantly success and empowerment.

CM - this last hour is for you.

And [sorry] I can't finish this today [like in one post]. 

The end of this event. . .well even though we know how this ends. . . . it needs it's own post.

It's 5:01am, my Peanut awakes.  Kim and Myrissa come.  Lynn from Vemma comes.  Dr. Ken -- you guessed it, he's there too. Huh, what?!  My spin instructor [plus her husband] are walking down the street towards me as well.

59 minutes left and I'm thinking, "I'm so not ready for this to be over."

"This Afternoon" - Nickelback

If you missed part 1 [click here]

If you missed part 2 [click here]

If you are up to date . . . . well, then I'll just be super impressed.

ok, so I changed [bet you can still smell me through the computer!]

But first, a few awesome things happened:

My Niece "T" came . . . yep, she's the super hot, super smart, super supportive niece who just took her MCATS - ya, she should probably work on being more motivated. She. is. amazing.

Nephew Tan came ---- and he's a runner -- awwww yaaaa.  His brother Troy had been with me since 5:30am - he was a part of the medical team....how freaking awesome is that?!

My sister Y-von came with her four awesome kids.  Her son, the one I had an abs throw down with [uhhhh, heck ya, I won] rescheduled a trip [and therefore his friend's trip to be with me......nothing snarky here Michael, only love].  They brought balloons.  Loved that.  Y-von.....she even barefoot walked with me.  Loved that.

shoes came off. . . . . have I mentioned these Woodway's Rock!?

My sister "A" [the one I ran a marathon with in January] came with her four fab kids.  Did I mention they are moving to Indiana in July?  [crying sad face - where are my emotiocons when I need them?]

By 11am the crew was building for sure.

My Uncle, Aunt & Cousin came..... as well as a few friends from Stetson Chiropractic.  Pam - you are the sweetest ever.

What?  I think they look happy and super entertained.

 Dr. Ken, loved the pain patches, love the way you pushed for donations.  So appreciated.

okay.
truth.
be.
told.

The only true "tough time" I had was when I was in this cave-ish thing.  I could only see ahead of me.  And that's great because that's where my family was but my bum was to the street, couldn't see donors, passer-by's . . . .had to turn every time . . . . which eventually made my knee cry. 

Enter Potty Break.
Enter Vitals Check. [lost 5pounds ----- started pounding a lot more fluids]

Enter more pickle juice. . . . . .

I would like to note the bathrooms ----- well they weren't super close.  We were located right next to the studio so we couldn't trollop through there.  We had to go to the main entrance from 8am-5pm then the "employee entrance" from 5pm-6am.

No biggie, but you add all those up and I'm pretty sure it's an EASY 1.5miles.  Don't go throwing me under the bus, I know it doesn't "count" just lettin' you know the potty details.

At this point I was already looking forward to 5pm - when the TM's would be moved again [closer to the street].

But wait . . .there was some pure awesome in the cave.

Watched "Day's of our Lives" without sound or captioning.  I don't know Dawn but I think our story line was way better than whatever they were hoobaskanking-up. [yep, it's a word].

Enter - another muscle milk shake, another PowerAdeZero

It hit 1pm and it was like a wave of excellent happened.

My Brother came.  My Brother came.  My Brother came.  Didn't think he was going to be able to make it.  awesome. [x 444]

Was funny when he realized I was the only one doing the 24 hour run . . . . I usually talk too fast. and.sometimes. not. in. complete. sentences. 

He said, "so no one relieves you?"
Emz:  well I can pee on my own. jk
Emz:  ummmm nope.
Him:  [look I'll never forget]

I remember him just standing there just looking like "WTH"?  Maybe that wasn't what he was thinking but that's what it looked like he was thinking.

and. I. loved. it.

Dawn, Happy & Pita took a much deserved "break" [can't really call it that] and went to get pizza for the troops.

they. were. gone. too. long.

I know, I'm high maintenance.  I missed them.  Like a-freaking lot.

At 2pm, I had the most awesome visit ever.

These kids from "Kids For Peace".

They came with a huge product donation [supplies] for Sojourner and money they made from the lemonade stand.

bring. on. the. tears.

The walked in chanting.

"Go Emily ,Go!"
"Go Emily ,Go!"

"Go Emily ,Go!"

"Go Emily ,Go!"

"Go Emily ,Go!"

Even with signs.  you freaking bet there was a "you've. freaking. got. this." sign.

It all starts with the kids.  Love them.  Peanut jumped back on for a few.

Had quite a few people stop by in the next little while which was awesome-----but all the talking, emotions, happy tears . . . I think got me a litttle worn out.  I know, cry me a river [I freaking loved it but...] I needed a little "tune out" .

Enter iPod.

20-25. minutes.  good. as. new.

Amazing what Eminem, Wiz K, Dr. Dre, 50 cent, Jay-Z & Mary J [yes, Dawn she helped this white girl find her swagger] can do to get one out of a funk.

Oh and Dawn, Happy & Pita were back ----- thank goodness.

Knee was still kind of funky put a pain patch on - which stayed on the remainder of the time.


5pm brought:

a TM move [15-20 minutes]
body glide shower
a Potty break
a vitals check
a clothing change
a 1/2 bagel with PB [thanks Dawn]
a powerade with ice [thanks Pita]

5:15 awesome.

Emz:  but my bum is still to the pathway?!
Pita et all: has to be this way for the news interview.
Emz:  feeling pretty bad for the people who are getting out of work, walking by.

Enter my awesome girls from my church group.  Can you believe they let me teach young children?!

they. are. awesome.

Thanks to Kim, they came.  And they came bearing signs of love and support. 

Full. heart.
 

Time for 6pm news.
 

And get this . . . . the guy who  did my first TV interview [clip] sad he was going to come and . . . . totally did.
 

Freaking. Happy. Emz.  
He's was a sprinter [back in the "college days" or "previous life" as he put it].
was so great of him to come. . . . loved every minute.
 
And I keep on . . .
 
runnin'.
runnin'.
 

and
 
runnin'. runnin'
 
[Emz thinking . . . I hope I remember all of this.  I want to remember everything.  Every ache.  Every honk.  Every "you go girl".  Every person who shared their story with me. Every smile.  Every donation.  Every woman.  Every safe woman.  I don't want this feeling to ever end. . . . ]

"Dawn" - Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

I.
Still.
don't.
have.
the.
words.

The tears?  yes.

The words?  no.

The one thing that was wicked hard for me . . . . saying "goodbye" to Dawn as the Pita whisked her away to the airport on Saturday.  I just bawled.

and

bawled. [I reminded myself she needed to be home for Mother's Day on Sunday for her FIVE beautiful children & super awesome hubby]

then. . .

bawled. again.

You don't even want to know what happened when I walked was guided like a 94 year old into the room she slept in to find:

* a card [like the best card ever]
* a donation to SC
* HER "running sucks" shirt I borrowed the last two miles.

* a box of toffee
* and foot rub awesomeness.

You see.  I did get to 100.  But I owe it to Dawn.  I kept saying the goal was a "strong finish" and it was but . . . . Dawn knows me.  She knew I wanted that 100 so freaking bad.

So WE got it.

Six minute intervals and we had it with three minutes to spare.

Thank you for flying here to be with me.  I'm pretty sure I've know her FOREVER but technically, five months.

Thank you for being the social media woman. I loved the interval check-ins [tweets, texts, emails].  You knew just when I needed them.

Thank you for your post today.  More like thank you. [you can read it here] and if you don't follow Dawn - well, you better get on that.  like freaking right now.

I adore you Dawn.  

I made it to 98.

You got me to 100.