"Take It On The Run" - REO Speedwagon

The. Best. Marathon. Ever.

with
MY
sister.

starting line photo.  {my dad was so worried I was too cold, got to love a caring dad.}
Yes, Mom, I went black & white due to mine & Dad's crazy "Rudolph Red noses"

Right after this we walked up to start.  Looked at each other . . . . yep, it's "go time".  So we exited for the port-o-poties. 

All five of them there.  Ugg.

Gun goes off.

7:29 seconds pass.  we see our awesome family.  we wave.  they give a "what the......" look........and we are on our way.

Sadly, we [my sister "A" and I] have never run together.  Nope.  Never.  She has some running friends she runs with [at the butt crack of dawn] and me . . . yep, I have Ed the treadmill.

so. this. was. awesome.

From miles 1-12 we chatted about everything from kids, to anxiety, to her next race in Washington, to my race pooping past.

[This entire time we were keeping a 8:40 - 9:20 pace . . . . amazing]

This was an out and back course.  Which was nice for all our family attending. 

We got to see our crew at 13.  While it was incredible to see 12, yes 12, of them . . .  . . "A" did not like turn around.  The turn around = wind.  Wind that we apparently enjoyed having at our backs the first 13.

[this was pre-turn]

Me being the dork I AM and spinning in circles, while running.
I was given a "talking to" regarding my two finger salutes, prior to the race.  So this was all they caught . . . heee hee heee.

"A" crashed a bit at 15.  I could tell she was getting annoyed by my talking [what?! I don't talk a lot] I gave her a Gu.  Told her to take it, turn her music on [I'd shut-up] and find her go to song.  I did get a little worried when she said she was listening to The Beetles.

are. we. from. the. same. family?

What?!  My sister doesn't have Eminem on her iPod?!

Our awesome family continued to meet us at 15,16,18 & 20.  At 20.2 we see our Dad sticking is hairy bald head out the window saying, "GO! You cute girls!"  To which I had to reply, "You dirty old man!".  He. is. awesome.

At 23 I got all kinds of runner crazy on her.  She was feeling it.  I could see it.  but I knew she didn't need to stop.  we started talking [ok, I made her] about "power lines".  Yes like, "I've. freaking. got. this".  I told her to think of hers and to say it.  often.

Then we see the finish line.  I tell her, "I don't think those 50 year olds should come in before us."  She looked at me.  "How about we pass them by the finish line?"  Her reply, "___" [nothing].

Me:  Come on.  Dad's here. ;)  Let's take them.  It's 0.2.  "A, we've freaking got them".

you. bet. she. did.

4:16:36

Her first marathon & she gets third second in her age group.
Awwwww. heck ya.  that's. MY. sister.

Awesome. day.

Hugs from "E".  Loved.  That.
Not so much loving this photo.  who. took. these?!

But who ever took this one . . . . .

It's my favorite.

A.  you.  killed.  it.  Thank. you. for. putting. up. with. me.

Love you,

Emz

"Not Gon'Cry" - MJBlige

frustrated.
confused.
tiny bit stressed.
ticked.
*^&%@.
grateful.

all feelings I'm experiencing [pretty much] all at the same time.

I'm just special like that.

Not that this is the most important one.  But it's the part I'm choosing to share.  Because it made me grateful.  and grateful is way better than the other five words listed above.

Today's long run . . .

not great.

Why I am all of the sudden experiencing calf cramps is beyond me.  I got my 18.5 miles in at a 7:30 pace but it didn't feel good.

The Pita had called as I got into the pool [to ice].

Pita: you crying?
Me: runny nose mixed with a few salty eyes.
Pita: so your crying?
Me: a little.

I went on [and on] to say something like, "I know it's running.  It's not life.  I'm just frustrated with my leg cramps....you know how bad I want this PR.....I'm not used to finishing a long run feeling deflated . . .[blah, blah, blah]

He didn't say much.  Could hear him typing away on his end.  to say he's "busy" at work . . . HUGEST understatement ever.  Told me to stay in there [pool], have a hot shower, eat, dry my hair so I don't get sick . . .

Said, "thanks", "Love you", "Have a good day".

Then I found this in my inbox 10 minutes later.

"I was pushed by myself because I have my own rule, and that is that every day I run faster, and try harder." Wilson Kipketer, when asked if the $50,000 on offer, tempted him to break the world record‏.

He did not write anything else.  day. made.

Do me a favor.  Today, thank someone who supports you & your goals.  Your parents.  Your spouse.  Your partner.  Your dog.  Your friend.  Your coach.  Your sister.

To say we reach out goals on our own . . . . [to me] is a lie.  I'm motivated.  I'm driven.  But I'd never be where I am today without the support from. my. loved. ones.

I'm "Not gon'cry".  But I am going to be grateful.

Happy Thursday.