Garmin Wickedly Fast 1/2 Marathon Race Recap

After running our Florida 1/2 marathon in February Deb, Nikki, and I did some research to decide what would be next on our list of 50 states.  I mentioned that travel would work well for me this past weekend as I was on Spring Break and I wouldn't have to worry about getting time off.  Deb did some searching and she shared that the Garmin Wickedly Fast 1/2 Marathon was taking place during the time frame we were looking at.  I had seen that Kim was going to be running this race so I messaged her and let her know that we were considering it.  Deb did some more research and was able to find flights at a reasonable cost.  The cool thing was that Nikki and I would leave Cleveland and stop in Chicago and pick up Deb.  This was the first time since Deb moved to Chicago that we would be on the same flight which was really nice.  Once we figured this out we went ahead and registered for the race.  Fast forward to last Monday as I am watching the Boston Marathon.  After I am done screaming at my Ipad screen and watch Meb win I receive a text from Kim letting me know that Meb is the speaker at the pasta dinner and she and Elizabeth would be attending.  She was just checking to see if we would be interested in joining them.  I quickly texted Deb and Nikki and a few minutes later I purchased the tickets.  We flew into Missouri on Friday afternoon and picked up our rental car.  Nikki works for Ford so she decided to spend the afternoon at the Ford plant.  Deb and I opted to go shopping instead.  After shopping and a light snack, Deb and I headed to Kansas to check into our hotel and then headed out for the packet pickup.  The expo was in a hotel which also would be the location for the pasta dinner so that was great.  Kim and Elizabeth had found us seats at the dinner and after we got our packets we went upstairs and sat at the table so they could go downstairs and shop.  The expo was quite tiny so they were only gone for a few minutes.

MEB

When Meb was introduced and walked to the podium, he received a standing ovation.  It was great to hear his story.  I had no idea of his background and the challenges he faced.  It was an inspirational and emotion speech and I am so very thankful to Kim for suggesting that we attend!  After Meb spoke he was taking the time to sign bibs and shirts and pose for photo ops.  Kim and Elizabeth were done before we were so we made a plan to text when we got to the start line the next morning so we could take some pictures.  As we were waiting in line, Deb and I decided we were going to have Meb sign our shirts.  Nikki opted for her bib.

Deb, Nikki, and I with the 2014 Boston Marathon Winner

I shook his hand before he signed my shirt

After we met Meb, we stopped off at Target to get some things for race morning.  I slept well and everything went smoothly in the morning.  Kim was kind enough to text me to let me know that they had parked in the high school parking lot.  Great idea!  Another thank you to Kim!  We got to the high school with no problem and then headed toward the start line to meet up with Kim and Elizabeth.  I had turned on my Garmin right as I got out of the car because it usually takes a long time to find a satellite.  Well not this time, my satellite was there almost instantly.  I am guessing it was because we were at Garmin's Headquarters.  We found Kim and Elizabeth and posed for photos and talked about our plans for the run.  Earlier in the week Deb had asked me if I would be willing to run/walk the race with her as she was going through some things and wanted to have company during the 13.1 mile journey.  So when asked what the plan was, I hugged Deb and said I would be walk/running with her.

Elizabeth (Dorothy), Deb, Kim (Glinda), Me, and Nikki

There was very little fanfare.  The singing of the National Anthem took place and then we were off.  Things were going just fine and Deb and I were walking 10 minutes then running for 1 minute.  In full disclosure, there were a few times when I would get her to run for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.  I think she may have been catching on and counting in her head though as sometimes durnig the run portion she would stop after a minute.  As we passed some police officers they said to get ready for the weather.  I thanked them and said that a little water wouldn't hurt.  Yeah, famous last words....about 20 minutes later the rain started coming.  Then the wind picked up and then wouldn't you know that it started hailing!  Kansas was living up to its "tornado alley" name and even gave us several strikes of lightning.  Eventually the rain went away but we were left to deal with the huge puddles that were on the trail portion of the race.

Just a "small" river

I believe I texted Kim to see how she had done right after "swimming through" this tunnel.  I was happy to hear that Elizabeth had paced her to a sub 2 hour finish.  Unfortunately we didn't get to see Kim and Elizabeth before they left but I am sure we will run into them in future states.  Shortly after this, Nikki sent me a text to let me know she had finished and she was going to wait in the car.  Deb and I just kept moving towards the finish.  After what seemed like an eternity, we could see the yellow brick road and knew the finish was in sight.  We finished in 3:37 and I'm pretty sure the rain really slowed us down in the second half but I loved spending 13.1 miles with my best friend and I wouldn't change it for the world, well maybe the weather but we can't control that.

Follow the yellow brick road

We collected our medals and headed back to the hotel for showers.

Once everyone was ready we enjoyed some great Kansas bbq.  We all tried burnt ends for the first time.  They were great!  After lunch we headed back to the hotel and took a nap, checked into our flight for Sunday morning and then went out and had a light dinner of drinks, salads, and dessert. 

Sunday morning we headed back to Missouri to catch our flight home.  We landed in Chicago and said our goodbyes to Deb and then Nikki and I grabbed some lunch during our layover before we headed back to Cleveland. 

Although the weather was less than pleasant, we had a great time.  It was also great seeing Kim again and getting to know Elizabeth.  Runners are the nicest people you will ever meet! 

Complete a half in all 50 states status: 14 states and D.C. completed

Completed states: Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas.

I am not sure what state will be next but I will keep you posted!  It will probably be sometime this fall.

Keep running, you're simple the best, and you inspire me!!


 

Thumbs Up Thursday...Elizabeth

This week's spotlight is on Elizabeth of Girls Go Running (here). Once you read her interview, head on over and say hello!!

Jodi: How long have you been running?

Elizabeth: I loved to run as a child. As the baby of the family, I played alone a lot and running was usually a big part of my play. I ran track in high school when I was a senior. It was a new sport that spring at our school, and at the time, there were not many sports for girls. I became serious about running in late 1993 or 1994.

Jodi: Why did you start running?

Elizabeth: My neighbor was a runner, and when I found out she was running, I wanted to try it too. She was a great inspiration. I kept running because it helped me to fight depression, and I discovered that I felt like a completely different person when I was running. I have enjoyed running with my daughters—the other members of girlsgorunning—and I loved running with my son who I recall ran with me the first time I went running in the rain. I will never forget it.

Jodi: How many years have you been racing?

Elizabeth: I ran my first post-high school race in 1997. I wasn’t prepared and didn’t really know what to expect. I finished that 10K, but I didn’t enjoy it. For a long time, racing stressed me out. I thought it was about being faster than I actually was and I didn’t have much fun during a race. I did keep running races off and on. When I turned 54, I made a promise to myself to run a marathon before my next birthday. It seemed like I had talked about it my whole life, and I decided at that moment if I didn’t do it soon, I would never do it. So my new year’s resolution in 2010 was to finish a marathon. Megan decided to run it with me. We found Red River Runners Grand Forks to help us train, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Jodi: What is your favorite distance to race and why?

Elizabeth: I think my favorite distance would be a half marathon. The sneaky part about that is it is a distance I have never run. I have done all kinds of others but never a half. However, I think it is a distance that is short enough and long enough for me. As I get older, I think I would love to run some half marathons to help me keep my fitness.

Jodi: What is your favorite race memory?

Elizabeth: My favorite race memory is when I saw my family on the marathon course. My husband has been such an unwavering supporter, and over the years, he has documented my runs in photographs. It is a powerful thing to have someone believe in you, and then, be there to cheer you on. The other special memory is my sister running part of the course with Megan and me that day. She has inspired me time and again over the race training and on that day.

Jodi: What is your least favorite race memory?

Elizabeth: I believe my least favorite memory is the last 5 miles of the marathon. I bonked big time, and I wasn’t really anticipating it. It was a mental struggle of mammoth proportions for me, BUT I managed to keep running, and it was totally worth the struggle.

Jodi: What is your proudest running moment to date?

Elizabeth: My proudest running moment will always be crossing the finish line at the Fargo Marathon in May 2010. I will never forget how it felt to finish the 26.2 miles with my daughter, Megan, right beside me. It was amazing! I enjoyed training together and running the race together. I had officially kept the promise I made to myself, and we ran together for my nephew, Matt, who was battling brain cancer at the time. It gave us so much purpose because I felt like every mile was for him.

Jodi: What one item do you absolutely have to have with you on a training run?

Elizabeth: I have to have on a headband. I can’t stand being bothered by my hair so a headband is critical for me. I also love my Garmin GPS, but I could live without it if I had to, but I have to have my headband.

Jodi: What is your favorite fuel during a race?

Elizabeth: Honey Stinger waffles are my new favorite.

Jodi: What is your favorite post race snack?

Elizabeth: Something from Starbucks or Caribou Coffee is a favorite post race or post long-run treat. My choices vary, but I love celebrating around coffee.

Jodi: Who do you admire most and why?

Elizabeth: I admire a number of runners, but I am filled with admiration for my daughters. Megan has survived a couple of bouts with thyroid cancer, and she has come back strong. I feel so fortunate that I have had an opportunity to train with her. We have a fairly lengthy running history. Carrie has so much drive and she is a great encourager and has been her whole life. She couldn’t run with us last year because she had just given birth to her own little girl, but she came out on the course and ran the final miles with us, and it was great. I also admire my niece’s husband, a great runner in his own right, who came out and helped us through those last agonizing miles. Thanks, Brian!

Jodi: Do you have a favorite quote?

Elizabeth: Oh, yes, I have a quote that I have loved for years. I think it is often credited to George Eliot, but I am not sure if it belongs to Eliot or not. It has kept me going many times when I thought I might give up. “It is never too late to become what you might have been.” I figure I am living proof; I became a marathoner in my fifth decade of life!

Jodi: Finish this statement, when I run I feel _____.

Elizabeth: whole. Running fills me with hope and makes life richer. I believe it has changed my life.

Jodi: What is your current goal?

Elizabeth: My current goal is to finish the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon with Carrie and Megan. I am looking forward to running this big race together. The best advice anyone ever gave me was to have fun with the race. I plan on having the most fun ever.

As you can see, Elizabeth is dedicated to her training. The photo below is of Elizabeth and her daughter Megan after a training run in Minnesota!! Now that's dedication!!

Thanks again for the opportunity to give you a Thumbs Up Elizabeth! Best of luck at the Cleveland Marathon and have a fantastic time having the most fun ever!!

Keep running, you're simply the best, and Elizabeth YOU inpsire ME!!

Cherry on Top Award..a must read, are you tagged??

As I was doing my nightly blog reading, I noticed that Katye (here) gave me the Cherry on Top Award.

The rules:

1. Answer this question: if you had the chance to go back and change one thing in your life, would you and what would it be?

2. The second thing you have to do is, pick 6 people and give them this award. You then have to inform the person that they have gotten this award.

3. The third and final thing is, thank the person who gave you the award.

Since I am a rule follower, here goes:

1. I believe that everything happens for a reason. I also believe that everything I have done in my 36 years has shaped the person I am today. However there is one thing I would go back and change in my life: this may sound very strange to many but, I would learn to swim. As the years have gone by, I now have an incessant fear of drowning and an overwhelming fear of taking swim lessons.

2. Six people. I know for sure that all of these bloggers read my blog as they have all left very kind comments. Let's hope they read this one and see that they have been tagged!!

Connie- Runs In The Family
Jenn- Jenn Runs
Staci- Weight Loss Mama
Elizabeth- Elizabeth's Highway To Health
Maxi- Maxi Fortend
Nicole- 26.2 and a Mommy Too!

3. Saying thanks
Easy enough!! Thank you so much for thinking of me and giving me the award Katye! I am looking forward to spotlighting you on my blog on Thursday! You have some great answers!!

Keep running, you're simply the best, and you inspire me!!