Whew. That title is a doozy and so was the race.
Friday- 2 days before race day. I was so anxious I probably packed and repacked my suitcase at least 3 or 4 times. It was an extremely long day at work prepping the kids for the fact I wouldnt be there on Monday. I left my classroom ready to go in hopes the students wouldnt be complete wild children while I tried to recoup from the massive beating my body was going to endure. I got a much needed call from Layla one of my coworkers and a cancer survivor, wishing me luck on the race. It was super sweet. I made one last check on my bag to make sure I had everything. shorts, long sleeve, jersey, gels, hat, garmin, shoes, sports bra, camera. I had a massive checklist and kept adding things last minute.
My stomach was in knots the entire night, Jesse kept telling me this is just like any other run, you arent in it to win it, just to finish. I knew we was right on the second part but the first I was fighting. It wouldnt be like ANY other run. This was a 26.2 mile mental and physical beating with 27,000 people at your sides. In other words is was going be total madness.
Saturday- We left the house about 8 AM stopped at WalMart for some last minute toiletries. And we were off! I had a TNT meeting to make a 1 Pm and we were cutting it close. Pulling in to the Grand Haytt at 1:10. We hopped out and raced to the lobby and were super lucky that everyone was still there. We walked as a group to the EXPO. I was so excited. The weather was lovely, cool but still warm. We walked into the Alamodome and it was like sensory overload. I had never seen so many runners and thier families together. I picked up my packet, got my race shirt which of course was to big to wear as anything other than a night gown. Then seeing all the booths with thier running goodies!!!! I was in heaven! I had to leave before I purchased one of everything. I did come away with an event shirt. Looks like a vintage track tee.
We walked back to the hotel to shower and change for yet ANOTHER meeting at Hemisfair Park. Where I got to see all of our TNT teamates which totaled around 325 particpants from across the nation we raised $860,000. It was truly amazing and inspirational knowing that we are making the difference in lives of people battling Leukemia and Lymphoma. We walked back to the hotel again this time for our Inspiration Dinner. We had to wait down stairs in the lobby so they could ready the ballroom for our huge party.
Jesse and I chatted about the dinner saying that if the food wasnt great we would end up finding something eat later. My coaches told the team not to do ANYTHING different the night before the race than we normally do. Well my pre-long run routine is an order of taquitos de pastor con todo, queso, cebolla, chile, or pizza and a michelada..... :/ uhhhh. some how I didnt think they were going to be serving this up at our Inspiration dinner.
The food was better than we expected and we got a seat right at the front of the ballroom, where John "The Penguin" Bingham was our keynote speaker. It was awesome. After our dinner it was time to get some much needed rest. I still needed to ready my race gear for the morning. It was about 8. I crashed around 9:30 with my alarm set to go off at 5AM.
(Me on the left and my lovely mentor Teresa on the rightmoments before the race!!!) - taken by the Staff at the Grand Hyatt)I am smiling because I have no idea what I have gotten myself into.......
I rolled out of bed at 5:15 got dressed slowly making sure I forgot nothing and ate half a bagel and banana. And by then it time for our 6 AM meeting in the lobby. I was ready but SO nervous. We took our pictures and Jesse and I made our way to the chilly, breezy start. Now I have never participated in a race of more that 200 people and that was way back in highschool. I took one look at the corrals and my heart was racing. We found corral 10 and Jesse said with my while I warmed up. Then we had a quick parting hug and I jumped into place with my fellow teammates.
MORE COMING SOON!
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