Saturday, April 25, 2009

Anything is possible!

I did it... I'm sitting at home now - just finished up going 13.1 miles!!!! I DID IT!!!! I now believe anything is possible!!!!


It started off with the alarm going off at 5:00 am.... it was a quite ride to downtown Louisville! No traffic anywhere & my nerves getting the best of me.
We got downtown & the shuttle buses were crazy - I've never seen so many people in my life! Are we ALL crazy? But I got to sit with a cool chic from Georgetown, Kentucky who was running her 2nd marathon. She was so encouraging & I loved the ride with her. The down side - it was a bus ride & I was looking at her during the conversation - which meant, yep, you know me - I was getting CAR SICK!!! BLAH... This is me getting off the bus & waiting for the sun to rise to get this party started...


But we got our spot in the line & we were off!!!!! Oh man... the energy was pushing! I was making GREAT time... We head into the dreaded park - & I got 4 Miles in under an hour! For me - that's a personal best! I know the winner of the race was about finishing while I'm still under half way - but from the very beginning - this to me wasn't about ANYONE else BUT ME! This was a challenge to myself - FOR myself!
The run through the park was rough! Hills!!! I took the advise & walked up the hills & ran down the slopes, but man it was over & over... Coming out - I was half way! YES!...here's a picture of middle of the park.... (& notice the guy on the left? I called him the Ronald McDonald man - he was dressed in such BRIGHT red & yellow!!!)
Then the cool part - running in ChurchHill Downs- the home of the Kentucky Derby! That is the 8 mile mark! It was cool because horses were running... Look how happy I'm still looking here... & notice my pile of Kleenex in my pocket. With the sinus infection, I was prepared! And had to have something to hold my phone for Tweets & my camera for my blog! (BTW - I saw someone who stopped me & said they know me from my blog... HOLLA!)

Then BAM... we hit about mile marker 10 & I hit what they say "THE WALL"!!!! Oh dang... my legs were cramping & I think my blood sugar really took a nose dive! I had ate at 5:00 AM - & had nothing but water for 5 hours & whoooo buddy... I started feeling BAD! I thought I was going to pass out... dizzy & light headed.

I have to tell you - if my husband wasn't with me - I dont know what I would have done! He pushed me when I was feeling funny - took care of me! He even ran up ahead of me & ran into a store & bought me a Diet Coke to try & get my sugar back up!!!! Everyone even "AHHHH'ed" for him when he gave it to me. Now you have to know - Ricky could have done the whole marathon in like under 2 hours - he even went ahead of me - at MY request, I didnt want to hold him back - but he ended up waiting for me at the end of the park because he said he wanted to do this with me.... Yep... I fell in love with him all over again today!!!

But we made it! We took that curve at the last mile & could see the finish line & it was like "LETS DO THIS"... we took off!!!! & with everyone on that final stretch screaming & cheering - when I crossed that finish line - I had tears in my eyes... I'm a sucker - I know! But I had tears in my eyes because I knew there were so many people out there who didnt think I COULD do this...& you know what - I was one of them... I doubted myself & wasnt sure of my own confidence! To prove everyone & myself wrong - it was the best feeling in the world!
So here I am after crossing with my metal!!! And that picture right there is the first time I stopped my legs since the starting line!


And then the real test - getting those legs to move again to get to the car! OH MY!


So we ordered some food that offered curb side service & came home & had some lunch.


Believe me - I've got all sorts of things that went through my mind while I was going through this "adventure"... I'm sure the blog will be full of insights on how God pushes us in this Race we're in... I saw so much of Him throughout! Its going to take me some time to stretch, relax & put my thoughts in order! The main thing is LITERALLY:
"I have fought the good fight - I have finished the race - I have kept the faith"
-2 Timothy 4:7


And one final THANK YOU!!! To all of you who have left me comments - emails - thoughts, ENCOURAGEMENT!!! You have no idea how helpful you have been to me! When I doubted myself - people I have never met in person have inspired me to push myself harder.... Words arent even enough .... so to all of you.... I am sending you big ole bloggy hugs!!!!!

32 comments:

  1. Congratulations! What an accomplishment, girl! I'm really proud of you.

    Not so proud of your Yankees hat, though. I like pink baseball caps - have a couple myself - but, Red Sox all the way! :)

    How cool are you, though, that someone recognized you from your blog? I aim for that one day. Congrats again!

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  2. Yay!!!! I am SO proud of you!! That is a huge accomplishment and you deserve a big CONGRATULATIONS!!!

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  3. WOW! Congratulationsyou should be so proud of yourself! What a sweet hubby!

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  4. Congratulations! That is so awesome and such a huge accomplishment! It's really nice that your husband stuck with you the whole way, pushing you on and encouraging you :-)

    And it's super-cool that someone recognized you from your blog! How awesome is that?!?!

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  5. WOO HOO!!! Congrats! Crossing that finish line is the best feeling. Enjoy it and celebrate the rest of the weekend.
    OH- and take some advil/ibuprofen...your legs are just beginning to be sore. I would take it every 4-6 hours for at least the next day or so!!

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  6. WOW! That is awesome, Rebecca Jo! I am soooo proud of you!

    And what an awesome hubby, too! How cool that you got to run in Churchhill Downs.

    You should spend all weekend celebrating because this is an incredible accomplishment! You go, girl!

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  7. I am sooooo stinkin proud of you! I KNEW you could do it! YOU are my hero, sweet friend!

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  8. Wow! Good for you!! I honestly don' think I could have done it.

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  9. I have been thinking about you ALL DAY LONG! I knew you could do it! What an accomplishment! I sure hope you are super proud of yourself!!!! A big giant CONGRATULATIONS!!!

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  10. I have tears in my eyes reading this! Congratulations!!!!

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  11. OMG! That is amazing. It's so exciting. I'm sure it wasn't easy. Oh and you might be really sore tomorrow so relax.

    Congrats!

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  12. HUGE Congrats to you!!! And what a sweet hubby!!!
    So glad you did this and have such stories to tell!!!
    Hugs,
    Debbie

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  13. I prayed for you this morning and couldn't wait to get home and see how you did. I just knew you were going to make it. That is so awesome!!
    YOU ROCK!!

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  14. Congratulations!!!!! That's so awesome! What an amazing accomplishment!

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  15. You rock!!! I am so proud of you and was thinking and praying for you all morning. Im so glad you posted the pics on your blog.

    Yay Rebecca!!

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  16. Big ole bloggy hugs right back at ya RJ!!! I am so stinkin' proud of you!! I miss running so much, but knowing you finished this race has made me so very happy. I thought of you and wondered if you were done, and I said a pray for you sweet thang.

    Now get some rest and eat ~~ I mean eat it up!!! Think of all those calories you burned today =)

    Love you so much friend and congrats again,
    Dawn

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  17. Congratulations! I am so proud of you for not giving up and finishing the race!!! I prayed for you throughout the day. God is SO good!!

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  18. Congrats! What an awesome accomplishment!

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  19. Wow girl you really rock! You're my hero, I can barely do a few times around the track each night. Mind you it's usually pushing one kid and dragging another but still!

    I'm so proud of you! Right on girl going threw your goal and making it! Muah

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  20. YEAH! I am THRILLED FOR YOU! I was worried about you but knew if you chose to do this you would succeed. I can see that about you. You are not and have never been a quiter. AM I RIGHT? I am crying tears of joy for you and love for your sweet husband. Take care of that body now my sweet friend. I'm sure you'll be feeling each and every muscle in the days ahead. I'll keep you in my prayers.

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  21. Good for you!!! What an awesome accomplishment. I am so proud and I know you must be too!

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  22. I'm sure you don't need one more person to congratulate you, but I'm gonna do it anyway.
    Congratulations!!
    What a BIG accomplishment!!
    I am happy for you!

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  23. That is awesome! Congrats girl! You are one tough mama!

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  24. WooHoo!!!!
    I LOved reading this post :-)
    You did such a great job and of course, having that awesome Yankees hat didn't hurt!
    Congrats!!
    Next race I am sending you some PowerGels. One every 50 minutes..you will have the energy you'll need

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  25. One of my all time favorite scriptures BTW :-)

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  26. Good for you! I think that's an excellent achievement!

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  27. That is awesome!! I am so proud of my little knitter!

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  28. I have tears right now and "I" didn't do anything. I have so enjoyed experiencing this race. I think I might love your husband too, staying with you so you can do this together. That is so sweet!

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  29. I'm so utterly impressed. Congrats on finishing! That's all that matters.

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  30. Awww, I've got tears in my eyes for you! Congratulations! You DID IT!! So so SO awesome! So proud of you!! =D

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