I Waited for Him at the Finish Line...

Yes…it’s true. I was at the finish line, waiting for Chad when he finished his race. Let me explain

If you have kept up with this blog, you will know that Chad and I have this little saying when we run in the same race: “I’ll see you at the finish line.” Since I am 64 and he is 39, it’s a no-brainer that he will be waiting for me when I am done!

I had signed up to run the Monumental Marathon in Indianapolis this November, and I really thought I was going to be up for the challenge. I had a training plan, I made a pretty good effort, but injuries, old age, sore ITB issues and a multitude of other reasons made it logical to downgrade to the Half-Marathon. 

(Had I run the Marathon, Chad would have definitely been waiting for me at the end!)

As the race neared, common sense told me that I would not even be able to complete the Half-Marathon.

(Had I run the half, Chad would still have definitely been waiting for me at the end!)

So for this race, I had a different perspective. I walked Chad to the starting line, and he gave me the traditional hug and said, “I’ll see you at the finish line, Mama.” I cried and hugged him, wishing I was in the race with him.

I was already waiting at the end of the race when he came around the corner from completing his first ever 26.2 miles. The tears flowed; I jumped up and down, yelling Chad’s name, and then ran to greet him at the finish line.

This mama was so very happy and proud that her son set a goal and reached it.

He called me at mile 24, crying and not knowing if he could make it to the end. I think I encouraged him by telling him to “run your race,” “keep on keeping on,” or some trite statement like that.










November 2, 2013 was another “monumental” day, because Chad’s wife, Stephanie completed her first 13.1 mile race. Chad and Stephanie’s dear friends Cody and Shonda Kuehl also finished their first half marathon that day.

Observations: 

1. I keep thinking what a time of rejoicing it was to see those four people run, finish, and greet each other at the finish line. I will probably make it to heaven before them, and what a day of rejoicing it will be to see those four people run, finish and greet them at the finish line!

2. It’s no fun just being a spectator when you should be in the race! It was prudent of me not to run; I would have probably injured myself and extended my current recovery time. Cheering spectators are great; I just don’t want to be one until my race is over!

Will I see you at the finish line?

The good, the bad, and the ugly!

I completed a 5K on Friday night and a 1/2 Marathon last Saturday in Champaign.

The good:  In came in 7 out of 125 ladies in my age division in the 5K!  Yay me!

The bad:  I attained my WORST time ever on the 1/2 Marathon.

The reason:
I met my son, Chad, shortly before the race began.  (His life was complicated that weekend, and Stephanie dropped him of just in time to start the race.)  We had little time to find our "wave," so Chad said, "Let's just go in here in "C."  It was the only play we could squeeze in.  (Group A is for the elite runners and I was supposed to be in wave “H”).

The result:  I was 19/41 in my division. I think that maybe it was because I started out so fast, not wanting to be trampled by all of those fast runners, and then I ran out of steam. Oh well. I got a cool medal from last night, a cool one from today AND an extra medal because I took the I-Challenge! And I FINISHED. (Chad did a PR for this course!)

I think 3,000 runners passed me up until I found my group. I even laughed out loud. There would be a lot of runners, and then quiet, and I would hear the pitter patter of the feet for the next wave as they began their fast lane changing around slow me!

The ugly:
A funny thing happened on our way home from the 5K. I went in to get a soda, and the guy could tell I had just finished running. He asked if I was running Saturday, and I said, yes---I’m a fool to do it, I guess! Roger went in, and when he came back to the car he was laughing. Apparently, the clerk made a comment to another customer, saying, “A runner was just in here.” The other guy said, “Oh, what did she look like?” The clerk said, “Like your mother.” HAHAHA. I guess I do look like someone’s mother!

I'll never forget these times where Chad and I say to each other at the start:  "I'll see you at the finish line."  It is sweet each time we do it--which we may be a month from now at the Sunburst in South Bend.  I'm pushing myself to be more consistent in my running so I will be more prepared for the 10K.

Stay tuned!

I'm Back At It...

It has been a long winter.  I mean a really long winter.

Roger was recovering nicely from the liver transplant, and then he had to have another surgery in February.  Blech.

Needless to say, my running consisted of just the treadmill and me...UNTIL our new Assistant Pastor's wife, Whitney, came on board.  It seems she thought she needed to lose weight (much like me), and she began an eating healthy routine.  Me, still not so healthy.  :(

I'm not quite sure how it started, but we reported to each other on how we were doing on our treadmills.  Soon she said she would like to run a 5K.  Viola!  We ran at our house, and the rest is history....well sort of. 

Before

After

We ran a 5K on Friday, March 8th.  Kendra, Whitney and I had fun, though it looks like we were exhausted! 

On a lark Whitney and I decided to run a 5K on Saturday, March 9th at Mt. Pulaski for a family whose baby daughter had died.

Before----smiling in the rain!





After!  We did it!

It was not ideal running weather:  Rain, Wind, Cold. 
It was not an ideal course:  small hills, and one final killer hill. 
But we did it!  We jogged the entire course!  YEA. 

• We will run again.  April 26th in Champaign.  Another 5K
• I will run again.  April 27th in Champaign.  Another 1/2 marathon
• Chad will run again with me, though we will run our own pace, and I will "see him at the finish line." 
• Another chance to do better than before.  Another chance to run my race.

Soon Whitney will quicken her pace.  Soon we will start a race, and I will tell her the same thing I tell Chad:  "See you at the finish line."

What a thrill to run physical races, but it's an even greater privilege to run the race of life for God.  I see the goal, and I want to get there!