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! 

IT CAN BE DONE!

I made it!

“I’ll see you at the finish line.”  We said those words again on November 3^rd, but there was a difference from last November:  Chad was in much better shape than I.  His goal was to finish it under 2 hours.  He did.  My goal was to finish it without stopping.  I did.  (Well, I did have to use the bathroom, but runners say that doesn’t count!)

 

We did it!

This finish was extra sweet.

• Chad met his goal.
• I met my goal.
• Roger, the liver transplant survivor, was there. 

It was wonderful to see Roger at that finish line.  You see our family had gone through an extreme race this summer.  It was one that would test our endurance, patience, faith, and love.  But we finished.  And we finished strong.  (The transplant is another story---I'll write about that in another blog.)

Glenda, Roger and Chad!

• Was I in pain?  Not during the race.  But for 4 days after the race I was limping.  I doubted that I would ever run again.
• Is there good news?  Yes.  I feel better now and am already contemplating another race.
• The lesson learned?  Don't quit.  Don't give up.  Finish the course.  Keep the faith.

 

Oh, and I failed to mention that since last May I had put on about 15 pounds.  That didn't help.  it's time to lay aside every weight and sin that doth so easily beset me.  I won't list mine, but I sure know what they are!  (Chocolate anyone???)

 



Me waving at the grandkids!



This was the first time Chad saw Roger since the transplant. 
And at that time Roger was unconscious with tubes all over the place!

Chad did a PR



Yes!  We met at the finish line!

Before the race.

SEE YOU AT THE NEXT FINISH LINE!





 

Sometimes Runners Need a Little Help!



Before the race:  cool, calm and collected

Bement, IL:  I ran a 5k today, and I felt pretty good for the first 2 miles, and then things fell apart.  I was going slower, and slower, and slower until I wanted to walk.  Then at 1/4 mile  just before the finish line, I saw my friend, Jim Taylor (who had completed the race in 22 minutes, so he had already caught his breath and was running back to find me!).  He ran with me, encouraged me, and helped me finish strong.  My time was certainly not a PR (32.31:19), but it was good for me where I am in my life.

Do you know that sometimes, runners in the race of life need encouragement?  Right now my husband Roger is going through some extreme health issues, and occasionally it is not pleasant in the Weldy house.  Why, you ask?  Because I can't figure out why he needs so much help running his race.  It seems that all I do is pick up, wipe up, clean up, sweep up, straighten up his trail of papers, juice, food crumbs, etc.

And then I remember how Moses was told to encourage Joshua, the man who would lead the children into the promised land.  Poor Moses--he didn't even get to go, but he was commanded to encourage Joshua. Deuteronomy 3:28 says:

But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.

How many "Joshua's" do you come in contact with?  Someone you are running near needs your help.  Most people are either going into trouble, in the middle of trouble, or on their way out of trouble.  Look around you today and find someone you can encourage!



After the run: Did I mention I came in 2nd in the "old ladies' division?"

He Met Me at the Finish Line!

We did it again!  Chad and I both completed a half-marathon on April 28th in Champaign, IL.  He did well; I did horrible.  After being with my husband, Roger, for a week in the hospital in St. Louis, I thought the run would clear my head.  It did, somewhat---and it discouraged me a bit. 

Chad and I were just barely able to get out of the porta-potties in time to get to the start.  I'll never forget Chad's hug and, "I'll see you at the finish line!"

(Preface to the race narrative:  I didn't train well, I put on weight, and I didn't eat well)
I began ok, trying to keep the man who was SPEEDWALKING the marathon right in front of me!  When I lost ground and lost him, I knew it was going to be a long race. 

At about mile 7 I had to walk a little.  If you know anything about me, if I ever walk in a race, I'm mentally done.  I just can't get back in the frame of mind to run the rest of it.  That began my cycle of run, walk, run, walk, walk, run....well, you get the picture.   My left bunion hurt, my legs were tired, I was dizzy....those are my excuses!

Eventually the finish line came in view!  I ran as fast as my tired legs would go into the stadium at the U of I.  Chad found me, hugged me, and I clung to him for dear life.  I was sooooooooooo light headed.  But I FINISHED!

Fast forward to a week later. 

• Chad ran a 25k race--I ran nothing.
• The next week I ran 3 miles for 4 days and felt pretty good.
• Then last Saturday, Chad ran 12 miles! 

I told someone at church that I was bummed out that Chad was ahead of me in training already, and he said, "But don't forget, you are a little ahead of him in age.  Take your time!"

That put things in perspective.

BOTTOM LINE:  I finished the race.  I didn't think I could, but I did.  I kept on keeping on.  I was determined.

And you know what?  I am going to keep on running.

"Pressing for the Prize"

I used this title because it was what we talked about at Titus 2 Women's meeting this morning.  Our scripture to memorize was Phillippians 3:13-14 "Brethren, I do not count myself as apprehended.  But this one thing I do:  Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
Well, as you can imagine, we used running as an allegory, just like Paul did. 

• Forget the past.
• Forget the bad.
• Forget the good.
• Forget successes (Don't rest on your laurels---there is more yet to be accomplished.)
• Where is your focus?
• Are you focusing your efforts toward the prize that awaits at the end, or are you too content watching other people's efforts?
• Are you training regularly and working out in the daily disciplines of the Christian life?
• Are you properly fueling your body with sleep, nutrition, and exercise for maximum results?
• Focus on the present.
• Press on!

First layers of clothing
(Thanks, Steph!)

Here's my life application:   Just because I have that cool little 13.1 oval on the back of our van doesn't me that I can just glory in that.  I need to train for another half marathon. 

Which brings me to the pictures.

• Today I was supposed to run 6 miles (I'm training for a half in April).
• I wanted to run outside.
• It was very cold and windy outside.
• I convinced myself that if I just did at least 2 miles, it would be good.  After all, I haven't run outside at all over the winter.
• My son texted me that he had run 4 miles today. I thought, "I can't have him out-do me!"



Last layers of clothing
(Thanks, Lisa, for the mask. 
It worked great)

• While I was running, I kept pushing myself, and I thought, "I can make it to 4 miles."  "I can make it to 5 miles."  "I CAN make it to 6 miles."  And I did!

YEA ME!  (Ok, it was a slooooooooooooow 6 miles....but at least I did it and it's a start!)

All done with the 6 miles!