So I have been slightly slacking. I started this post last week Monday but didn't get to finish it. I don't have the right things to say, or know how to get my feelings on paper. My heart is completely broken. Even a week later I am devastated still. I am part of a small yet extremely amazing group of people. People who cheer for you, people no matter how slow or how fast they are going want you to succeed. They are extraordinary people. It is a sport where we all are running for ourselves. The races we run we run for ourselves. I have made some amazing friends because of running, friends I would've never met.
Races are where we come together to support one another, to push each other. Races are our safe place, running is our safe place, a place where we run out are problems, a place where we find our comfort. How dare someone take our safe place from us!! The Boston Marathon is the Super Bowl of the running world. It is where the Elite of the Elite run. Just about every marathon runner dreams of the day they will qualify to run in Boston. This didn't destroy the running community, it drew us together, everyone around the world that runs dedicated one or more of their runs to Boston. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone that was affected by Boston.
Now on to a couple of races...
In March I got to fly to Dallas and run the Rock N Roll Dallas half with my good friend Steph. I was looking so forward to being South of KS. The weather was looking amazing for the weekend I was going to be there, that is until the morning I flew out. It was freezing and snowing in KS the day I left, I get to Dallas and it is cloudy, and rainy. Steph and her Fiance Steven pick me up from the airport. They took me to Whataburger for lunch, my favorite fastfood place to eat (we don't have them up here) We go and I check into my hotel which the room was amazing. We go to the expo to pick up my packet and I bought a new pair of running shoes. We walked around the expo for awhile. Then headed back to the hotel. We sat around the bar and had a couple of drinks then headed to the hotel restaurant to have some dinner.
The next morning we woke up and headed to the start line. IT WAS COLD and WINDY!!! I was wearing capri's and a jacket and I was freezing!! Luckily Steven had a hoody that he gave me and someone had taken off some sweats and left them on the side. I put them on finally warmed up. It was so nice running this race with Steph and Steven. I didn't have any goals just to help Steph PR and enjoy the beautiful Dallas scenery. We ran and walked, and talked. It was an amazing race and Steph PR'd by 13 minutes! I am so proud of her!! After the race we headed back to the hotel and Steph and Steven left to head back to Houston and I went and had an amazing facial, mani and pedi. Monday morning I headed back to Kansas. It was an amazing nice relaxing weekend.
On April 13th my mom's friend Carla and I ran the Eisenhower 10k. I ran it for Carla. I paced her to help her finish in goal time of 1:15. I told her that we could do it in 1:10. We got to Abilene at 7:00 right as the marathoners and 1/2 marathoners were starting. We warmed up and got lined up. We had a blast running the out and back course. I kept our pace and Carla kept her watch covered. I knew that we were going to crush the 1:15 goal and knew that 1:10 would be crushed too. Carla said she was feeling tired around the turn around, but I reminded her that we would be half way done. And that we could slow it down around mile 4 if we needed too. She didn't slow down and we kept on trucking. At mile 5 she was ready to slow down I told her we only had a mile left and once we crossed the finish line I would let her walk. We finished holding hands and I showed her my watch. I thought she was going to fall out! Carla got 1st in her age group! I am so proud of her!
After Eisenhower we went and had breakfast and talked to some of the other runners that had finished the marathon and 1/2. One of the guys I talked to is from Wichita and talked me into registering for the Hospital Hill Half in KC on June 1st. So when I got home I called Brandon and we registered for the Hospital Hill half on Saturday night.
After the events on Monday I decided that I needed, wanted to run another marathon. After much debate I came to the conclusion that I am going to run the KC Marathon again in October. I will continue my half training straight into a full training. Hopefully this will prepare me better this year.
Up next is the Warrior Dash with Brandon on Saturday!!
