Cancer Is Hard. 13 Miles Was a Piece of Cake.

Why did Kayne West say:

"That That Don't Kill You Can Only Make You Stronger"......

(I really do not think that he ever ran 13 miles in a row. )

I loved playing that song while I trained myself for this 1/2 marathon. But on Sunday (the day after the BIG race) I am not so sure those words are true.. I could not even walk. Not only were my muscles so sore, but my BONES hurt. If I didn't limp, I could feel my bones grinding in my right knee (the opposite knee of pain during training) & also my right hip bones!

OUCH OUCH OUCH.

I felt like the ground was uneven for a while on the run... and I think my bones got set in place.

... (I'm almost done complaining)....

AND when I trained myself, I never walked- I only stopped to bend my stiff/sore knees.... but on the way to the race on Saturday morning- my support {aka: Lance} said to me:

"I don't think I would ever run 13 miles even if somebody paid me 1 million dollars."....

that thought kept coming to me & I would ask myself "WHY I WAS DOING THIS?"! I had nothing to prove.That thought would slow me down... a few times I even stopped to walk for some reason. THAT WAS DUMB- oh well.

I think that it's kinda funny that I was faster when I practiced by myself. (Can you tell that I am not a competitive person! ha ha)

...... fine- enough negativity........

BUT- along the sides of the path, there would be random signs saying "You can do this" or "Keep going" & other motivating things.... THEN there were big pictures of the kids that BATTLED the fight with cancer, or still are ... and sometimes signs would say

"DO IT ANYWAY".

Mind

-------

Matter

Ahhh, fine- keep my painful feet running! It made me emotional sometimes thinking of how I was struggling when I knew that the race/pain would be over soon- and cancer or other things that kids (or adults) struggle with is nothing compared to the run.

A man that was in front of me for awhile had an inspiring shirt on that was from another run somewhere. It said on the back

"CANCER is HARD. THIS is a piece of cake."

.... maybe I should've kept running by him!!

SO, even though participating in London's 1/2 Marathon Run was one of the hardest things I have ever done (and still can not believe I did this crazy event)....

I agree!:

Cancer Is Hard.

13 Miles Was a Piece of Cake.

Londons Run was so crowded with people ready to support the families involved.

When we pulled up, I kept saying "this is crazy!"! My stomach hurt from how many people were there.

I always run alone & for some reason I had such a stomach ache about running with all of these people.

As you can see- I was a LONER. Which was fine with me.

Lance was waiting with the camera (& Elle) near the finish line.

As I passed him, I was listening to my finale song-

"WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS"

- with my {flabby} arms pumping in the air.

(I know, I know, all the neighbors are going to miss those pumping arms on Fridays after my long runs.. ha ha)

This sight alone made me a bit emotional.

It was over.

Finally Over!!!!!

I DID IT!!!!

I can't believe I can run 13 miles.

I could barely run a straight mile a couple years ago.

Then- little by little- I got up to running 4 miles. I was so proud.

Next thing I know, my FAVE CUZ {Krista} challenged me to run a 1/2 marathon with her & some friends in Cali. NO PROMISES... but I added a mile each Friday & got up to 13 miles!!! YAHOO. What a feeling.

I wasn't able to take that trip to Cali to run, so I had to do an actual 1/2 marathon somewhere. I am so glad that London's Run was so close to home. AND I am so glad that I got to run for such a great reason.

I have been saying "It was my first .... and probably my last..... but- when my body fully recovers- who knows..... I might want to do better that my first actual run... SOMEDAY?!

We'll see.

Lance asked Ellie in the car:

"Are we going to wait for mommy at the finish line & cheer her on?"

Ellie replied:

"If she makes it."

{can I get a Waa waa.. ha ha}

As my supporters waited for over 2 hours- I think they were pretty entertained.

Lance even shot some snaps of what they did..

Thanks for coming you 2. I love you & I appreciate it.

-----and P.S. Ellie - I MADE IT.

One more thing- they had FREE 5 minute massages.

Good thing I got a girl that must've felt bad for me, or could tell I wasn't a normal runner, or something else? wink!---- She massaged me for over a 1/2 hour!!!! Seriously. It was great.

Congrats to all the other runners!!!! WHAT A FEELING IT WAS!

I think it's one of those times when it's o.k. to toot our own horns.

Toot-toot!

and a big

YAHOOOOO!!