Side By Side!

Another Milestone Reached!

Yesterday I ran and completed the Bryce Canyon 1/2 Marathon (13.1 miles).  This was really such a fun weekend!  We left Friday, the 12th, in the early afternoon.  We (myself, Amber Sheffield, Amber & Brian Blair, Jocelyn & Casey Sackett) arrived around 4:30ish and checked into our hotel room.  We stayed at Ruby's Inn, a very cute and beautiful place in Bryce Canyon city.  We were only a 5 minute walk from the starting line of the race.  After we were all checked in, we headed down to Cannonville, which is where the finish line was.  We checked in for the race and got our BIB numbers and packets.  For a while, after that, we hung out in the park and just talked and goofed around!  Pretty soon Hal Hiatt showed up, along with Amber's son Gavin, and his friend.  We ate their spaghetti dinner and just relaxed.  We have a fun group!  I loved hanging out with them!  It came time to head back to our hotel to get ready to go to bed.  As soon as we got to the hotel room, it started to sink in that we were racing in the morning.  WE got our things set out and then goofed around a whole bunch before it really was time to go to bed.  Brian Blair gave me a beautiful blessing before going to bed as well!  My sleep that night didn't go very well.  I was anxious, nervous, trying to not accidentally snuggle with Amber, and just rest.  Then, this dang cat was standing by our window, being so obnoxious!  So, pretty soon my 4:30am alarm went off and it was time to wake up!  We were up and getting ready, the excitement and tension was building!  Brian Blair was HILARIOUS and just wound up.  I think he helped me to stay relaxed and calm!  We all met up in the lobby of the hotel. This included Cathy, who originally trained Amber Blair.  She was running with me because our pace was very similar. Cheryl Poulter even drove to Bryce Canyon to support me and she was amazing and came to the lobby too.  She walked with me to the start line too.  So, we all got lined up and just waited and waited.  Pretty soon, off we went.  The first mile was tough.  It was a long, gradual hill and I had a really hard time breathing.  So, we walked about a quarter or so of it.  Then, as soon as we got to the top, Cathy and I started to run and run we did!  I even hit a pace of 6:16/mile on that run down!  The coolest thing happened on the run down.  For the race, they have one lane of the highway open to escort cars up and down the highway.  Around mile 3 or 4, a group of cars was passing us and all of a sudden I saw my brother, Matt, poke his head out of the window and yelled my name!!!!  I knew he would be at the finish line but, didn't expect to see him on the highway!  That totally excited me and I even cried a little.  Then, 2 cars later, I see my friend Cheryl Poulter!!!!  I also knew she'd be at the end but, didn't expect to see her along the way either.  That totally fueled me for a while.  I really felt great the first 7 or 8 miles of the race.  Then, things started to change.  I started really struggling on my breathing and got super sick to my stomach.  I started to feel like I was shutting down and had to walk way more than I wanted to.  Cathy stuck with me though and didn't give up on me.  She kept encouraging me and pushing me that I was ok!  So we kept going, running and walking off and on.  Then, we still had about 1.5 miles left to go and didn't have much time to do it in, before the race was closed off.  I started to get panicky and got really discouraged.  I wasn't sure I'd be able to finish in time.  I had originally planned to finish in 2:30 but, that goal was long gone.  We were close to a mile away and I spotted Amber Blair!  I was so relieved because I knew if ANYONE could help us to finish, that she could!  Cathy was hurting also and was not doing too well.  Then, right behind Amber I notice a guy that looked familiar and sure enough, it was my brother Matt!!!!  He had heard the ambulance had gone to pick up a girl and was concerned it was me, since I didn't cross the line when I said I would.  So, he found me!  So, Amber stuck with Cathy and Matt stuck with me.  I tell you, as soon as I saw Matt, I broke down and started sobbing.  I was grateful to see him!!!!!  So, off we went to finish the race.  About 1/2 a mile away, we came across another good friend, Dustin Tollefson.  So, with Matt on one side of me and Dustin on the other side, we made the run to the finish.  I had them pushing and encouraging me.  I even held arm on arm with them for a few seconds and then I ran as fast as I could possibly go to finish the face!!!!!!

It was so great to cross the finish line, and I know that I DID IT!!!  It also meant THE WORLD to me to have so many people cheering me on in the end!  I'm surrounded by the most supportive and encouraging people!  I couldn't have done it without any of them being there to either train me, encourage me, or support me!  Everyone that has been part of this journey has helped me in some way!  I was on cloud 9 and was SO HAPPY TO HAVE A MEDAL!  I will cherish this medal forever!

About 20 minutes after I finished, my body started to shut down. I hurt everywhere and I was EXTREMELY sick to my stomach!  I just wanted to be in my bed and curled up in a ball.  I just cried and cried.  I really had to sit down and try and  just breathe.  The Amber's, Brian, and Jocelyn and her hubby headed back to the hotel while Cheryl stayed with me.  Once I was able to kind of compose myself, I went to Cheryl's car and just broke out into a full on bawl!  I was SO EMOTIONAL!  I was happy I finished, happy about the race but, at the same time, I was disappointed in my finish time and also SO VERY sick!!!!!  I wanted to be enjoying my finish but, instead felt HORRIBLE!!!!  Cheryl was so great at just listening and helping me to calm down.

After getting back to the hotel, we all showered, cleaned up, and headed out to get lunch.  I could barely eat much of anything, because I was so sick.  I was glad to get home and try and just relax and breathe!

I plan and am making a goal of doing the Bryce Canyon 1/2 Marathon again next year!  It was a great, beautiful race, and I know I can improve and do better!  I know what to expect now and will get a better handle on my fueling AND on my mind!  I can do hard things!