The arches in my feet were REALLY hurting me! Heck, my feet were just done and over this whole Marathon thing! However, I kept going and going because I knew at the end would be my family and friends that were there to support me! About 4 blocks away I spotted Amber B. coming towards me! I was so happy to see her! She's really good about pushing me and not letting me stop or throw in the towel. So, I knew she'd be an awesome boost for me. Coming up to 3 blocks away from the finish line (the corner of Main St. and 300 South) I could hear someone screaming my name!
Of course, I still had no idea who it was. Luckily JJ was there to help me out! It was my bestest friend, Nicky, and her AWESOME sister, Amy!!!! They were there with signs, screaming, yelling, and so full of energy that I didn't have! Ha ha! Nicky ran over to me and I just hugged her as hard as I could! I was SO HAPPY to see her!
My foot was really bothering me again and I decided to take one last stretch before finishing out the marathon.
After I finished stretching, we all started to run...Nicky included! It was SO FUN!
The next person I saw was my Dad!!!!! My Dad is my hero and I really look up to him and have so much respect for him! My Dad has been a HUGE support through this whole experience! Granted, when I first made the phone call to tell him that I was doing the marathon, he was pretty skeptical about it. He admits that he didn't really have any expectations in me doing it. He just kind and nodded and smiled. I can't blame him though! It's understandable. However, he soon realized that I was serious about it and I needed him. So, after every long run on Saturday's, I would call him or he would call me. We would discuss how the run went, how I could've done better, how it felt, etc. He was really my therapist during this whole thing! So, it was so important to have him there! Just knowing he was at the finish line, picturing and know what he would say, helped me through! So, of course I had to run over to him. I remember a memory popping in my head. It was when I was in 5th grade, running The Wellsville Mile. Back in the day I wasn't fast by any means but, I could hold my own. I remember running The Wellsville Mile and as I was rounding the corner, by the school, to make my 2nd lap, he jumped out from the crowd and was SO EXCITED for me and cheered so loud! My Dad was much the same this time! He was pumped and excited! He also knew I just needed to keep going because I was tired so, he just urged me forward and cheered me on!
As we neared the 2-blocks-away mark, Nicky dropped back and headed to the bleachers. Brittney then told me they were going to drop back also because they had already finished and were going to let me go in. So, off I went! I was full of adrenaline and just started going as fast as I could go. It wasn't the fast sprint of all time but, it was the only sprint I had left in me!
Entering the orange chute, to head into the finish line, was the most exciting experience for me!!!! I started a little too fast, too soon. I could feel my stomach coming up into my throat and I wanted to puke! Then I heard Brittney yell something to the effect to keep pushing and don't give in, just keep going! So, I dug deep and kept pushing through!
I think THE COOLEST part was when I heard they say over the speakers, "Laura McGinnis, of St. George, Utah!!!!!" That was SO AWESOME to hear and really made me emotional!!!! I could hear my brother-in-law, Shawn, yelling and screaming for me! That was a fun surprise for me! I didn't expect to see him there, as he has been in Michigan, going to Law School! I could hear others around me yelling but, didn't see who they were! I just knew that finish line was right there and I wanted to get there!
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Very near the end, just feet before I was about to cross the finish line, Connor popped out from the fencing/blockade to cross the finish line with me! I had forgotten I told the kids they could come out and finish with me, if they wanted to! So, when Connor came running it melted my heart and it was so fun to have him running by my side!
Crossing that finish line was a wonderful, amazing, exciting, relieving, REWARDING moment for me! I DID IT!!! To know I finished and finished strong was AWESOME! To stop, bend over, and let them put that beautiful, hard-earned medal on me, meant THE WORLD to me! It felt so surreal! I am so proud of that medal.
After receiving my finishers medal, I headed over to the misters, to cool off and just breathe!
One of the first things I realized, after I finished, is how GOOD I felt! Of course, my feet were all jacked up and I was scared of what I'd find when I took the shoes and socks off. Other than my feet, I felt REALLY GOOD! I honestly felt full of energy and just SO HAPPY!!!! I'm sure it was all adrenaline but, I was just happy at how GREAT I felt! A lot of times, after a race, my stomach is sick and I'm pooped but, not this time! This time I felt awesome!!!!
I waddled my way over to see my family and friends after that! I was so excited to see all of them! I want to document the people that came to see me finish or were there to see/help me finish (if I forgot someone, please tell me):
Mike, Connor, Rylie, and Corie
Dad & Mom
Mike's Dad & Mom
Shawn, Stacey, Ireland McGinnis
Chelsey Eaton
Mikenzi McGinnis
Nicky Garcia
Amy Johnson
Pete, Nancy, Preston, and Michael Lisonbee
Travis & Amber Sheffield
JJ & Brittney Farmer
Jason & Tera Schatz
Amber Blair
Jocelyn Sackett
Dustin & Kendra Tollefson
Sam Hill
Brittany & Alliyah Staheli
I COULDN'T wait to get over to see my family and friends! They all made me feel like I was a superstar! I saw all the fun signs they made! They were snapping pictures and it made me feel like a Queen! They were all so excited and happy and I could feel their love and support! It meant so much to me to see all of them there!!!!! I don't think I could put into words how much it meant to me!!!! Each of them have played an important roll in me getting to this point and I love each of them for it!
After pictures, I got a chance to hug everyone and just enjoy the moment. It was so memorable and just so fun! Soon after that, I decided it was time to take a load off my feet! After the marathon, they have it set up that you can go into the park and get food, pictures done, massages, pick up your clothes-bag, etc. but, I didn't have it in me to walk into the park. My upper body would've but, my feet had gone to bed and were in a state of rigamortis! I knew that some of my other friends were in the park and I wanted to go talk to them but, I just couldn't. So, a couple people (I can't remember who now, ha ha) helped me over to the corner and sat me in a chair. Mike left to go get the car. As soon as I sat down I just breathed a big ahhhhhh! The kids were so cute! They came over and were shading me with signs that were made for me!
Nicky and Amy were nice enough to go into the park area and get my clothing-bag as well as get my ice cream for me, which they did the ultimate sacrifice and ate it for me! Ha ha!
Soon Mike arrived with the car. I got up to go and hobbled over to the car. I found myself feeling sad. I didn't want to leave and for this whole thing to be over. However, I felt happy and good about what I had accomplished and I knew I did the best I could and I felt so happy in that!
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So, on October 5, 2013, I completed the St. George Marathon!!!!! I finished and completed what I set out to do! If I had known what I was getting myself into, what I would experience and go through to accomplishment, the feelings I would have, and everything that goes with it, I don't think I would have done it! The person I was BEFORE all this began didn't believe in herself enough to do it! Not once in my life had I carried out such a tedious and intense goal! Thank heavens I had someone (Amber Blair) who believed in me from the get-go and knew I had the potential in me to complete this goal! I was able to lean on her for confidence, when I didn't have it in me to think I could do it. She may have been the only one at the time, who kept saying and pushing for me to do this! I am SO GRATEFUL that she put it out there for me to do the marathon! I am SO GRATEFUL for all the effort, time,and commitment that she put out to get me started, on track, and helped me see my goal and dream through to the end! Amber has done SO MUCH to help me out and still continues to help me!
There are SO MANY influential people that have helped me in this journey! My husband and kids have REALLY been through this....good times and TOUGH times! They have really sacrificed so much, by allowing me to train and do all the races. This year of training has taken away our Saturday's, for the most part! I've also been exhausted, sore, and sometimes too worn out to do a lot of things. My kids have been SO SWEET and have been excited and always ask how the gym went! The cutest thing is when I have come home from races with a medal on! You'd think I had won gold at the Olympics! They jump around, scream, and yell, "Mommy, you won!!!!" They want to wear the medal and are SO PROUD of me! That makes it all worth it! I'm also grateful for my parents, Mike's parents, and the rest of our family! Sometimes they would help babysit kids, if Mike was out of town. Or just call to see how training was going! Even if they all couldn't come to see me race, they all were there in my heart, cheering me on!
I have to also thank Jocelyn! She has been with me from the start of this too! At first we were just two people wanting to learn how to run, change our lifestyle, etc. Through this we have become close, amazing friends and I just love her to death! She's been extremely positive and loving and SUPPORTIVE! When I wanted to give up, she kept giving me reasons to keep going! I am so proud of her and how far she has come and how much she's accomplished! She is quite the awesome runner!
A shout out to Amber & Travis Sheffield too! I cannot begin to express how much it meant to have them with me on the entire marathon route on the day of the race! I love them for being there and helping me to keep going and to not give up! I appreciate Amber MAKING me talk out my feeling, concerns, and frustrations so that I could get them out and move on from them! It really shows what kind of people they are, to put aside their own abilities and desires and to help me along! Amber has also been there to buoy me up throughout this experience! She's also been my physical therapist/taping expert on the last few races I've done!
A big thank you to the Farmers! These 2 are SO AWESOME! They have always checked up on me, offered support from calling me on the phone during a run, running with me, prepping me before a race, going shoe shopping with me, gave me advice on nutrition and fueling, and mentally helped me get my mind into a good, focused place, and coming back from the finish line to find me and make sure I'm ok!
I have AMAZING friends that have been there for almost EVERY race or to give me strong encouragement! The Tollefson's have been at many of the same races I have been in as well! They stuck around for every one of them and was there to see or help me finish! The fun one was the Bryce Canyon 1/2 Marathon, when Dustin came and helped me get my butt in gear and finish that beast of a race! Dustin and Kendra have been AMAZING and so positive and motivating.....even with all my rants and whining that comes with me! Then, of course, there is Nancy and Cheryl! These 2 have been HUGE cheerleaders for me! They've listened to me talk over and over and over about my running and racing and have been excited and supportive and eager to help the entire process! They've been to races to cheer me on and that means the world to me!!!! I realize it is a big sacrifice to come to my events and be there but, not once have they (or anyone else) made me feel like it was a burden or too much to ask of them! I appreciate that SO MUCH! Nicky has been a HUGE supporter too!!!! Months and months ago she told me she would come down to see me finish the marathon. Nicky lives in SLC and has 2 kids so, life is busy for her! For her to make that sacrifice FOR ME made me feel SO GOOD! Having her here was SO FUN!!!!! I love my BFF! :-)
I wish I could name EVERY PERSON who has helped me in one way or another! So many people have reached out in support for me, and you know who you are! From every comment, text, phone call, to even simply "Like"ing my MANY throw-up-of-posts on Facebook!
My ward has been SO AWESOME!!!! SO MANY come up to me on Sunday morning to see how my practice run went, to see when my next race is. Or they come up and tell me how good I'm looking or how proud they are of me! I don't know if they realize it but, each person that said one thing or another to me, to support or help me, really touched me and helped me out!!!!
Even beyond that, I had people reach out to me from my hometown, from my mission, from Michigan, from Facebook, and I even made running-friends/family along the way that would check up on me and offer support and help! I am SO BLESSED!!!! I feel SO LUCKY to have so many wonderful, special, loving, caring, and supportive people in my life!!!!! I love ALL OF YOU, seriously! Nothing you have said or done to help me through this has gone unnoticed!
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