Team Snake Chasers

The morning started out like no other. We usually don't have "bad mornings" but today we did and it was bad ... really bad. It didn't help that as last night progressed, my apprehension and fear increased, so I woke up this morning on approximately 4 hours of sleep. As the snow started to fall and accumulate, I worried that I wouldn't be able to run in the snow. The cold didn't worry me, but the snow definitely did. I was hoping that I would wake up feeling 100% confident, but that was not the case.

Then, as we were getting ready, Jasper had an accident. This is the dog that never has an accident in the house, but he did today, and it was exactly when we should have been warming up the car. Not to mention, Adam couldn't find his thermal underwear. When he couldn't find them, he looked at me and said, "I know you did something with them. You said just the other day you put my clothes away." I looked at him like, "And that will be the last time I put your clothes away." There was no need to respond. In moments like that, he knows exactly what I'm thinking. Miraculously, he found what he was looking for ... underneath the bed (I can guarantee that I do not put anything under the bed). Then, as he was cleaning off the 2 inches of snow from the car, the windshield wiper broke. Yep, it came right off. It happened when the entire car was clear. Great timing! So, we decided to take his car, which, of course, was out of gas. Light on. Arrow on "E." After we stopped to get gas and as Adam was getting back into the car, I said, "Where is your debit card?" His response, "I have no idea." After searching, he found it next to his seat. Just as we were driving away, I said, "I'm just glad I have my health insurance card on me. With a morning like we've had, I think I'm going to need it."

As we entered North Kansas City, I started to feel more confident that I could run the race in it's entirety. Sure, the temperatures were freezing, but the roads were basically clear. Almost immediately as we entered the building, my complete enthusiasm returned and I was ready to go (a.k.a. ready for the race to be over). Our friend, Curtis, met up with us and it felt great to have someone we knew there. This was his 5th race, so he provided great insight into what to expect. I highly recommend running your first race with someone who has done it
before. The start line was the last time we saw Curtis until the end. That boy can run (he makes it look easy).

As the race started, it felt great. It's exactly how you would imagine it. There's a large group of people running ... a very diverse group of individuals. Some young children, some young adults, some older adults, and some very much older adults. Every athletic ability was represented. However, most of them appeared to be hard core runners (identified as they ran the course a 2nd time). As we were running, I was surprised at how easily I fell into a rhythm. At about mile maker 1, I became so hot and had to take off my gloves and hat. Sure, I couldn't feel my legs, but I was sweating. Funny how the body operates.

Volunteers were stationed along the route to cheer us along (I can not express enough how wonderful that was - I'm even thinking about hiring a few to plant along the trails as I'm training). They shout out, "You're doing great!" "You're almost there" (which, by the way, was a lie). They give you water (I drank mine as I ran and more ended up on my face than it did in my mouth) and they encourage you to throw your cup on the ground (she said they would pick it up later, which went against everything that felt right, but it was so much fun to drink your water, then throw it off to the side. It was my first "real athlete" moment). They gave us our time at the 2 mile mark (somewhere around 22 minutes) and steered us in the right direction. The volunteers make the run so much easier. As we were running along, we passed Curtis and Erica's house. Erica was outside shoveling, cheering on the runners, and snapped a picture of us as we ran past (will add to blog once I get it).

Finally, as we turned the corner, I could see the "finish" line. For me, that is when it became the hardest. It's like you are so close, yet so far away (because you can't actually read the sign, you can only see it). In that moment, I did what Andrea taught me. I found an object, focused on it, ran to it, then found the next one. Before I knew it, I could read the sign. Moments later, I ran past the finish line (very disappointed that I didn't get to feel the ribbon tear against my chest - assuming that means I wasn't first). Did I mention that Celine Dion was playing as I ran across the line? I always imagined crossing the finish line, I just never envisioned that Celine would be singing as I did it. Add that to one of my "interesting life moments."

Adam was the greatest cheerleader and co-runner I could have asked for. He encouraged me every step of the way. Although I wasn't able to respond (I just don't have enough breath for running and talking), it meant more to me that I can even begin to express. The run would not have been what it was had it not been for him. When I looked over and saw his smile, it was one of the highlights of the run.

We did it. We ran our first 3.1 miles without stopping and at 33:10.

When the race is over, you honestly feel like you can accomplish anything (notice my pale skin color after the race - good news is that I didn't need my health insurance card after all).