5th Annual London's Run - and I ran it!!

I ran my first race today, I am super excited, and you get to hear all about it. I have been telling everyone I know that I was planning to run the London's Run this weekend. I was really pumped to try something new but I think I secretly didn't want to chicken out and all these people knowing made me more accountable! Building up to a 10K distance, 6.2 miles, was not easy for me but I did it. I remember the first week of November, emailing Jeannie like I do several times a day, and telling her I had done "just over a mile" and was thrilled. At the end of November I decided I needed a goal to push my running and found that the time-line for this race was perfect. Dear friends (Maddy, Aubry, all the bootcampers, countless others) reassured me I could do it. I have never done anything like this so their love and support helped a ton. Jeannie has been my long distance email cheerleader from the get go and I couldn't do it without her. She is working towards her own first race and I am so proud of her! I have actually been sick since last Saturday, missing boot camp, staying in bed/on couch, not wanting to do anything especially since I couldn't breathe. Steve convinced me that I needed to rest and not push to work out (come on, I said, I can do it - just give me more drugs!) but in the end, he was right. I needed the rest so that I would be better by Saturday.

Yesterday Maddy and I drove out to Queen Creek to pick up our number bibs, race chips, and swag bags. I was getting excited and nervous - probably all the pomp and circumstance of having never been in a race event before. Last night Steve and I went out for a little date night - Pei Wei, frozen yogurt, and a new hot pink Under Armour. Cuz you gotta look good. Thanks Steve!!

This morning we left bright and early and drove into the most gorgeous sunrise.

It was a bit cool (OK, almost cold) and windy when we arrived. I was able to meet up with a couple of friends before the race. We had not planned a meeting place and there were 1000+ runners and their families so it was crazy to say the least.

Me and Sarah - she decided yesterday to register for the run and run with me. She was a bit faster but that is OK - she has been running longer than I have. Sarah, I loved knowing you were there, even a bit ahead of me.

I miss seeing Rebecca - she moved to QC after being in our ward. But I see her every once in a while since her dad is our Bishop. She and Sarah were both part of a group that was sent the wrong direction and probably ran an extra mile.

Several children and their families were introduced before the race began. Since this race started 5 years ago as a way to benefit the family of London while she was fighting cancer, several more kids and their families have been able to benefit from the money raised by this huge event.

The girls loved seeing the Rodeo princesses bring in the flags for the national anthem.

Pre-race family picture. Kate, who sleeps until 10am every morning lately, was not enjoying being up so early. My family was all so supportive - I love them so much!

Soon it was time for the half-marathoners to leave and for the 10K to line up. Then I had a pee emergency. Seriously, I had 5 minutes to run to the j-john's and wait in line with probably 40 other people having the same emergency! I got done with business and ran back to the start where Sarah and Rebecca were waiting. My jacket was wonky. My iPod wasn't prepped. I didn't get a chance to set my watch. And then we were off!

This race was set up on a farm, Schneph Farms, to be exact. This meant it was a mostly unpaved raceway on farm access roads. It wasn't bad to run on dirt- I actually kind of liked it. But we had a mess of rain last week and there was still a lot of mud to dodge. I think this mud prompted the last minute route change that ended up being a problem for some runners. Good thing I was kinda slow - I didn't get caught in the groups going the wrong direction!

It was a fantastic run! I will say I did walk the few feet at the 2 water stations when I was handed water and then to the trash boxes. But that was just a few steps. Turns out I was not so skilled at the being handed a cup and drinking and running thing. The rest of the time I just plowed thru one foot in front of the other. I saw people pass me. I saw people stop to walk. I just kept thinking "slow and steady wins the race." Except I didn't win. Of course. But I was steady and consistent. I had some great music to keep me company so that really helped. Also, along the route there were signs with photos of the kids who we were running for - them with their little bald heads, smiling, hugging friends and family, in hospital beds, but always smiling. The signs had motivational phrases like "Run harder!" and "You can do it!" It made me start to cry several times and made me realize that being tired or sore or having a side cramp was nothing compared to what these kids were going through.

As I started to see the balloon arch from a distance and know I was coming to the last mile, I punched it up a bit and I was so anxious to cross the finish and have one of those "family cheering you on from the sides and scooping you up in their arms at the finish line" moments but it didn't happen this way. I didn't know exactly what to tell Steve as far as my running time and when to expect me - I thought about an 1 hour 20 min. (I had never run this distance so I didn't know what to expect and I had not timed long distances for me enough to have a really good idea - I was expecting to be really at the back of the pack.) But with the race starting a bit sooner than expected and me running 10 minute miles, they missed me! Plus, there was a huge bottle neck under the balloons as we finished because of the messed up route - the faster runners would have finished sooner had they not been mis-directed. It was clogged up, turning in race tags and handing out ribbons. But I found my family eventually and there were for sure hugs all around!

Post race reunion with my favorite little critter! I guess I am the same color as my pink shirt.

Me and Maddy - her first half marathon and I am so proud of her!!!

I will get the official race results when they are on the web tonight but according to my looking at the clock as I crossed the line, it was about 1 hour 12 min. 27 sec. Later I realized I was supposed to subtract 10 minutes because the half was on the same clock and started 10 minutes before us. Thus, I think my time was about 62 min. 27 sec, a 10 minute mile pace. However we all wore chips that will track our official time.

So what did the family do while I was running through the mud and the "scenic" fields of Schnepf Farms? This is a very family friendly event - a $5 pancake breakfast, several bouncers, face painting, reptiles from the AZ Herpetological Society with all sorts of snakes to look at and a giant lizard, turtle, and alligator "petting zoo," several vendors selling boutique items raising money for the cause, a mechanical bull, and a Mesa Police Helicopter to check out and even sit in.




Thanks, Steve, for being so supportive of me and this big new adventure of running! It seems like such a simple sport - go outside and run. You don't need a gym. You don't need special equipment. But I do need time. I can only manage to run first thing in the morning before the rest of the day makes it impossible so he supports me trying to go to bed earlier so I can leave while it is still dark to go and run or go to boot camp, not questioning why new running shoes cost a bloody fortune, new running clothes (more $$), tweaking my iPod playlist for me while I was in bed, and my new whims about being exited for future running events. I was so happy to see everyone but especially Steve when I was finished. He has been so great to me through all of this.

My family (with our bonus daughter Ellie) "crossing" the finish line. I love you guys!! Thanks for supporting me and London's Run!