As predicted I didn't live up to my blogging expectations but I have been wanting to write about the culmination of my Miles For Hope campaign for my sister Jen. The Tucson Marathon was nearly three weeks ago, but better late than never, I say.
First, I would like to give a HUGE THANK YOU to all of my very generous supporters! Thanks to all of you, I raised $4,500 for Miles For Hope, specifically for their initiative to fund a pediactric brain tumor vaccine trial. We are that much closer!
The timing of the race was very bittersweet; Bob Gibbs, founder of Miles For Hope and brain tumor patient, passed away just the day before after a 7-year battle with the disease. So I dedicated my race to both Jen (a.k.a. Creepy) and Bob.
(Yes, apparently I did run the entire race with my tag sticking out.)
I never met Bob in person, but I did have a long phone conversation with him when I was considering joining Miles For Hope, and I'll always remember it because we talked in depth about the disease and some life changes to make and I realized a) he was THE Bob I had read about on their web site, and b) he knew Creepy and he was the one who had given her so much guidance with her treatment options! I felt like the Miles For Hope connection was meant to be.
I always feel so lucky to be able to run and to glean as much fulfillment from it as I do, but I felt so very fortunate to be able to run this marathon for this cause.
So back to the race. First, I about fell over when my brother Zac showed up at our doorstep - from Kansas City - two days before the race to run it with me. Joe had secretly staged this surprise knowing I had suggested (only half jokingly) that Zac run it with me back when I started all this. To say I was beside myself with joy is an understatement.
Zac is a video buff like I'm a camera buff so naturally he brought along his trusty video headcam to wear for the weekend's events. Which also takes still shots. All wide angle.
Sorry, I jumped ahead. Here we are on the bus, headed to the starting line in Oracle. Would like to add that it was a brand new heated tour bus and I was the very first person to christen its mobile... ahem... facilities.
I was pretty bundled up as it was supposed to be in the very low 30s at the start and I'm a big baby.
Gradually I peeled off my layers. Here I am, standing proud and still a bit chilly. I wasn't finished taking my sweats off and had requested the whole pants-around-the-ankles not be seen but I guess that message wasn't received.
The starting area was in the foothills, and quite pretty at sunrise. Here's a hilltop view. Unfortunately we couldn't show you the valley view looking the other direction because that's where the menfolk were dropping trow.
Starting line self portrait! Thank goodness for that wide angle...
In the spirit of Christmas, my opening playlist song was Carol of the Bells by Trans Siberian Orchestra. Very good, motivational beat, I think. Really got me pumped up, except that Zac insisted we not go any faster than 8:15 for the first mile. I was nervous about that, especially since the beginning had a screaming descent (my fave), but since he was going to be my pacer AND pack mule, I decided I better trust him. That, and the fact that if he'd run the race on his own he'd have likely beaten me by a solid hour so he apparently knows a thing or two about marathoning.
And I'm off! This one is probably 2-3 miles in.
Here I am again, a few miles farther, nearly getting hit by a car. Ok, not really. The northbound lane was still open.
I'm normally pretty anti-social when I race and I did warn Zac about that before we started ("NO chit chat! And don't you DARE talk to me during the last 6 miles! Love you, Bro!"). However, during the downhills I found myself not nearly as aerobically taxed as I normally would be at that point (though my legs were definitely taking a pounding). Near the halfway mark, we met a guy named Mike (?) who had these weird, big-soled shoes and we all made friends and stuck together. I even bent my rule about the chit chat thing and was somewhat pleasant, though I had decided in advance I absolutely HAD to beat this guy in the end (which I did). He's the one in the middle. Nice guy.
I wish Zac had been IN more pictures, but that's how it goes when you're the one holding the camera. Trust me, I know.
Here I am again, just keepin' on for my peeps. I can't claim to know Bob but I think he would really have loved this route. It was really quite scenic, and a perfect day. For once I even appreciated having sun during a race. I'm not normally super spiritual, but I did look up more than once and wonder if he, and others, were looking down on me that day.
Running is THE BOMB. Really. There really is nothing like it, and I felt it so much during this race. Sure, I was doing this for my sister and Bob; sure, I wanted to raise a bunch of money; sure, I wanted to PR; but I ran my heart out because I LOVE it. It is so much about the journey. I feel so grateful and lucky that I have been given the gift of being able to run, and of loving it.
Here I am again, in the final stretch. Got my game face on. I had told Zac to quit talking to me a few miles back and no thanks I don't want to try passing that girl in the grey. I felt kinda bad but I had warned him that moment would come.
My boys cheering me on!
And we're done! 3 hours, 29 minutes with negative splits (barely - negative splits was Zac's only goal for me). That time actually earned me fifth in my division. But of course they only give awards to the top 3. If you look closely you'll see Zac in the neon yellow on the right side of the finish arch, videotaping my finish.
Zac and I: Mission accomplished!
And I couldn't have done it without the love and support of my family:
And the Wolfert family (minus Sidney), who traveled all the way from Phoenix to watch me at two different points - such awesome cheerleaders!
If you're so inclined (and so interested), these and also a few additional photos can also be viewed via my Facebook page. And in case you're wondering how the headcam video turned out, you can check that out here.
And in other good news... on Thursday, we got word that Creepy's second MRI (since starting chemo) turned up stable and even showed some signs of tumor shrinkage! Wahoo!
Ok, I'm tired of writing now. Blogging takes WAY too much time. But once again... from the bottom of my heart... THANK YOU ALL for your support!!!!
Sunday, May 13, 2012 at 11:22AM 
