I was able to get plenty of sleep on Saturday night, which was surprising to me. I thought I would be more nervous but I felt a weird sense of calm and even when I woke up Sunday morning I didn't feel as nervous as I thought I would be. I quickly met up with my group and it was lightly raining. We did a "Monstar" cheer together then began walking to our corral. After we got to the corral I was just ready for the race to start! Finally everything was set to go and I began my tracking as I jogged across the starting line while "Eye of the Tiger" came on Spotify. (how appropriate) The rain had miraculously stopped and even with the start of the race there were so many spectators cheering me on.
When I crossed the bridge into Newport, I immediately saw my boss (who else has a boss that would come cheer them on?!) and her husband with a sign that said "Run Now, Wine Later" which made me laugh. Then as I rounded the corner, at the Peace Bell several of my family members were sitting at the corner with signs and cheering me on. It made me rather emotional to know that I had so many people who were rooting for me.
Into Covington I went. When we trained, this was always one of my favorite routes. As we crossed the bridge from Covington into Ohio the city looked insanely beautiful with the sun rising behind it. We looped around and began our journey into downtown Cincinnati. The sun was blazing at this point making it hard to even see what was in front of me. I began to get very hot and started looking for water stations because I was so thirsty. I was sweating...really sweating and it was time to take on the hills.....
I had done these hills before and knew I was prepared to take them on. As I headed up Gilbert, a man with a letter "F" was shouting "Get the F up the hill!" Again, it was something to make me laugh. Upon getting into Eden Park fairly successfully, my boss, Susan and her husband and 3 of my coworkers, Luke, Lori, and Courtney and her husband, were on the sidelines cheering for me with some more humorous signs. It actually gave me a boost and I was up that last hill in no time. It felt like I had wings. After making it to the top of Eden Park and beginning some smaller hills, I started feeling pure exhaustion.
My plan was to go hard on the last 3 miles, but my body felt completely unable. I was hot, I was dehydrated, and I was absolutely soaked in sweat. I felt like I had no energy. Luckily, one of my teammates, Marc was by my side the whole time. He kept telling me to get out of my head. I kept repeating "Because I can, because I can, because I can..." I just wanted to be done. Finally the downhill, which felt pretty good, but then I felt like I almost couldn't make it to the finish. Things became blurry and I was feeling dizzy, but finally I saw it-the Finish Swine. So beautiful. I tried to sprint, but in reality I don't think I started going any faster. In the finishing chute I passed, my parents with my niece, T.J. and my friend Mallory, my friend Liz's mom and dad, her boyfriend, and his two boys. I passed my cousin Jessica and her husband Zeb, with my Aunt Kathy. I passed my brother and sister n law with my niece and nephew, who had apparently been trying to catch me all day. All of these people distracted me from the steps I was taking, from the tiredness that I was feeling. Was I almost there? I think I made it across... I think I made it across....
Relief... Sort of....
Is there water??
As the dizziness continued I started chugging water and sat down on some boxes. A medic approached me, but I assured her I was fine and just needed a minute. Marc and Ron (I think) stood by me as I regained some sense of normalcy. As I stood up and exited the finishing area rather wobbly, my friend Liz was waiting for me as well as my cousins, Paige and Molly. As I started feeling myself again, I started realizing exactly what my body had just done and how impossible this seemed just a short while ago.
Some of my friends were waiting at Bessler's house for me to eat brunch. It was nice to have more people to celebrate with. It was wonderful the whole day to feel incredibly loved, and supported. I am still in disbelief of all the people who spent a huge period of their morning with me and gave up precious sleep just to cheer me on as I passed by them for 30 seconds.
To my friends and family-your support meant more than you will know. Crossing the finish line means more to me today than it did yesterday, because yesterday all I felt was relief. Today I feel pride in myself to have overcome such a huge accomplishment. Thank you for being by my side for this accomplishment. This weekend was one of the most memorable of my life. I know that I will cherish it forever.
I want to assure you that whatever dream you have is not too large. Whatever you want to accomplish can be done. It will not be the easiest path, but it will be one that you can travel on. Quit making excuses for reasons you cannot do the things you want. Stop letting people, or thoughts, or time get in the way. I never gave up on myself. My head might have given up on me, other people might have given up on me, my body might have even given up on me, but I NEVER gave up on myself. The pain I have felt is gone. The soreness is making its' way out of my legs. The pride of completing my first half marathon is being processed. I accomplished something that I never would have dreamed of 6 months ago, but I set my mind on it. I put my time and energy into it, I believed that I would cross the finish line. So I did. Stop doubting yourself. Stop giving up on yourself. Stop hating yourself. Believe in yourself. Find strength in yourself. Be confident in your ability to cross whatever finish line means something to you. Work every day for what you want. It can be yours. You can make it yours.
If you can't run 13 miles, you'd shock yourself to know you actually could.
Love,
Someone Who Couldn't Run 1 Mile,
Flying Pig Half Marathon Finisher,
Lauren
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