Rachel's Race

Apr 09, 2012

Being a newbie, race day has had this sort of mythical existence. I have incredible mentors and coaches who have been passing along as much wisdom as they can, and of course, I've read articles on best practices. My team has given me something even more valuable though. This past weekend, they gave us a race day.


Some might think it's anticlimactic to do a complete half marathon training before the actual race, but for a complete nerd like me, it was a huge load off my mind to be able to practice the whole thing. I got some valuable experience along the way.


Miles 3,4, 7 and 8 are stil my worst. A pollen count of a gajillion made breathing that much more challenging, so I sucked on my inhaler every few miles. I'd woken up with some weird tightness behind my knees and had to stop to stretch every mile it seems. Something happened at mile 10 though that I hadn't expected.


As tired as I was and as much as parts of me were starting to hurt and as hard as it was to breathe, some part of me found it's stride, and I finished the last three miles in my best mile times. People often joke when someone says 13.1 that it's the .1 that will get you. In my case, that was partly true.


My knee had been tweaking for a few miles when I turned into the final leg to the finish line and tweaking moved on to being a down-right pain in the ass. One of my coaches was there, and a volunteer drove by and asked if I wanted a ride to the finish line. Um, hell no. I'd gotten that far, and nothing short of death was going to stop me from running across the finish line, real or not. Mind over matter, right?


Gritting my teeth and running with my eyes closed at times, I crossed the finish line of my first half marathon. I learned I need to have sunscreen at the real thing, go to bed earlier the night before, there will never be anything anticlimactic about finishing, and most importantly, I got this.

Mar 29, 2012

As people were gearing up to run their races St. Paddy's weekend, the distances were really starting to look daunting. The week they were all doing their "dress rehearsal" the coaches were giving us plastic medals at the finish line. I figured I wasn't supposed to get one since I was "just" running 6 miles, not 13 or 20. Then, I started thinking that really I wasn't doing that much in comparison to the people running a full marathon. I'd gotten through my first ever 10 mile run without great incidence, so again, I started thinking I was "only" running a half.


St. Paddy's weekend as my teammates were running races, I went to training to run 12 miles. Don't get me wrong, every mile I'd run to that point had been work, but my body decided to show me just what only a half marathon could be like.


It's obvious that running will take a toll on your legs and feet, but you may not realize how much your core -- mid-section from shoulders to hips -- works when you run. About mile 8, I found out. First my chest and abs were a little tight, so I stretched and moved around to loosen back up. Mile 9. Achy legs at this point is pretty normal, but I started noticing my hips getting sore, too. Mile 9.5. I start huffing and chuffing because my diaphram has just about had it. Mile 10. I'm having trouble keeping my posture because my abs have officially told me to kiss off. Mile 10.5. I see my coaches at the final turn. I've never been so happy to see two people ever. I'm breathing like a woman in labor. I'm pretty sure my coaches can tell I'm about done because Mike decides to run my last mile and a half with me. I don't speak. Every step is excruciating because my hips are so inflamed. Mile 11. Mike is talking to me, being reassuring me and telling me I'm doing great. I have the urge to hit Mike. Mile 11.5. Jim passes us on his bike heading back to the parking lot. I consider knocking him over and stealing his bike. I can see the finish line, and I'm literally chanting like the Little Engine that Could. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.


And I did. I apologized for thinking about hitting Mike or stealing Jim's bike. They laugh at me. Once I got home, I crawled out of the car and into the house. I was starting to get cold, so I took a very long, very hot shower, the whole time praying I'd be able to walk later. I managed to get my shirt on barely, but I could only get one leg in my pants. The other wouldn't bend enough. Thankfully, my husband was able to stop laughing at the sight of me long enough to put my sweats on me.


For the rest of the afternoon, I iced my hips, took ibuprophen and ate everything I could get my husband to bring to me. The next morning, my physical therapist worked me over trying to make sure my hip pain was only soft tissue, not bursitis or some other injury. When she was sure it was, I did muscle stem and heat. I'd shuffled into her office, and I was up to waddling on the way out.


It took a full 3 days for me to start feeling somewhat normal again. I was still sore, but manageably so, and I had a whole new perspective on the words "only" and "just." I have to give myself more credit. I'm doing a half marathon, and that's a pretty big deal regardless of what anyone else does.

Mar 29, 2012

This season has been a life-changing experience on so many levels. The staff, the coaches, and my mentor, Jenn, have made a huge impact on me. I want to do more.


I was so lost at the beginning of training, and Jenn walked, ran and hobbled along with me until I got my legs under me (literally), even though she badly needed to get her own training off to a good start. She taught me to slow my pace, stuck by me, and without her, I'm not sure I'd have gotten past my first five mile run.


The coaches have been amazing running me in on the long runs the last few weeks. The first time I ever ran 10 miles Joe Shanahan was out on the course as we tromped though ankle-deep mud checking on us and cheering us on. (Unfortunately, he was also taking pictures.) Christie always asks how I'm doing and tells me how she marvels that I'm running with asthma since she is now fighting it,too. I'm pretty sure Mike and Jim willed me to finish the last mile and a half the week we ran 12 because there was no part of my mind, body or soul that wanted to keep moving. Last week, Joe Funk ran every step of my 10 miles with me.


I've not worried about raising $3,000 (Which I will finish doing very soon, I promise.). I told Ben when I signed up that I knew how to raise money. I have to admit that I was seriously doubtful that anyone could teach me to run the distances I've been racking up week after week. I'm going to run 13 miles in two weeks, and while I'm still nervous, I have no doubt that I'll finish -- and it won't be on my own.


I've reached out to TNT to ask about being a mentor in the fall. I want to participate again, but this time, I want to lend the support to others that I've been shown this season.

Mar 11, 2012

When I first started inquiring about running this race, April seemed awfully far away, but it's approaching at light speed. I cannot believe that I'm less than two months away from race day. It's hard to wrap my head around how far I've come during training. Two weeks ago, I ran 10 miles -- Holy crap!


I'm overwhelmed with the support I've gotten from friends, family and even total strangers! Whether it's donations, cheers or pearls of wisdom, I cannot begin to express the depth of my appreciation.


This coming week, I'll be running 12 miles, by far the longest distance I've ever gone without wheels. I'm just over $500 short of my fundraising goal, and I'm hoping this long run will inspire the last few donations I need to cross that finish line, too.

Feb 07, 2012

January was a whirlwind filled with some great milestones, several aches and pains, frustration and finally a breakthrough!


I'm now in the middle of week 10 of training. I've got my inhalers, shoes, hydration and nutrition figured out for the most part, and now, I'm ramping up my miles each week. There is something about crossing the 7 mile mark this coming Saturday that I find a little intimidating, but I'm ready for the challenge.


Today is the one year anniversary of losing Mark. I was helpless to make him well. I can't take away the pain from those he left behind. All I can do it run, raise money, and put everything I've got into the fight against cancer.



Make a Donation

We are no longer accepting donations for this event, however you can still make a donation to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Supporter Comments

"For one of my favorite LOST and BSG buddies!! Good Luck on your run Rachel! "
Laura Skelton
Mon Jan 16 09:04:20 EST 2012
"Go Rachel! Love you! Love Mark!"
Emily M
Sun Jan 22 08:13:08 EST 2012
"You inspire me. "
Angie Pointer
Tue Feb 7 07:27:40 EST 2012
"Rachel, this is a great cause and I am very happy to help you meet your fundraising goal. I make this donation both in memory of your close friend Mark but also in memory of my father that was taken by leukemia. He was so loved by all that knew him. You run girl!"
Paul Duning
Wed Feb 8 07:07:14 EST 2012
"I did not know Mark that well and have not seen him since high school, but he always seemed like a really nice, funny guy. He obviously had good family and friends that loved him very much. Rachel, you are so strong and I am proud of you for training and participating in this race. Good luck!"
Anonymous user
Mon Feb 20 02:38:05 EST 2012

My Fundraising Total

100%
100 %

Make a Donation

We are no longer accepting donations for this event, however you can still make a donation to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

In Memory of

Mark King

My Thanks To

marie king $1,000.00
Joseph Weatherly $260.00
Kim Jameson $176.00
Rachel Weatherly $100.00
The Heggs $100.00
Anonymous $100.00
John Curry $100.00
Mary Beth West $100.00
Rebecca Thomas $75.00
Bronson & Mariss... $50.00
Addie Crotts $50.00
Erin Hensley $50.00
Sara Moscoso-Gaenzle... $50.00
Alissa Fereday $50.00
Rory Lewis $50.00
Rhonda Smith $50.00
Renee Rodriguez $50.00
Steak $50.00
Christopher Kaine $50.00
Torey, Kerry and Had... $50.00
Paul Duning $50.00
WP Murrey $50.00
Beverly Murrey $50.00
Willa Mae Greene $49.00
Kate Walters $25.00
rachel stovall $25.00
howard hoffman $25.00
Erin Robinson $25.00
Angie Pointer $25.00
Lauren Flowers $25.00
Laura Skelton $25.00
Stacee Brown $20.00
Senitra Blackburn $10.00
Dennis McCafferty $10.00
Emily M

Supporter Comments

"For one of my favorite LOST and BSG buddies!! Good Luck on your run Rachel! "
Laura Skelton
Mon Jan 16 09:04:20 EST 2012
"Go Rachel! Love you! Love Mark!"
Emily M
Sun Jan 22 08:13:08 EST 2012
"You inspire me. "
Angie Pointer
Tue Feb 7 07:27:40 EST 2012
"Rachel, this is a great cause and I am very happy to help you meet your fundraising goal. I make this donation both in memory of your close friend Mark but also in memory of my father that was taken by leukemia. He was so loved by all that knew him. You run girl!"
Paul Duning
Wed Feb 8 07:07:14 EST 2012
"I did not know Mark that well and have not seen him since high school, but he always seemed like a really nice, funny guy. He obviously had good family and friends that loved him very much. Rachel, you are so strong and I am proud of you for training and participating in this race. Good luck!"
Anonymous user
Mon Feb 20 02:38:05 EST 2012