Cruella de mom
Goofys have more fun
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2005
- Messages
- 1,800
This is probably going to be long and boring but I need to write it all out so I can forget it or so I won't forget it, I don't know which.
As many of you know, I run in TNT purple in honor of my Dad who is dying from 2 separate types of lymphoma (blood cancer). My Dad has been getting steadily worse and later this week I am flying up to Johns Hopkins to see him for what will probably be the last time. So I wanted to run a sub 2 hour half marathon as my last gift to him.
Dh and I arrived in Nashville on Friday afternoon. We stayed at the Ramada Inn at LP Stadium. It's not a fancy hotel by any stretch of the imagination but its convenient to the finish, cheap, and the staff was wonderful (even if they didn't have many teeth).
We parked at the Ramada on Friday and our car didn't move all weekend. It was about a mile walk to the expo and all the restaurants of downtown Nashville. The walk was just long enough to stretch your legs.
The Expo was nice. All your typical vendors and merchandise. It was very crowded so we took one spin around the floor and left.
We ate at Demo's for dinner. It was a 40 minute wait but we weren't really hungry yet so it timed out well. Dinner was great and we were shocked at how inexpensive it was for what we received. Dh was happy because he was able to get spaghetti and I was able to get my steak and potato.
Race day morning it was raining. Our Hotel had a quick breakfast that they opened early for the runners. we grabbed a bagel and some coffee and took them to go as we went to catch the free shuttles to the start lines. Luckily, I just grabbed the whole box of garbage bags as we left the room because we met some first time runners at the buses that were freezing in their singlets. It was so nice to be able to help them out.
CMM did not have enough portapotties at the start. The lines were endless. I ended up missing my corral and starting with Dh after all. Luckily, the rain stopped while we were in line and we were able to take our garbage bags off before we started.
Dh, my running buddy, Rachel, and I had a great start. We were right on pace at mile 6 and we all felt good too. I was so glad I had trained with Accelerade because it feels different in your stomach but I knew what to expect.
Somewhere between mile 7 and mile 8 everything blew up. My diaphram cramped and it knocked all the air out of me. I could not get it to release and it was a struggle to stand up much less breathe. Thankfully, there was a medic station pretty soon after this happened. This sweet young girl cam running to me as soon as it came in sight so I think runners were telling them I needed help. I was trying to keep moving and trying to tell her what was wrong but I couldn't get enough air. Then some man came up, ran behind me, and pulled me back in a pseudo backbend. AIR! The cramp still wouldn't release but I could now draw enough air in to talk and run.
So I take off running slowly againest the medics advise. The sweet girl who met me, ran along beside me for about 100 yards to make sure I was ok. she asked me to check in at the next medic tent so they would know I was ok.
My chest hurts. The cramp is not as intense as when it began but its there. I look at my pace tattoo and realize that my chance for a sub 2 is gone and I am in jeopardy of not beating last year's time. I suffer on. My pain reminds me of my dad and how he is in so much pain. I think about the fact that this will probably be my last race to run in his honor. Why am I thinking this now? I need to get my game face on and run faster.
Mile 12 has this big mean hill that winds around downtown buildings. The hill goes on forever and it completely defeats me. I am really crying now. Other runners are patting me on the back as they pass me. I am pathetic.
Then someone says "You can do this TNT" It startles me. It pulls me back from the fog of self pity and pain and I start running. I take a deep breath and the cramp releases. I look down at my garmin and I have .4 miles left. I start passing people yelling out ".4 miles Let's go!" These are the same people who just saw me losing it. Several people join me as I charge towards the finsh line. The cramp returns but without its earlier force and I ignore it.
I cross the finish line and I completely lose it. I am crying hysterically. The medics are asking if I am ok and I have no idea what to tell them so I just shake my head. I see Dh up ahead. He runs through the crowd and I collapse on his chest. He just holds me as crowds of people stream by us. I know he is wondering what happened but he doesn't ask. He just lets me cry.
Were you wondering about Dh and my running buddy? They both PR'd. My running partner and I have a deal that we run together as long as we can but we don't look back. Dh and I had already said we would each run our own race. They didn't see what happened because I had fallen back some. Dh wanted to slow down and wait for me but Rachel told him I wouldn't want him to do that. She was right.
How do you salvage a bad run? well....
We met up with all my friends from TNT, then went to the finish line and cheered until the very last finisher crossed. Then we went to the Marathon finish line and cheered until our voices gave out. I think only a few runners were still on the course when we left. I wanted to stay for them, but I was getting pretty sunburnt and I needed to sleep.
Oh, the finish area was mobbed. WAY too many people in narrow stretches of space. They did have tons of food for us though and a free sample of beer. No dunkin doughnuts this year though and none of those mylar blankets either and I could have really used one. It was cold when I finished but it warmed up about 30 minutes later and by the time those last runners were coming in it was down right HOT.
As many of you know, I run in TNT purple in honor of my Dad who is dying from 2 separate types of lymphoma (blood cancer). My Dad has been getting steadily worse and later this week I am flying up to Johns Hopkins to see him for what will probably be the last time. So I wanted to run a sub 2 hour half marathon as my last gift to him.
Dh and I arrived in Nashville on Friday afternoon. We stayed at the Ramada Inn at LP Stadium. It's not a fancy hotel by any stretch of the imagination but its convenient to the finish, cheap, and the staff was wonderful (even if they didn't have many teeth).
We parked at the Ramada on Friday and our car didn't move all weekend. It was about a mile walk to the expo and all the restaurants of downtown Nashville. The walk was just long enough to stretch your legs.
The Expo was nice. All your typical vendors and merchandise. It was very crowded so we took one spin around the floor and left.
We ate at Demo's for dinner. It was a 40 minute wait but we weren't really hungry yet so it timed out well. Dinner was great and we were shocked at how inexpensive it was for what we received. Dh was happy because he was able to get spaghetti and I was able to get my steak and potato.
Race day morning it was raining. Our Hotel had a quick breakfast that they opened early for the runners. we grabbed a bagel and some coffee and took them to go as we went to catch the free shuttles to the start lines. Luckily, I just grabbed the whole box of garbage bags as we left the room because we met some first time runners at the buses that were freezing in their singlets. It was so nice to be able to help them out.
CMM did not have enough portapotties at the start. The lines were endless. I ended up missing my corral and starting with Dh after all. Luckily, the rain stopped while we were in line and we were able to take our garbage bags off before we started.
Dh, my running buddy, Rachel, and I had a great start. We were right on pace at mile 6 and we all felt good too. I was so glad I had trained with Accelerade because it feels different in your stomach but I knew what to expect.
Somewhere between mile 7 and mile 8 everything blew up. My diaphram cramped and it knocked all the air out of me. I could not get it to release and it was a struggle to stand up much less breathe. Thankfully, there was a medic station pretty soon after this happened. This sweet young girl cam running to me as soon as it came in sight so I think runners were telling them I needed help. I was trying to keep moving and trying to tell her what was wrong but I couldn't get enough air. Then some man came up, ran behind me, and pulled me back in a pseudo backbend. AIR! The cramp still wouldn't release but I could now draw enough air in to talk and run.
So I take off running slowly againest the medics advise. The sweet girl who met me, ran along beside me for about 100 yards to make sure I was ok. she asked me to check in at the next medic tent so they would know I was ok.
My chest hurts. The cramp is not as intense as when it began but its there. I look at my pace tattoo and realize that my chance for a sub 2 is gone and I am in jeopardy of not beating last year's time. I suffer on. My pain reminds me of my dad and how he is in so much pain. I think about the fact that this will probably be my last race to run in his honor. Why am I thinking this now? I need to get my game face on and run faster.
Mile 12 has this big mean hill that winds around downtown buildings. The hill goes on forever and it completely defeats me. I am really crying now. Other runners are patting me on the back as they pass me. I am pathetic.
Then someone says "You can do this TNT" It startles me. It pulls me back from the fog of self pity and pain and I start running. I take a deep breath and the cramp releases. I look down at my garmin and I have .4 miles left. I start passing people yelling out ".4 miles Let's go!" These are the same people who just saw me losing it. Several people join me as I charge towards the finsh line. The cramp returns but without its earlier force and I ignore it.
I cross the finish line and I completely lose it. I am crying hysterically. The medics are asking if I am ok and I have no idea what to tell them so I just shake my head. I see Dh up ahead. He runs through the crowd and I collapse on his chest. He just holds me as crowds of people stream by us. I know he is wondering what happened but he doesn't ask. He just lets me cry.
Were you wondering about Dh and my running buddy? They both PR'd. My running partner and I have a deal that we run together as long as we can but we don't look back. Dh and I had already said we would each run our own race. They didn't see what happened because I had fallen back some. Dh wanted to slow down and wait for me but Rachel told him I wouldn't want him to do that. She was right.
How do you salvage a bad run? well....
We met up with all my friends from TNT, then went to the finish line and cheered until the very last finisher crossed. Then we went to the Marathon finish line and cheered until our voices gave out. I think only a few runners were still on the course when we left. I wanted to stay for them, but I was getting pretty sunburnt and I needed to sleep.
Oh, the finish area was mobbed. WAY too many people in narrow stretches of space. They did have tons of food for us though and a free sample of beer. No dunkin doughnuts this year though and none of those mylar blankets either and I could have really used one. It was cold when I finished but it warmed up about 30 minutes later and by the time those last runners were coming in it was down right HOT.
Love your proof of time. CAn you use that for DIsney prook of time? 
Great job!
You've been around long enough to know tha tovercoming such a horrible cramp and finishing is a HUGE victory, not a bad run to be salvaged. Plus, you inspired so many at teh end and cheered fro teh otehrs behind oyu. You are a heck of a special person adn I hope you know that! 
