The journey to the finish line

Yesterday was race day. We took off Friday night for the 4.5 hr. drive and got to WI a little before 10pm. It was fun to catch up for a bit, but then it was off to bed for some shut eye before our 4:30 wake up call. As I unpacked my bag the most awesome gift was awaiting. me. This adorable pair of shoes walked their way into my bag. It was just the love I was needing since my trip to WI was too short to merit the whole fam traveling along.

Emma added lots of lucky clovers to her shoe. I needed all of them! :)

Grace added lots of love...equally needed.


4:30 Sat. morning Jenisa and I were up and at 'em. It was cold, windy and rainy and we were really questioning what we had gotten ourselves into. As we walked up to gear check the rain was falling and we were huddled under an umbrella trying to keep as dry as we could. The nerves were building but oh, the people you meet at a race. Two guys behind us reminded us of all the fun that we would have after the race popping our huge blisters from running in wet socks and shoes. They were just the two we needed to walk up with...equal parts humor, wisdom, and crazy.

After an awesome star-spangled banner and meeting some other runners (first-timers and 15x marathoners) the gun went off. With over 4,000 runners it took us a few minutes to actually reach the start line, but eventually we were off and running. I was hoping to maintain a 9:55 pace so I wondered how running elbow to elbow and not being able to find a stride would go. At mile one I was at 9:56...not bad. Mile two was nice, 9:48. Mile 3, 9:54. I completely lost mile marker 4 as I was distracted by "long legs" (his legs must have been 4 ft. long) and the ADORABLE kiddos lining the streets. I don't think I have ever high-fived so many people in my life. Looking back, perhaps next time there should be less energy exerted high-fiving kids and thanking volunteers and more spent on actual running....I lost complete track of my pace...whoopsies. Mile 5 was spent searching for my parents who were going to campout and watch us...oops...in all of our speed they missed us! Then came mile 6. Ugg...the potholes and the WIND. We ran right along Lake Michigan, which would have been beautiful if it weren't for the fact that my eyes were focused on not falling into the giant potholes and huge puddles that covered the road. At one point people were running off road in the sand to avoid the small lake that took up residence on the course. Add that to the crazy headwind and mile 6 was HORRIBLE. Mile 7 was back to the highway and approaching the turn around point. Outside of the woman on my right who ran in front of me, stepped on my foot and knocked me over to get to water at the aid station (runners etiquette, anyone?) it was rather uneventful. I did grab a drink here and quickly realized I barely have the skill to run, what on earth was I thinking trying to run and drink at the same time. I think I got a splash in my mouth....the rest on my shoes.  At mile 8 we hit the turnaround. The wind was at my back so I refocused caught a quick high-five from my sister and headed back in. However, I quickly formed a dislike for ol' "long legs" that I encountered back at mile 4. I must have passed him 20 times. He would run and zoom right by me, then he would start walking and I would trudge past him. He ran/walked the rest of the way and I just couldn't get away from him. Mile 9 looped us back through pothole city, where the downhill that I forgot about all of the sudden became an uphill. I believe I lost my morale on that hill. Mile 9 sucked the life out of me. Luckily, by mile 10 I got a quick, "how ya feeling?" from my dad who was walking the course. "Uh...I want to die" may have been the words out of my mouth. About 1/4 mile up from him I caught a quick high-five from my mom and regained a bit of umph and finally shook ol long legs so I was feeling much happier.

Approaching mile 11...the finish line can't come soon enough.

Miles 11 and 12 were an out and back stretch where we bid farewell to the marathoners who kept going straight (CRAZY) while the halfers turned around and headed back in.  Running up to the turnaround point it took every ounce of my being to not jump into the sea of oncoming runners who were headed to the finish line. Seriously, who devised a course where runners approach a corner where if you turn right you face 2 more miles or if you go straight you encounter the finish line...who wouldn't be tempted to just keep going straight and finish? Luckily my feet followed the course instead of following temptation. I hit the turnaround, wished my fellow marathoners next to me a quick death good luck and headed back in to the finish line. Another quick high-five from my sister and it was off to the finish line. 

The finish line never looked so good. Somehow I even found a little extra kick to "sprint?" past 4 other runners on my way in. Official time: 2:16:13...not what I was hoping, but I'll take it.

Brr....not sure if the free beer and brat were worth it, we decided to go home, shower, and enjoy our Spotted Cow at a restaurant.

But, not before we captured a picutre with our "bling" first.