I can not begin to explain what an amazing weekend we had! My Goddess girls and I have been getting together once a year since college. We always shop, eat, and catch up, but never have we come together for a cause. It was such a good feeling to be with such strong women who care about each other, their families and their community.
Here is a play by play....
On our way to Dallas, we got the call that Katy (miles 10-15) would not be joining us. Not only was she sick, but her house had flooded and her husband was out of town. She couldn't leave her house.
That meant Marcus to the rescue! He had packed running clothes just in case he got the call. Marcus was a great sport and was excited to join the team. The double-fisted drinking began with lunch at Bread Winners on Saturday morning.
After lunch, Chandra, Marcus and I met up with Billye at Scottish Rite Hospital for a tour. What an inspiring place! They do such amazing work for our children. They thought of everything. The hospital rooms are bright colors, they cover up all of the scary machines, they have a kids-only area for crafts, TV, and video games, and they make sure kids are able to be kids.
They even take teenage patients on ski trips each year with custom made orthodic legs built into ski boots or snowbaords.
Here is Marcus and I with one of their many Christmas decorations.
After the hospital tour, we checked into our hotel and then went to the pre-race party to meet Baby Will and his unbelievable parents. We snapped a quick photo with him after seeing the video that ESPN filmed of his story. In total, his family through everyone's generosity, will present Scottish Rite with more than $15,000 in donations. One little person can change the world!
Will was so expressive. I know that through the Lord, Scottish Rite and his special parents, Will truly will be able to do whatever he wants to do. The Lord put him with the right caregivers to make this possible. He was fearfully and wonderfully made!
After the party, us girls went to dinner and did a little Christmas shopping while Marcus hung out with his cousin Jason in Dallas and washed our new race shirts.
It was all fun and games and then Sunday morning hit!
The weather report had predicted everything from 40 and rain to sunshine and 80 degrees. The former was more accurate. It was COLD! Here is a picture of our full team (with Danni who drove in late Saturday night!) before the race began. It was around 45 degrees with an occassional rain shower and a strong wind.
Chandra ran the first leg and did amazing! She had never done a race before and had to maneuver among the 15,000 runners. She ran under a 10 minute mile for 6 miles! When she called home after her leg, her 5 year old daughter's first question was, "Mommy, did you win?" Having finished her leg alive, Chandra proudly exclaimed that yes, she had won!
Danni was next and got super lucky- her 4 miles leg was mistakenly reduced to 3 miles. She actually passed us on her route while we were trying to get to the exchange point. She did phenomenal and was able to go much faster than she predicted.
As you can imagine, if Danni's leg was short, someone's leg was long. Yep, that would be our Plan B runner, Marcus. In a mere 24 hours, he had gone from not running to 5 miles to 6 miles. As a wonderfully supportive husband, he took it all in stride and ran his 6 miles with a smile. Yea Marcus!
I was up next for miles 15-20. I am proud to say that it was the longest I have ever ran and it was my personal best mile for mile time. I am also thrilled to tell you I did the race without shin or shinkle pain! Three Alleve, a rolling pin and lots of water and stretching did the trick!
My leg is one of the hardest stretches for the full 26.2 marathon runners, so it was filled with Hooters girls, men dressed like Dolly Parton, beer, art work, live bands, candy and lots of Gu. It really made the 5 miles go by quickly. Marcus met up with me at Mile 4 to keep me company and we did the last mile together.
When I was done, I passed the lime green slap bracelet (a modern baton) to Billye who ran the next 6 miles. She did a great job and I am so grateful that she organized us into this race. Thank you Billye for sharing Will with all of us!
Finally, the last .2 miles were upon us and we all met Billye to finish as a team. Marcus ran ahead and snapped a picture of us running the final stretch. We could see the balloon arch of a victory just ahead of us!
When we crossed the finish line it read 5 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds. Woo Hoo! We were not last and beat our 6 hour predictions.
We all were awarded green relay team finisher medals and proudly wore them to lunch and all the way home. I may still be wearing it.... just kidding!
Overall, amazing weekend! Will and his family is an inspiration to us all. I am proud that my friends and I ran the rock and even prouder that we rocked the cause!
Last night Marcus and I went to a fun Christmas party at the home of Dave and Stormi Boyd.
Check out Marcus giving Hannah a ride. She is the cutest little girl- super petite like her Mom. Stormi said she weighs 27 pounds. Baby Joey was at the party also and at less than one year, he weighs 20 pounds.
The happy couple!
