When I heard there was a group of people running the Richmond Marathon and 1/2 Marathon in honor of Jenna and ovarian cancer awareness, I knew I wanted to do it. I knew it would be difficult since I had given up running since my heart started giving me trouble last winter, but in my heart I wanted to give it a go. I was cleared to run and do whatever, just always too nervous to work my heart too hard. Ready or not, Whitney and I decided to do it. Our first run we set out to run 2 miles. When I was dying and surely thought we had run a mile, I checked and it said we had only run .5! At that point I wanted to throw in the towel, but Whitney pushed me and I'm so glad she did. We had a lot of work ahead of us to be ready for 13.1 miles in 9 weeks, but it ended up being a great bonding experience for us! It seemed when one of us was having a tough run, the other was there to encourage. We did almost all of our training together and I'm so thankful! Along the way I also talked Jenna Kempf into running it with us. She is an avid runner and was already putting in great long distance runs, so she decided to do it with us! You will however not see any training pictures of us together, because she is fast. Really fast. And let's just say, Whitney and I are not ;) But it was so fun to be able to support each other through the process!
Always representing #tealforjenna on our runs. I used that time on the pavement to pray and reflect on the beautiful person that Jenna is. Praying so hard for healing for her.
The trail was so beautiful in the fall! We started running in September and ran through the entire fall season. We got to take in awesome views and always chose different routes to see different things. By the end of our training, fall was over and winter was in full force. It was a beautiful thing to watch fall unfold before our eyes.
We also got to watch harvest in all of the fields. Nature is so awesome!
And just like that, fall was over, the fields were harvested, and we were running in brisk temperatures looking at barren trees. It had it's own beauty!
We were running on the trail and I almost stepped on this snake! I turned around to take his picture because I knew the boys would love to see it :)
When we did our long runs on the trail, Ben would often bike with the boys in the bike trailer. They loved the end when they could get out and run with me.
The weekend we were supposed to run 9 miles, Whitney was out of town, so we had to run separately. I talked my dear hubby into running with me, and let's just say it was an adventure! Give him props for just going out and tackling 9 miles without training. However, I literally peed my pants part way through the run because he was so angry/miserable and limping so bad! He crawled up the stairs for a few days after because he was so sore. Love you babe! :)
Marathon time was finally here! My parents kept our kids so we didn't have to worry about dragging them out in the cold temps, getting up early, and all of that. We stopped on our way to pick up the Kempfs to get some snacks for the road. Ben was ready! ;) He didn't really buy those.
Whitney worked the night before so this was the view in the back seat most of the trip.
It was a fun drive with good adult conversation!
We made it early evening and went to the expo to pick up our race packets and walk around for a bit.
Then we headed to a local Italian restaurant to eat dinner. We ordered several pastas and pizza to share - Ben wanted to show off that he was carb loading for the big race. It's hard work to be a spectator!
Early the next morning - ready to run! When we signed up for the race we assumed November 15 in Virginia wouldn't be too bad of temps. Well, they had a cold front come through and it was below freezing on race morning. Luckily we were used to running in cold temps at home!
Wearing our teal in support of Jenna!
Ready to run! Jenna's wave took off about 15 minutes before Whitney's and mine. Ahem, like I said, she's fast.
The route was fairly flat and was a nice course.
Here comes Jenna to the finish!
And here she is waiting for us! ;)
Woohoo we all made it! 6 months to the day after my heart ablation. So thankful!
Whitney and I ended up separating during the run, and I had a lot of time to reflect. Several ovarian cancer survivors came and ran beside me for periods of time to share their stories and thank me for wearing the shirt to share awareness. Miles 9-11 were tough mentally but I pushed through and kept reminding myself that if Jenna can fight this battle, then I surely could keep running. When I crossed the finish line and saw Jenna waiting there with her family, I burst into tears - I was overwhelmed with so many emotions.
So happy to be finished!
The supportive husbands
All snuggled in for the drive home after the race. Such a fun weekend!
We are continuing to pray and ask for healing for Jenna. She has traveled a long road and I am amazed daily by her strength and determination. Jenna, we love you! #tealforjenna
What an awesome experience! Even though I hated my life sometimes during the training....I would give anything to be able to be outside running in that beautiful fall weather when it is the middle of the snowy winter right now!
ReplyDeleteAlso...I look awful in that pic of me sleeping. were you having "adult" conversation on the way down because the kid was sleeping in the back? haha thats kind of what it sounded like. ;)
so glad we were able to do this and it was so cool to talk to some of those ovarian cancer survivors while running. what an emotional experience and so thankful jenna is here. id do it again in a heartbeat for her!
Beautiful pictures of the fall leaves on the trail and the countryside! Winter can be beautiful too, but those yellow leaves with the sun shining is hard to beat! That was a fun few weeks of training and a really fun weekend! Glad you talked me into it, and glad to support Jenna in such a way.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure...do you think I'm fast?!? (Would have loved to train with you, but you two excluded me!)
ReplyDelete