Beautiful friend,
This is the end. ~ The Doors The End
Out of all of this weekends pictures this one is my favorite by far. My friend, my best friend, (NOT MY BOYFRIEND HE IS MARRIED PEOPLE) was right where he said he would be, at the finish line waiting for me to get there. I am sad I didn't get to see him finish as he has worked so hard over the last 4 months, but this hug made up for all 26 point freaking 2 miles. He said at one point that he selfishly wanted me to do the half so that I would be there when he finished, I think the look on his face in this picture proves that this meant more to him. He and his beautiful wife have been an integral part of pulling me out of the pit of darkness. They believed in me when I couldn't believe in myself. I love and cherish their friendship.
This is the end. ~ The Doors The End
Out of all of this weekends pictures this one is my favorite by far. My friend, my best friend, (NOT MY BOYFRIEND HE IS MARRIED PEOPLE) was right where he said he would be, at the finish line waiting for me to get there. I am sad I didn't get to see him finish as he has worked so hard over the last 4 months, but this hug made up for all 26 point freaking 2 miles. He said at one point that he selfishly wanted me to do the half so that I would be there when he finished, I think the look on his face in this picture proves that this meant more to him. He and his beautiful wife have been an integral part of pulling me out of the pit of darkness. They believed in me when I couldn't believe in myself. I love and cherish their friendship.
My photo finish! Both of these beauties met me a bit further down and ran me in .. even though I was screaming DO NOT TOUCH ME! I was petrified if someone touched me I was going in a pile. 26.2 miles is a long way people. You Mathews people.. the next time you drive to Gloucester just remember I RAN that far. These guys are amazing and true friends and I am honored to have them in my life. PS what unfortunately you don't see is my Shannon handing me my shirt. She was on her sneakiest behavior this weekend and eluded all cameras much to my disappoint me. But she was there.. she was right by me the entire way. I could not have done this without her love and support. Seeing her at mile 1, mile 12 and mile 26 made this thing so much more special to me!
I know I am not supposed to look or pay attention to times because Betsy said she would kick me.. or hit me.. or smack me.. or something, and I will give her this much. I did not look at my time. I didn't know what time I crossed the finish line but it is clearly in this picture and you can subtract roughly 5 minutes. I have to check into it because my time is incorrect on the website. The one and only reason I wanted my time was because I did have a goal in my head, I wanted to hit 6:30. I did. I beat the only person I needed to beat and that was the person in my head that said YOU CAN'T DO THIS. I did you @#$$@#%$#, so next time I would appreciate it if you would kindly shut the W@#$@# up! I also now have a new goal to beat, this time. That is right.. I plan on doing this again.
So you want to know what that is in my hand?
I know I am not supposed to look or pay attention to times because Betsy said she would kick me.. or hit me.. or smack me.. or something, and I will give her this much. I did not look at my time. I didn't know what time I crossed the finish line but it is clearly in this picture and you can subtract roughly 5 minutes. I have to check into it because my time is incorrect on the website. The one and only reason I wanted my time was because I did have a goal in my head, I wanted to hit 6:30. I did. I beat the only person I needed to beat and that was the person in my head that said YOU CAN'T DO THIS. I did you @#$$@#%$#, so next time I would appreciate it if you would kindly shut the W@#$@# up! I also now have a new goal to beat, this time. That is right.. I plan on doing this again.
So you want to know what that is in my hand?
It's THIS!!! Something that I thought was an impossibility. My very own Outer Banks Bootcamp black shirt. It was bought and paid for in miles. There is a challenge. The 100 mile challenge. You have to complete the 100 miles in 6 weeks. I did the math on that at one time about 9 months ago and it looked very improbable that I could do that. I did. I did it, with one tiny exception. I finished my 100 in exactly 28 days and technically it was 105. That was how many miles I have run since Deanna's birthday, yesterday marked exactly 4 weeks. Yesterday was huge for me.
Our sign! I had my own little one that I need to get a picture of from Kami but this was all of us! We all ran this weekend and it is awesome that so many of us do these events together. I means everything when you are trudging through mile 4, or 14 and see people in bootcamp shirts and you get to get and give encouragement. It gets you through the next part!
My coach and friend Matt even walked me through the finish line to get my medals. Having him be the one to put those medals on me was awesome. I am honored to train under him, Christine (who took most of these pictures so she isn't in any of them), Todd, and Chris.. (oh shut up Chris you are a leader that is all that matters and I am part of your crash so if you say a word I will charge you). They were all there at the finish line, all ready for hugs and all were incredibly proud. I will carry that feeling and the words you all have spoken with me in my heart forever. Todd... you are right.. there is nothing I can not do. I hope to never forget that.
Matt found a random Leprechaun hat. I must say it did complete the ensemble of all the gold around my neck, all I was missing was the rainbow.
This is a team, this is a family, this is true grit and loyalty. This is the family bringing in Brant and Heather to the waiting arms and hugs of the rest of the crew. I love this man, his wife and children, being able to see his accomplishment completed was a beautiful thing. Heather my friend, you are an angel sent straight from heaven, there are no words that can adequatly describe it any better.
This was me at the 12 mile mark. Shannon took this picture. See the lady with hair? I passed her right there. She had been in front of me for a long long time and I only caught site of her about half a mile back. Point of holding your pass proven. She had to have started out at a pace much higher than mine, in the end I was already at the finish line with all my prizes (which takes awhile) and back with the team when she went by, I was quite shocked that I was able to hold on to my pace to be honest and this lady was the proof I needed to know that is exactly how you do it. If you think you are going too slow, go slower when you start and maintain, I am proud I stuck to my guns and listened to my body and held what I needed to hold to get me to the end in an upright position and I am able to walk today.
Oh and in true bootcamp form I DID beat the person in front of me. In the last 20 yards or so there was a lady... I had my eyes on her for awhile, at the very end I heard in my head, just beat the person in front of you, I am sorry lady but I had to do it.
I am now going to share with you some Facebook posts from the weekend.
From the morning of the marathon:
Today as I get ready for the biggest event of my life it is time for me to make a little speech. Or essay. Or whatever.
Last year I missed the event because I was so deeply rooted in a deep depression that I did not train. I couldn't get past losing Deanna. I have come to realize that there is no getting past it... through it.. or by it. This is something that I will have to fight through for the rest of my days.
Last year Cameron Gallagher fought through her race and finished and today with faith her family knows she is safe and happy in heaven. Yea in heaven.. with my De. Cameron passed away shortly after completing the half marathon.
I always find myself reflecting on these things as I distance run ... The people in my life. The ones that are strong and have true grit. The ones who fought or are fighting the good fight.
Cameron ' s Mom Grace said words to me that I will never forget. She said she will keep Deanna in her heart. So today as I take off on this journey I will keep in my heart those I hold dear... who fight.. Kyle Ashberry, Shannon Parlett, Nichole Glenn, my Mom Ruth Ann Hutson and my angels Deanna and Little Dustin. Today is for you.
Give... I am giving you my strength to continue fighting
Live... I am doing my best to live the life you would be proud of.
Hug... I know I will be hugging you all one day if I can't today or here on this earth it will be in heaven.
Cameron you will be in my heart!
"Let's finish this"
PS I forgot to add Melinda Baker to my list! I was all a bundle of nerves and realized it at about mile 10 that I forgot to put her name on there.. I suck.
Oh and in true bootcamp form I DID beat the person in front of me. In the last 20 yards or so there was a lady... I had my eyes on her for awhile, at the very end I heard in my head, just beat the person in front of you, I am sorry lady but I had to do it.
I am now going to share with you some Facebook posts from the weekend.
From the morning of the marathon:
Today as I get ready for the biggest event of my life it is time for me to make a little speech. Or essay. Or whatever.
Last year I missed the event because I was so deeply rooted in a deep depression that I did not train. I couldn't get past losing Deanna. I have come to realize that there is no getting past it... through it.. or by it. This is something that I will have to fight through for the rest of my days.
Last year Cameron Gallagher fought through her race and finished and today with faith her family knows she is safe and happy in heaven. Yea in heaven.. with my De. Cameron passed away shortly after completing the half marathon.
I always find myself reflecting on these things as I distance run ... The people in my life. The ones that are strong and have true grit. The ones who fought or are fighting the good fight.
Cameron ' s Mom Grace said words to me that I will never forget. She said she will keep Deanna in her heart. So today as I take off on this journey I will keep in my heart those I hold dear... who fight.. Kyle Ashberry, Shannon Parlett, Nichole Glenn, my Mom Ruth Ann Hutson and my angels Deanna and Little Dustin. Today is for you.
Give... I am giving you my strength to continue fighting
Live... I am doing my best to live the life you would be proud of.
Hug... I know I will be hugging you all one day if I can't today or here on this earth it will be in heaven.
Cameron you will be in my heart!
"Let's finish this"
PS I forgot to add Melinda Baker to my list! I was all a bundle of nerves and realized it at about mile 10 that I forgot to put her name on there.. I suck.
From the night before the marathon:
Everyone knows I am a signs person... I'm a little weird about it. Especially when something big is going on in my life like running a marathon. Yes I have done 2 but neither were timed so this is a big huge scary for me.
I think Deanna has done everything to say "I'm here mom."
My running this time started on Deanna's birthday. Tomorrow when I finish the full marathon I will have run 105 miles 8 exactly 4 weeks. 28 days.
Then Chris Trusz got his bib 4222. Her birthday 222.
Yesterday there was a dime in my converse. In my shoe. I will carry it with me tomorrow.
Tonight at dinner they played my heart will go on... many do not know but that was one of the songs that was played for her.
"Far across the distance
And spaces between us
You have come to show you go on"
Followed quickly by "My Girl"
So tomorrow as we embark on this journey of true heart and will know that a beautiful angel is with us all.
See you at the finish friends.
I felt those needed sharing.. they were just words from my heart that needed a place to stay, that needed to be somewhere I could reflect back on and maybe give someone inspiration.
This leads into one of the most precious and special gifts the mother of an angel could ever receive. The friendship of someone who gets it, someone who feels your words in their heart and are led to act on their feelings. At the finish line my dear friend Christine walked up to me and said I have something for you. (She works in a wine store I thought it may be wine... oh she did better than wine) She reaches in her bag and pulls out a beautiful jewelry box (my photo does not do it justice) that when opened plays My Heart Will go on. I cried when she gave it to me, I just didn't have tears, I think I was slightly dehydrated. When I got back to my room I sat down and opened the box and let it play, tears flowed. Tears of joy, sadness, faith... I know my angel was with me yesterday. There were times it hurt.. it hurt badly physically.. and I would just think ok my angels time for some help and the pain would ease. She was there in the special gift, she was there through the miles, she was there when after the race the first name I heard come over the loud speaker (they announce names it was just background noise I never even heard my name) was here comes Deanna. Christine your beautiful gift will be cherished but it will also be a reminder that she is with me always!
Everyone knows I am a signs person... I'm a little weird about it. Especially when something big is going on in my life like running a marathon. Yes I have done 2 but neither were timed so this is a big huge scary for me.
I think Deanna has done everything to say "I'm here mom."
My running this time started on Deanna's birthday. Tomorrow when I finish the full marathon I will have run 105 miles 8 exactly 4 weeks. 28 days.
Then Chris Trusz got his bib 4222. Her birthday 222.
Yesterday there was a dime in my converse. In my shoe. I will carry it with me tomorrow.
Tonight at dinner they played my heart will go on... many do not know but that was one of the songs that was played for her.
"Far across the distance
And spaces between us
You have come to show you go on"
Followed quickly by "My Girl"
So tomorrow as we embark on this journey of true heart and will know that a beautiful angel is with us all.
See you at the finish friends.
I felt those needed sharing.. they were just words from my heart that needed a place to stay, that needed to be somewhere I could reflect back on and maybe give someone inspiration.
This leads into one of the most precious and special gifts the mother of an angel could ever receive. The friendship of someone who gets it, someone who feels your words in their heart and are led to act on their feelings. At the finish line my dear friend Christine walked up to me and said I have something for you. (She works in a wine store I thought it may be wine... oh she did better than wine) She reaches in her bag and pulls out a beautiful jewelry box (my photo does not do it justice) that when opened plays My Heart Will go on. I cried when she gave it to me, I just didn't have tears, I think I was slightly dehydrated. When I got back to my room I sat down and opened the box and let it play, tears flowed. Tears of joy, sadness, faith... I know my angel was with me yesterday. There were times it hurt.. it hurt badly physically.. and I would just think ok my angels time for some help and the pain would ease. She was there in the special gift, she was there through the miles, she was there when after the race the first name I heard come over the loud speaker (they announce names it was just background noise I never even heard my name) was here comes Deanna. Christine your beautiful gift will be cherished but it will also be a reminder that she is with me always!
All weekend I was afraid of failure. It was embedded in my mind, those cut off times, I had to beat those cut off times. I was still worried about cut off times at mile 23! I was afraid I wouldn't finish that I would be a failure. That I would fall flat on my face. I didn't believe in myself, I am still a bit in shock that I did it. The people who loved me had no doubts, me I had doubts, but I went anyway, I trudged on regardless.... and I flew.
In closing I just want to say.. I love you all! Those that ran, those that cheered, those that drove a long way to see me finish, those that I ran for, those that sent text and messages. I LOVE YOU!
In closing I just want to say.. I love you all! Those that ran, those that cheered, those that drove a long way to see me finish, those that I ran for, those that sent text and messages. I LOVE YOU!
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