My First 5K !!!

Here it is February and I just realized that I completely forgot to post one of the most exciting things that I have done in a long time!!! I decided, on my own, that I wanted to run the Gate River Run in 2010. It's one of, if not the largest, 15K's in the US. I started training and at the end of 8 weeks, my training plan...(thank you Andy & Hal Higdon) said I would be ready for a 5K. Well, what better way to test the body out than to run one! So I did! I signed up for the Gator Bowl 5K to benefit Wolfson Children's Hospital here in Jacksonville. Yes, I even bought new running shorts for the event and then recalled hearing "nothing new on race day", so I wore my trusted, comfie ones that I had been training in. My luck something would have been rubbing someplace that didn't need rubbing and I would have been most uncomfortable.

Anyway..race day arrived and I was missing one crucial item...my running bra!!! OMG !!! I just wore it 2 days prior and now, it was NO WHERE to be found. If I had a chest like a 12 year old boy, this wouldn't be a concern. But I don't, so it was. After frantically ripping through every laundry basket, drawer and bed like a baby bear I finally had to give up!! The girls were just going to have to deal. I was scared. I finished getting dressed and re-pinned my bib, #303, to the FRONT of my shirt. I had originally pinned it to the back...such a rookie! With a fully loaded ipod I took off for downtown.

The race started in front of the Jacksonville Landing and ended in front of the CSX building. It was chilly out and I was freezing as I walked to the start to pick up my timing chip. HOW COOL!! I was getting my very own timing chip. I was like a kid in a candy store!! After getting my chip securely attached and I mean securely, (this thing was the only proof I had that I finished the race. We were connected for the next 3 miles!) I proceeded to the starting area.

The gun went off and so did I, but not without again apologizing to the girls for the stress I was about to put them through! I was feeling pretty good for the first mile. No huffing or puffing. I ran my own race for the first mile. I went with what was comfortable. The first mile marker had a timing clock. I ran a 12 minute mile. OK, I was happy with that. I had no goal for this race other than to finish and NOT with the pace car on my heels!! I really wanted to see how my body was going to preform after 8 weeks of training and did I train well enough. The second mile went well. I found a couple of girls in front of me to pace off of. I made sure they were within a certain distance and it really helped. By the last mile, I was ready for this race to be done. I wasn't dying...I was still OK. But I was getting tired. Then I started to think about why I was running. I was running for 2 reasons today. I was running for me. I set a goal, I trained and now I was doing it and I didn't give up. And I actually started to enjoy the running. It had become almost therapeutic. I was also running for Elle. Because she couldn't. I had a conversation with her in my head. I told her I was going to run this race and she said to me..."mommy, are you gonna run for me?" And I replied..."yes, baby...mommy is going to run for you." At that moment, the tears welled up and the energy kicked in. I had no right to take walk breaks at that point. I had the ability to run and that's what I was going to do. I had to just push through the tired at that point. I thought about everything that little girl had gone through in the past 2 years and today, she was my inspiration!! I ran through the last pack of spectators that were lining the road. Strangers were throwing high fives and I was taking them !! It was awesome. "Oh my goodness...where the hell is that CSX building??" All of a sudden, I turned a corner, looked up and saw the CSX building!! I immediately looked down to the left and saw the finish line and the time clock!! "OMG,I can finish in under 40 minutes"!! I literally ripped the earphones out of my ears and started running like I had never run before...my foot hit the pad, the timing chip went off and I jumped on the pad like a kid jumps in puddles! I DID IT!! I FINISHED!! I DID IT!! I must have looked like the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. I was smiling so big! I was so proud of ME! Finishing time was 40:34. Not great, but keeping in mind that the only goal this time was to finish :-)
I walked around for a bit, got my legs back, grabbed a slice of cold pizza & a water and headed back to the car. Today was a GREAT day!

Needless to say, I wore the race t-shirt for the next 3 days :-) I also found my running bra 3 days later.

A side note...she who trains solely on treadmill is in for big awakening when feet hit pavement! O'well...I'll know better next time.

Elle received a special gift...a new bath chair!

I can't begin to explain how grateful we are for this wonderful gift! Up until a couple of days ago, I was still bathing Elle in her baby bath tub. It was a task that should be fun for her and instead, it was a rushed event and one in which her safety was always on my mind. Elle will be 2 in a couple of weeks and is clearly to big for her current tub. The process of bathing her went like this...Put her baby tub into the kitchen sink, fill it water and bubbles, have a cup near by to rinse her hair, line the counter top with a thick towel and then layer on top of that her bath towel. Go get Elle and slip her into the bath. Wash her hair one handed while holding her shoulder with my other hand to ensure she didn't fall over and hit her head on the granite counter edge around the sink. Keep in mind that Elle is unable to sit unassisted. As a result, most of the time is spent lifting Elle up from the position she would slip down into. Then after draining the tub, I would have to lift a wet, slippery and squirmy baby out of the tub and onto the counter top that she is to long for, limbs hanging over the edges, dry her the best I could and whisk her off to her crib where we could safely finish drying her. It doesn't really sound to bad, but if you have ever had to lay a wet 2 year old that squirms all over the place on a surface that is smaller than them...you might be able to understand.
I knew Elle needed a new bath chair, but which one and the enormous expense had me delayed along with the reality that our daughter was now in need of another piece of "medical equipment". Not always the easiest the to face.

Enter Mrs. Jenna! Elle's Occupational therapist. A few weeks ago she asked me if Elle was still in need of a new bathing chair. "Yes", I replied. "I just don't even know where to start with them". Jenna proceeded to tell me that she knew of one that was possibly available and she thought of Elle. She went on to tell me about a wonderful family that was generously donating their son's medical equipment. I was puzzled at first as to why and then my heart sank and tears filled my eyes. Their precious son had recently passed away.

Fast Forward to this week...Elle and I had the honor and pleasure of meeting Shannon this week. It was her wish to meet us, the family that would be receiving her dear Mack's bath chair. She was a beautiful individual. Along with the chair, she brought a photo of Mack for us to see. He was adorable! Big blue eyes and an angelic face! She shared with us how she loved to sing "Row Row Row your Boat" with him while he was taking a bath. She even told Elle that Mack would watch over her while she was taking a bath to be sure she was safe :-) I was amazed at the strength that she displayed and my heart was warmed in listening her speak of her dear Mack! She even brought along a note with Mack's website and only asked for us to take the time to read it. I promised we would and it was the first thing we did when we got home!! We used Mack's chair last night for the first time and mommy helped Elle blow bubbles and kisses up to Mack in heaven :-) We are so grateful to have received this gift and will always be thankful to this family for donating it to us.