the whole story of the race

The Groggs arrived at our house late Thursday night.
I, at that point was still planning on not running
(but had it in the back of my mind that I really really wanted to).

I'll save what we did Friday and Saturday until later but by Saturday afternoon I had made up my mind that I was going to at least try and run this race that I'd been dreaming about for months and months.

I didn't want to wash all my training down the tube,
I wanted that stinkin' medal,
I wanted to be with my friend....it was just too important to me to not try.
It all sounds so superficial but it wasn't.
There were some great and serious spiritual truths being magnified in both our hearts through this whole experience.
I can't quite articulate them right now, but they will live in my heart forever.

I knew it would hurt but really, that's a given, injured or not.

So.
Saturday afternoon our crew of 11 people (four adults, seven kids) invaded Bill and Lori's house.
Bill and Lori live 45 min's closer to the race than we do so we opted to stay the night there instead of getting up even earlier and possibly fight traffic.
We carb fested, lined up all the kids on the ground for bed, went to bed early, got up early (later than my normal time though!) ate some oatmeal, loaded up on coffee, decked out in all our best running gear and headed out.

We were PUMPED!!!
This was Stacy's first 1/2 and I was determined to show her how fun they were.
Because really, they are.
That addicting, adrenaline pumping FUN!

Jake and Eric were the real rockstars this day though.

SEVEN kids under 7.

Yep.

Up around 6am, fought traffic, caught the shuttles back and forth, kids in place to see their mommies RUNNING!!!!

we spotted them around mile 7 or 8, thanks to all the fun balloonage and pool noodlage!

we were just a little excited to see them...I started yelling out names as loud as I could to get their attention.

I LOVED seeing their faces light up when they realized that was my voice, their mommy, in the crowd!

we stopped for as fast as we could kiss everyone....I couldn't decide which picture to post, so they're all here:

check out those adorable hands around my leg!!!

and we were off again!

I did have to walk here and there.

Never for very long.

Stacy didn't walk!!!!! (really, she ROCKED this race!) but also managed to never really leave.

She had to run ahead a few times due to some KILLER hills but then ran in place until me and my hip could join her!

I only walked when the pain was about to knock me over and if I had to guess I'd say I walked about 1 mile total - spread out between the 9-13th mile.

(Does that sound right Stacy??)

Our finishing time was 2:33.

um...not bad for an injured girl.

I'm just sayin'....

out of just over 8,000 people we placed in the 4,100's.

and we finished dangit.

strong!!!!

once again, the guys had those kids in the perfect place!

they all got to see us finish!!

and...back to reality ;-)

these pictures crack me up!

this boy...

ALL of this was impossible without his support, every morning at 4:40am, every morning when I came back in the door around 5:30am, the night before the race when he slept on the floor with the kids so they'd go to sleep instead of in a comfy bed, waking all our kids up ridiculously early and getting carting them around for me....

there are not words for the gratitude I have:

Stacy's mom and dad decided last minute to fly out from Vegas to cheer her on!

There may have been some music jammin' in the back ground near the finish line!

You couldn't help it, you HAD to dance!

by the way...those little paper horn things fit in the end of pool noodles and when you blow on the other end of the noodle, the horn is even LOUDER!

Unplanned but genius!

Just like God's plan for this whole day.
Unplanned but Genius.

Thank you Lord.
You knew our every need that day.
Stacy's, mine....
All for your Glory.....now, off to articulate why that meant so much to our hearts, not just our own ambitions or health.
I hope I can do them justice.