Journey to the Finish Line

I don't even know where to start, so I guess I will just start with Friday and go from there...

Friday.... We left early in the morning (thankfully we were able to drop our kids off Thursday night to my friend Monica's house - who took all 4 kiddos for the weekend - she's AMAZING!) and headed to Chicago.  We went right to the Expo and I picked up my race bib, train passes for the family, and found my name on the "wall".

After that, we went and got checked in at the hotel.  We hadn't even been at the hotel 10 minutes and Mom and Dad arrived there.  We got ready and Jeff and I headed out to the Team World Vision Dinner.

At the dinner, they just gave us some tips for the morning so things would run a bit smoother, and then they also announced that they were acknowledging the TOP 100 Fundraisers!  I could not believe my name was on the list!  Now, I just want to point out... my name is the one that is on the paper - but it is those that donated and supported me that put it there.   In recognition, back at the tent after the marathon they were giving the Top 100 a medal that said "Impact Award".  AWESOME.
After the event was over, we walked for like 20 - 30 minutes trying to find a cab to get back to the hotel.  Not. Fun.

Saturday Morning.... The Marathon starts at 7:30... I had to be at the Team World Vision tent by 5:45. What?  I was only used to getting up about an hour before I would run.  So much more time now!  I ate a little more than usual, and tried to space it out some.  A group of us met in the hotel lobby at 4:55AM and walked to the tent.  Probably not the best idea... it was literally like a 2 Mile walk.  We get to the tent... we all get ready, check our bags and then we walk to the  Corral where we were to start... no lie, almost another mile walk.  I would definitely redo that whole morning thing, if given the opportunity!

And we start....

It started off good.  SO MANY PEOPLE!   Crazy ridiculous!  Jeff and my parents were planning to see me at the TWV (Team World Vision) booth at mile 3.  Jeff realized that we would be running right by the hotel soon after the start and I was able to see him at about Mile 1.   Before he left the hotel he got this awesome shot from our hotel room.

 

After that I saw them all at Mile 3.  Here is one of the best shots my mom got of me.  I am in the middle with the black headband if you can't tell.

 

 Our group kept on trucking along.  It "seemed" to be going so fast.  One of my favorite moments was we were running right past a senior citizen home and all the residents were sitting in the windows watching and waving and giving thumbs-ups.  Seriously one of the clearest memories I have was seeing them.   Team World Vision had a group of people cheering and they got a pretty good shot of me too. (with the exception that my chin and my neck look like one)

 

I saw Jeff, Mom and Dad again at 11.5.  At just about the half-way point (13.1) I really started dealing with some pain in my left hip and knee.  I had experienced on again/off again pain in my knee during my training... but really hadn't had much recently.  While talking with Bev, basically our Mentor Runner who has run like 7 marathons, she said she was feeling a little something too and was attributing it to the slant in the road.  Our training runs were on a paved trail, and here we were running on the side of the road that was pretty slanted.  The pain was hurting and I had to slow it down some.  It really crushed me to not be able to stay with my group.  Thankfully, right after I backed away from them I saw my parents, and Jeff again.  As soon as I saw Jeff I went over and started to cry.  He hugged me, told me I had this, and sent me on my way.  He was not entertaining any pity party and I am thankful! I did just need that affirmation that I could still do it even though I wasn't with my group.  I think this shot was taken and it is basically when I first saw them.

 

I was able to keep going with a slower run, but the pain kept getting worse even though I was trying to be intentional about running in the middle of the road.  I saw Jeff again at 21.5 in China Town, however he and my parents had split and I missed seeing my parents even though they were in China Town too.   A little past mile 22, I just couldn't run anymore.  I would walk and my knee would start to feel OK, so I would try and run again and the pain just got worse.  Thankfully, I could walk pretty comfortably with no pain.  Then I even thought "well, I can power walk and it's not hurting too bad."  It was really the impact from running that was causing the pain.  So I decided to just power walk it.  Even though most of the people around me were walking at this point, it did feel pretty good to finally pass people!  : )  My times from the check in points even report that I had a faster mileage at the end when I was power walking, than when I was running slow! 

 

Right after I passed the 26 Mile marker and rounded the corner to the finish line I picked it up and started to run.  I saw Jeff and my parents in the stands and they were screaming like crazy.  I saw the FINISH line and as I got to it I raised my hands in the air and crossed it.  26.2 Miles.  I did it!  I finished it!!!   I will not bother you with the craziness of getting back to the tent and then trying to find a cab because I was not walking one more step, mainly because I do not want to recall it.  Crazy, just crazy!  Here is a picture my friend Angie got of me when I got back to the tent.

I have to be honest, I do not think I could have done it by myself.  Only because I was doing this to bring clean water to those in need got me across the finish line.  There were many mornings when I just did not want to run, but knew I had to, to stick with my training.  Knowing that I had people who not only believed in me, but also believed in the purpose for which I was running kept me going. 

The days after the marathon up until about Friday night, I do admit were very confusing for me for some reason.  I really struggled with feeling like I accomplished something...that I did it.  I knew I never really cared about my time, I just wanted to finish, but I was really just feeling down in the dumps about the whole thing.  I asked Jeff if it happened...  if we went to Chicago and I ran the marathon.  It just didnt' seem like it happened.  I did a little "googling" and found that there is actually a thing called Post-Race Blues. You can read an article here  about it if you'd like, and also, two blogs I found which made me realize it is just normal... here and here . Whew!

 

My great support team in Chicago

Another thing I need to mention is that Jeff put two playlists on my phone.  He did it like a week before, but I never listened to them, I wanted them to be fresh.  One playlist was songs, and the other was scripture.  When he told me he downloaded 26 scriptures, I just assumed it was from an audio Bible.  No!  When I played it for the first time, I heard his voice.  It sent chills through me and I about lost it.  Then, a couple different times, the kids were on there yelling, "go Mommy!" Is he the best or what?  At one point when I was feeling really defeated because I was having to walk, the scripture playlist kept playing the same verse.  Kid You Not.  God was all over my iPhone and wanted to drive a scripture home to me...

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

New International Version (NIV)

⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 

I am So thankful for the opportunity I had to do this.  I am thankful for the many people that supported me.  I am thankful that we are bringing life change to 51 people and for generations to come!! 

 

Thank You!!! Thank You!!! Thank You!!!

 



 



 



 



 

 



 



A Little Marathon Humor

Here are my TOP TEN MARATHON SIGNS....

10.  This seemed like a good idea 4 months ago

9.   WTF?  Where's The Finish?

8.  Your Training Lasted Longer than Kim Kardashians Marriage.

7.  If this were easy, we would be doing it.

6.  Someday you will not be able to do this.  Today is NOT that day.

5.  Welcome Back To Your Friday Nights

4.  26.2  because 26.3 would be CRAZY

3. Worst Parade Ever.  Throw us some candy

2.  Punch anyone who says you are almost there.

1. Kenyans are lazy, they only run for 2 hours! 


I especially like #1 because I would like to believe that it is true, and that being said, I am so NOT lazy because I ran for 3 times that!! : )

20 MILES

On Saturday September  15  our group did our 20 Mile Training Run!  20 Miles... or as we like to refer to it as 4 - 5's.  That's it.. just four 5 mile runs!  Seems a little less intimidating right?  : )

What was so awesome about this run is that the church did a volunteer request and we had Hines Drive (the course we run) filled with members from our church cheering us along and doing water and Gatorade stations.  It made it so much fun, not knowing who we were going to see at the next stop!   Along with cheering us on along the way, there was also a ton of encouragement in chalk on the course. As well as a huge crowd cheering at the Finish Line!  How great is that!!

The cherry on top was that Jeff came out to one of the cheer/water stations with ALL 4 kids!  My hubby ROCKS!  It was so awesome seeing them and seeing the kids cheer me on. Cole quote, "Cheer Mommy, Cheer Mommy!"  Love it! 

Having had pretty crappy 16 and 18 Mile runs, I was a bit fearful going into the 20 miler, however, I changed some things up... better carbs before the run and better fuel during the run, and honestly - the 20 mile run was my best run ever!  Praise God!

As my group approached the finish line, we held hands and started singing... We are the Ridge Runners, God's mighty Ridge Runners, everywhere we go, people want to know, who we are, so we tell them.  We are the Ridge Runners!!

(Stacy, Heather, Julie, Gaby, Bev, and Shannon)

 

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

So it has been a little over a month since my last update and I wanted to update you all on my training. 

The Good - At the beginning of August we went to TX to visit Jeff's family.  While we were there, we were able to run together.  Although the "lows" there were in the low 70's, Jeff and I were able to run together.  Something we do not get to do here at home.  He ran all my runs with me in the morning, including a 15 mile long run on a Saturday.  He is such an encouragement to me, that honestly they were the best runs I had, had in awhile - even the 15 miler! 

The Bad - So this is not really "bad" but it was another "AH HA" moment for me in my running, and again, God just really brought some more things into perspective for me.  While running with a friend on a mid week 6 mile run, I made the comment that I had forgot to put my water bottles in the fridge the night before therefore my water was not cold, but warm and it was not refreshing.  She replied with - that's ok, you think that is bad - I only drink bottled water.  We both just kinda looked at each other and basically said we needed to get over ourselves.  Here we were complaining about our CLEAN water - when we are running to help provide clean water for others who are not as fortunate. 

The Ugly - Ok, if you have an easy stomach - just skip this part.  Last Saturday, I had my longest run to date.  16 Miles!  Worst. Run. Ever.   From the start I was feeling a bit "off", wasn't sure what, but just felt like I had no energy.  At about mile 11 - it hit.  I got the runs during my run.  Yuck, I know.  Thankfully, it was along a portion of the trail that had a lot of restrooms.  I visited 3 of them!  Although that happened, and after that I felt like I had even less energy - I FINISHED!  Another thing was that I forgot my phone that day and the girl I was running with didn't have her phone.  I know if I had had it I probably would had called Jeff to come get me and would had just called it a day.  I didn't have that option and therefore I pressed on.  I didn't finish strong - but I finished! Thank You Jesus.  This past week I was much more intentional about what I ate and made sure my body had the proper fuel.  Much better run.

I am doing this for one reason - because God laid it on my heart to do this to help raise funds and bring awareness to those in need.  Will you please help me build water wells in Zambia, Africa?

To those of you that have made a donation to Team World Vision in support of me - THANK YOU!! Your support means so much to me and helps me to keep going! If you have not yet made a donation, I ask that you would please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help build water wells in Zambia, Africa!! It would mean so much to me! Here is the link where you can donate online http://support.worldvision.org/goto/heathergerwing

Running Water

A couple of weeks ago, we traveled to NJ to visit my family.  We arrived on Friday evening June 29th... the next morning was our scheduled 8 Mile Run.   During the night we had a massive Thunder/Rain/Wind Storm.  It was reported that winds were higher than that of Hurricane Irene that struck the area last year.  During the night the electricity kept flickering, I know this because my phone was plugged in next to the bed and kept making noises!  However, when the alarm went off for us to get up and run everything seemed fine... then the power went. Nothing.  Jeff and I went out for our run and when we returned there was still no electricity... in fact, there was no electricity for 4 days!  It did not return at my parents house until Tuesday evening.   However, where they live, everyone has well water, which needs a pump, which needs electricity... so no electricity means no running water. 

I can not even begin to explain what an eye opening experience this was.  I have no doubt that it was something that God wanted me to experience.  So we had no running water to drink, to brush our teeth, to flush our toilets.  Every time you had to use the bathroom we had jugs of water (that we got from family members who had water) that we had to put in the toilet to flush it.  We had to go to the Acme and buy bottled water and bags of ice - can you imagine!!! I mean we had to get in the car, drive 10 minutes to the store, and buy water and ice because we were unable to turn one of the multiple faucets in our house on to get it!!!! People... do you hear this?  Do you hear this???

What was an inconvenience for me, my family and most of the surrounding area was just that an INCONVENIENCE!  There are people living on this earth, God's children, that do not have clean water to drink!! We can do something about this!!  I am running for water!!!  I am training to run a marathon, to help raise money to fund water wells in Zambia, Africa.  Will you PLEASE, PLEASE support me.  I am a little over half way to my goal.  I can not reach it without your support!

To those of you that have made a donation to Team World Vision in support of me - THANK YOU!! Your support means so much to me and helps me to keep going! If you have not yet made a donation, I ask that you would please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help build water wells in Zambia, Africa!! It would mean so much to me! Here is the link where you can donate online http://support.worldvision.org/goto/heathergerwing

Water? Water!

This past Saturday I ran my second race.  I ran a 10K which is 6.2 miles.  I did my run/walk which is 4 minutes of running then a 1 minute walk and I completed it in 1 hour and 15 minutes.  I am happy that I completed it without needing to take extra walk breaks outside of my timed ones, and that I didn't feel like I was going to die afterwards.  I even did a "Phoebe Finish" (If you do not know what I am referring to search Phoebe Running Friends on YouTube and you will see!)  Here are some of the awesome ladies I got to run with!

The 10K had an unusual late start of 8:30 and it was already hot.  For the first 3.5 miles of the run we were running neighborhood streets in the direct sun.  It was HOT!!  Thankfully, there were several houses that had their sprinklers on facing the road and some were even holding hoses and just spraying you if you wanted it!!  I am not sure I would have survived without being cooled off by that water!  The remainder of the race was on a trail in the woods, which thankfully was shaded, however, I had never trained running trail, so I was more cautious in my running.    At one point when I was running and really hoping I would come across another house to hose me off, I had another "slap in the face" moment.  Here I am, wanting someone to spray me with a hose of cold clean water... and there are people living on this earth - the same earth - that we are living on and they do not even have cold clean water to drink!!!!  If you are familiar with Two Word Story, this came to my mind - Water? Water!

To those of you that have made a donation to Team World Vision in support of me - THANK YOU!!  Your support means so much to me and helps me to keep going! If you have not yet made a donation, I ask that you would please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help build water wells in Zambia, Africa!! It would mean so much to me!  Here is the link where you can donate online http://support.worldvision.org/goto/heathergerwing



Training!

Our "official" training for the Chicago Marathon began two weeks ago.  I can't believe I have already been at this for 4 months (CRAZY!) but now it is official.  I was doing a different program, but then when this one started I switched over to it so I would be running the same as everyone else.  Here is our training program:

I would greatly appreciate your prayers as I continue to train.  The miles are starting to add up, as are the pains.  I have been having issues with my right knee and my left foot.  Thankfully I rarely feel pain while running, it is mostly in my recovery.   Saturday afternoons are full of ice packs and Ibuprofen!