Let me just start by saying that by God's grace alone I can officially say that these legs are going to be shuffling across the streets of Boston next April !
This may be the most swag I have scored from a race yet guys!
One of the sweetest friends Alaska has blessed me with has been cheering me on this entire training journey. I have said it on repeat but she is truly one of the most Christ like humans I have met and shows deep love through actions not words. From encouraging texts to literally running along side me this could never have been done without her. For those of you that don't know Kate ( or Katie P to most of us Fairbanks ladies) she single handedly built the community of Stroller Strong Moms Fairbanks which is just the biggest light to Mamas in interior Alaska- it's is now owned by an incredible woman Tiffany I can not brag enough about . When Katie's family recently PCSed to Anchorage she started up another location there . A few of her Stroller Strong Anchorage Mamas took on the relay and it was just so encouraging to get to see these ladies at the start and out on the course.
Besides the awesome workout and community we have at Stroller Strong, the gear is awesome. This shirt says " I run like a Mom" and the back finishes " Try to keep up" One of my simple joys is wearing this and passing male runners, I just wish I had a mirror so I could see their faces as they are passed by Moms with strollers. There is such a sense of pride sporting SLAMgear (Sweat Like A Mother ) not just because it's 'cute' but because we are all so proud of this empowering group of women we get to do life with.
I'm not going to sugar coat it for you ... this race was killer. The weather kept threatening rainstorms as we kept trying to pray it away. Anchorage Alaska has that typical pacific northwest drizzle so we were hopeful that's all we would get but somehow I knew it would be more.
Seconds before the 9am start of the marathon the raindrops started falling. By mile 6 I was just thankful for the tree cover because it was POURING! I kept looking at all the other runners feet dreading the thought of their wet socks and rain filled shoes sloshing back and forth. If I wasn't sporting my standard Vibram Five Fingers I can not imagine being able to finish that run with water logged footwear. The rolling hills were a lot more than I expected on top of the rain. Each city has it's own description of a " flat " course and YES this was low in elevation change but the rolling hills were nothing like the flat paths around Fairbanks/FT Wainwright that I am used to.
To be honest the first 18 miles were a blur of trees, peaks of ocean views, heavy rain, and shuffling feet. OH and GU! My sweet friends gifted me a bunch of goodies and let me just say the SALTED WATERMELON GU totally surprised me at hour 2 it was A M A Z I N G!!
Prayer is a huge part of my long runs. It is one of my only peaceful moments of most weeks and it's truly when I feel most connected to our creator. The lord kept putting it on my heart to finish this race, not for my selfish pride, but as an encourager. I could have easily trained and ran a race alone but including so many women and having other Moms believing in this made it a completely different experience. Accomplishing this feat wasn't about me running a race it was about MOMS doing big things in a season where we often feel drained and uninspired. It was about H O P E and faith in God's sovereignty and about community that he builds if we are willing to accept it.
By Mile 20 I was approaching " the wall" as many runners talk about. My lungs were fine but my legs felt like they literally couldn't move up one more incline. Right at this moment I heard my people, I saw these Mamas cheering me on. We got to run a couple miles together and even though her enthusiasm was a bit nauseating at a time when I felt totally depleted, she pushed me right when I needed it. Those are by far the clearest memories of the race and the light that I will always remember.
I wish I could say it was all " downhill from there" but no. NOPE. Not even a little. Yes my energy was restored and this felt accomplishable but knowing the last 1.5 miles were uphill including a steep incline at the finish my mind was failing by mile 24. My body was freezing cold, soaking wet, and these legs were shaking like crazy. Just as the final uphill push came and my pace was dangerously slow... this Mama came in. At the time, I couldn't handle the upbeat yelling and encouragement but as she forced me to keep up with her and screamed " YOU'RE the SECOND FASTEST FEMALE! " I realized that I wouldn't have finished that hill without her.
Just after the hill plateaued the finish line was in sight. 3:35 is the Boston Qualifying time for my age group. The goal is to get 2:30 minutes under qualifying time to actually have a comfortable spot at registration in September. 3:32:30 is just about the slowest I could finish and still make it. These feet crossed over at 3:32:18. 12 seconds to spare.
I love this shot not just for the stats but if you look close you can see my husband taking the photo in the reflection, Katie standing next to him, and on the right is me with a warming blanket and my boys. My entire support system is right in that reflection with me.
My people !
Just after finishing my body shut down from the combination of rain / cold / lack of clothing. Thankfully everyone was taking care of me because it was all just spiriling around me, hot tea was a Godsend! We waited just long enough to get my medals and awards for finishing third female and first in my age group. What an honor.
I love the marathon. Halfs are my favorite distance and are a blast to do with friends BUT the marathon to me is an example of pushing ourselves to our complete limits. It is such a reminder of what our bodies are capable of and the strength of mind and soul we were created with. This training season has been so much more than simply Boston qualifying , it has been a testament of community and faith in countless ways.
In a couple weeks registration opens up for 2018 and I still can't believe I will be a part of that process . As we look toward winter there are countless challenges ahead. Training for a hot April race in the depths of Fairbanks winter is going to be tough. Throw into that a spring deployment for my husband, lack of childcare, high cost of travel, distance, etc. etc. and WOW that is a bit overwhelming ! Luckily I'm still riding that runners high and know that God will provide for all of it. What could seem like impossible is TOTALLY possible and I'm just so ready for the journey to come.
I don't share this with you to boast in my accomplishments. Millions of people run marathons and 10,000 people a year run the Boston Marathon.
I share this to give you hope dear reader.
I share this for Moms thinking that they have lost themselves in this mess of Motherhood, that their accomplishments no longer matter.
I share this for Moms that are afraid to set goals for fear of failure.
I share this for all of the women needing a reminder that we are created for community and with community of POSITIVE people we can really achieve anything.
I share this to encourage you to find your people and love them hard, but if you can't find them BE that love for someone else.
I share this as a reminder that the strength of the lord is within you, YOU too can do big things Mama.
-B
" I will run and not grow weary" Isaiah 40:31
While I've been writing this post this song has come on twice and the lyrics are just too fitting...
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