A life time knowing I HAVE -Becka

It's two days later and I'm still on a high from it!!  What? Ya, here is a spoiler....  WE DID IT!!!  BAM!!

  Favorite quote that got me to keep going always:

There will be days when I don't know if I can run a marathon. 

There will be a  life time knowing I HAVE!!! 

and this one: 

Finishing a marathon

 is a state of mind

that anything is possible!  

Seriously!  I heard that the person who starts a marathon is a different person than the one who Finishes it.  I would take it even farther.  The change starts from the moment you sign up..  that first step.  That step of, "ya...  I can do this, I have enough faith in myself to pay the money and sign up for this baby!"..  I can't believe I got to that point.  Seriously...  that was the hardest part for me.

I learned so much about myself, about setting limitations and how we shouldn't, about being part of a team, about putting it all out there, about how people show love and support and how I can do better at this, how i can be a better person, and friend, how not to hold back, and so much more.   Mostly I learned that everything we have and can accomplish is a gift from our Father in Heaven.  If we don't give all the glory to him...  I say that like I won or something...  I did win.  I set a goal, and I accomplished it!!  Winner winner!!!

 I sound like I think I'm all cool because I ran a martahon.  I don't really.  I feel like I'm cool because I didn't give up.  I want to set and accomplish more goals, in other areas and in running too..  but just continually improve and more forward.  That is what we are here to do. that is what I take away from all this.  Setting this goal and accomplishing something I didn't even know a few years ago I wanted to do, something I didn't even think I was capable of doing, shows me that I can accomplish things..  Maybe even some I don't really want to do but will be good for me.  Everything in life is not about having a great time.  Some things are hard, but that doesn't make then not worthwhile.  This marathon and it's training was a miserably wonderful time!!!

So I learned this, not just in the 26.2 miles, but in the 500 plus training miles and days and group texts, packing on the pounds from carbo loading and early mornings before the "reward".  Ok.  but this post is about the reward!  So here are my top moments of the actual marathon..  in no particular order..  just as they come to my mind.  =)

* That my oldest son came walking up with a little less than two miles left, picked me up in a big hug, spun me around and ran the rest of the race with me (until he had to leave the course at the finishing gate).  He sped up our pace and kept me going telling me not to be weak sauce.  He had just got into town from his base in California (he's a Marine).  This was the perfect ending!

* Seeing my family hanging over the fence with their cute signs and their matching shirts at the finish line.  Looking so proud and their big smiles and cheers.  This was Awesome..  Felt like a rock star! 

*Big Hug from Darin and his telling me good job and how proud he was of me. 

* Some of my family at about 1:50 left to go!!  Joe came and ran with us for a second.  Them all cheering.  such great support

*Running with my awesome "running partner"...  Lexie Little.  We jam to music. we encourage each other.  When my knee killed and I needed to walk, she went ahead and walked with me..  sacrificing a better time.  We are self proclaimed turtles, but we enjoy the journey and that's what matters right?  right?  The best part about Lexie is that we have only been "friends" for 3 months and I seriously don't ever want to run a race without her...  She Rocks!!!

*Getting texts from Yellow fish April along the way...  She is awesome and the most supportive amazing person ever!!!  love her!

*The Kanab girls screaming and jumping around, cheering us on!!!  I just wanted to stop and hang out with them for awhile.  why not?  if I would have been earlier in the race and I wouldn't have been as worried about getting done so my family could get to their other activities, I totally would have.. at least a photo op.

*Seeing Tiff at the very last aide station!  In her fishie shirt running out to greet me!!  Just what I needed to concur that last mile.

* The views... amazing.  when we could see st. George and the beautiful mountains..  it was just the prettiest picture!!  Truly Gods creations! 

* meeting people along the course..  making new friends, seeing dad's with their sons running together,  watching people struggle, but fight through it..  great place to people watch I tell ya. 

* the excitement of the starting line!!  I mean holy people!!  so many people. and the thought that all of them have been training...  have probably been like stressing and going through many of the same emotions and feelings as me..  it's an awesome feeling like a bond between runners.  pretty cool!  but cold...  ya.  brrrr.....

*Knowing and hearing about all my fellow fishies, sharing this experience with them, even if we weren't running together, we were together..  we did this together and that is the coolest.  Hearing while we were running about Lexi Cutlers Boston qualifying time... definitely a high light!!! 

*Seeing all the fishies at the end..  seeing their smiles and knowing we all did it...  we did it.  I mean really I thought at least one of us would get injured or not be able to do it.. that's just the odds of a group. but we all made it there and finished the race.  hot dang!!

*Aide stations every mile..  I mean that is seriously sweet.  It made the miles seem shorter somehow.  you would just leave one and up ahead you would see another one.  The volunteers were amazing.  I wanted to thank them each individually and hear what they were doing there.  I mean people say it's cool, but it didn't really look fun picking up all those cups or rubbing icie hot on stinky people where ever they wanted you too.  ekkk.. 

*The fact that the dudes just walked off the road to pee...  I mean not behind the bush or anything..  WTheck?  I later decided that was nice of them to free the porta's up for the girls, but at least find a bush... 

*That Lexi pointed out that my bib number  7465 was 11-11...  it added up to that.  Like if it couldn't have 13 in it, this is the next best thing. 

*That I couldn't figure out how all the volunteers knew my name and then the crowd knew it until lexie told me it was on my bib...  ha ha ha 

*Seeing and hugging Heather and Jayci...  This was just as I turned for the home stretch.  Again I wanted to stay longer and "visit"..  ha ha...  but I just had the home stretch to go.  time to finish this thing.

*that none of my family even mentioned how slow my time was..  thanks guys!  I was really ready to say, "the next person to say how slow I am, I'm going to punch in the face."  and there wasn't a need.  yay!  they are so awesome. 

*Seeing endless runners in front of and behind us..  cool cool sight.  Tried to get pictures but it just doesn't do it justice.

*That when I text my husband saying my knee was killing me and I was going to be super slow and he should move closer to cheer me on so they could take off to their other stuff, that he texted back, "Take your time, know your dad is with you and proud of you."...  ya, I cried. 

*Coming into the finish line and seeing MaryAnn up ahead cheering with open arms.  First she grabed lexie and then me and we all just hugged it out!!

*I might add to this..  sometimes my brain remembers stuff later.  =)

But there you have it...  my marathon in a nut shell...  or a sea shell..  ha ha...get it?  fish...  sea shell...
ok..  and now for the pictures!!!  best part right?

At the cabin. then we piled on the warm clothes and headed out the door.

 

Keeping warm in line for the pottys..  stinky!!!

Saw my friend Toni along the way.  I took a little nap looks like.

 

I'm sure this sign was for us!

part of my family waiting for me with about 1:50 miles to go

 

 

 

How great was it to see these girls jumping and cheering (and Jess)..  Pretty dang great!!!

 

Seeing my family... excited!  Joe even ran with us for a sec..  he's ready to do this thing next year!!

Dason running with me!!!!  Do I look happy?  yes I am!!!

These guys waiting and waiting..

supportive momma

I'm almost there!!!  yay!!!  Surreal moment!!  I am finishing a marathon!!  Me... 

 

Love this guy!!  he has been so amazing through all of this!

 

jani holding ALL the signs my mom and dokies made

 

My wonderful family!!!  I hope they learn something from all of this.

It's why I did it!!

 

My awesome little sis and photographer!  and she drove me back up 26 miles to get my car and back. 

These two just fought over my metal..  See how eastons glasses are askew..  they fell off his head over into the finish area.  Darin had to put him over the fence to grab them after someone almost- kinda did step on them. 

 

 

 

My awesome sister fishies.  minus Candi..  She was too busy lovin on her baby to answer her phone.  don't blame her.  Love these girls. We are forever and always bonded!!! 

 

 

Some of the other fishies are signing up for next year already...  Am I a loser because I don't really want to?  This experiance was jsut pretty close to perfect..  Well, not perfect in the my knee killed and I wanted to cry most of the second half, but...I mean it just couldn't get better.  I want to do new stuff. See new roads and scenery..  I want to keep running just different races and probably just 1/2's...  1/2 are awesome!!