I can official say.... I DID IT! I survived the training, the nerves and the 13.1 miles! It felt great! I took the advice of many and just enjoyed the run. I didn't push to hard, I didn't get overwhelmed in the take off speed and I DIDN'T let that hill slow me down. I did take in the sights, I did enjoy it enough to say I am ready for #2, and I did learn A LOT!
Have you been to War? I haven't but I experienced a small part of what it might feel like being in a war. Don't get me wrong the run was beautiful (nothing like war zones) but here's how I saw my first War Zone Run!
17,000 people all lined up! Nervous, pumped and ready to GO!.. Some were ready to beat their own times, some were willing to give up everything inside them just to cross that finish line in a "place" setting, and some like myself were hoping to just plain survive! The horn blows and minute by minute thousands of people take off running. There is people screaming and cheering... Most runners probably just happy to start the journey just so they could be done with it (Myself included) . I tried my best to control my excitement to ensure I wouldn't burn out. Jodi helped by keeping me distracted by the 100's of people running PAST me. Reminding me of my pace, to soak up the imagine of the sea of people, and not to forget to look at the beautiful sea we were running along. A few miles in Jodi and I separated...There I was on my own! I kept looking for someone with a pace I could follow, I quickly learned that was going to be harder than I thought. With thousands of people how could you not find a running buddy?!? We came around the corner and there it was THE hill, I was ready for it..Everyone warned me it was coming. I was determined not to let it slow me down. I found my person and started to trail behind him. I was surprised at how well I felt at this point. My run keeper every 5 minutes replaying my current and average pace. I stayed steady. I stayed close to my unknown pacer. Maybe to close he about ran me over as we made our turn. He apologize and I did to I told him its totally my fault I've been stalking you for about a mile now, Your pace seem steady and one I could keep up with. We strike up a conversation and the next few miles seemed to go by faster, he talked about school and his girlfriend..I shocked him with my years of marriage and head count of boys. This was his second half, so he was telling me about the 3 phases your body goes through while running in a half. I THOUGHT I had found my running buddy, by mile 6 my buddy was slowing down..he was getting weaker.. as a matter of fact I looked around and lots of people were starting to look weak and pale. I was starting to thinking something was wrong with me I felt great?!? was I not pushing hard enough? was this actually a dream and I wasn't really running? I tried to encourage my buddy but he turned to me looking like death and said I don't want to slow you down.. keep going, I have to stop and walk..Good Luck! Make those boys proud! and just like that he was out. I text my husband at Mile 7 to say I was half way and feeling great!
The point were we turned around and made our way back into town was where I started to really notice I was running in a WAR ZONE! At this point we were running in direct sunlight not far from the beach, that beautiful view and salty air now sucking up what little bit of hydration that was left of others. Come mile 8 people were dropping like flies.. For some reason that song "Let the bodies hit the floor" came to mind. I have only heard it a few time in my brothers car but it seemed like it fit the scene in my head perfectly. On the side of the road people hurled over, bloody noses, stretching and crying. Friends encouraging each other to not give up and the occasional ambulance driving by. I tried not to let the war scene distract me. Near a water station I saw Jodi across the way . It felt good to see Jodi again smiling as usual, and quick high five and I refilled my water bottle added my Nun's to my water and kept on running UNTIL...I GOT SHOT IN THE EYE! I too had became a part of the ZONE. I scream so loud everyone around me stopped to look. My water bottle exploded and shot me right in the eye. I stopped in my tracks.. people continued to run past me.. finally some kind old lady said I saw the explosion.. here lets flush your eye with clean water. I got most of it out and thanked her. I started running the best I could with my now blind left eye and my right eye being blinded by the sun (Nun's is fizzy.. note to self NEVER add fizzy tablets to water while running) The last three miles were tough. My body was like OK enough already! We are use to no more than 10 miles! What are you doing??!! I was starting to see more and more people stopping.. many slowing down to walk.. part of me wanting to stop too. I was tired but still feeling good. I didn't stop I was to scared too! What if I stopped just for a second?! I knew if I did I may never get going again. I had to push through. I slowed down only to check on a lady who was crying grabbing her leg. She told I am fine I am use to this... WHAT?! That is not normal... Granted I am no running expect but if something you love is making you cry.. It isn't working out well. I looked around and the strong and steady were still strong and steady (tired but still moving) the pistols at take off were crying, the untrained looking like they were going to puke and then there was me.. Blind, tired but inside feeling amazing inside. As I got closer to the finish line there were people lining the streets cheering, welcoming us back from our journey, tired and weak the cheers keeping us going. I kept combing the crowd looking for faces I knew trying to stay focused and not slow down. Finally I see my husband standing on the side of the road. Just the sight of him kept me going.. It was a sweet relief that my journey was almost over. The closer I got to the finish line the louder the people and music got. Than finally 2:33.33 later I crossed that finish line to the loudest scream .... YOU DID IT NIKKI!! YAY!! There stood Cara my soldier who had fought the battle...and then stood there waiting an hour to be there when I crossed the battle field into the safe zone. I just about fell into her. I didn't know if I should scream too or cry. I did both! I had did it! She said I have something for you but put your ear buds back in....Better than any medal.. a video of my babies cheering for me. My whole goal in life is to make them proud. To be the best mom and wife I can be for them. My heart melted. I did it! Not just for me but for them! To prove to them nothing is impossible. I got medal of honor , then we walked through the line of here eat this, drink this, and take this blanket. Still trying to soak in the scenes. Cara pointed out a guy sitting with a IV bag attached to him. People hugging, crying, tired, weak, proud and search for their friends and family to share their war zone stories. As we walked around I realized the sacrifice my friend had made to stand there waiting for me for over an hour. After running 13 miles and you suddenly stop...Your body shuts down. You have to keep moving just to keep moving! To still be standing an hour after her run was a true sacrifice. Thank you for waiting for me and following me through this journey. You were there from the start with my YAY I ran my first mile without stopping, to me crossing the finish line of my first time EVER running 13.1 miles. Your courage, strength and beauty in life is always inspiring to me. Someone who has been through so much and has done so with the most grace possible. I couldn't have done it without you! THANK YOU!
Cara and I walked around until I found my husband in the sea of people. Another hug and we parted ways. Skip and I walked into the tent where people were asleep on the ground, stretching, laughing and some crying in pain. I walked past a girl laying on the ground screaming and crying while her husband stretched her leg out. YIKES. As for me I thankfully wasn't blind anymore, feeling great, and happy to be by the side of a man who has supported me through all my crazy ideas! Although this one wasn't that crazy after all... I am ready for #2! While the scene was pretty nuts at times the journey was unforgettable! Watching how people tested and pushed their bodies, how they fought through the mental blocks of "this was a good idea 3 months ago" " What are you thinking?!" and the one I personally have to block allllll the time.. "You can't do this, fat girls don't run!" and I now knew the sense of pride many felt after they were done. Out of 17,000 people they said half were first timers. That meant 8,500 people were hopefully feeling the same way I was feeling. At one point thinking I can't do this now crossing that line KNOWING they can! I love the quote " I may not be the strongest, I may not be the fastest, But I'll be damned if I am not trying my hardest" Kind of sums up my whole running journey.
As for those negative thoughts that said fat girls don't run..... It made the run that much sweeter to prove them wrong.. I trained, I ran, I conquered and this girl will keep running for her life! One mile at a time! Ok Maybe 5 miles at a time, or 8, or 13.1........or 26.2?! NAH! Not this year!
