It's Not Always About the Numbers

Today I find myself in a very different role than I am usually in. Usually, I get up on race day, lace up my shoes, hit the bathroom a million times, then find my place in line at the start and try to calm my nerves. Today was not that day. Last night, I hardly slept (not unusual before a race), but it was more due to ice cream and a full moon than nerves.

Race morning came, I had everything laid out the night before, coffee set on a timer, and I was up and ready to go, only thing missing this morning, my nerves. Today I was asked by a very dear friend to pace her through her first half marathon. I arrived at the Oak Brook Half Marathon in beautiful Oak Brook, IL with plenty of time to spare. The race was supposed to start at 7:00 am, but as usual with this race, the start was going to be delayed due to pre-race disorganization. (Let me just say that packet pick up should be mandatory before race day, not day of). I received my first text message at 6:18 am "Where are you". This message brought a huge smile to my face and made me realize that today, I would have to help calm someone else's nerves, not my own. "I just pulled in". "I'm sitting on the Starting Line". Yep, she was literally sitting pretty much as close to the starting line as one could get on race morning.

I met up with Mel, we met up with other Luna Chix there to run the race, and other there to support. Everyone from our team was there, except one, who was missed that day! Let me complete this portion by saying that these women have to be some of the most generous, supportive women you will ever meet. There is never competition, there is never a negative thought. They are incredibly inspiring, and I am very lucky to be a part of this team. We snapped a few pictures, finally got in line to start, and my running partner expressed her nervousness to me, and I assured her I would NOT leave her side, and that she would be fine. The race started, and as most races are, the adrenaline started, and we went out pretty fast - faster than I had planned for her so that she could reach her goal time. I told her we needed to slow down a bit, that we needed our legs for later. She willingly agreed, and we settled into a nice pace. I kept this pace for her, very steady through about the first mile.

First bathroom break. 40 seconds......but we gained our friend Karin!

OK. so, I analyzed the time we lost, and picked up the pace to gain it back. I don't think Mel even noticed. Mission accomplished. So the three of us ran together an a really nice tempo. We swapped stories, then, about the Ironman Louisville race she had just spectated, where many of our friends competed. Then I told her about my horrible race at Chicago, and before we knew it, we came up on mile 5. We gelled, and got some fluids, and kept on going! Just then, we see our spectating Luna's - Mel holding up her Ironman Sign for the other Mel "Mel Your Butt Looks Great In Those Shorts", MJ with her huge, encouraging smile and cheers, Mel's husband, and her adorable two kids, who, by the way, were handing out LUNA Moons along the course! LOVE IT!!!!! This was just the boost that Mel needed to keep pushing ahead! A little emotion, no tears, close, but not gonna happen, and on we ran!

Into the wooded trail we went, and onto the hills. This is where things become a little more difficult on this course, and hill training definitely helps. Mel's determination, though, would not falter on this course. She was working hard, but having a great time.

2nd Bathroom Break.........40 seconds.

OK, now, we are on a more difficult trail, and 40 seconds to make up. So, we pushed on. Water stop........We lost Karin. Shoot. I couldn't let this impact Mel, though, so on we went. Time made up, another mission accomplished. As we came around the corner, we see the 10 mile marker. Mel is now starting to fatigue. So, I tried to come up with anything and everything I could to get her through her last 5K. Pretend we just got off the bike, Mel, this is the last leg of our Sprint Tri, we just have a 5K to go. Good. This was helping. Then, I just blabbed on.....to kill time. It was helping. But a half hour of blab.....that would annoy anyone. So, I just kept encouraging her, and would NOT let her walk. She had made it that far, and we were NOT walking. I slowed her pace down a bit to allow her to breathe more easily, and keep her comfortable.

Mile Marker 11. I see a woman I know from around town, and one we had seen at the beginning, had passed us before Mile 1, and here she was in front of us. I told Mel, "We need to beat her". Mel didn't say much, just smiled. We passed her and her friend. Nicely done!!!!

Mile Marker 12. OK. 1.1 miles left to go. More encouragement. We rounded the corner, and a woman behind us gets on her CELL PHONE!!!! Can you believe it?? "I'll be ther in 5 mintes....watch for me". 5 Minutes. I looked at Mel (can it be that the cell phone caller just helped us??) and said, "Hey, 5 minutes. Can you keep this for 5?" "Yes". "Good, "Let's finish this". We come around the corner, under the bridge, and the two women we had passed decided to kick in for the last 200 meters. Shoot. OK, "Mel, what do you have left? Can you pick it up to the end?" "Yes". We pick it up, almost a sprint, pass those two biddies, and into the finish shoot! During the run we had planned to go through the shoot hand in hand, arms up, and that's exactly what we did. Mel hugged me, she had tears in her eyes, and said "That hurt". I just laughed and said, "Yea, but you did it!" Then she says.....what was our time?........

Today reminded me of why I started running in the first place. It wasn't about the numbers. I ran because I had fun. I enjoyed just running. It wasn't about how fast I ran, or who I beat, or who beat me. It was just about running, finishing, and feeling really good. Today was that day for me. Yes, we had a goal, but we also had much more than that. It was my first experience pacing someone, and quite frankly, it will not be my last.