{Life Lessons}

There are many different experiences in life that teach us different things. Yesterday, I feel like I learned more from one experience than a dozen others combined.

10:30 pm Friday - I finally returned home from a LONG night at the church. I was in charge of getting 72 hour kits put together for the ward. What a task. I have been working on it for the past 5 weeks, making 4-5 trips per week to various stores to gather all of the product. Finally the night came where people were to come and pick up their kits. I was so relieved to have this done. After getting home, I laid out all of my things for the next morning so that I wouldn't forget anything.

5:50 am Saturday - My alarm goes off. I begin to "heat" my back and do a round of exercises and stretches that I learned this week in physical therapy. (like I said, I was doing EVERYTHING possible to be able to run) I got dressed and woke Ryan up to get ready to drop us off at the starting line.

6:50 am Saturday - We were on our way. Ali and I talked the whole way there about our nerves and how we were going to do the best we possibly could. In my mind I continued to worry if I'd even be able to finish half - I was in quite a bit of pain already.

7:45 am Saturday - The race began. We were about 1/2 mile in and I told Ali she needed to go ahead. My pace was so slow and I honestly didn't know how much further I could go. She refused, promising me she was staying until we finished one mile together. I agreed in hopes that my back would really warm up and the pain would lessen. Mile 1 marker was about 20 feet ahead when I looked at Ali and said "go". She turned to me with tears and said "are you sure?" .. "yes, just go". As tears streamed down my face, I watched her pass 5, 10, 20 30 people until I couldn't see her anymore. This is where my journey alone began.

The next 12 miles were the hardest of my life. It was the longest 2 1/2 hours I could ever have imagined. We had trained together for the past 7 weeks never running more than 6 miles without each other. I knew I had to do this. I pushed through the pain until about mile 5 were I reached to a long stretch that I couldn't see anyone ahead or behind me. Tears again rolled down my cheeks and I thought to myself, "I can just call Ryan, he can come pick me up and I'll meet her at the finish line". But, I continued. Soon enough, I came up on 3 girls. One younger girl by herself and a pair of older women. I told myself that I would finish with them. I kept a slow but steady pace the whole time, never stopping as I knew I wouldn't be able to start again. Mile 9 hit, and I honestly felt kind of numb at this point. I knew I was running with a major limp as one of the officers directing traffic asked me if I was okay and if I wanted to keep going. I smiled and crossed the street.
The next 2 miles seemed so hard. My back really started to flare up at this point, I text Ali saying "TEN". I knew that if I told someone I had made it that far, I had no choice but to meet them at the finish line. Although in pain, 11 and 12 came and went little bit quicker. We were on a trail passing a golf course. I had been running along side the younger girl for the past 2 miles and she was really starting to struggle. (she told me she had JUST found out she was pregnant - BLESS HER HEART!)  Each time she slowed down and walked I would turn around and cheer her on telling her she could do it, we were SO close and were going to finish! She'd get a smile and start running again. This encouraged me so much to keep going. The 12 mile aid station came quickly. I knew I could do just one more mile, but as I ran it felt like the longest most painful  mile ever. I turned a corner and saw Ryan running to me. My eyes filled with tears and I told him how much I hurt. He ran the last stretch with me until I had about 50 yards left. I saw all of my family ahead and Ali came running towards me, again with tears in both of our eyes.

We had done this.

She ran across the finish line with me just as we had planned. At this point, I felt so overwhelmed and so proud that in so much pain I had accomplished something I'd worked so hard for.
Today, I realize that the doctors were in fact right. My body would regret running. Dang it. I'm sure this means I'll be back to physical therapy this week.. But looking back, I wouldn't have changed one thing.
I learned so much in one day, I don't even know where to begin.
1- You can do anything you put your mind to
2- Friends are amazing
3- Never give up
4-Determination
5- The end is SO worth it
6- Ice, Heat, Ice Heat, Ice, Heat
7- Ryan is incredible (taking care of Avery when I can hardly walk)
8- Silent prayers will get you through
9- Hard work
10- Don't stop
11- Ice, Heat, Ice Heat, Ice, Heat
12- Support is 100% necessary
13- Dedication
.....

Thanks Al- Sure love you!!