Ben and Stacey Wedding: April 2008

...Michael Scott's Dunder Mifflin Scranton Meredith Palmer Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Fun Run Pro Am Race for the Cure....but today I completed the Country Music 1/2 Marathon. Yay, me!

My goal was to finish in under 2.5 hours and my final time was 2:18:05. I am now eating Cheetos in celebration...and later some sort of alcoholic concoction will be had. Who cares how dehydrated I am? :-)

So what can I say about it? I had a BLAST! It has been a long day, but I think a recap is in order. Otherwise, I'll forget the details and I had too much of a good time to lose these memories.

Ok, so the race actually started months ago with preparations. Angela asked if I wanted to do it, and I very nervously said yes. Why nervous? Because I'm not exactly a natural runner...I do it to stay healthy, but generally I only run about 3 miles several days a week. And, turns out my longest run pre-race was only 9 miles...and on a treadmill. How in the world would I ever finish???

Yesterday, a very jet lagged Ben drove me to Nashville and I ran into the convention center to pick up my packet of info. I was a bit nervous....just a bit though. There were so many incredibly fit and tan people - what was I doing here? Yes, I run...but this is a (half) marathon....am I really going to do this?

So, I carb up with some hashbrown casserole from Cracker Barrel and we lay low for the night. Ben taunted me with his beer drinking since I could only drink water for the evening...and it's so true: if you can't have something, it just makes you want it that much more!

The alarm is set for 4:05AM central, but I wake up to thunderstorms and look at the clock to discover it is 3:32AM central....and let me repeat this very key point.... it's thundering. Oh, no! This can't be happening. I have thought about this race several times a day everyday for the last 4 months...no, no, no! No rain! I lay in bed for a bit, and Ben and I discuss logistics, particularly with the rain coming into play.

I get ready, and Paul, Angela and Paul's BIL pick me up. "Guys, can we go back, I forgot my mp3 player?" Oh, gosh...that would have been a tragedy! No way I could run without that darn thing.

Drive in pouring rain to West End, find decent parking spot and sit in car while water continues to drench down on us. What can we do? We've come too far...no turning back now!

Rain eventually pretty much stops...it's misting... so we decide it's time to head out. Angela and I get in Corral 23 while the guys head up to 7 (or some fast runner nonsense like that. :-) ) Hey, there's a really cute dress in even cuter store, why are there two Starbucks in three blocks? And look, there's Kristen Smith!

The sky looks ominous. Just like the sky right before Dorothy was swept up in her little Kansas house. But I am in Nashville, and can't help smiling: there really is no place like home. Seven AM Central...the first group goes....we move forward with excitement and anticipation. Fifty-three minutes later & we're finally at the front....let's get this party started!

Mile 1: Ran down West End/Broadway which was kind of neat. Never seen this stuff from this angle before. Look at Angela and say "1 mile down!" and think, "Did I just listen to "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" through that entire mile? Glad I added that on Thursday night.
Mile 2: This was the mile where I decided that I was already too hot for my long sleeves (and remember that I had described my aqua tank top in combo with yellow ball cap to mom, so really need to look as expected or she and dad will never find me) and removed my race number, shirt then reattached the race number. Ran through the first part of that - how I managed to not get a pin prick, I have no idea.
Mile 3: Where are Mom and Dad? Angela also does the ole long sleeve switheroo. Around 3.5 we see Paul running back (at around mile 7, lucky long legged natural runner) and he says Ben is watching for me around mile 4. Yay! Something to look forward to. Where are Mom and Dad? Oh! I see them!!!! Stop, give hugs and then on my way again.
Mile 4: Where is Ben? Oh, no! Did I miss him? Nah, he's just a bit further on...but on the other side of Belmont Blvd. I wave and flash him a happy smile...there are so many people watching and cheering and this is fun!
Mile 5: Lose Angela...I turn around and I can't see her anymore....there are just so many people. Where are we? I've never been down these Nashville roads before. Decide that I do not care for Accelerade (particularly since I spilled some on my cute workout clothes while trying to run and drink). Water only from here on out.
Mile 6: How are all those walking people on the other side of the road ahead of me? I'm confused. Oh, ri-ight. I'm where Paul was before...I'm the one in the ahead group...yay, me! Man, that sucks for them....because I'm already halfway finished. Ooohhh....if I'm on this road again, then that means I'll see Ben again soon. Is Ben here? Nope, not here. Gosh, I should have paid more attention to exactly where he was standing. Hm. Hope he didn't head over to the finish line already. Nope, that's not the right corner either. There's a Union Jack, I'm surprised he's not hanging out with those people. Cute dog....he's cheering everyone on, too! Oh, maybe that's an angry bark...please don't bite me, buddy. Oh, I think I see Ben! Yes, I do! I'm waving...Ben, babe, look at me, I'm waving at you...and I'm getting closer and still waving at you and you're looking far off into the horizon....babe, look at me, I'm right here...the girl in the yellow cap...you know, yellow...the most eye catching color...that's why I picked it...so you could easily spot me. Hehe. No joke, Ben didn't see me until I was literally right in front of him on my tip-toes wanting a peck. He was so disappointed bec he had wanted to get a closeup photo of me running at him. Shoot. Oh, well, gotta keep running!
Mile 7: I don't really remember this mile much...I think we passed that neat statue. Ew...that was a Gu stop...and now my shoes are sticky. Yuck, yuck. Oh...I completely forgot..my mp3 player has been going this entire time and I haven't paid one bit of attention...too much other stuff to check out. What's this band playing? Oh, fun! They're playing Love Shack...I should add that to my mp3 player sometime. I wonder if Glencliff has a cheer squad here? If so, I'll yell "Go Colts!"
Mile 8: Hm. Only 5 more miles to go...not too bad...and I still feel pretty darn good. What was that? Say, "that's ok" to the girl apologizing to me for accidentally throwing her not quite empty water cup on my ponytail.
Mile 9: Um, are knees supposed to hurt this much?
Mile 10: Entering unknown territory since my longest run was only 9 miles. And wow...my knees really hurt now, but persevere on! Start seeing medical stations alongside the water stops....I hope I won't need one of those!
Mile 11: Ok, perhaps it's a good time for a bit of a walk. I mean, let's not get crazy and insist that we run this whole thing. Oh... break away from the marathoners - and there's a sign that says 1/2 marathon 2.1 miles to go! Wow...I've come so far and 2.1 miles is nothin'. That's like 20 minutes tops at this slow pace. Look at watch and realize that if I stay on track I will beat my goal. Spirits rise, though knees feel not well, and start to run again. Poor marathoners...that really sucks. I can't imagine having to go another 13.1 on top of the 2 I have left. Are they crazy???! What's this lovely place? Oh, I think it's the Bicentennial Mall...I've never been here before...knees hurt so bad, keep running...I wonder what that monument says? Why aren't there any people cheering us on in this place, dangit? Gosh, this is a long, straight stretch. Notice crazy older ladies shaking tambourines while they run. This looks like a fun group, I think I'll run with them!
Mile 12: Oh, my gosh....I only have a little over a mile left. Wow! Look at the Capitol! Isn't it beautiful? I wish I had my camera because this is excellent light. Ok, I'm almost there...I need to give it my all. I wonder where Ben is? I can't wait to see him. How does this thing end? Do we get to run into the stadium? That would be cool. This is like the coolest party I've ever been to...look at all of these people...runners and cheerers alike....everyone is so happy...this is terrific. Yay! I'm getting on the Woodland Street bridge! I'm so close! Paul! Hey, Paul! (Paul thus directs me to Ben on other side of road). Hey, babe! Flash another big smile. Thank goodness this is almost over. Well, sort of 'thank goodness'...this has been a really amazing experience.
Mile 13: Blessed mother of god, I am here. A tenth of a mile to go...that is mere seconds. Knees still feeling not well, so maybe I'll just keep this pace, whatever it may be, instead of my usual last minute sprint. Look at watch...still on track to beating goal. Turn corner and see the end! People start sprinting around me. I cross....I am so proud of myself. What? Why is everyone stopping? I have just learned that that's what happens at the finish line of a 1/2 marathon....run, run, run, run, run, stop. Someone hands me a medal. Slowly trudging along. Wow. I really did it. Ok, what next? I need some fuel....that banana at 4:30 this morning burned off long ago. But what to eat? Ohhhh...there are bottles of water...must have one of those...but don't drink too fast. Still very slowly trudging along among sweaty & tired people. Where do I get rid of this microchip? Oh, over there. Oh, those poor people at the medical station...I hope they're ok. Wow, I'm really hungry, but I'm afraid to eat anything for fear of getting sick. Grab banana. Just can't do it. Oh! There are little snackwell type cookies....I'll try those. Man, my knees hurt. Oh, I should try to make my way back to Ben. How do I get out of here? And more importantly, how do I get to where he was? "Stacey!"

I turn around to see my wonderful husband smiling at me. He told me he was so proud of me and even though I was a complete wreck, he gave me a big hug and kiss. I started jabbering about what all happened to me in the last 2 hours and 18 minutes....oh yeah...and 5 seconds. :-) He very kindly listened.

What a wonderful experience! I'm so glad the storming stopped by the time we started the race. I'm really very thankful that I have wonderful friends who convinced me to do this, and a loving husband who (while 12 hours off from the time he is used to) came out to support me, and proud parents who held a "Go Stacey" sign & cheered me on.

So, what else? After finding the rest of the group, Ben and I went to the hotel and I showered up. We went to Opryland Hotel for lunch and then decided to come on home for the evening. We were both just too beat for anything else.

So, that's a recap of my very random thoughts during my inaugural 1/2 marathon this morning. I hope you all enjoy my rambles as much as I enjoyed the experience!

I'll try to post some pics later. Right now, I'm sleepy. Perhaps I'll forget that alcoholic concoction after all and just get some shuteye.