I know this is my classroom blog but since I titled it Running Through 4th Grade, you are lucky enough to get to read running recaps, too ;-)
I headed back to the Quad Cities after being there Friday night for an amazing Kellie Pickler concert. I left home about 10:30. Made a quick stop in Dubuque and then I was on my way south on 61. It's an easy drive and went really quickly. I focused on hydration all the way since I knew it was going to be a hot race.
I drank 2 full gallons of water between Friday evening and race morning.
There were so many decisions about what to pack. My biggest struggle was narrowing down what shoes to wear. I have these 5 pairs in "running rotation" right now and I really could have worn any one of them and felt good. In the end I picked the pair from the bottom that has the pink and gray.
Before I left for the race, I enjoyed the beautiful flowers that my cousins had sent and I registered for a November 10k.
I ate well on Saturday. Lots of fruit and a little bread pudding for carbs.
I got to the expo just in time to see the Happy Joe's race (for the kids). I cannot imagine how hot it was inside that suit!!!
Katie sang the national anthem and Joe said a few words and then the kids were off and running.
Will would have loved getting to see this sweet corvette that was parked right next to my car when I came out of the expo.
I stopped to see my brother for a little while before checking into the motel and chilling with reruns of Law and Order and a Hallmark movie.
After some sleep I was up at 4:45 to get the day started.
I chose Yellow and Orange for my flowers---Fiercely United and JOY. They really seemed most fitting for the day.
Yellow - Joy, happiness and confidence. To smile for a reason. To appreciate sunshine. To find your happy. Embraces laughter, believes in dreams.
I run because I get to.
I think that anyone who knew my dad would agree that my dad was a laughter. He definitely had a big smile and so it seemed like a great way to honor him by wearing yellow. He loved encouraging us to have dreams and work toward them so everything about yellow and joy spoke to me.
Orange - Bold. Honoring the journey of friendship. We are connected. Fiercely united. Marching on...one foot in front of the other. For health, for hope, for each other. To cherish, to protect - always.
Believe. Achieve. Bloom. Endure.
No explanation needed on orange. That one was a perfect fit, too.
My brother met me down at the John Deere Pavilion where the start line was. Although there have been years that went by without us seeing each other, we are family and he was there to see me off on Sunday's 13.1 mile journey.
I am also blessed with running friends that I so look forward to seeing any chance I get. My #FFCrew girls are AMAZING! You should have seen them out there on race morning. There is so much strength and determination in the fellow flowers community. It was great to see Rachel before the race and to chat for a few minutes with Sara while running over the bridge. The miles went pretty well between miles 2 and 9. Mile 1 was crazy slow because there were so many people but I knew it was smart to be conservative because it was going to get hot. Miles 2 - 9 were all under 10 minute miles and that kept me hopeful for breaking 2:10. Mile 10 is where you come onto Arsenal Island. It was awesome to see more water stops, candy stops, freezee stops, and ice stations there. Such great volunteers throughout the whole course but I really relied on the stops on Arsenal Island. My miles slowed down for the last 5k of the race but I still moved at an even, steady slog. I am okay with the result. Proud of the miles I ran and for taking the time to reflect on the lessons that my dad taught me.
Once I finished, I sat in the porta potty for a few minutes just to make sure I could make the drive home without stopping. I got on the road and headed home just long enough to change into clean, dry clothes, slather lotion and deodorant on to cover my stench, and then got back on the road to head to McFarland, WI, to catch a couple of Kate's soccer games.
Having to go to McFarland was the perfect excuse to make a stop at Rural Route 1 for some peanut butter cup popcorn!
It was fun to run into another flower at the soccer tournament. She is training for a November marathon and had 13 miles as a training run earlier that day.
When I had stopped at home I had switched flowers and put in the red (strength) flower. I needed to have something on to support my girl and I think red was a perfect choice....it's her team color and oh how she showed strength on Sunday. Sitting for more than 3 hours in a car after running 13.1 miles may not be very smart, but I am so glad I got to see her be strong. She sure does teach me about resilience and grit!
Coming home to enjoy these beautiful flowers was a great reminder that you are in people's hearts and thoughts even when they aren't able to be physically there with you.
Celebrate every accomplishment and be proud of each goal met!
Make sure that your goals are something BIG and then work toward them. Astonish yourself.
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