Ogden Marathon '13

This year's race was incredibly WET!  Usually the race is cool in the morning, but then warms up quickly.  Not this year.  It was a whooping 39 degrees and a sheer downpour for most of the race.   The marathoners and half-marathoners rain most of the race in cats and dogs rain.  I felt so sorry for them...as I was sitting inside The Oaks watching the rain.

The volunteers this year were INCREDIBLE.  I stood out and watched the half-marathoners come down and had tears in my eyes as I watched the positivity coming from the volunteers.  They stood in that rain for HOURS without a break and were still upbeat.  (It's making me tear up just writing about this.)

This guy was my favorite.  Only one leg and the happiest guy there. 

The Oaks was awesome and gave us free hot chocolate.  I have to say it was guilt-laden but I still enjoyed it before my run.

Mitch ran the first leg (about 7 miles), then Rachel (and Mitch) ran the second leg (about 6 miles), Lindsey ran the 3rd leg (about 5.5 miles), then my leg (which Ryan still claims as HIS!) (about 4.5 miles), and then Mom and Dad ran the last 5k.

When I saw Lindsey come around the corner, I was filled with pride.  She has been extremely busy this year (like that is really anything new!) babysitting for her neighbor each and every day.  So her training time was minimal.  But she still did it!  I was so proud.

At the same time our family was running the race, Cami and I had also encouraged her sisters to participate in this year's race.  So Callee ran the half-marathon, and Cami and Cristen signed up for a 2-person relay (but Cami planned on running the WHOLE thing!).

When Lindsey met me at my leg, Cristen ran by saying that Cami had stopped to go to the bathroom, but that she was coming.  Thinking that I would have the chance to run with her, I waited for her to catch up for about 10 minutes.  (I had not run by myself during a race.)  When she still hadn't arrived, I told Lindsey to tell her to hurry down when she saw her.  Well, Lindsey never saw her.

I ran my fastest time ever!  13:01 - which I know is not FAST but it was GREAT for me!  I felt great my whole leg.  It wasn't raining torrents, just a light rain.  I was soaked but happy by the time I met Mom and Dad.

Cami's parents had come to watch their daughters run, and they were parked (they actually slept in the motor homes there) at the Timbermine Restaurant (thanks to Mitch's aunt).  Once I was done running, I anticipated that Cami was still coming behind me.  I stood there waiting for her thinking that I would run the last 5k with her as support.  (I was feeling THAT good!)  I waited and waited, and then went to talk to Cami's parents to see if I had missed her.  They hadn't seen her either.  So we watched for her together for a while.  Finally, Steve decided (I think) that something was wrong and walked up to find her. 

About 15 minutes later, he came walking down with Cami.  She was limping and wrapped in a solar blanket - both were not good signs.  Turns out she injured both of her IT bands (a connective tissue in the knee that can become inflamed through distance running).  She was hurting so badly that she told Cristen to run ahead without her because she had to go to the bathroom - she knew at that point that something was really wrong.  (By that time, both knees were hurting.)   She would walk hoping to relieve the pain so she could run, but she could only go 3-4 steps before stopping.  She tried to rub it with a stick, but nothing would work.  When she passed the aid's station near The Oaks, she was limping so badly that they made her stop.  They lured her with some Icy Hot...thinking it would help and she could continue on. 

Because it was so cold and all the runners were so wet, hypothermia symptoms was easily a concern.  And as soon as Cami stopped moving, she began shivering uncontrollably.  Then the aids didn't want her to leave at all.  She was determined though, and the aids succumbed to her desire by sending a person to walk with her (because she was determined to get to the Timbermine where she knew we were).  Steve found her walking with her companion.

When I saw her walking down the parkway, I knew something was wrong.  I ran to her crying.  She was crying.  Her sisters tried to get her to finished and accept her medal (Cristen picked it up when she finished), but Cami wanted to finish.  She said she had to.  So Steve volunteered to walk with her.

As they left, Mom, Dad, Lindsey, Rachel, and Mitch made it up to the Timbermine.  I was happy to see everyone and celebrate our run.  But it was bittersweet knowing that Cami had had the worst possible day. 

I LOVE Dad's face!  It was awesome!  And cold!

Then I went down to the finish line to pick up Cami and Steve.  She did it!  She did it when no one else would have been able to.  She did it despite her body's betrayal.  She did it!
 I've never been more proud.

Katie made these cute signs to help the runners continue on.  They were definitely a highlight of the day!

By the way, by the end of both Callee and Cristen's runs they each had IT band injuries.  We believe that there were multiple injuries that day because of the rain and the cold.
 

This picture also had to be included.  This is Rachel hunkering down in a porta-potty, waiting for Mitch.  :)  She claims it was "fresh" and it kept her dry, so I guess it was a great idea!