I did it! I ran in the One Lucky Buckeye Race, and I did not even come in last. I am so proud of me that I cannot even begin to come up with words to describe the feeling.
This is saying something because I am a grade-A chatterbox. I mean, I have a degree in English because of my intense infatuation with words. I have an understanding with my husband to just mercy kill me if I one day am unable to speak… I do not think he would live up to his end of that bargain though, not because he loves me too much, but because he might enjoy the silence.
I wish I could tell you the entire slew of emotions I felt as I crossed this finish line, my FIRST finish line. I have walked a couple 5ks in the past, and it is not like I ran this entire 2 mile race, but this was the culmination of a lot of work for me. There was so much energy surrounding me leading up to this moment. The women who entered this race all had a purpose. Everyone came out in their red to support the ross heart center at OSU for their own reasons. When the 8 mile entrants left, and then the 4 mile gals, I could feel so many sensations. It was cold, but that was not why I was shivering. I was nervous.
Would I finish last?Â
Would I finish at all?Â
Would these leggings, which had fit when I left the house but have now decided to attempt a migration below my non-ass, stay on for the duration of the run (that was a question that repeatedly nagged me throughout the course)?
Would I pee myself in nervousness?
![Hubby took this picture and the whole time I posed with this heart I couldn't help feeling like I was in a pageant, lol.](https://raggedrunningmommy.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/10635819_784762778100_629188766269547498_n.jpg?w=300&h=168)
Hubby took this picture and the whole time I posed with this heart I couldn’t help feeling like I was in a pageant, lol.
All of these thoughts raced through my head as I waited to cross the line and start this adventure of mine. Then we set off and it was crowded and then we started to dissipate and I began to run. I felt so alive. When I slowed to a walk there were still a lot of women at my pace, it really wasn’t until we got to the (what I am guessing) half-mile point that they started thinning out. I intermittently jogged and walked, doing what my body told me I could. At some point my legs got to a point where they would rather run, as it hurt a little less, and so that is what I did. I did not bring my phone (I got a new one btw, pretty excited) because, silly me, I did not think anyone would. Imagine my surprise when I show up and just about everyone has their headphones in and their phones strapped to their arms. Instead, I was left to my own thoughts.
On this day, there were no “demons.”
There was not one thought in my head telling me I could not do this. I had nothing but positive thoughts. I was surrounded by women, all of us there for a common goal, all of us supporting one another. There were women my age, women a little older, women with their pre-teen daughters, teenage girls, grandmothers, every woman. And something I did not think about until that morning was the reasoning behind their participation.
A lot of these women, most of them really, had been impacted by heart-health. Some were running for their selves, some were running for their mothers, some were running for a person lost too soon. I was running for me, and for the good I wanted to get out of my body. However, as I was running I could not help to think of my own grandmother, she died of complications due to congestive heart failure. My mother, who has high blood pressure, my dad who has the same, and the myriad of family members of mine that have bum hearts. I personally do not know what it is like to have a “risk-free” pregnancy because inevitably I end up hospitalized with high BP. I was on medication for my blood pressure years before having my first child.
Somewhere in the middle of the race my race became about everyone else. I was racing for me, but I was also racing for my family. I was racing for my grandma, and my parents, and my children who deserve a mommy they don’t have to worry is going to have a heart attack at 45. A mommy that models a lifestyle that will insure they are able to develop healthy habits to keep any heart problems at bay for them.
I was racing for all of it.
I had so many emotions and fought back tears throughout the race.
![For realz... what is the deal?!](https://raggedrunningmommy.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/5b0ccbc02539d9d86c05e970fe059105.jpg?w=300&h=300)
For realz… what is the deal?!
Since having kids I have become overly-weepy and frequently kick myself at the dumbass things I cry about. Wanting to cry over a two-mile race, not because it is hard, but just because…gag me with a chainsaw. You would never know I used to be the future lawyer with a heart of stone would you?
And so there I was, running/walking through this race, occasionally checking to make sure there were people behind me, and fighting back tears like the pseudo-loser I can sometimes be (not that crying makes you a loser, obviously, just that even I am disgusted with some of the things I cry about). When I came upon the final corner, there were little cheering people telling me the end was near and I was so excited.
I took off running, yanking my ridiculously ill-fitting leggings up and pulling my shirt down simultaneously and when I rounded the corner and saw the finish line I felt the biggest smile come across my face.
I was going to finish.
I was almost there.
“Stephanie Davis, congratulations!”
![Crossing the finish line at 1 lucky buckeye!!](https://raggedrunningmommy.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/img_40570930471039.jpeg?w=300&h=199)
Crossing the finish line at 1 lucky buckeye!!
You can kind of see my smile in that picture. I was so excited. I came in at around 27 minutes. Considering I usually do a little less than 2 miles and it takes me 30 minutes, that would be my best time ever for that distance. I was number 115 out of 236, so I did not finish dead last, I was smack in the middle!
They gave me a medal, but they had plaques for the 8 mile finishers and so I kind of feel like next year I am going to have to do the 8 miles… I am totally motivated by rewards.
![I was so proud of this medal. I have won a lot of medals in my life, but this one was super satisfying in a whole new way.](https://raggedrunningmommy.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/img_20140914_092109.jpg?w=225&h=300)
I was so proud of this medal. I have won a lot of medals in my life, but this one was super satisfying in a whole new way.
Don’t you love my red lipstick?! It was really the only red accessory I had for the day, and I felt pretty BA running with lipstick on. I did have to wipe it off my teeth for this photo though, so I am sure it was quite the source of enjoyment for people I talked to. 😉
LOOKING AHEAD: Hot Chocolate
![My motivation is totally chocolate... however, the sweet hoodie and other swag you give seems pretty legit too. Also, there is a big party at the end for the kids, so double perks.](https://raggedrunningmommy.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/860a3ffee7c648ceadfaa83eaf24dbfd.jpg?w=300&h=300)
My motivation is totally chocolate… however, the sweet hoodie and other swag you give seems pretty legit too. Also, there is a big party at the end for the kids, so double perks.
I will be running the hot chocolate 5k here in Columbus on November 16. I am deciding which 5k I will do in October. I had to take a break in training because of my knee (remember?) so I am not sure if October is even going to be feasible, at least not an early one. Maybe something for halloween?! I do love that particular holiday.
However, my mother was so proud of me for doing the One Lucky Buckeye race that she wanted to sponsor me in the Hot Chocolate one. So I am officially registered, and that is thanks to my mother. Giant shout out to my mama!!!
So follow along as I continue this journey!!