I should also thank my sponsors...

Another BIG thank you to all those that have supported me for this race! I have raised close to $1,300! We also are so blessed to have an non-profit organization providing us with 15+ prosthetic hands! I'm still working on some other supplies but a big thank you so far to everyone that has supported Missy, myself and CPI. Also a shout-out to EatMoreTees.com for designing and creating an awesome race-day shirt for me! 

The Marathon Weekend!! (best weekend ever!)

I know, I know, I am REALLY behind on writing this. I do sincerely apologize, life has been busy yet again with a time of transitioning- yet again! Rewind to last weekend: After taking my last 2 finals for school EVER I packed my shoes, a running outfit, and one other outfit and headed to the airport. After 2 connections and 3 long flights, I zigged-zagged my way across America to land in San Diego. Throughout the travel time I kept thinking of the race, picturing the run, picturing my family and praying somehow my older brother would be there. For those of you that don't know, my older brother was in Iraq for the last 5 months. He was suppose to come home April and run parts of the race with me. Two weeks before the race, we received an email from him saying he wouldn't be able to make it home in time. I was bummed but knew he would be there in spirit. Okay, so fast-forward to last Saturday. As we were landing I turned on my phone to let my little brother and parents know that we were running 20 min late. They were heading to the airport to pick me up. As my phone was on I received an email from James (one of Stephen's best friends) saying "I hear the boy is back..." I immediately started crying. Now to fully complete the picture, I had a woman sitting next to me from Minnesota talking (with that painful (no offense) harsh Minnesota accent) endlessly about airline miles. I didn't want to be rude, but I really DID NOT want to talk. I landed grabbed my overnight bag and headed outside to the arrival section. Within a few minutes I saw my little brother's car pulled up and through the tinted windows I could make out 4 figures. I knew the email was correct! Out popped Steve and as I rushed to give him a hug, I got honked at, yelled at and told to get out of the middle of the road! At that point I didn't care-- I was so overjoyed and overwhelmed that my brother was home & safe!!!!! 

  With the whole family in San Diego, it literally was the best weekend ever! We went out to dinner, hung out, and of course there was that 26.2 miles I had to run. The race started early Saturday morning. I was up at 4 AM to eat, get dressed and catch a bus up to the start line (~ 5:15AM). It was pitch black but slowly hundreds of people started rolling in. Over 16,000 people ran/walked the Rock-n-Roll Marathon! It was one unbelievable sight. The 26.2 miles were of course physically demanding with points of muscle cramping, sharp pains through the foot and muscle tightness, but it was also mentally and emotionally demanding. Before the race started the Marine Corp band marched through playing "America" songs and a Brigadier General gave the opening remarks/blessings. I of course started crying and was looked at as completely crazy (who cries like that BEFORE the race starts?!?).  We then lined up and the gun sounded. I should also mention that this race had a TON of people running to raise awareness & support for cancer research. I say this because it also played a toll on me emotionally to be running behind hundreds upon thousands of "In memory of..." To all those people, thank you for your inspiration and for sharing your reason to run! 

    Back to the race, the first 13/14 miles, no problem. It actually felt good.  At times I would catch myself almost hyperventilating from getting emotional about my bro being there and reading some of the shirts, but I took a few deep breaths and got back into my routine.  I was able to catch my parents cheering me on at miles ~5 and 12. Overall, I was running a good pace but had to veer off course for a bathroom break (taking 1o minutes after waiting in line!!). Then around mile 15 I started to cramp. I stopped to stretch real quick then continued running. I was hitting a progressive wall if you would. I knew my younger brother was coming in at mile 18 so I just kept going, knowing he'll push me once he joined the race. Those 3 miles were some of the HARDEST!! I kept running dedicating a mile to various friends & family members. Before I knew it I felt a slap on the butt and a "Let's go!!" There was lil bro coming in early at mile 17.5. He is a BIG reason for me finishing the race. To back up real quick, at one point earlier in the race we had to run at least one mile if not more with the course being at a fairly steep angle forcing the left leg to run inches lower than the right. This placed excessive stress on the left IT band (muscle/tendon that runs on the outer part of your thigh) and excessive force on the right ankle. At the time it didn't feel too bad but at mile 20 or so my IT band was so inflamed it was snapping/rolling over my knee ever time I flexed it. This in combination with sharps pains coming up every time my right foot struck the ground was not a good combo. My brother was the best coach, telling me funny stories, calculating how much of the race I had done, stretching me out when I needed it and even reminding me to not compromise my gait/running pattern despite the pain and fatigue. The last 5 miles weren't all that bad. They were slow, but not too bad! The best part came when I sprinted towards the finish line!! It took about 45 min to find my family and get beer/bananas/water but it was so good to be done!!! The rest of the weekend consisted of hanging out with the family and enjoying a cloudy, cool San Diego weekend! I really could not have finished the race at a jogging pace had my brother not come in- so thank you Taylor! Also, the race inspired my mom and dad to think about doing the relay marathon next year! As for me, I loved it and will do it again next year!!! It was painful and emotionally, mentally, and physically draining but worth every single minute of it. Thank you to the City of San Diego for putting such an amazing event together. And even bigger thanks to my family for being there. To my older brother for making the sacrifice of leaving Iraq and getting little sleep to make it in time for my race- I can't tell you how much that meant to me! I love you! 

I'm not usually a crier

As the days pass and race day quickly approaches, I am really going through a roller coaster of a emotions. Mostly I'm anxious and nervous! Stressed, happy, excited, tired, energized and sensitive have also come, gone, and come again! For those that know me, I am not a crier... However, the last few days I've gotten tears in my eyes just thinking about the race. I will say I have an amazing support group of friends, family, classmates, and even my brother's friends! It's humbling to me that some of my brother's friends are going to come support me even though he probably is not going to make it! That finish line is so far but it will go by quicker than I think seeing familiar faces in the crowd. And of course I'll be picturing Steve there beside me throughout the whole thing! (My image of him while I've been training is him running beside me with his big black boots, black GI-Joe watch, Navy shorts, and cotton t-shirt... and occasionally with Coltrane (his dog) running along side us!)  So thanks again to everyone for your encouragement, massages, notes, and presence! Let's begin this thing!

Side note: While trying to lift a force platform solo today I tweaked my back again. I've been icing it all afternoon. I've also had 2 great friends work their magic with adjusting (popping), stretching and massaging my back! Hopefully this will go away by tomorrow! 

4 Days til the Marathon...

I got my pre-race packet in the mail today. With only 4 days left til the big day, I'm honestly getting really nervous! It doesn't help that school will be slightly stressful between now and then! It's hard to try and focus on the marathon with 2 tests, a project and research, but it will be here before I know it and done shortly after that! So keep praying for me as the marathon day quickly approaches!!! Thanks again for all your continued support! 

A Time to Remember and Give Thanks

Memorial Day Monday: Today is a day in which Americans honor those that have fought for our country especially those that have lost their lives providing us with the safety and freedom we have today. As I reflected today, I remembered that I owe an extra thanks to those serving that have lost their limbs in war, while they survived a part of them died on the battlefields. It wasn't until I went and visited Walter Reed that I become amazed, humbled and inspired by the military amputees. It was because of them that I became even more interested in physical therapy and wanted to specialize in working with amputees. While I would never wish an amputation upon any one, I am very grateful for those men and women that have fought, got injured, even lost a major part of their body; yet they've dusted off and gotten right back up. Thank you for truly being my main inspiration to go and get through physical therapy school.  These military servicemen have opened my eyes and are partially to credit for my passion to go help amputees in Thailand. So thank you from the bottom of my heart and keep up the courage, strength, and ability to amaze!

Marathon Update: Bring it! There's nothing else I can really do now to be ready for it other than eat & sleep right. I'm also starting to force myself to take anti-inflammatory pills now! I've read it helps. I just HATE pills with a passion! My race shirt is in the process of being made and I'm just counting down the days to San Diego! (4 1/2) 

With My Own Two Hands~ Jack Johnson ft Ben Harper

I can change the world
With my own two hands
Make it a better place
With my own two hands
Make it a kinder place
With my own two hands...
I can make peace on earth
With my own two hands
I can clean up the earth
With my own two hands
I can reach out to you
With my own two hands...
I'm going to make it a brighter place
With my own two hands
I'm going to make it a safer place
With my own two hands
I'm going to help the human race
With my own two hands...

2 weeks til the big day!

  This time, 2 weeks from now, I will have finished my first marathon! It's crazy to think about! It seems like so long ago I started training and yet at the same time I'm like crap, it's here already! With 2 weeks left to go, I am really excited. I borrowed a book from my friends Rachel and Pat which was very helpful. I only wish I had started reading it 14 weeks ago. It's called The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer. I highly suggest it to anyone even remotely considering a marathon. It has great tips, I'm going to try and implement into my runs starting now and of course on the big day. It's proven to work and it did for Rach & Pat. 

  Unfortunately, this weekend I received some disappointing news regarding my run. My older brother emailed us stating it doesn't look like he will be home from Iraq in time to run with me.  I had been planning on having him by my side for most of the run. On the days I had a long run, I would usually spend a lot of the run visualizing my brother pushing me to go further and there to hug me at the finish line. So when I got the news, I was crushed! I know I can still do it without him but 90% of the reason I'm doing it out in San Diego was to spend quality time with him after his deployment. Disappointing to say the least. There's still a slight chance he'll be home to run with me, and I pray that it does happen! In the mean time I have notified my little brother that he now has to do at least 6 miles with me, coming in at mile 20. Regardless of what happens, I just want my older brother home safe and to finish my marathon surrounded by the support of those that love me most (mom, dad, lil bro and hopefully older bro as well!)