I did it! I completed the St. Jude Memphis half marathon AND I could still walk the next day- woo hoo.
My mom, and nephews, Tre and Bronson, all ran the 5K that was occurring on the same morning of the marathon/half marathon, so we all packed up and got them started on their race.

Then, Brent walked with me to the start for my half marathon - it was there that it started to sink in what I was about to do. I've decided that's just emotionally how I operate: I am ok with everything emotionally leading up to an event, then right before I usually get bombarded with emotions
(ie: wedding day - fine until the doors opened and I cried the entire time down the aisle; moving to Nashville - fine until the day I left TVFCU and cried when I said goodbye to everyone; race day - fine until I was waiting around for the start (i didn't cry, it just sank in what I was about to do - and then I was like holy cow!).
So as we're standing around waiting for the start, we just happen to run into our friends the Meriwethers who were also running in the race. It was great to have some people to chat with for the 30 minutes leading up to the race.
So I got in line to start (it's a wave start, meaning they release a group of people every 2 minutes - there were 8,000 people in the half marathon and 5,000 people in the full marathon = a ton of people!)
Brent was so great - he was walking along the side taking pictures and cheering me on. I guess it definitely helps to know what a runner needs once you've done it yourself - he completed the Music City Half Marathon when I was pregnant with Gabbie back in 2009.
Anyway, I felt so great for the first 5 or 6 miles - I felt like I was going to definitely blow my goal of finishing under 3 hours out of the water. That is, until "it" hit me and unfortunately I had to make a pit stop in one of the hundreds of portable toilets along the course. UGH. YUCK.
I emerged from the nastiness a little lighter and ready to hit the ground running - literally.
I was still feeling great - we ran through the hospital property which was lined with all the nurses, doctors, a few patients and TONS of other supporters. It was quite emotional, but I did everything I could to fight back tears knowing I could potentially hyperventilate if I got too upset. I was determined to run as much as possible, including the 1 mile path through the hospital property.
From there, my body started telling me it was feeling the pounding pavement.
By mile 9 I started having a few physical pains - my thighs were starting to cramp. Feeling as though they were about to charley horse - I had to pull over twice to stretch to prevent from cramping. Then, my Achilles tendon started SCREAMING to stop. It was pretty painful even thought I tried pushing through the pain. I came to a tough realization if I didn't stop running, I might not be able to finish. So I walked mile 10, which of course really hurt my time.
By the time I reached mile 11, I was so excited that I was just 2 miles from the finish - WOW.
I didn't have a watch, but at every mile there was a clock with the race time. Because of the wave finish, we started 23 minutes into the race start time, so not only was I running, drinking water, pacing myself, I was doing math at every mile to figure out my current time so I could make sure I finished under 3 miles.
Around mile 11.5, I passed a couple talking about the time and that we had 9 minutes to make it to the finish line before the 3 hour mark. Suddenly, I decided to push through the pain, and get to my finish line in my goal.
The race finished inside AutoZone park in Memphis, which was so cool. I crossed the finish line and ran right past all of my family and best friend.


It was such a neat experience and so very surreal. I had just finished 13.1 miles and while I know there are SOOO many bigger races that require MUCH more physical endurance (ie: JimmyMoncrief and Ironman Louisville), this was a huge accomplishment for me. A top 10 bucket list for my life and I had just completed it. Even through the crazy pain in my legs, I knew that this would not be my last race. I believe it's safe to say I have "the bug" to run again.


I took a quick pic with Elvis (gotta love Memphis), then hiked up the stairs to grab some food and drinks. While I thought eating would not sound good post-race, I was completely wrong. I immediately scarfed down a slice of pizza, some yummy soup and the best cup of beer I've had in my life followed up by chocolate milk. All of that sounds disgusting (especially the beer), but man it was amazing. I finally got to meet up with my fans: Brent, Mom, Dad, Jennifer, Tre, Brittany, Bronson, Brian, David, Uncle John, Casey, Brad, Brittany & Ada. They were such good sports to wait on me and watch for me for the entire race time. It was incredible to have such great support. I have to say, if you ever have someone competing in something like this you really should go support them. Even if you only see them once or twice along the course, having support there to cheer you on, is absolutely incredible and exactly what you need to get through such a physical competition.

I really appreciate everyone who came - I really appreciate my husband forcing me to take an ice bath. And yes, it was as terrible as it sounds. T E R R I B L E. I sat in a bath tub with ice for about 6 minutes. Jimmy tells me next time it has to be 15 minutes - YIKES.
However, I got through it by knowing immediately following I would be able to take a hot shower AND the next day, I knew I'd be able to walk. And you know - I was right! woo hoo

So looking back on the race, it really went well. I am really proud of my time of 2:52:40. I made it under 3 hours which was my goal. I ran a great pace and the few problems I did have are nothing in comparison with what could have potentially happened. I know what I need to do for training for my next race and I am pumped to get back out there and run again.
Running truly is just as much a physical event as it is mental. I knew that going into it and remembered it consistently throughout the course.
Thank you all for your support - kind words and donations to meet my goal to be a St Jude Hero. The race raised over $2.8 million for St Jude Children's Research Hospital! WOW. Incredible.
SUCH an inspirational race and one with a great cause. I was so proud of my family for not only being there, but running the 5k. I know it was super special for Tre - a 12 1/2 year survivor and St Jude patient. Amazing.

Thank you all again!

Bring it, 30.

Here's a link to some pictures and a video of me crossing the finish line.