2nd "CHECK" off of the Bucket List!

6 days before the Chicago Marathon

...I wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be. Actually, I take that back, I was nervous until my co-worker Mark asked if I wanted to run with him as a running partner. He seemed to have a plan for pace, where to start in the line up, when to eat breakfast, what to do if it rained - these were things I hadn't even been thinking about which is probably where my anxiety was coming from earlier that week - "The UNKNOWN". Once I had him on my side and knew that I WASN'T going to be a lonely wolf among 45,000 others, my mind eased a bit. I knew that I could do this, if I had someone to bear 26.2 miles with...

Mark and I run pretty much the same pace, 14:00/mile. the 14:00 counts in walking breaks, stopping to stretch, walking through the water stations, etc. Mark assured me that if we kept that pace we would finish plenty of time before the 6 hour 30 minute mark. I felt completely confident that I would finish this thing with an "ain't no thang" attitude!

If you know me well, which most of you do if you are reading this, you know that I am a Nervous Nellie...you know that I get all uptight about being places on time, you know that I like to be prepared and you know that I tend to get all excited/upset about things that aren't really in my control...For some reason, I was calm for the remaining of the week leading up to the actual "Big Day". People kept asking me if I was ready? or if I was nervous? and much to my surprise, I WAS ready, and I WASN'T nervous. I look back on it and I assume it was because, I had trained for 18 weeks to my best ability, and I have prepared myself for this as much as I could, and there was nothing I could do about it now (I missed my 20 mile training run)- This was about trying my best, and crossing that finish line somewhere before the close of the marathon at 6 hours and 30 minutes. I was not concerned about hitting a crazy goal, or finishing before this person, or worrying about the massive amounts of people that would pass me along the way...All I knew is that, I have worked so hard for the last 18 weeks, and I was going to enjoy every step along that 26.2 mile journey to the end. I also had a great support system right there with me, back in Iowa, in Louisville, in Wisconsin, and in Omaha...that would love me whether I crossed the finish line or not.

Saturday, The day before the Chicago Marathon...

Chicago Marathon, Fitness Expo

We went to pick up my racing packet at the Fitness Expo. There were people every where-all ages and sizes! You could feel the energy in the large, expansive room where hundreds of vendors gave away free samples and lured every other person in for an demonstration of the latest and greatest products. Granted there were probably at least 5,000 other people at the expo while I was there, but strangely I felt a connection to most of them. I could feel their excitement for the next day radiating and bouncing off the walls. I could feel the nervousness turning in their stomaches, the anxiety ditching and diving in peoples heads, I could almost feel what the end of this journey would feel like. But I had yet to grasp the incredible task that hung before us and the act of running 26.2 miles-ALL AT ONCE!...that would have to wait for the next day. and still my nerve level was in a moderate status!

The Stick, I could use one..

The Night before the Marathon...

For dinner that night, we met up with our dear Wisconsin friends, Jeremy and Jessica and her Dad, David. David, a native of Chicago, took us to a wonderful restaurant/grocery store called Gio's which is nestled in a quaint neighborhood South of dowtown. Gio's is actually a grocery store that specializes in italian eatery. It also serves as a restaurant, with red and white checkered table cloths, BYOW (Bring Your Own Wine), and delicious smells radiating from the open kitchen, with an authentic Sopranos feel. Just like it's neighborhood, Gio's was small and quaint and proved to be more than excellent in all of our eyes. My thanks to David for taking us to such a superb place to make this weekend even more memorable and special with such an authentic Chicago experience. I could not have thought of any better way to spend the night before the race than with such special people.

Gio's

Later that night after an awesome Hawkeye victory over Michigan, I meticulously packed my running bag for the next morning, laid out my running clothes, attached my bib to my jersey, did an emotional check of my nerves...yep still doing good. My sister-in-law had brought half her medicine cabinet in case I would have trouble sleeping due to nerves...(bless her heart) Actually, I slept really really well for sleeping in a hotel with out an alcohol induced coma to get me through the night. I don't sleep well in strange places :)

The Big Day...Sunday, October 11th, 2009

The wake up call came sooner than later, 5:00 am - the race started at 7:30am and I needed to be in Charity Village, where Dance Marathon had their own hospitality tent, by 6:30 am. If you know me well, you all know that I am not a morning person! Infact, for me to see 5:00 AM on a clock is a mortal sin in my book, but this particular morning I was living, breathing and moving off of pure adrenaline. I was ready to get this thing going! Instead of nerves I was feeling excitement - Today is going to be a great day! Me and 45,000 other people will be doing something that is not attempted by many people in this world. Excitement and a little anxiety consuming me, I choked down a quick breakfast of a bagel, banana and water...and out the door we went.

So chipper for 6:15am...Don't expect it to happen again

It was a brisk 35 degree morning, the sun just starting to peek over Lake Michigan's Horizon as I said my tearful goodby's to Heather and Casey (you would've thought I was going off to war!). I crossed into Charity Village and resonating in my head were their voices saying, "You will do great!" and "You can do it's!" as I trudged through the mud pit (it had rained in Chicago for 3 days before the marathon, causing quite a mess) wishing I had plastic grocery bags to cover my shoes like the others...

I arrived at the Dance Marathon Tent, a sea of Black and Gold jerseys slapped me in the face as I entered - nothing but students that were much younger, much leaner and much more chipper at 6:45am. oh boy...what did I get myself into to? I quickly calmed myself and started to prepare my gear; phone- check, my magic beans- check, headband- check, ibuprofren- check, Ipod- check, my sanity....................HA! I lost that a long time ago, when i decided to train for this crazy thing!

Quickly we took the Dance Marathon group picture, I stalked my running buddy Mark to the start corral, and we filed into a massive crowd of other runners to the back-like a bunch of cattle. I can't really explain in words, the crazy excited feeling that was contagiously growing in my heart. It was pounding with aniticipation which was building with each beat. As we waited for the crowd to move forward - I saw smiles and high fives, people stretching. Not to mention the sweat pants and shirts flying like discarded toys from a 3 year old. A group eventually collects all of the discarded clothing along the route, washes them, and than gives them to homeless shelters -I thought this was very cool and I hope that someone is enjoying my way comfy $6 Hanes Her Way sweatpants!

As we stood there, Mark and I went over our game plan again, and Mark slipped in that if at any time I felt I could keep going and he couldn't, than by all means to keep going. I told him I didn't forsee that happening - we run at the same pace and I enjoy walk breaks! 20 minutes after the marathon officially started - Mark and I finally crossed the START line!

...And than I started my tour of the beautiful downtown area of Chicago. I'm pretty sure I now understand why it is called the Windy City - SO COLD! Mobs of people lined up along the sidewalks cheering the runners on. Homemade signs stating we were heros, cow bells, noise makers, blow horns, there was just an incredible energy that surrounded all of us...it was amazing to me that at 8am in the morning, so many people had risen on a COLD Sunday to cheer on 45,000 crazy people through the streets. It was such an astounding feeling as we ran through these crowded streets, large buildings towering us - I was running on pure adrenaline, it almost felt as if I was being carried along, enjoying the sites at the same time. such a crazy, really good feeling...

3 miles into the race...

Mark and I ran into Amy, his wife, and friends who all gave us high fives and told us we were doing great. Put on a little Runner's Glide and continued on our merry way - "Way to Go Hawkeyes" bounced from both sides of the street - Thanks to our awesome Dance Marathon Jersery's - bright gold with a large black tiger hawk in the middle, we were easily spotted through out the day not only by our family members, but also by Iowa fans. There are a lot of fans in Chicago!

10 miles into the race...

By this time we had passed a Bono wanna-be karaoke-esque band playing "It's a Beautiful Day", and than on to Boys Town, which was my most favorite part of the marathon, Drag Queens posing, waving, and cheering on runners. There was great music and definately the most entertaining - I almost wanted to stop and hang out...

A funny story as we ran through Boys Town- there were a group of men spectating
and cheering, and one of them said as we neared "Let's Go Hawkeyes!" and another
guy in the group asked: "Did you say "Let's Go Hot Guys"?" Shortly after that, a
woman who had been running in front of us for the last several miles - said
"yeah, where are these Hot Guy's, everyone is cheering on?" haha..we had to
explain that they were saying "Hawkeyes" not "Hot Guys" ...although I do have to
admit that a few HOT guys running in front of me towards the end of the
marathon, would have been a great motivation piece...

10 miles is also where I saw Casey and Heather for the first time along the route! Big hugs and congratulations were given and also a stop for a few photo ops and lets not forget Elvis performing in the middle of the street! I was still feeling really good at this point - my muscles were starting to get a little tight and stiff, but i was still breathing good and felt like my energy was at a good level. I ended up giving my Ipod to Heather because I had yet to even turn it on, due to the excitement going on around me. To hear everyone cheering us on is what i needed - it was like having personal cheerleaders constantly there by your side.

Mark and I lookin' good at Mile 10!

and then came mile 13...HALF WAY!!!!!

Mark's foot and upper leg started to give him trouble by this point. We stopped and stretched our muscles and at one of the water stations Mark grabbed a wrap for his leg. We had run into his wife and stopped for a short chat - once again awesome high fives, hugs and encouraging words. I can't tell you how much of a huge difference it makes to have a good support system that you see and talk to along the way. This journey could not have been completed with out them. Amy had said as we were leaving, that we were expected to finish the marathon at 6 hours and 12 minutes. This stuck in my head...I started to get nervous that if we took too many walk breaks we wouldn't make it. I was still feeling really good, my calf muscles were pretty tight, but otherwise I felt good. On our next walk break, I asked Mark if it was ok if I went ahead - he graciously said "No problem! I don't want to hold you back". So quietly and feeling a little guilty that I was leaving my running partner behind, I trudged on. I then ran 4 miles by myself...

MILE !@#$% 17...

Mile 17 is when I started to hate my life. My body was going down hill fast, I was getting tired and the crowds along the streets were getting more and more scarce. In fact, there were points where there was nothing but the open street, you, and a few other runners. Without my Ipod this left a lot of free time for my mind to wander, and all I could think about was my pain and how many more damn miles I had left - I believe this is when I hit my wall. I was so out of it that I didn't see my family and friends right in front of me! some how they dragged me out of my pain induced stupor and I realized our friends Jeremy, Jess and David had joined the Smith Cheering Section. As I caught my breath, I leaned into the husband and started to cry saying that "I don't think I can do this...". Encouraging words flooded me and tears were wiped away. I gulped down 4 Ibuprofren without water, which is a hard task for me because of my annoyingly sensative gag reflex, but I got them down. Not sure if they really helped, but at that time, I liked to think they did.

Mile 17 when I couldn't even recognize my own family..

Just before I was about to take off again, Jessica bopped around the spectator gate and said to me "I'm running the next 3 miles with you!". Ha, at this point nothing shocked me...I said ok, which is all I could muster. So Jess in her tennis shoes, jeans, and sweater joined me on the marathon route. Later I learned from the Husband that he was considering running with me, but knew that Jess was a much better option - because I couldn't wine and cry to her like I could with him! Good point Babe!

Jessica, My Savior, running with me!

Jessica was the best thing that could have happened to me at that point. She kept my mind far away from my pain which seemed to get worse by the mile. she was constantly talking to me, taking pictures, chatting with the other runners - keeping the mood light and fun which is exactly what I needed.

3 miles later...

Jess taking my pic at Mile 20!

We made it to 20 miles and Jess thought it was so much fun that she decided to keep running with me. What a crazy girl in her jeans, non-sports bra, and sweater to run 9 miles with gimpy Cheri. Along the marathon, I saw many signs stating that we were peoples hero's for running 26.2 miles. Jessica was my hero - she helped me through one of the toughest tasks that I will ever endure in this life of mine, and I owe her big time. The place my head was in at mile 17, was nothing but a faint memory - she pulled me out of a dark, dwindeling hole that I would have sank into if it wasn't for her, and not to mention my fabulous family and friends, that kept popping up at random spots along the route. To see them and their faces was another positive uplifting grace that helped me move along to the next mile - tears and smiles appearing not only on my face but theirs as well every time we met.

Mile 23...uhhhhh

Mile 25...

So, I thought mile #17 was bad...this, mile 25, by no comparison was THE WORST 1.2 MILE IN MY LIFE! My body felt as if it had gone through war and back, my mind was in shreds, and my will to live was slowly slipping away. There is nothing like knowing that you are oh so close to the end, but it feels oh so long and far away from the finish. I wanted so badly to just be done, to sit down, to eat (I was starving), to hug my husband and family, and mostly to just CRY! A marathon is not only a physically demanding journey, but a mental journey too. I am pretty sure I experienced every emotion there is to feel that day. This 25th mile is when I needed Jessica the most, she spouted encouragement with her every breath beside me, she even made me laugh at times, and danced to the Cupid Shuffle with me, the best is that she ensured that I would finish this and I knew she would make sure of it, she was not running 9 miles in jeans just for me to quit so close to the end.

Jess pushing me along the last mile!

Eventually, I made it towards the end of that terrible mile marker and sadly, Jessica had to leave me as I turned off of Michigan Avenue to finish the race on my own. I trudged up the hill (WHO THE HELL PUTS A HILL AT THE END OF A MARATHON?!) and I finally saw the beautiful FINISH line that I had been looking for, for the last 26 miles...and something came over me - it could have been the desperate need to sit down, or that I wanted to make sure I was still alive, I don't know, but I felt my pace start to pick up. I heard my sister-in-laws voice first - "you're doing it!" "you can do it!" emotion filling her voice and tears in her eyes, as soon as I heard that, and saw that, tears immediately filled mine too, my throat growing tight with emotion, trying to keep it all under control - because i knew they would be taking my picture at the end, and let's just face the facts - nobody looks pretty crying! :)

The Finish Line...

I can't even tell you how good it felt to cross the finish line, emotion flooding me as I watched my family on the other side of the fence cheering me on when I crossed at 6 HOURS & 7 MINUTES. I was Done, I was Done, I was Done - I made it...tears streaking my face, I walked through and grabbed a banana, crackers, bagels, water, and ice. I couldn't get to my family and friends fast enough...immediately my muscles and body started to stiffen up and it was hard to walk. Finally, the never ending fence ended, and I was reunited with my family and friends. I hugged the husband and cried, just so happy to be done and so happy to be in his arms again. I hugged all of my family and friends, a little dazed and just ready to go to bed! We eventually made it back to the hotel room, me walking like a mummy and in an enormous amount of pain! Thank god for Heather's, medicine cabinet in her purse - I was feeling pretty good later that night! Thanks to Heather and Casey for fetching me ice, pizza, and just plain moving my dead limbs for me when I couldn't. I couldn't ask for a better support team than you two! I love you!

so happy to be finished, now carry me home!

Recovery

Reflection...

If you remember my first post in this blog - I talked about how people had their doubts about me, and told me I was crazy and that I couldn't do it. Hell, I myself even had my doubts about this large and in charge goal I set for myself - but as you know, I am a tad stubburn, and don't like to be told I can't do something - so here's to completing my goal and surprising you all and most of all myself!

The most surprising feeling I have had as I look back on that chilly morning of October 11th, is that I remember all of the people cheering me on the most, their encouraging words, their high fives, and their signs - "YOU ARE MY HERO" stick in my head. I am having a hard time coming to terms with being called a hero. I feel as if, I was just some girl that took on a huge committment, and followed through with it and ended up accomplishing her goal. The people that are Hero's in my book, are the kids that fight cancer every day - they fight for their life and still keep a positive outlook. Hero's are the parents that stay strong for their children and go to lengths to keep them safe and healthy. Hero's are my family members that have either lost their battle to cancer or are currently fighting the battle. These people are heros to me, I am just a girl that is doing what they can't.

I have now raised $850 for Kids with Cancer and I could not have done it without you all - Thank you for your kind and genorous donations, I hope that you know how much good you have done and feel proud that you helped me and thousands of other kids here in Iowa to fight the fight!

So here we are, the end of the blog and I can't believe after 18 weeks of training and many faults along the way, I have finally reached this crazy goal I had set for myself, I hope you have enjoyed following me along, and yes, I plan to run again some day, but never a marathon! I am actually considering doing a 1/2 marathon in Chicago this Summer- maybe I'll start another blog!

So friends, I can officially say...#2 Check off of the BUCKET LIST!!

Running For The Kids,

Signing Off,

Cheri