Post Run

Note Post Run:

THANK YOU to all of you who spent part of your day with me physically and those who lifted me up with your spirit and prayer.  I felt an overwhelming sense of strength and courage throughout the day....this ability did not come from within me....it came from you and from those praying for my strength.  I have never felt more assured of that, ever, in my lifetime.  Thank you for your support and confidence in me!

"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31

I'm not sure how many multiple times I said this verse today in my head over the course of 40 miles. But it helped as I finished in just under seven hours this morning.

Here was my day in a timeline.....

Jack helping Grandmom ice my birthday cake the night before the run

I started my run 30 minutes earlier at 4 am instead of 4:30 because of the heat that was predicted that day. I was thankful for all my training in the heat this summer and it helped to calm me as I prepared the day before. Three friends stepped up and met me outside 30 minutes earlier that they were scheduled to start with me. Ron, Beth and Shiana on her bike all started with me. My mom and John were up, too ready to cheer me on. I did three quick miles before circling back to my house. Mile one~mom, mile two~dad and mile three~Jack. Check

I made it back to my house at 4:30 to pick up Lesley and Holly and we did 10 miles. Ron and Beth continued with me and Shaina was on her bike. Mile four~Anna, mile five~Elizabeth, mile six~Kate, mile seven~Druelle family, mile eight~Szczepanski family, mile nine~Wakefield family, mile ten~Scudder family, mile eleven~Cindy and Jake, mile twelve~Frazier family, mile thirteen~Mimi and Papa. Check

I finished my first 13 miles and headed back to the house to pick up more friends. When I made it back, I realized my sister, Sarah had printed up t-shirts for all my family members there. They were very cute. Jon, Lori and Andrea ran the next 7-10 miles with me and Shaina was still on her bike! Mile fourteen~ Mike and Carol, mile fifteen~Mary and John, mile sixteen~ the Durham family, mile seventeen~ Grandparents and cousins, mile eighteen~ Lesley Darnall, mile nineteen~ Amy Jones, mile twenty~ Shaina and Ron, Mile twenty-one~Lori, Jon, Beth, Maria, Lisa, Heidi and Rush Running, mile twenty-two~Madeline and Josh, mile twenty-three~NWA tribe. Check

Around mile 23, I was back at the house picking up Alicia and Paulette and Eve and Scott. We ran 5 miles together and stopped at the Bentonville square to take a picture. During this part of the run, I hit a marathon (around 4:10:00). Shaina was still behind me on the bike and Jon and Lori went home after their 10 mile run and caught up with me on their bikes. Robert joined on his bike, too, for the next 10 miles or so. Mile twenty-four~Sarah Rumschlag, mile twenty-five~Catherine and Michelle, mile twenty-six~ US military, mile twenty-seven~moms of multiples, mile twenty-eight~ August 5, 2000. Check

Back at the house at mile 28, I walked 3/4 of a mile with a large group of family/friends. Vicki, Mary, Mom, Dad, Anna, Kate, Elizabeth, John, Jack, Rocky, Sarah, Maggie, Marie, Lauren, Kim, Edie, Beth, Francesca, Glyn, Araceli, Melissa, Emma, and Joey. Mile twenty-nine~ Lindsay Rushing. Check

I ran the next two miles with John, Jack, Joey, Melissa and Angela. Alicia, Jon and Lori were still following me on their bikes. Mile thirty~Glenbrook neighbors, mile thirty-one~Twistars teammates. Check.

The next two miles I ran with Jack, Joey, Andrew, and Betsy. Alicia, Jon and Lori were on their bikes. Mile thirty-two~ BSU teammates, mile thirty-three~Express family. Check

I began the last leg of my run with Amy, Barb, Beth, and Sarah and Alicia, Jon and Lori on the bikes. This was the hardest part of the day. The sun was up, it was hot, I was tired. Sarah played some music on her phone that helped me. Lori gave me wet towels. Beth, Amy and Barb gave me words of encouragement. All around support. John and the kids joined me for the last 1/2 mile and brought me home. Mile thirty-four~SVdP family, mile thirty-five~ Marie, mile thirty-six~Rose, Janet and Karen, mile thirty-seven~ Mary Ann, Mile thirty-eight~my peds nurses and pediatricians, mile thirty-nine~Courtney and Liz and mile forty~ John. Check.

Around mile 35

The Finish

My friends brought me beautiful flowers, cakes, fruit and showed me so much support. I used Ron's normatec to recover my legs. My toenails stayed intact! We ate cake. I am blessed and loved.

Every mile was shared with great friends and family starting with my first mile at 4 am. I even had bike escorts the entire route! I could not have finished like it did without everyone alongside me. I had a terrific day and I am thankful for all my friend and family over the last 40 years.