Week Three: Memories and Milestones

Week three was full of memories and milestones......  If you have happened to check out the left hand column of our blog, you will find a bio for each member of our running team.  This week we ran in memory of our dear friend Wendy who would have been right by our side for this full marathon training program.  Wendy unexpectedly passed away last October after a tragic head injury.  She is missed every single day by her family and friends.  Her energy and humor is sure missed on our running team.  We had so many traditions before races - our group has run several half marathons together.  Her spirit will drive us to complete this full marathon this year - no matter what happens to the in-person race experience related to COVID.  We. Will. Do. This.  

Michelle reminded our team that March is Brain Injury Awareness Month.  Liz, Michelle, and I got together and organized a fun, friendly, casual walk/run.  We invited Wendy's friends, family, and local walkers/runners to join us for our weekend long run.   Liz was very close to Wendy and I am sure she thinks about her on most of her runs - especially when certain songs pop up along the way.  Inviting everyone to run in memory of Wendy on Saturday was a great way for all of us to run with her.  It is just surreal and sometimes still not even believable she is not here.

 

We had such a nice turn out for our morning walk/run.  We had a one mile, three mile, and five mile route.  Most of the walkers finished the three mile route.  Liz, Michelle and I completed our weekend five mile long run.  It is hard to believe that five miles will really be a short run in the very near future.  Our mileage jumps pretty quickly after this!  One of the great running memories we have of Wendy was the post run selfie.  She was the tallest of the group by a mile.  She was always able to get all of us in the photo!

 

Michelle is so sweet and always things of the best "swag" for race days.  She ordered these shirts in honor of brain injury awareness month.  The morning started off pretty chilly so these came in handy.  Once the sun came out, it turned out to be a pretty nice day for a run.

 

Sometimes we can get so hung up on the logistics of running.  The watch, perfect shoes, electronic apps, distance and accurate pace.  Today's run was a the perfect reminder that those things really don't matter.  Sure, we like to see our pace improve - we like to PR - we like to push ourselves.  But really, it does not matter.  We run because it challenges us, because it is sometimes hard, because it is sometimes easy, because it keeps us moving, and because we can.  As Liz noted in Wendy's bio - she often ran for those who can't - including her pride and joy daughter Emma.  The two photos above deeply remind me the love of friendship and our love for running.  Liz, Michelle and I were clipping along at a decent pace and we were to the point we would pass the group that was doing the three mile route (their pace was great too, just so happened we would pass here).  On many of our runs, we get so hung up on pace and time.  Not today.  Today was about just being present.  Liz spotted Ashley across the way who is a newer runner.  Ashley worked on a 5K walk/run program last fall and completed her first 5K.  It was SO much fun to watch her run and finish that first race!  Ashley and Liz were both very close to Wendy and as soon as Liz was reaching Ashley, she zipped across the road to embrace her.  On this day, the hug was way more important than any certain pace we were trying to keep.  Michelle and I paused and waited for Liz and honestly, I stood there and cried.  It was way more emotional than I thought it would be.  

Some people prefer to run alone - Wendy was actually one of those folks.  She loved to run in the country on long roads.  For me, I love having people around.  It was so much fun to see all of these walkers along the way.  I love every second of group runs.  Do you think we can convince these folks to train with us for the rest of the program??  All of them here also have fond memories of Wendy.  Their presence today was a strong reminder of how many lives are touched by others. 

Michelle and I plugging away.  She crushed the five miles!  There were many times I needed to stop and catch my breath but running with Liz and Michelle always pushes me and holds me accountable.
 

 

Five miles in the books - and the sun came out by the end of the run!

 

Michelle put together these gift bags for our walk/runners.

 

Earlier in the week, Liz and I accomplished two morning runs.  I am NOT a morning person and will share more about that in a future post.  I will take it as a win we managed two!

 

Earlier in the week, we also welcomed March.  February was a total of 52 miles for us.  Our miles will climb pretty quickly from here!

 

 I mentioned this post was also about Milestones......

Jenn was SO excited to share with us this week that she nailed a sub 30 minute 5K for the first time!  That is so exciting!!  Here she is doing her happy dance after this fantastic accomplishment.  The sun is out, the snow is melting, spring running is here - we hope to stay!  Congratulations Jenn - nicely done!!

 Next week we will check in with Lou and Sara!

Hit the pavement folks.....

Carrie and the crew