Each Day Is a Gift

Got up at 3:50 and left at 4:25 to drive Lowell, Bret, Wendy, Carolyn, Karen and Brian to the start of the Utah Valley Marathon.  Wore shoes instead of the boot so I could drive.  After dropping the marathoners off at the start I turned the car around and dropped Lowell off at the start of the Half.  Got him there at 5:45.  About a mile down the road, he called and asked me to turn around because he has left his Garmin on the dash of the car.  I ended up with a record of making 7 U-turns today!

Stopped at Vivian's Park (mile 15) to use the bathroom and watched the first wheelchairs and "foot-pedal-cycle" athletes "ran" by.  After scouting out couple of turn-off spots and making U-turns, finally decided to park the car at the gas station by the mouth of the canyon (~ mile 20).  Switched shoe to boot.  Walked to the spot where the Halloween Half hearse was parked carrying my camera, a little folding stool (that I never sat on), my yellow cow bell (the division winner award from Mesquite Marathon that matches my yellow Boston shirt).  I was freezing!  Misty and her three children joined me until Walter ran by.  She waited for Steve Andersen and when she couldn't wait any longer, she gave me Steve's drink and asked me to hand it to him when he runs by.  I failed to spot Steve, sorry!

I stood there, took pictures, cheered and rang that bell obnoxiously for nearly 5 hours.  I LOVE it when I got a smile, a high-five or fist-bump from the runners.  I could tell the headwind has taken its toll on these brave souls.

It was so AWESOME to see Runningafterbabies (Melody) cruised by.  So fun to see RAD running in her shinny angelic wings and cape!  So glad ByeWing spotted me and said hello.  Lowell running with some young ladies as usual.  Mark (Fly on the Wall) flying down the canyon with his Hawaiian shirt and matching blue shoes.  When I spotted Rhett I knew that something wasn't right and he confirmed that it was a bad day.  Got to hug Kelli... seriously don't know how in the world she ran so bravely with so much tummy pain and severely dehydrated. 

After Wendy and Carolyn stopped at my "perch" to put up her foot and take picture, I walked back to my car to drive to the finish.  I called Lowell around mile 22.  He informed me that he was walking back on the course to meet D'ette and was around mile 24.  I didn't see him by mile 25 and called him again.  He had me make a U-turn to drive back to get him.  Picked him up around mile 22.  He had me drive all the way back up the canyon insisting that D'ette must be in distress and need help.  I had called D'ette's husband earlier with no answers.  I also called Doone and heard that Rhett was in the med tent.  I felt heartsick hearing that. 

I was getting anxious and quite nervous about driving inside the "median" that Lowell insisted so we could spot D'ette better.  Did I mention that he asked me to make left hand turns twice on red lights when there were no other cars in the intersection during the wee hours while enroute to the start?  Of course I refused to break the law.  It is a miracle that I did not get in an accident or gotten a traffic citation with all those crazy U-turns and driving in and out of the "turning lane/median".   Finally D'ette's husband called and we made yet another U-turn around Nunn's Park to get back to the finish.

I was kind of bummed that I drove the last 8 or 9 miles (stucked in Canyon traffic) and totally missed being at the finish to see my friends run in.  Met up with Bret who has finished and took a nap waiting for me and Lowell at the diner that Lowell ate breakfast after he finished his Half.  Then I walked with Lowell to the finish to look for the booth that was supposed to have his "Utah Half Slam" medal.  Well, it was almost noon; so the booth must've packed up and left.  We walked back to the diner for a quick lunch then drove Bret and Lowell home.  We could see some 6:30ish participants walking to the finish.  I gave them one last well deserved encouragement/cheer. 

There you have it, I cheered on the leaders and the stragglers.  Can't say I know what they were thinking.  To me, each and everyone of them is a winner.  A few days ago I was feeling very sad that I couldn't run this marathon.   I love UVM as it is so close to home with so many of my friends and neighbors participating.  I remember the first year I ran it, MichelleL was there in the canyon cheering standing with her crutches.  She is an inspiration to me.  I also appreciate so much the cheer from allie at Ogden the last two years.  This injury is teaching me so much more than running.  THANK YOU for your support, your goodness, your courage, your strength, your awesomeness and for sharing yourself! :)

Beautiful angelic RAD!

You GO girl, Bye Wing!!!

Here are the pix of the leaders of the marathon in the order they ran by.  I missed taking a pic of the first guy as I was so excited clapping and shouting!  SO AWESOME!!! :)

 Don't know why Sasha looked away when I was screaming my heads off "SASHA!!!"

 Walter so ready for his special drink.

The vivacious speedy Rachelle

Fly on the Wall ~ can't miss that cool Hawaiian shirt and blue shoes!

Hi Scott!!!

Got a hug and chat with Chad!

Beautiful Kim!

So proud of Carolyn in her first ever marathon with Wendy alongside.  LOVE my running buddies and bestest friends! 

D'ette, Bret and Lowell enjoying post race lunch at Nellie's Diner.