Race Reports
Richmond Marathon
November 12, 2011
Hunter Rogers
The weekend started on Friday morning with a caravan of three families with three
marathon runners in tow headed to Richmond, VA. We got to the Expo around Noon
and picked up our race packets, bibs and goodies. The Expo was awesome and I wish
I had bought something while I was there, but it was all a little overwhelming. I was
overcome with emotions the entire day Friday and tears would just well up in my eyes
without any warning at any given time all day.
After the Expo, my family headed to my parents house and I tried to rest, stay hydrated
and eat little meals throughout the day (in between wiping away tears!) Before dinner
Griffin, Jackie and Jon Douglass had a poster making party. Some of the favorites were“Occupy the Finish Line-You are the 1%”, “26.2 miles is easier than putting up with me”“Talking Numbs the Pain” “Marathon Moms” and of course “GO TEAM DIABETES- YOU
ARE RUNNING FOR A CURE”. With my race gear laid out and my TEAM DIABETES
running shirt ready to wear with my bib number pinned to it, I again continued my teary
day as I attempted to get some sleep. I think I slept maybe 5 total hours Friday night.
Saturday at 4:50AM I was up like the sun, the tears were gone and I felt so ready for the
day. It was finally here after 14 months of training. Richard and Jon Douglass took me
to the starting line, but not before we took the wrong exit and were at the clear opposite
end of the course from the starting line. I was a little freaked out then and thought I
might get sick! (we later ran by this spot on the route and it brought some laughter at
about mile 16). Needless to say, we got there in plenty of time but when I got out of the
car and turned my GARMIN watch on it did something bizarre that I had never seen
happen before so again a little panic, but I did what I tell my preschoolers to do and took
a BIG pretzel breath and waited and rebooted the watch and it fixed itself. Now, off to
find my running buddies, Jennifer and Beth.
We were set to meet up at the 1st UPS truck at bag check and it was cold at 34
degrees! I found Jennifer and her husband, Jim and we watched the 1/2 marathon start
and we then found Beth. Beth let us know that she was going to run on her own due to
a knee injury she had been fighting. The race was getting ready to start and Jennifer
and I headed up closer to the front of our corral and stayed to the left side since we
were doing intervals (3:1 the whole way until the last mile).
The crowd support was incredible at the race! Before we knew it we were at mile 5 and
I saw our friends the Stallings, who I gave big hugs “on the run” and we then were
headed into the first Party Zone of cheering around mile 7 where my family was there
cheering us on (along with hundreds of other people!) Our pace was steady at
9:45-10:15 min/miles and 13:30-13:50 on the 1 min. walks. We then crossed the James
River and went down by the river for a beautiful part of the run. We realized we were
hovering around the 5 hour pace group for a while. Jenniferʼs family surprised us
around mile 9 to cheer us on and then again another Party Zone at mile 13. At this
point I switched out my water bottles with my husband and gave him my gloves and arm
warmers. I was really feeling hot at that point and the sun was shining bright. I was
thankful for my visor! It was awesome to see my family all along the route and a
complete boost of energy to see their enthusiasm holding the signs they had made and
cheering us on. Apparently their posters were a hit with all the spectators and runners
with tons of fun comments.
We came up on an older man who had a younger crew running with him and they all
were wearing t-shirts that said “8 marathons in 8 months at the age of 80!” so cool! We
also passed a man who was running the marathon carrying I gigantic American flag.
Next was the Lee Bridge, which many people told us was a bear, but it was not bad at
all and we enjoyed the view of the James River and the Richmond Skyline as we
crossed it. The next water stop had gummi bears and pretzels, but I did not take them.
My main source of nutrition the entire race was Honey Stinger Gummies (4 pieces every
couple of miles), NUUN electrolyte water and water at every water stop. I did eat a
mini-cliff bar right before the race started at 8AM.
Around mile 18 Jennifer and I made the decision to keep doing our 3 and 1 intervals
(instead of running only) to the finish line. I still felt awesome and we were keeping a
great steady time, averaging 11 minutes/mile with the run and walk combined.
The last party zone was around mile 19 and I wasnʼt sure if my family was going to be
there since it was a lot of driving to get from place to place to see us. But, lo and
behold there they were, my ever faithful family cheering us on. I cannot tell you how
awesome it was to have them there! Shortly after that my brother, who lives right near
there, was on the sidelines cheering us on and I gave him a “running hug” and a not so
formal running introduction to Jennifer and kept going. He then surprised us about 2
miles later and got a picture with his phone of us. I said to Jennifer “that will be on
Facebook in a few minutes” sure enough it was:)
Mile 22-24, the neighborhood streets were lined with hilarious groups cheering us on,
giving out shots of liquor, beer, you name it it was there! (even a car parked in the
median advertising For Sale!) The paper this morning said one of the groups goes
through 15 cases of beer just from passing out beer shots to runners during the race!
Again, Jennifer and I did not partake. At mile 22 I started getting a cramp, but I raised
my hands above my head on the walks and skipped water at the water stop and by mile
24 it was gone. Somewhere along this stretch of the course we passed a runner
whose back of his t-shirt quoted the Bible verse Philippians 4:13 saying, “I can do all
things through Christ who strengthens me.” We thanked him for wearing it as it seemed
that God had put that man there at that moment to get us through the rest of the race.
Mile 24, hello WIND! There was a wonderful gospel group bellowing it out even with the
wind blowing a gale. At the next water stop I grabbed a cup of what I thought was water
but it was blue powerade and YUCK I spit it out!
Through out the entire race there were fantastic Sports Backers (race sponsors)
coaches that were all over the course giving runners tips, advice, etc. and keeping
everyone going! All of this plus the amazing crowd support was truly awesome.
The home stretch was all down hill and an amazing way to finish a race with the streets
lined with hundreds of people cheering us on and our families smiling faces were
waiting for us with big congratulation hugs abound. My children handed me two dozen
red roses when I finished and we took a ton of pictures to remember the moment!
On Friday, November 11, I was saying “I donʼt know how Iʼm going to keep it together
and not cry the whole way!” but on Saturday, I could not get the smile off my face the
entire day from the time I woke up until the time I went to bed.
I started this journey 14 months ago on my 39th birthday. I was sitting in the den
completely distraught by the way diabetes was taking over my home. With Richard
having lived with diabetes for 20 years and watching my oldest son, Griffin struggle with
learning how to manage this disease that he was diagnosed with on January 29, 2010, I
was overcome with a feeling of helplessness as a mother and wife to do something for
these two amazing men in my life. September 11, 2010, I decided I was going to raise
money to help fight Diabetes. At the same time, I thought about how I had always
wondered what it would be like to run a marathon, but never thought I could be a part of
that “1%” of the population who does such a crazy thing as run 26.2 miles! I called my
dear and faithful friend Jennifer, who was going through an amazing weight-loss journey
of her own and had just started running. I told her what I was going to do and asked her
to run this marathon with me and thank goodness she agreed!
After a little research, I found out about TEAM DIABETES and knew this was how I was
going to raise the money to help find a cure! I set my fundraising goal at $5,000 and to
date I am 77% of the way to my goal. THANK YOU!!!! Running this marathon was one
of the most rewarding things I have ever done in my life. I loved every minute of it. I
have decided to continue to run and to raise money for TEAM DIABETES through the
American Diabetes Association. My website will stay active and 100% tax-deductible
donations can be made at any time in support of TEAM DIABETES and my running.
I have been truly touched by the abounding words of encouragement, donations and
stories people have shared with me about how diabetes affects their lives. This along
with my amazing family have kept me going and will continue to keep me running and
raising money for TEAM DIABETES.
TEAM DIABETES-Running for a Cure
http://main.diabetes.org/goto/runningforacure
Link to Photo Album:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150364864331645.349174.598761644&type=1&l=94f2dca314
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