So, my delicious, nutritious wahoo, there was this cartoon on television when I was a kid called “Inspector Gadget”. This bumbling inspector detective and his niece, Penny, would try to solve mysteries, but Inspector Gadget was kind of a dunderhead who couldn’t seem to do anything right. His greatest offering was the myriad ways he could force his body to do cool, wacky tricks, like boinging off of his pogo-like legs or growing helicopter propellers out of his head and flying away. Whenever he wanted to utilize one of these nifty tools, he would cry out something like, “Go, Go, Gadget-Legs!” Well, tonight before I hit the sheets, I am going to be repeating these same words to my two stiff appendages, in hopes that they might help spring me upright in the morning.
I did it, kiddo. I ran 13.1 miles today. Yep, I went to that ridiculous race, waited around in the drizzling rain with all the other 30,000 runners and slogged along, mile by mile. I ran the first six miles without stopping, and then walked a minute or two after every 10 minutes or so. I was so thrilled to start running again after one of my walking breaks because I was never sure if I was actually going to continue moving forward. I really thought I would run the first couple of miles and then send Shauna on her merry way, but once I was out there I didn’t want to stop. I just looked at all the people–every age group, every body type, every level of fitness–and thought, “I can do this.” I was just so crazily happy to be surrounded by such energy, united by motivation.
I never thought I would end today with my first half marathon under my belt. I am still riding high, just feeling on top of the world. That will all change tomorrow when I can’t get out of bed and need desperately to go to the bathroom, but for now I’m loving life.
I took the Flip and captured a great deal of my experience on video. I am working on compiling all the shorts into one 15 minute movie so that you will be able to see some of what happened today. I can’t believe how fortunate I am to be able to record something as mobile as a half-marathon. Good gracious. Also, you should know that there is a little part in the movie where I am looking to see you and your dad in a pre-determined place, but you guys weren’t there. Yeah, it was a little of a buzzkill, but there has been so much going on and I knew we had showings for the house this morning, not to mention trying to deal with the traffic surrounding such an event, so I understood why you weren’t there. As it happened, you were both quite close to the finish line. You guys didn’t see me running and I didn’t see you until I was preparing to walk home (so, so, so good that we found one another because the idea of walking home was enough to spring forth tears of real agony), but we all made our way to one another and it was great. I love you both so much for coming out to take part in my triumph.
By the way, my time was 2 hours, 27 minutes. Shauna made it in 2 hours, 15 minutes. We are total rock stars.
So, here’s the video.
Fair warning: You might want to down some motion-sickness tablets before watching this little movie as it can be kind of a rough ride. And, there is about 30 seconds where I forget to turn the Flip off, so it’s just jostling around in its nifty carrying case. All in all though I’m very pleased with the outcome. It’s about 15 minutes of greatness for me.
Applause! Applause! Hooray! Congrats! Bravo! Stupendous!
Well done! Terrific! Totally awesome! Fantastic! Wow! Perfect!
The best!
Wow, I had no idea you actually did it! Last I heard your knee hurt, so I though it was off. Way to go, girl! I can’t even imagine how good that must feel.
We use the Go, Go Gadget talk around here a lot too, but lately it’s been Go, Go Gadget Nipples as Claire yanks her head to and fro to see what’s going on in the room around her. Good times.
Okay, so I just finished the video and you made me cry! I’m SO PROUD OF YOU!!! :) :) :)
I’m sitting on the couch in my pajamas at 10:00am reading a book from Oprah’s book club. You have made me feel like a total loser. Thanks for that.
Very impressive work, Trish. Very impressive.
I am super proud of you!! To think that you ran a half marathon with almost no training at all! It goes to show that the mind is a powerfull thing! Dont ever ask me to run a marathon as long as i live, Ill be on the sidelines smokin my camel lights, talking through my vocoder, chearing you on! Love love love you!!
What can I say but we are the best! You, me, and Lance Armstrong: we made him proud. Kate, one thing your Mom failed to mention is that she took a month-break before the big run, and still managed to kick some serious butt on that course. I wish you could have seen her weaving in and out of a sea of people. Serious, hard-core adrenaline!
You should also know your Mom is the reason I signed up for this marathon. She promised me $5 (which I’m still waiting for). You’ll find her to be very persuasive and relentless in this way ;)
Thanks for capturing the fabulous memories running-buddy. We did it and we’re still standing! It’s been a fun ride from the first little 2 mile walk/run that kicked our butts.
Okay, thanks. I am at work with my apple and orange juice, opening mail and watching your race video. Lo and behold, I now have black mascara pooling under my eyes. I guess I will go for the macabre look for the remainder of my time here at work.
Really inspirational video, and I am extraordinarily proud of your accomplishment. For the record, as a sports professional I do not endorse running 13 miles without a proper training program closely accompanied by a physician’s evaluation. Sorry to be a party killer, but I am going to be older than you for our entire lives and would like to think that you’ll be fit as a fiddle well into our late ’80s. Please be kind to your physical self.
And GO TRISH, GO! I am so thrilled for you! As you know, I am talking a big game about doing a triathlon in September. Perhaps I should be training more diligently now so that I can stand behind my words from the paragraph above. I certainly hope to not go out and do a triathlon without having trained for the event. Perhaps I will borrow your inspiration and give it a shot. Just kidding.
Wish I could have been there! Had I known you were doing it, I would have been there without a doubt.
You are my favorite woman between the ages of 1.3 years old and 62 years old.
Hi Trish,
Well.. congrats to you and Shauna(I call her Miss Shauna). You are so comfy talking on your “flip”. I wish I could be that way, but I’m not. I think Kate is very lucky to have a Mom like you; she will realize it one day.
I also remember Inspector Gadget, but when I saw him I was all grown up.
This was a great experience for me..seeing my wonderful daughter run and to meet you. I too like spontaneity, like my decision to come down at the last moment.
I have saved your video in my “favourites” list. It was a great creation, a wonderful journey.
Rick
PS Hope you sell your house soooon!