We Got Ice: Run River City Marathon

Yesterday Peoria was host to the FIRST EVER road marathon the Run River City Marathon. Matty and I had been training for this race for about 12 weeks and intended to run the 25K race. In fact we continued to train for it even after I had received my cervical cancer diagnosis and hysterectomy date. Hey, I love to run, so why would I stop just because I can't race?

Race organizer, Adam White, had offered his motorized cart that reclines so I could still be apart of the race and attend, plus Matty was still considering running, however Friday I had a bad day slept a lot and was in pain so we decided it was best to not attend. Saturday I realized that the race routes 2 blocks from our place, Matt agreed to take me and to set up a table with ice chips for the runners. Race day humidity was expected at 80% with temps topping out above 85 and our location was around the 21 mile mark. Plus, it was at the top of a long gradual, climb and just before runners would hit a good decent (we run this route often, it IS in our neighborhood).

Come Sunday Matty totally went all out doing ALL of the leg work/clean up and totally making my day. He loaded up the car (we didn't want to chance me walking/standing that much) with a table, cooler full of ice, got cups, I made signs and even Pippin got to join the festivities.

The first marathoner to come through was Ansel who works at Running Central so I knew him and he stopped at our table and seemed to really enjoy our ice and then continued on and won. As the morning progressed I saw all the runners struggle up that hill, it doesn't look it but its TOUGH, so as soon as I saw them coming I started shouting "its downhill at the corner" and I couldn't even tell you how many times that brought smiles to faces and a renewed energy to their run.

I knew many of the runners and it was so awesome to see them coming up the hill that I couldn't help but stand up and scream! It was so awesome to hear them say thanks for being here, go home and rest, your crazy, I love you, I'm thinking of you, cancer free and my favorite Team RC gal Nida even stopped to give me a sweaty hug. Then afterwards I was told how it inspired them to push on knowing that I waited to see them and then there were two very special women who made sure that I was still running by doing this....

Let me tell you shouting when you've had a hysterectomy takes A LOT of effort and I definitely paid the price as I had to take TWO percocets when I got home. I was pretty  much sore and uncomfortable the rest of the day and night but I'd do it all again in a heartbeat!

PS: I'm feeling my new normal again today and my swelly belly has even gone down quite a bit too!