{"id":437,"date":"2013-07-27T23:53:48","date_gmt":"2013-07-27T23:53:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ramblingrunnergirl.com\/?p=437"},"modified":"2013-07-27T23:53:48","modified_gmt":"2013-07-27T23:53:48","slug":"racing-racine-a-recap-part-iv-runners-high-part-v-the-finish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.ramblingrunnergirl.com\/?p=437","title":{"rendered":"Racing Racine: A Recap, Part IV: Runner’s High & Part V: The Finish"},"content":{"rendered":"

Part IV: Runners High<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a little disheartening to\u00a0begin a half marathon at the end of a half Ironman and just a few steps in see a sign that says \u201cMILE 7\u201d, but know that it\u2019s not for you.\u00a0 The run was two loops of out and back along the same course.\u00a0 I was not looking forward to that.\u00a0 However, it turns out that made the experience not just tolerable, but absolutely amazing.\u00a0 It was like one big party to celebrate what we were out there doing.<\/p>\n

We headed down a hill along the beach, then back up.\u00a0 There were a lot of people walking the hill, but I was still trying to get my body adjusted to running.\u00a0 Besides, as we all know, I love hills, and my lack of wetsuit for the swim already declared me to be the non-conformist that I am, so I ran past everyone walking up the hill.\u00a0 I looked at the water and wondered if it was my imagination or if the waves had\u00a0settled down considerably since a few hours earlier.\u00a0 The first aid station was at the top of the hill.\u00a0 I walked through it, got a drink, poured some water over my head and was back at it.<\/p>\n

I had been slightly dreading the run.\u00a0 As a runner, can I even admit that?\u00a0 Well, I just did. \u00a0Running is supposed to be my main event, but I was worried that it would pass so slowly after the exhaustion of my prior activities.\u00a0 I was worried that it would hurt, a lot.\u00a0 But I started running and I felt surprisingly ok, even my hip.\u00a0 I scanned the faces of the runners coming in the other direction, looking for folks that I know.\u00a0 I saw Katherine and yelled her name.\u00a0 She was so focused she never even heard me.\u00a0 I figured she was on her last loop, so she only had about 3 miles to go. Wow, that girl is awesome!\u00a0 Then I saw Erin.\u00a0 We cheered and high-fived.\u00a0 Then Chad.\u00a0 Then I was at the turn around.\u00a0 I had knocked off 3 miles already.\u00a0 I stopped to pee.\u00a0 Grabbed one more water at the aid station and picked the pace back up.\u00a0 I say that, but I think my pace averaged about\u00a01 1\/2\u00a0to 2 minutes slower per mile than my usual race pace.<\/p>\n

I started thinking I should see Nick anytime now since I figured he would catch me.\u00a0 About 30 seconds later, I yelled, \u201cNICK-YYYYYY!\u201d\u00a0 I wondered how long it would take for him to catch up to me.\u00a0 I kept checking behind me.\u00a0 I saw Serena, Kristen, Tracy, Steve.\u00a0 When Steve saw me, we ran towards each other arms out and did a double high five.\u00a0 Right before he elbowed me in the face, almost knocked my visor off and gave me black eye.\u00a0 Dude, you\u2019re not supposed to do that!\u00a0 Now I wonder if he was trying to sabatoge my race.\u00a0 Hmmm\u2026<\/p>\n

As I ran, I thought, this is awesome.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t possibly be having more fun.\u00a0 I\u00a0was seeing my friends all over the place!\u00a0 At Mile 6, I was coming into the \u201cTour of the Zoo\u201d, which was really anything but.\u00a0 We saw the backside of the parking lot, where they had a pen of turkeys or something.\u00a0 I guess if you want to call that a tour of the zoo, you can.\u00a0 I call it, Lame.\u00a0 However, just before that, I saw Karen walking up ahead of me.\u00a0 I jogged up behind her and called out her name.\u00a0 She turned and we hugged each other tightly, completely unaware of how sweaty and salty and disgusting we probably were.\u00a0 We walked together briefly and I told her I had been thinking of her while I was being tossed in the waves that morning.\u00a0 I told her how glad I was to see her at that point on the course.\u00a0 We had both made it through the swim.\u00a0 That terrible, crazy, ridiculously challenging swim.\u00a0 2 non-swimmers had completely overcome obstacles and made it through that.\u00a0\u00a0 I told her that while I swam, I was praying for her.\u00a0 And I told her that I started singing a song in my head as I swam.\u00a0 She asked which song.\u00a0 I told her it was a Britt Nicole song.\u00a0 She knew which one I meant, but couldn\u2019t conjure it.\u00a0 She asked me to sing it. I started singing (this will not surprise anyone I work with, since I am known to randomly burst into song).\u00a0 Then\u00a0Karen joined me.\u00a0 So there were were, walking along the half marathon course of a half Ironman\u2026SINGING.<\/p>\n

So get out and let your fear fall to the ground, no time to waste, don\u2019t wait, and don\u2019t you turn around and miss out on everything you were made for.\u00a0 I know you\u2019re not sure.\u00a0 So you play it safe, try to run away.\u00a0 But if you take that first step, into the unknown, He won\u2019t let you go\u2026So what are you waiting for?\u00a0 What do you have to lose?\u00a0 <\/i><\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure all the people who passed us thought we were nuts.\u00a0 We didn\u2019t care.\u00a0 We kept singing.\u00a0 Eventually, Karen said she didn\u2019t want to slow me down and I took off again on the run.\u00a0 As I pulled away, I heard Karen yell behind me, \u201cI can do all things through Christ who gives me strength! Amen!\u201d\u00a0 I yelled back, \u201cThat\u2019s right, Girl! Amen!\u201d<\/p>\n

Then I cruised on in to the shoot where\u00a0we could either go on to the second loop or go into the finish.\u00a0 People lined the course on both sides.\u00a0 I saw my mom and a few steps later, Jenny.\u00a0 I high fived them both, yelled \u201cOnly 6 more to go!\u201d and whooped it up as I ran past. \u00a0My mom said how strong I looked, I felt it. I told Jenny that Nick was right behind me.\u00a0 I was seriously having the time of my life!<\/p>\n

I looped around and started my final lap of the run.\u00a0 I merged with people who were just coming out of transition to start the run.\u00a0 I felt good. I didn\u2019t know how it was possible to feel that good.\u00a0 I climbed that early hill again.\u00a0 I scanned the faces looking for Teri.\u00a0 I never did see her, but I knew she was out there and that gave me strength.\u00a0 I went through my longest stretch of the run without seeing anyone and then, there was Erin again.\u00a0 And then Chad.\u00a0 I was right on his heels. \u00a0He said, \u201cI\u2019ll see you in a minute!\u201d \u00a0I couldn\u2019t believe Nick hadn\u2019t caught me yet.\u00a0 I rounded the turn.\u00a0 I heard the two guys in front of me talking about how they could see the finish line.\u00a0 The one guy said, \u201cSee it?\u00a0 It\u2019s way over there.\u201d\u00a0 I said, \u201cDon\u2019t say it like that!\u00a0 You\u2019re supposed to say, \u201cLook!\u00a0 It\u2019s right over there!\u201d\u00a0 They both laughed.\u00a0 I kept plugging along, and there was Nick.\u00a0 I hollered, \u201cIt\u2019s in the bag now, Baby! \u201d<\/p>\n

I overheard some guy complaining about how hard it was, \u201cWhy are we doing this?!\u00a0 This sucks!\u201d\u00a0 I responded, \u201cNah, Man, THIS is Living!\u201d\u00a0 He gave me a somewhat confused smile, but he started running again.<\/p>\n

I walked through a water station and started talking to a random girl on the course.\u00a0 We walked together briefly and talked about what an amazing experience Racine 70.3 had been.\u00a0 I tried to pick my legs back up again to run.\u00a0 I could feel large blisters forming on the pads of my toes, but I was so close I just wanted to keep going.\u00a0 Again, I saw Serena and Kristen who both yelled something encouraging.<\/p>\n

With about a half mile to go, I saw Tracy through the fence.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t tell you what she yelled, but I was completely exuberant.\u00a0 At the last possible second I saw Steve before he headed out for one more loop and I headed into the finish. \u00a0I yelled, \u201cGet \u2018er done, Steve-o!\u201d \u00a0I ran down the hill, I didn\u2019t give that last aid station a second glance.\u00a0 I was all smiles.\u00a0 As I ran past my mom and Jenny, who had found each other at this point, I was beaming and I raised my hands in the air.\u00a0 Someone in the crowd yelled, \u201cLook at that smile!\u00a0 Way to represent, FLEET FEET!\u201d<\/p>\n

When I arrived at the split and got to go to the side that said \u201cFinish\u201d, I had one last burst of energy.\u00a0 I ran into the finish, hands up, big old Lindsey smile on my face.\u00a0 The announcer said, \u201cThat\u2019s Lindsey Jacobs who just came across the line\u201d and I said, \u201cYeeeeah It Is!\u201d\u00a0 as I high fived a kid volunteer.\u00a0 The announcer said something about how much fun I was having and gave another shout out to FLEET FEET.<\/p>\n

Someone put a medal around my neck and said, \u201cCongratulations!\u201d Someone else handed me a hat that said Finisher. \u00a0I said, \u201cThank you!\u201d\u00a0 I was beaming. \u00a0Someone else removed my timing chip from my ankle.\u00a0 Then I saw Chad a couple steps ahead of me, so I moved up to grab him.\u00a0 Funny that I started the race on the beach with Tracy and I finished just steps behind her fianc\u00e9, Chad.<\/p>\n

We came out of the corral, and I got a hug from Erin\u2019s mom.\u00a0 I choked up as I told her how awesome it was to see everyone along the course.\u00a0 Then I found my mom.\u00a0 I was smiling and crying.\u00a0 I was depleted.\u00a0 Joyful.\u00a0 Exhausted.\u00a0 Exuberant.\u00a0 Overwhelmed.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t stop saying how awesome that was.<\/p>\n

It was a completely crazy ride\u2026from the giant waves, to the bumpy bike, to what was probably my slowest half marathon ever.\u00a0 And I wouldn\u2019t change a single minute of any of it.\u00a0 Just about an hour after we packed our gear back to the car where I slapped my 70.3 magnet on the Pathfinder and headed back to the Marriott, the sky opened up and dumped a total deluge of rain.\u00a0 We felt so fortunate that we didn\u2019t have to be out there riding or running\u00a0 or gathering gear in the downpour.\u00a0 Even though the swim had been more of challenge than any of us could have predicted, they didn\u2019t cancel it.\u00a0 We were given the opportunity to go out that morning and do all of what we had prepared to do.\u00a0 And BOY, did we ever make the most of it!<\/p>\n

\"Proud<\/a>

Proud Finishers…LJ and Erin<\/p><\/div>\n

Part V: The Finish<\/p>\n

So, what did I learn from my experience of Racing Racine 70.3?\u00a0 I learned that impossible means NOTHING!\u00a0 The word impossible really is just a challenge to go out and try.\u00a0 I remember 2 years ago, right after I started working at FLEET FEET, an all staff email went out that Lindsey Farrell had completed a half Ironman, I think it might have even been Racine.\u00a0 And I remember thinking I could NEVER do that.\u00a0 Well, never say never.\u00a0 But if you would have told me 2 years ago that I was capable of this, I know I wouldn\u2019t have believed you.\u00a0 Now, I believe. \u00a0And I\u2019m ready to tackle even more challenges that lie ahead with Ironman Arizona 2014.\u00a0 Even Teri sent me a text saying the next day saying that if I made it through that, I can do ANY swim.\u00a0 I was glad to hear it isn\u2019t always that rough.\u00a0 Lake St. Louis is a month away.\u00a0 I get to have a rematch with the Olympic course I did last year.\u00a0 That will be the true test of how far I\u2019ve come and I can\u2019t wait to get out there and really see what I am capable of.<\/p>\n

What else did I learn last weekend?\u00a0 I learned that runners can talk about\u00a0poop excessively and never stop thinking it\u2019s funny.\u00a0\u00a0And I learned that all restaurant’s named Dewey’s are not created equal.<\/p>\n

I learned, once again, to play the hand I\u2019m dealt.\u00a0 Life doesn\u2019t always look the way we think it\u2019s supposed to, and once we finally get over that, we are free to take things as they come\u2026good or bad.\u00a0 When it\u2019s bad, it\u2019s time to suck it up and get the job done, but that\u2019s usually when we can see how much progress we\u2019ve really made.\u00a0Which makes the good even better.<\/p>\n

Most importantly, I learned to stop doubting myself.\u00a0 I really am so much stronger than I gave myself credit for.\u00a0 I had no idea what to expect from all this.\u00a0 I probably could have finished even faster than I did, but I couldn\u2019t be happier with my 6:44:55.\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t trade this experience, MY experience, for anything.<\/p>\n

It wouldn\u2019t have been the same experience without my friends there, without all those familiar faces along the course.\u00a0 I can\u2019t imagine it any other way and quite frankly, I don\u2019t really want to.\u00a0 And just like the magnet on my fridge says, where ever you are it is your friends who make your world.<\/p>\n

Racine 70.3 was a wild ride.\u00a0 From training to prep, from start to finish, it was a wild, crazy, ridiculous ride.\u00a0 But I happen to like the wild ride.\u00a0 I like the ups and downs.\u00a0 I like the whiplash and the butterflies in my stomach.\u00a0 I like the fear and excitement, the anxiety and exhilaration.\u00a0 But more than anything, I like having my friends on the ride with me.<\/p>\n

\"Nick,<\/a>

Nick, RRG, Steve…Half Iron People!<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Here’s the video of the song Karen and I sang on the run…<\/p>\n

Karen\u00a0says I lifted her heart, but I say we just helped carry each other.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=BeTu8twnGvU<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Part IV: Runners High It\u2019s a little disheartening to\u00a0begin a half marathon at the end of a half Ironman and just a few steps in see a sign that says \u201cMILE 7\u201d, but know that it\u2019s not for you.\u00a0 The run was two loops of out and back along the same course.\u00a0 I was not […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"aside","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-437","post","type-post","status-publish","format-aside","hentry","category-randomthoughts","post_format-post-format-aside"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4eO4v-73","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ramblingrunnergirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/437","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ramblingrunnergirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ramblingrunnergirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ramblingrunnergirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ramblingrunnergirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=437"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.ramblingrunnergirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/437\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":441,"href":"http:\/\/www.ramblingrunnergirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/437\/revisions\/441"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ramblingrunnergirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=437"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ramblingrunnergirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=437"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ramblingrunnergirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=437"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}