As most of you know, this past weekend, I headed to Memphis to run the St. Jude Half Marathon. Two weeks prior, I had stopped running in an attempt to let an over-use injury heal before the race, so I was a little anxious about the race. Then a couple of days before, I started to have my usual anxiety (and guilt) over leaving my kids, farming them out all over to go run this race. The night before I was supposed to leave I was really playing with the idea of not running it.
Then two things happened: Thursday night about 9:00, Lynn and Kelly offered to share their hotel room with us, and Mark agreed to go! All along, the plan had been that I was going up with some other girl friends, then Mark was going to come up on Saturday. But the closer it got, the more I really wanted Mark to be with me on Friday night. I am always more at ease with him around!
So, it took some last minute maneuvering, but thanks to my Mom, who agreed to come here and stay with the kids, we were able to go up together Friday afternoon!
When we got to Memphis, we were happy to find our hotel directly across the street from the Expo, so we parked and walked right over, where I picked up my t-shirt, chip and number, then we met up with Lynn & Kelly, and Roan & Jimmy.
At the expo, there was this booth with all these headband/earwarmer things. Roan and Lynn had already picked out theirs, so I went over to the table to browse. I was looking for my standard solid black (or white), but Roan and Lynn, both the queens of colorful, wouldn't let me play it safe! The thing was, I'd found the fleece I was wearing to race in on sale...but it was PURPLE. Emily doesn't do purple! I pretty much only have black, white, gray and brown in my closet, with the occassional red or pink thrown in... and now, I'm going to be wearing not only a bright purple shirt, but this loud headband, too?? I felt like I was in someone else's skin! In the end, I found one I could live with, AND a solid black one, just in case I chickened out of the pretty one! We laughed at ourselves as Roan told us she'd read a quote that said runners who wear full make up aren't fast...and they don't care that they're not fast! I guess that applies to earrings and gaudy headwear, too!
Our little group of runners (and Mark) outside the expo.
Me, Roan, Santa, & Lynn, in the hotel lobby.
Another lobby picture...I need lipstick!After some pictures, we headed out to Spaghetti Warehouse for our pre-race pasta, then back to the hotel lobby for some coffee, more visiting, and lots of laughs! Back at our room, Lynn & I got out everything for the race, while Mark got directly in the bed, and Kelly cracked jokes! Then we tried to get some sleep. I finally did fall asleep, but it was that just-on-the-verge-of-sleep kind, and so when the alarm went off at 5:00, I was ready to get up!
We all met in the lobby of our hotel at 6:00 for coffee, and our friends Julie & Yonea met us there, along with Megan and Russ, and Stephen. I should mention that during all of this, Mark is snoozing it up back at the room, in the warm bed complete with a down comforter!
Jimmy had given us cath lab gowns to wear downtown till the race started, and I was surprised at how well they worked to knock the chill off! Did I mention it was FREEZING outside?
Here we are in our colorful headgear! 
Roan & I having warming up with coffee before heading out in the COLD!
Our group just before heading out. Notice the cath gowns! I'm not in this shot because I was getting a mocha with double espresso to go! Kelly is not in this shot because he'd come to rush me up and help me tie my gown!We walked with many other runners the mile or so to the stadium, where we checked in our bags, then went to find our starting corrals. This whole process was surprisingly smooth and quick. Before we knew it, we were coming out of the cath gowns and getting ready to start!
I am typically a race hater, as far as 5Ks go, so I was prepared to be unimpressed by this, too, but I was so wrong. There is nothing quite like running with 15, 000 of your closest friends through downtown streets lined with people shouting "Good Luck!", "Go Runners!", and "We Love You!" (parents of St. Jude kids). Those parents made me cry! Then there were the signs. I saw a couple of men holding signs that said "You're Doing Great! If it were easy, I'D be doing it!" These made me laugh!
A few miles in, we ran right through the St. Jude campus. The signs there said things like "Thank You!" and "Blisters don't need Chemo". There were a few of the kids out cheering, too, and the whole thing was just amazing. I was all teary-eyed when we left there!
About mile six, the twinge in my leg became, well, more than a twinge, but still entirely manageable. Lynn & I chatted through a neighborhood, and I met a couple that lived in that neighborhood that were running beside us. I was amazed at how quickly the mile markers came! Before I knew it we were at mile eight!
Somewhere around the ninth mile marker, the pain at the top of my leg shot down the back of my leg down into the arch of my foot... and that's how I ran the last four miles. I watched Lynn go farther ahead, as I got slower and slower. Finally, I put in my ipod, found a manageable pace, and just ran. No more water stops, no more looking at my surroundings. At that point, I was just focused on putting one foot in front of the other and finishing! Those last miles are a blur to me in retrospect. All I know is that when they were done, when I crossed that finish line, I found a place on the grass and literally cried with relief!
In the end, I finished 7+ minutes over my goal time. Any other time, I would've been so upset by that, but not this time! I knew for a fact that I'd done my very best, and I know that not many months ago, I would've used the pain as an excuse to walk or even quit. The girl who finished this race was a different person than the one who started running this past April. As much as I'd hoped and prayed that I could run the whole race without pain, I wouldn't change it. If I'd not HAD to run through it, I wouldn't know that I could.
This is actually a picture of Roan finishing (in turquiose). I posted it to show you all the mylar blankets they gave out to help us stay warm after the race. As cold as it was, it wasn't too bad in the beginning. And by mile three, I couldn't get out of my fleece outer layer fast enough! But, after the race was over, and our body temps dropped, wearing clothes soaked in sweat, we were FREEZING! I'm talking trembling from the inside out, miserably cold. I don't remember ever being so cold in my life! At least there was hot soup and hot chocolate there, and Mark gave me his warm gloves to replace my sweaty ones!
I am so proud of all of us who ran and finished Saturday! The entire experience was so memorable, more fun than I've had in recent memory. For all my complaining during training, my dreading it just days before, and even that horrible last four miles...I wouldn't have missed it for the world!
Our last picture of the trip! This was after Jimmy finished his FULL marathon, and after we'd all had a change of clothes!Great friends, a fair amount of coffee, good food, running, and lots and lots of laughter: all my favorite things wrapped up into a fabulous two days. Like an early Christmas present! I can not wait until next year!
On a sad note, I now have to stop running for 4-6 weeks, until my leg heals completely. I just want to cry every time I think about it, but I know it's necessary if I want to keep running long term, and I so do! So for the next few weeks, I'll be all about the elliptical and the weights. And NOT all about the sugar! I have to remember now that I'm not training for a half marathon any more; no more 10, 11, or 12 mile runs to burn off tons of calories. Now I have to be a little more restrained in the treats department!
So, to all of you who haven't done this, you've got a whole year to prepare! Believe me, you WANT to do it! Get out the running shoes and hit the road!
Blessings,
Em
Snuggies! The girls all got one, and they were tickled!
My sister Lane's little boy, Kyle. We can't wait for little Betsy Lane to arrive in February!
My brother, Ben & my niece, Addie Grace
Me & my sweet grandmother, who would KILL me if she knew I posted this! She was in the middle of saying "Are you smiling?" when I took the shot!
Rachie with the new doll house. It was a HUGE hit with all three girls. Group gifts are the way to go!
My Sam with just a few of his many tractors, trucks, cars, train, and tractor-trailers. 
John Rush, my littlest nephew!
Dad (no, it's not Walter Matthau) and his kids!
Mark & Molly!
Riley, Mary & Hudson
Riley, Mary & Hudson
Me & my sweet man!
This is the final shot of the Williams family Christmas! 
Sam was taking shots at the doll house dad all morning! Of course Mark thought it was hysterical. The girls, not so much!
