North Shore Marathon 4.6.14

North Shore Marathon....

From Daily Mile:  Crazy crazy week leading up to this event had me in serious doubt as to whether I would be able to run it. But took all the hardship as a sign that it was preparing me mentally for this race. Just got out there and ran with no thoughts, no plans, just to put one foot in front of another and finish in 5 hours. Ran very smoothly. at mile 6 got a great pep talk by the amazing SATOMI and I carried her words with me through the race. At mile 8 got stuck in the bathroom for 5 minutes because a runner was having issues. Ran every little and big hill strong after that. Concentrated on running my game. At mile 18 my family had a pit stop for me and seeing my kids, getting their energy and being joined on the road by my friend Cathy helped me put the pain out of my mind and finish the race strong and mentally focused. As always, an incredible race put on by 808 with many awesome treats on the run. Mahalo to all the volunteers and other runners who had so much aloha. Marathon #4 is in the books, my slowest time of all 4, but the one that means the most to me. <3

From Facebook: 

North Shore Marathon, the race that almost wasn't. I signed up in January to run with two awesome women. 1 month ago: Friend #1 pulls out with a knee injury. 8 days ago: I get bit by a mysterious insect and it gets infected. Doc puts me on Antibiotics. 7 days ago: Noah goes to the doctor two times and finally the ER with a mystery illness. He has two X-rays, a cat scan, an IV and all tests are inconclusive. He has horrible hives and stomach pains. No sleep for this mama and tons of medications for him. 6 days ago: Mike is in the middle car of a 7 car accident. Our van is totaled. I tell myself that if Noah is not better by Wednesday I will pull out of the race. 1 day ago: Friend #2 pulls out of the race with a sprained ankle. Luckily I find two friends to run the race as well as another friend who will pace me for the last 10 miles. I run a 10K race on Ford Island Bridge and am kinda freaked out when I see two men passed out. 7 hours ago: Right before the race, not even a mile away we are pulled over and given a Speeding Ticket (are you freaking serious?!!) There were a million things that I could have taken to mean that I shouldn't run the race...instead I decided that it was all meant to make my mind as tough as possible to endure 26.2 miles. Throughout the 4:51.58 minutes of pure torture I thought about everyone and everything that enabled me to get the run done. I reminded myself to always look for the positives in any difficult situation. I reminded myself how lucky I am and all the gifts I have been given in this life. And I ran the marathon as strong and as hard as I could. Very thankful for the life lesson I have had this past week. I am truly stronger than I could have ever imagined, and good friends and family will get me through it all. Thank you to those of you who supported me this week. I love you guys.