I cant believe its been 9 years since I have been running
the Shamrock Half Marathon and 8K… Seems like just yesterday I was gitty with excitement
for my first ever half marathon.. BOY when I tell you.. how exciting it is to
reach milestones like that.. the longest I had ever run in my life… it truly is
life changing.
I was reading over my racing diary for that great day in
March 2007..how I made this map of the entire course and taped it to the wall
of the hotel.. and how Joe at this time was not running yet and seeing him
near the end of the race was the most amazing thing ever… but true be told… this race had
only great meaning after mom was diagnosed with cancer in 2010.
See I did that race in 2007.. and then in 2008 (Joe stopped smoking
and did his first 8K ever).. and in 2009.. but then the year 2010.. mom was
diagnosed in Feb 2010 with cancer…our family was devastated..
I remember how mom actually pulled me aside and said, "Go
to Shamrock, this race means so much to
you and Joe and I will be ok.. just come visit when you get back and I will be cheering for you!"… OF COURSE.. I cancelled our race and hotel.. that week I stayed by her bedside at the hospital and read to her as she she laid motionless recovering..I watching her breathe.. and I prayed..
We had a blessed two additional years with mom.. and Joe and
I did go back and race at Shamrock in 2011 & 2012 .. I still remember the
leg warmers she purchased for me to wear… LEG WARMERS for godsake.. (you see them in my pic above)... I put them
on as arm warmers.. lol… and then she passed away…
Life goes on.. and you pick up the pieces and struggle
about.. to find a way to deal with the vacant hole in your heart.. Joe and I did
not race Shamrock in 2013… and we thought about never returning.. but then life took another turn… a life changing
surgery for me.. and a realization that we truly only have a certain number of
days..
I am blessed to say
that once again I am back at the Shamrock races.. and although I won't be doing
the 8k and half.. I choose to take on the mother of all races.. the Marathon.. To honor my mother.. and to prove that I can beat those demons…
