Each Day Is a Gift

10th SGM, 60th career marathon, DONE!!! :) :) :)  I experienced a full spectrum of emotions before, during and after this race!  6+ weeks later, I'm finally posting the report.    Three & half months later, I'm finally finishing up the report!

The last 18 months  22 months of my life have been stressful.  Came home from our mission on an emergency medical release in May last year.  Those first 10 months were some of the saddest, darkest times in our lives coping with hubby's end-stage renal failure and its effects: hemodialysis, restless leg syndrome, insomia, peritonitis, anemia, fatigue, etc.  But amidst those dark days, we were also blessed with many tender mercies and miracles.  What a blessing it was to have witnessed the temple weddings of 2 sons and birth of our 9th grandbaby.  Hubby was able to switch from hemodialysi to  peritoneal dialysis (started a year ago) which was much gentler on hubby's body and he's able to sleep!  We figured he spent average 11-12 hours a day on dialysis.  He finally made the transplant list in mid July!!! :)  AND FINALLY GOT a NEW KIDNEY on Dec. 30, 2015!!!   His loving, selfless, elite marathoner brother, Gary, was a match, flew in from Hong Kong and donated his kidney!  We are forever grateful for Gary and his wonderful wife!

Anyhow,  my training has been non-existent.  My last long run was the Pocatello Marathon a month ago.  I've been battling plantar faciitis this whole year...along with asthma, lack of sleep and 15 lbs overweight, my motivation and fitness took a dive.  If weren't for my friends dragging me out, and for this goal of 60 marathons by 60, I would've given up running altogether!

OK, back to race report:  Met up with Teena, Lowell, RAD at 4:45am for the bus ride.  Got a pleasant surprise to see Bec and her hubby David at the bus line.  Always fun to ride up with RAD.  At the start, Catherine found me and we waited and visited at the PoP line until time to drop off our bags.  Then I walked her to the start and wished her well.  It was her 33rd birthday so her plan was to run back up the course for 6+ more miles after her finish where Luz would meet her and run her birthday miles with her.  I waited at the first flag of the corral for Lowell.  I told him I was in no shape to go with the 4:15 pace group and urged him to go with them.  But he would have none of that.  When the 4:30 group came by we joined them.

The first 10K was nice and easy.  We found ourselves holding back at times to stay with the pace group.  We'd take turns singing and telling stories.  Lowell had given me two flashing lights arm bands to wear so he could keep track of me.  But I didn't need them, so I gave them away to two little kids somewhere in the Dameron Valley.  They were so excited! :)

My breathing became labored with the hills.  I had to walk up Vejo and watched Lowell and the group pulled away.  I love SGM! Lots of things went through my mind!  I thought about my first SGM in 2005 which was my very first marathon.  I thought of all the running friends I have met over the years.  Each SGM held special memories for me!  My son, Eric were in 2005 and 2006 in which he BQ'd running 3 hours and change.  He actually signed up for this one but hurt his back moving so had to DNS.  2007 was the year I did the Utah Grand Slam and BQ'd at SGM.  2008 was Wendy's first marathon and it rained the entire time and I made a friend from Japan and finished together with me waving the American flag!  That was my slowest SGM but one of the funnest! :)

I walked and drank at every aid station and really enjoyed the run.  I was grateful for the cloud covering as it was starting to get warm.  My shins were starting to tighten up with the down hills at Snow Canyon.  I'd stopped at the aid stations and have the volunteers put IcyHot on my legs.  Leslie had told me she would have her hubby dropped her off at bottom of Bluff and she would run up the course to meet me and run me in.  So I thought may be I'd see her around mile 23.  I was surprised to see her at around mile 20 on the other side of the road.  Boy was I happy to see her!  She was very encouraging and helpful.  At mile 23 I asked if she had memorized The Living Christ which was a goal she motivated me, Karen and Wendy to do.  So I had her recite out loud The Living Christ while I did it in my head and would spot her if she hesitated.  That was SO very helpful to distract my mind off the pain and fatigue I was feeling.  Saw Catherine running back up on the course on Bluff but didn't see Luz.  At mile 25, my lower legs were cramping up pretty bad.  When I tossed the wash cloth into the basket just before mile 26, my right calf ceased up and I nearly fell.  I stomped hard on each foot fall and focused on keeping one foot in front of the other.  I could see the finish balloons after the last left turn but for the life of me I could not pick up the pace and sadly watched runners after runners pass me.   Leslie peeled off to the left by the barricase and I could hear her cheering:  "GO! Susanna!"  Then I saw my sweet hubby on the right cheering excitedly.  That puts a smile on my face and I crossed the finish without collapsing or succumbing to charlie horse. 

I walked slowly around and around the mist tent to cool off and walked back and forth until the leg cramps subsided.  The first person I saw when I got onto the grassy area was Roman Takasaki.  Don't know what happened, but as I greeted him I broke down crying!  It was tears of joy, a sense of accomplishment, a sense of relief!  Then I saw Lowell, he finished just under 4:30.  I felt badly because I knew he could have run a 4:25 BQ if he hadn't started with me.  I found Leslie and her hubby, took a few pictures then we had to leave.

This year being my 10th, I was invited to the 10th year club induction dinner.  It was a nice event.  There were 30 year club members!  Amazing!!! 

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