Long time no blog!

I'm back with much to share, so grab a snack and get comfortable because you know I like to be wordy.:)

I received a cost estimate for the plastic surgery I recently posted about and looked into. For a tummy tuck and brachioplasty (arms), the total comes to just under $9,000. When I heard this amount, I cried, right there on the phone with the kind lady who was giving me the news. I was most fearful of disappointment,and there it was.

I went through thoughts of "Why did I even bother to go? Surely you knew no matter what amount it was that you couldn't afford it."  Well, true enough, but I think what was important was that I faced my fear and went anyway. I did that, and it wasn't easy. I believe that this dream of mine isn't done just yet. I know that I deserve to have this surgery, and that I will have it someday. I refuse to give up hope about this!

This past weekend Mark and I headed to Springfield, Mo. for the Cohick half marathon. It was to be his second half marathon and my 7th (I think?)

We headed to the Bass Pro Shop for packet pick up and I had been tossing the idea around that maybe I'd run the full marathon. My thoughts were that this was a unique opportunity to run another without having to go through training again to do so, and also that with ideal weather, I had a shot at bettering my finish time from the Chicago Marathon last month. I wasn't exactly certain that I had the ability to run the distance again; I hadn't done a long run past 9 miles in a month and wasn't sure how far I'd be able to go out there. But, I decided, upon Marks encouragement as well as a few friends, that I'd go ahead and give it a go.

I won't lie and say I wasn't a bit apprehensive about running the full the next morning. I was. I wasn't nervous, though, which was very uncharacteristic of me!  We had learned earlier about Team 413, and decided to join. All you have to do is buy a shirt and wear it during the race and you're a member. I love the idea of being able to help anyone behind me in a race keep their mindset positive, so I was excited to wear the new gear.

We headed out race morning bright and early and arrived in time for the pre-race service that was being held. It was a nice way to start the day and I'm glad we were able to be a part of it.

Pretty soon we were lined up at the start  and ready to head out. Mark and I ran the first 3/4 mile together and then the course split off- half marathon runners turned left, marathon runners turned right. With a quick kiss and a "do your best", we headed off in opposite directions. I heard Mark say something like "It's like the crossroads of life!" and everyone around was cracking up and I just shook my head and grinned.

The weather was about 40 degrees; a crisp, sunny, fall morning. I felt fantastic. There were maybe 5 runners in front of me and 5 behind. I knew this was going to be a very relaxed atmosphere with so few marathoners. I liked it very much! 

I noticed immediately that this was a winding and hilly course through neighborhoods, mostly. It was beautiful but I did have some concern about the hills, even though I wasn't struggling at all on them. 

Click here if you want to see that I'm not exaggerating about the course.

The miles came and went, and as I approached mile 8, I met the mother of all hills. I walked up a good portion because I knew it wasn't worth zapping my energy long term just to make it up there quickly.

Around mile 11 I came upon a fellow TEAM 413 shirt runner wearing a fish hat. I can't remember what I said, but we began talking immediately and learning more about one another. Her name was Lesley, and she told me that she is on state 38 of running a marathon in all 50 states! Incredible! We stayed together for several more miles, and she even waited for me to duck into a portapotty, take off the long sleeved shirt I had under my TEAM 413 shirt, and put myself back together. For the record, it's not easy to take off sweaty, fitted running gear when you've got on a belt full of Gu, an armband for your iPod, and a hat on. Oh, and you're in a portapotty and trying not to let anything on you touch anything around you. But I digress...

I had mentioned that this was my second marathon and that I had run Chicago last month. She said she had run there as well, and went on to say that she was wearing some type of a "National Enquirer" type costume thing. I remembered seeing her immediately, and where we were on the course! Now that is nothing short of astonishing for a number of reasons: 1. I rarely notice things around me when I'm running. 2. If I do notice, I don't remember noticing. 3. There were 36,000 runners that day on the course!  What a crazy thing to have discovered. I'm still processing what that is about, but nonetheless I'm excited to have a new friend from Texas and I hope to be able to race with her again someday.

We eventually seperated out there, as she was trying to pace herself a bit and I was in the mindset that I was going to run out of steam sooner or later, and I may as well take action while I was able to.

I began really laboring around mile ...17, maybe? Then by 19 I began eating and drinking a lot more than I did in Chicago. I felt better every single time I forced something down my throat and even though I had no desire to eat, I kept taking what was offered at tables along the way. (In case you're wondering, it was gummy bears, Jolly Ranchers, pretzels, goldfish crackers, licorice, jelly beans, half a banana. Not in that order and not too many of any one thing.)

I saw Mark and his parents between 22 and 23, I believe, and I felt so loved to see his dad cheering and jumping around and them standing there with their arms full of goodies so I could eat and drink! It was so kind of them to drive down and spend the day showing support and I know that Mark felt the same way I do about this. Mark finished his second ever half marathon in 3:05 and then spent the next 3 hours supporting me and cheering me on as well as helping me take an ice bath and get our gear loaded up to drive home. I think it goes without mentioning that I'm the luckiest girl in the world to have him in my life!

At mile 24 I asked someone what time it was. I was told 12:06. I knew that to finish in 5:30 that I'd have to keep less than a 12 pace to the end. But, I kept having to walk, so I just walked as fast as I could and ran in spurts when I was able to. About 3/10 of a mile to the finish, I came upon 2 women. One to my left, one to my right. We were all exhausted but I told them "We can do anything for a few minutes!" and we all began running faster toward the finish line. As I neared the turn to enter the finish chute, I heard the announcer over the loudspeaker call someone's time at 5:26. I screamed and threw my arms up and took off. I couldn't believe I was going to clear 5:30 after all! I heard Mark screaming "Go Carrie, go! Finish strong!" and I gave it my all. And I nearly puked. Thankfully, I didn't. :)

This race was not anything spectacular compared to the experience I had in Chicago, but it was a great race and I am thankful I was able to run it well and make a new friend along the way. Official finish time was 5:26:28. I placed 20th in my age group and I am proud to say I beat my pr by 26 minutes!

**I began typing this early in the day. Frequently, I will have to stop and pick up where I left off before finishing an entry. Today, I had written about the plastic surgery phone call and then worked on some other tasks before coming back to talk about my race experience. During that time I received a phone call that I was unable to answer because I was with a weight loss patient and my phone is on silent. Upon checking my voicemail, I discovered that the lady who works for the plastic surgeon had called to let me know that she had emailed the Dr. and that they wanted to see if they could help me out any further with costs for the procedures I'd like to have done. My first thought was "God is so good to me!" and then "Who does that? Who calls and offers to make things more affordable!?" I am so excited I can't stand it. I didn't give up hope and even said as much up above in this entry; and then this happens! I have to believe that somehow this is going to work out for me. I can feel it. I don't know how, but it's going to,and I can't wait to see how it all unfolds!