{"id":388,"date":"2015-01-03T21:27:41","date_gmt":"2015-01-04T02:27:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/54.212.39.223\/?p=388"},"modified":"2015-02-15T18:29:41","modified_gmt":"2015-02-15T23:29:41","slug":"mom-youre-registered-for-a-full-marathon-no-way-not-me-never","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.barbettespitler.com\/?p=388","title":{"rendered":"Pt 2 \u201cMom, You\u2019re registered for a full marathon!\u201d No way! Not me!! Never!"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Mary<\/a>

Mary and I rocking the half marathon! Finished in 3 hours 5 minutes!<\/p><\/div>\n

Two weeks before the Air Force Marathon, September 2010, my husband and I visited our Air Force son, Cody, at his base in Biloxi, MI.\u00a0 While there, I just had to run along the flight lines.\u00a0 It was so cool!!\u00a0 I was really enjoying the jog\/fast walk intervals.\u00a0 (I never really understood the difference between jog and run, but I am pretty sure as slow as I was going and the minimal distance I covered each time\u2026it was jogging.)\u00a0 While we visited, Cody surprised me with the announcement he was coming home to run the FULL Air Force Marathon along with several of his friends.\u00a0 I was so excited to know they would all be on the course and having a new experience together!\u00a0 But I was in NO WAY interested in ever doing that!<\/p>\n

During the half marathon, I had to make a quick potty stop.\u00a0 I drink plenty of water and I didn\u2019t know to plan around the pee stops.\u00a0 There was a long line and it put me about 8 minutes behind Mary.\u00a0 I needed to catch up!\u00a0 So, I jogged until I found her.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know what the distance actually was but I smiled often as I realized I was actually jogging a portion of a half marathon.\u00a0 I caught up with her and later, we crossed that finish line together and with great big smiles on our faces. We averaged 13 1\/2 min\/miles\u00a0 for the first 5-6 miles.\u00a0 We rocked!!\u00a0 I loved every minute and knew I wanted to do it again the next year.\u00a0 My son and his friends finished the full marathon.\u00a0 They were sore, they struggled up and down the stairs.\u00a0 I giggled at their misery.\u00a0 And I knew, I never needed to do that\u2026ever!!\u00a0 Why??\u00a0 Running (or jogging) 26.2 miles is just crazy!\u00a0 And look at how much pain it causes!\u00a0 Dah!\u00a0 Why would anyone sign up for that?<\/p>\n

During the Christmas season, Cody announced he was being deployed to Iraq for most of 2011.\u00a0 He also announced that my Christmas gift was registration for the 2011 Air Force FULL Marathon.\u00a0 He promised he would train while in Iraq and he would be home in time to run the full marathon WITH me.\u00a0 My response\u2026.\u201dWhat in our entire history together would ever give you the impression I wanted to or COULD do a full marathon!!??\u201d\u00a0 I was shocked, scared, stunned, defiant, and confused all at the same time.\u00a0 But he was serious!\u00a0 His answer, \u201cMom, you fast-walked a half marathon already.\u00a0 Train to run a half marathon and even if you have to walk the rest, you will have finished a full marathon.\u201d \u00a0 He talked.\u00a0 He coached.\u00a0 He promised.\u00a0 He even drew out a plan for how I could achieve it.\u00a0 He deployed and I started training.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 Because I was determined to make him proud!\u00a0 I was excited he would be there with me. I wasn\u2019t going to let him down. I knew the sacrifice he was making on this deployment.\u00a0 All I had to do was jog.\u00a0 So, I took the training very seriously.\u00a0 I surprised myself!\u00a0 My intervals lengthened.\u00a0 My determination heightened.\u00a0 My confidence increased.\u00a0 My excitement escalated.\u00a0 He coaches me very well!\u00a0 From Iraq, he coached me how to run up and down the hills which was something I struggled with and avoided.\u00a0 He taught me how the mind plays tricks on us while we run, but how we can play tricks right back.<\/p>\n

Cody returned from Iraq about 10 days before the marathon.\u00a0 He knew there was no way he could in-process to the base and make it up to Ohio in time to run the marathon.\u00a0 What??\u00a0 NO!!\u00a0 I was terrified.\u00a0 Now I would be alone!\u00a0 All my training runs had been alone but with the knowledge Cody would be with me at the marathon.\u00a0 Anxiety set it.\u00a0 Then\u2026. I had this thought!\u00a0 Billy Ray Cyrus had this wonderful show called, \u201cSurprise Homecoming\u201d.\u00a0 I just knew Cody was really going to be at the marathon! \u00a0 I started having these fleeting thoughts and daydreams he would be there and at the finish line.\u00a0 It would be him who would put the medal around my neck.\u00a0 And\u2026.it was those thoughts that sustained me during the entire marathon.\u00a0 What a great show it would be\u2026.\u00a0 Mom runs marathon for son.\u00a0 Son shows up from deployment and surprises Mom at the finish line.\u00a0 Whenever I felt overwhelmed with the remaining distance to run, I would think about that finish line and Cody waiting.\u00a0 And I\u2019d be re-inspired and re-energized.<\/p>\n

As I rounded that final curve, ran under the wings of those magnificent planes, and headed to the finish line I was almost smiling.\u00a0 I knew it was almost over and I had done it.\u00a0 But I also knew Cody would be waiting.\u00a0 I saw the lines of officers handing out the medals as the runners came across the finish line.\u00a0 I saw a young man in fatigues peak out from one of the officers and my heart jumped!\u00a0 Cody!?!?\u00a0 I headed to that chute.\u00a0 As I got closer, the young man peaked again.\u00a0 This time I was close enough to see his face.\u00a0 NO!!\u00a0 That\u2019s not Cody!!\u00a0 I cross the finish line, get my medal and look for my husband.\u00a0 His smile melts my heart and I hold back the tears.\u00a0 HE is so proud I can feel it.\u00a0 We hug!\u00a0 I am shocked I did it.\u00a0 I actually ran a full 26.2 marathon\u00a0 Who does that?\u00a0 Who turns 50 and then decides to learn to run and then runs a marathon!\u00a0 He tells me to call Cody and let him know I finished.\u00a0 He hands me the phone but I can\u2019t talk.\u00a0 Now the tears flow unrestrained. Within moments all four of our boys are calling or texting with congratulations.\u00a0 Both Cody and his twin brother, Britt, are ecstatic!\u00a0 They make me cry because they are so proud of me.<\/p>\n

I ran a marathon!\u00a0 Really!!!<\/p>\n

Oh…and that young man who was peaking out from behind the officer…he made the news! \u00a0He was waiting for his girlfriend to cross the finish line. \u00a0When she did, he proposed! \u00a0Again, my heart melted!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"First<\/a>

First marathon! 26.2 miles! Sept 2011<\/p><\/div>\n

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