It's hard to make sure everyone gets notified of the arrangements so I'll post them here and hope they get passed along.
I know it's hard during the week to attend such things so please don't consider this an obligation of any sort. If you can make it that would be wonderful, if not we already know that our friends are thinking of us and supporting us.
Tonight a little before 9pm my mother in law Nina passed away. She was battling leukemia but she actually died of pneumonia that she contracted after her 2nd round of chemo. I am honored to have been at her side, along with her children and husband, at the very end. She has been a blessing in my life and I will miss her very much as will the entire family.
Below is the prayer Sister Ann prayed over Nina early today and this prayer now is my very favorite and indicative of the way Nina lived.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; when there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand, to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Thursday July 9, 2009 7:30 PM 1st Overall Female 18:51
Well this year I was definitely a lot more excited for this race. Injuries behind me for months now and steadily dropping 5k times had me ready to see what I could do on this super fast, super flat course. My main goal was to get myself back under 19 minutes again and I thought I had a good chance today. This race is a company sponsored race so I would be with all my running co-workers and they always make me happy and ready to go! Extra bonus this year was that Andy was coming as well and would be filming the race for me and everyone on the team.
So the day of the race comes and the weather is beautiful, unlike last year's massive rain, thunder and lightening. I warmed up with no feelings of anxiety or stress. I looked around a bit and saw just a few women who might pull me under 19 minutes. I chatted a bit with a few friends, did my strides, got a kiss from Andy and lined up.
The start: As usual everyone went out FAST and I pushed a little bit harder than was comfortable but nothing crazy. One girl was out like a bolt and was soon out of sight. She was looking like she was going to run under 18 with the way she went out. I concentrated on getting around the first few turns and running strong, there was one other woman in the same area as me that I could see. I felt in a groove almost right away which was a really good sign.
Mile 1 - 5:59.9 Great! By this time I've dropped the woman that was near me at the beginning but I still cannot see the lead woman. I focus on getting to that next mile mark in as close to 6 minutes as I can. Gotta keep things going!
Mile 2 - 6:03.5 Yes! I'm working hard but breaking 19 minutes is looking like a reality for today but who is that I see? It's the lead woman! This is going to get interesting because I believe she is coming back to me...but will I have enough time? She still is way up there. I hate coming home after a race with regrets so I pile on some more pain and go after her. I see Andy about a quarter mile before the 3 mile mark and she has maybe 10 seconds now. A few more turns and I make my move past her. She fights and gains, I pass again and this time she let's me go. I'm in serious serious pain at this point and that 3 mile mark seems soooo far away. I briefly worry that I made my move too soon but I'm committed and I can't back down.
Mile 3 - who knows?! I'm almost there! I just keep pushing and pushing, praying for that last turn that will take me to that finish line. I'm aware that my form is crap but I just can't get it together so I just keep grinding way. 5K's just hurt!
The finish - 18:51 (6:48.61 for last 1.1 miles) No. Regrets. :-)
Once I recover, and I seriously thought I was going to lose my lunch, I shake hands with the 2nd place woman and go to see the rest of my co-workers finish. I find Andy filming at the last turn and help cheer everyone on. Most everyone had a great race out there! Congrats to all my co-workers (Brian Gaines, Kelly Roe, Kim Heitzman, David Chin, Jim Wood, Paul Clement, April Nowakowski) and a huge kiss to my husband Andy!
Results for top 5 women. Just look at the age of these women! No wonder I'm so tired, it's tough work fighting with 20 yr olds!
I caught the running bug in 8th grade and worked hard all summer to join the high school team. At Schaumburg High School I was coached by Jon Macnider. He focused my energy and set the path for every success I have ever had in running. I finished a 6 time all state medalist, was on the ‘82 champion cc team, and was an All-American in the 3200m. I’m honored to still hold the school record in the 3200m (10:25) and I held the 1600m record for 25 years (4:59). I ran at U of Iowa but without much success . The impersonal business of college athletics just wasn’t for me. I met my husband my freshman year. We married in ‘91. Post college I caught the bug again and under the guidance of Willie Rios I qualified for and ran in the ‘96 Olympic trials. My fastest times are now behind me and I have recently joined the ranks of masters runner. Recently I have found a renewed love of running that has been inspired by the people in this running group. I am rediscovering the love of running for running’s sake and since that is how it all began it is only fitting that I find myself there again.
"Above all, I will challenge myself to do ridiculously impossible things and give everything trying to achieve them"- Margaret Bradley (1979 - 2004) 1st year Pritzker Medical School, Universal Sole team member, friend. You are in our thoughts always.
