This morning the alarm came too soon. I got a lot of packing done last night and tried my best to relax and get some solid sleep. Knowing this was the last training run before Boston had me happy and sad. It's strange when something like this comes to an end. The work is behind you and what you have already done will dictate the race. I headed to the kitchen to turn on my trusty Garmin, grab a bite to eat and strap my head lamp on.
I squeezed the power button on my Garmin and got no response.
Nothing.
Blank screen, no familiar chirp, nada.
I hollered to my half asleep husband, "She's dead, my Garmin is DEAD!" and began a slough of self-talk.....
Self: Maybe you didn't turn it on right, try it again
Erin: Um, yes I did turn it on right, nothing is happening
Self: Try pressing a couple of the buttons at the same time, maybe talk nice to her
Erin: Check and check, I did both and still she is not alive.....
I might have had a few choice words and a deep seeded worry that THIS was how my day and even my whole trip was going to go.
I squeezed the power button on my Garmin and got no response.
Nothing.
Blank screen, no familiar chirp, nada.
I hollered to my half asleep husband, "She's dead, my Garmin is DEAD!" and began a slough of self-talk.....
Self: Maybe you didn't turn it on right, try it again
Erin: Um, yes I did turn it on right, nothing is happening
Self: Try pressing a couple of the buttons at the same time, maybe talk nice to her
Erin: Check and check, I did both and still she is not alive.....
I might have had a few choice words and a deep seeded worry that THIS was how my day and even my whole trip was going to go.
I cannot even tell you the thoughts.
I latched my husband's Garmin on my wrist and was thankful to have the option but mourning my loss. She made it through how many weeks and miles with me and TODAY she decides she is not willing to see it through. Ugh.
My run went fairly well, nothing too exciting, I had a tempo run of 4 miles at a 7:07and felt good. My body was in the groove. As Chris rolled the bike alongside me I could not stop the thoughts.....although I did not speak, my head and I were going at it.
By the time I returned home I thought maybe a miracle would occur and my Garmin would just brighten her face and chirp at me....to no avail.
I sat down to complete my core work-out and from a distance heard the chirp....was it her? I mean, I know my Husband is a paramedic and all, but did he really just bring my Garmin back to life? I heard him shout from the other room, "Didya hear that? She's Baaaacckkkkk"!
At any rate I wanted to share a montage from my favorite movie of all time, Rudy.
My run went fairly well, nothing too exciting, I had a tempo run of 4 miles at a 7:07and felt good. My body was in the groove. As Chris rolled the bike alongside me I could not stop the thoughts.....although I did not speak, my head and I were going at it.
By the time I returned home I thought maybe a miracle would occur and my Garmin would just brighten her face and chirp at me....to no avail.
I sat down to complete my core work-out and from a distance heard the chirp....was it her? I mean, I know my Husband is a paramedic and all, but did he really just bring my Garmin back to life? I heard him shout from the other room, "Didya hear that? She's Baaaacckkkkk"!
At any rate I wanted to share a montage from my favorite movie of all time, Rudy.
5 comments:
Sniff Sniff...
God as my witness we WILL carry you on our shoulders Monday, if you so desire!
This is what all the training was about, all the dreams, all the pain!
We all believe in you, and YOU CAN DO IT...
Can I get a field save commendation for the Garmin? I brought that back to life much better than the last dozen or so codes I've ran!
Just a little final training piece, that's all the Garmin was teaching.
"The Boston Marathon is for rich runners, smart runners, great athletes. Is it for us? You want to run the Boston Marathon? You didn't qualify the first time, but you tried, tried harder, and now get to run a marathon that's not for everybody. To everyone that said you couldn't, now you get to. You didn't listen. Believed in only yourself! There are going to be 25,000 athletes in Hopkinton at the starting line, so accomplished they qualified and get to run the Boston Marathon. Only about 21,000 will cross the finish line on Boylston Street. So, you need to believe, and dream, and run your race to make it come true. Watching you cross the finish line will be the most beautiful site (aside from many others with you in them) that myself, your parents, and brother's eyes will have ever seen. You've been ready for this your whole life. You lead Wave 2 onto the course. Conquer Boston, and you'll be the first to carry the Vestal and Horning names up Hearthbreak Hill. You can do it. You will do it. And with any luck, you might just be the motivation that your husband, brother, and/or future SIS need to follow your footsteps through Athletes Village to Copley Square." And who knows, you just might hear "Erin, Erin, Erin, Erin, Erin" a few times on Monday.
I'm proud of you!
Good PC!! :)
Erin, Chris & Family,
Thank you so much for including me and my family on your journey to Boston. We have been there in spirit with you as you trained for this historic event. Every morning for the last 16 weeks, we have monitored your miles and workouts. Erin, you are ready and I believe you are looking at a PR in Boston. You are an inspiration to your family and to your friends. We are all very proud of you. The Boston Marathon is a really big deal. You get that and your family and close friends get it. It is huge. Erin, you are running THE BOSTON MARATHON! This is the Granddaddy of all marathons. Other than the Olympics, there is no other marathon that requires participants to “QUALIFY”. You are in an elite group of runners. You will be running the same roads as Joan Benoit, Bill Rogers and Alberto Salazar. One year ago, I stood in the EXACT spot that you will be standing in the front corral. Take a moment to look around at your surrounds. Turn around to see the thousands of runners behind you. Take it all in and burn all these images into your memory databanks. More than a half a million people will be there to cheer you on. Of course, nobody will be cheering for you louder than Chris and your family. Walter and I will be leading the cheers from Lincoln. Tina is also sending you her best wishes for a great run. Bring home that elusive Unicorn. Go get em Erin!
Your friends,
Larry & Walter
I've been away a little while again, and all the beautiful comments made me tear up :*-)
I've just started riding with a Garmin the past few weeks. With knowing we'll be trying to get pregnant in the near future I figured if I want to be able to continue riding I need to start monitoring my HR to keep it at an acceptable level. Still not sure if I like it or not, but I do know I need to shorten the chest strap, lol, it falls off of me unless I secure it under my sports bra, haha. Hugs sweetheart!!!
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