Conquer! (updated)

I was going to wait until I had the official race stats before I posted about our run, but evidently, I would be waiting a LONG time! So, here's my run down of the event...

We arrived in beautiful Truckee, CA at about 10:15 p.m. on Thursday night. Our night was nearly sleepless with a 15 month old who doesn't like unfamiliar places. We were thankful the race was not on Friday.
It was perfect, 65 degree weather on Friday as Ryan and I drove the race coarse around the west side of Lake Tahoe. We were really getting nervous and excited now!! As we drove on, we came upon THE hill. We drove. It seemed ok. Kept driving. wow, big hill. CONTINUED driving UP! That is when my mouth was hanging wide open. This hill seemed like it was never going to end! Just when I thought it was over, it got STEEPER! Oh dear...how were we going to run this!? It was then that all of my racing expectations flew out the window (and into the lake below). The ONLY thing I wanted out of this race was to get up this hill without walking a single step. Even if I had to run backwards for a moment (which I did).
We took care of race business in South Lake Tahoe and mingled with fellow racers. We were so excited at this point that I felt like I could conquer just about anything!

RACE DAY: I slept blissfully, and felt great on Saturday morning. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Ryan. Nerves got the best of his restful night. I walked out to the kitchen and was SHOCKED to look out the window and see 4 inches of snow, like a blanket, covering the outside world! SNOW!? We never heard anything about this! What a fun surprise...for the kids! Now our racing nerves were really fired up as we tried to figure out what snow attire we were going to need to race comfortably. Hats, gloves, leggings, double socks? Oh dear.

Dad drove Ryan and I to the starting line. We were over an hour early. You can never be too early, right? It was freezing. Literally, the first 100 yards of our race were icy. After trying to simmer down the pre-race jitters, we all gathered in a mob under the starting line banner. Freezing. I could not feel my toes. Really.The race started and we were off! The first two miles were all down hill! I felt great! Cold, but great. Everyone was just getting into their running groove and finding their niche.
Just as I'm feeling elated on the down hill (and finally feeling my toes), I see it. The sign: Welcome to the Hill from He__. Ok, here we go. I turn up the tunes on my ipod as to not get distracted by the hill. I press forward. Not so bad. I see a fellow runner ahead and think "just catch up to her". I did. Head down, ipod blaring, I am fully focussed on the hill I'm defeating. Another sign: Purgatory 100 feet I Ignore it. I recognize the stone wall that Ryan and I pinned as the half-way point of the hill. Yea! I'm Half way!

Then, I see it. Purgatory. It's steep and curvy. Oh no. " I will not walk, I will not walk...well, maybe just a step...that guy's walking, it would feel really nice." So, I turn around and run backwards, just a few steps, you know, to change it up a bit. Forward again, and now body parts are sore. Limbs are burning. Are your forearms supposed to feel like fire in your veins when you run? I've never run something like this before, so maybe they are. My whole body is burning and hurting trying to get to the top of this insane hill. I turn my ipod up a little more. JUST GET THROUGH IT! And finally, after 17 minutes of running UP-HILL I see it! Another sign: Heaven 100 feet. I can see the top, just ahead. I get a new motivation and try to pick up my pace just slightly. I have to do it. Just when I am on the verge of breaking down, I reach the top!!! One last sign: You made it! Fly with the angels! As hard as I try, I cannot keep the tears from falling. I have never felt such a sense of accomplishment in such a magnified way in my life. I threw my arms out and felt like I was flying down the other side!
The rest of the coarse was filled with ups and downs and it was difficult. It was hard to get through, but so glorious at the same time. The rewards of the amazing scenery and feelings of accomplishment far out-weighed the intimidating coarse. Crossing the finish line was the most wonderful, satisfying feeling! I would do it again. I found the results, finally, and a couple of things changed:

Kelly SOUTHWELL
Overall Place: 79 (of 899)
Gender Place: 24
Age: 29
Class Place: 3(of 61)
Net Time: 01:56:18
Pace: 00:08:53.20

Ryan SOUTHWELL
Overall Place: 54 (of 899)
Gender Place: 44
Age: 32
Class Place: 12 (of 59)
Net Time: 01:52:22
Pace: 08:35


I was surprised to see that I made the top 25 overall in womens and I got 3rd in my age division. Bonuses I wasn't expecting. My time was 1 hr. 56 min. I couldn't believe I ran it in under 2 hours. Ryan impressed me so much, especially for his first race longer than 100 meters! He's a trooper to make THIS coarse his first distance race!

We greeted some friends at the finish line. Darren and Hunter also ran the 1/2 and did awesome! Way to go guys! Kim and Kristen are truly my heroes and both ran the full marathon! You inspire me, Ladies! Way to go! It was great to see our friends!

Anything that someone works towards, trains for, or studies for takes so much effort! I know that what you put in, you get out. I think we should all find something to work hard for and accomplish. Whether it's a race, a class, a family goal...whatever it is; do it! The rewards are priceless!