So Friday morning I woke up and ran around like a chicken with my head cut off getting prepared to leave for Memphis! My first 1/2 Marathon was starting in 24 hours. I did the laundry, washed the sheets, packed the bags. J’s parents arrived to watch Hayden and off we go!!!
We headed downtown to meet up with the Kelley’s. Picked them up at LifeWay(not the bookstore) and proceeded 40 West! The Seaver’s and Smith’s were just ahead of us. We all arrived at the Expo to pick up our packets and go out to dinner. We opted to do something quick so we went to TGIFriday’s! By the way, their breaksticks are really great!
Just a little background on how we all know each other…
The Hayes’ and Seaver’s are college friends and went to church together in Knoxville. ( fun fact – Melanie was Jason’s math tutor freshman year of college.)
The Smith’s, Seaver’s, and Hayes’ all live in Hendersonville.
The Kelley’s, Smith’s, and Seaver’s all attend Grace Community.
Jason Smith, Jason Hayes, and Michael Kelley all work at LifeWay.
Anyways, we parted ways after dinner. The Smith’s and Seaver’s stayed at the Peabody and the Kelley’s and us stayed (together in a suite) at the Courtyard Marriott. I loved the fact that our hotel was gated all around the parking lot. Guess that tells you a little more about Memphis. So we hit the sack and try to get some sleep. I didn’t sleep that well…nerves!
So Saturday morning…the BIG day. My first half- marathon!!! I had a goal to run under 2 hours. Well, and to cross the finish line. But two hours would really be great! I reminded myself of a few reasons why I was running.
1. Joseph Peabody – who is now with Jesus.
2. Joshua Kelley- living with leukemia.
3. Jason and Michael are running 26.2…I’ll be done way before them.
And off we go!!! I stuck close by the pace setter who was holding the 3:55 sign for the marathoners. He told them to run the First 10 with your head, the Second 10 with your legs, and the Final 6 with your heart. So I divided that by 2 and stuck with his plan! After tripping one man, almost tripping a woman, drinking lots of fluid from trash cans, and munching on power Jelly Beans…I DID IT!!!!! 1 hr. 58 min!!!!! Wooooo hooooo!!!!!
Post race I ate tortilla soup, a piece of pizza, a do-nut, an orange slice, and some hot cocoa!!! And then proceeded to get the runners poo. That was not fun but it is a reality. Jana and I headed over to wait on Jason and Michael who both ran the Full Marathon!!! I was so proud of Jason!!!! I definitely cried when he came through the finish line. What an amazing accomplishment! And special thanks to Bill for taking video and to Jason S. for taking photos!
The Smith’s and Seaver’s headed back to Nashvegas. The Kelley’s and us headed back to our hotel for showers and naps. Then we closed out the evening with J Alexander’s and The Quantum of Solace. We headed back home Sunday morning.
Would I ever do I Half-marathon again…absolutely!!! Loved every second! Though I will have to think harder about a marathon…that is another level!
What a weekend! Who knew being 30 would be so grand?!! 
Love the post! Smiled reading every word. Next time we’re going somewhere that does not require gates at the entrance. San Diego, anyone?
Oohh, San Diego, we’re in! My uncle lives there so we could even stay free. When is it?
Carrie, you did SO great! I’m so proud of you. We had an absolute BLAST!
now san diego may be worth 26.2…!
Glad you survived the half marathon and our wonderfully unsafe city! Can you tell why I want to move so bad?? Awesome time on your marathon!! You rock! If you want to do a full…I’m planning on doing ‘Nashville this year…just a thought
I’m so proud of you ALL!! What a great cause to run for!! Now if I may make a suggestion… First weekend in Nov 2009 NYC Marathon! Free place to stay and an Orthopod to tend to any post run aches and pains…. Pre race dinner is at Tavern on the Green. I could go on and on. I am planning on running it again and trying to get a group together. Think about it. Congratulations on a GREAT race!!!
I’m so proud of you guys!! Thank you for running for Joseph. That made me cry reading his name.
I am so incredibly proud of you! Congrats to you and Jason!!!
Yay Carrie! Great job!
Woohoo Carrie and Jason!! That is so amazing! I am so proud of you guys and I know it must have been a little easier to think of who and what you were running for! We love giving to St Jude, it is so close to our hearts! Maybe I will run with you guys next year! Great job… now you all can REST!
I am extremely proud of all of you! 30 is grand! I hope you have a Merry Christmas! I used too many exclamation marks…
What a great accomplishment. I am in awe!
Great job, Carrie! I was so sad that I was not running alongside you guys… And, SO proud of Jason- what an accomplishment!
I’m so very proud! I look forward to running one with you in the future! I definitely teared up when I watched Bill’s video of Jason & Michael crossing that finish line!
Wonderful wonderful! Glad you got to experience the wonderful city of Memphis. It’s a lot better than people give it credit for
Great job! Wait til 40, it’s grander!
So proud of you, Carrie!!!!!!!!!!!!
congrats on all of you efforts and hard work. that is awesome that you made it in under 2 hrs. i have been thinking about you . hope to see you soon. we missed you today at fbc. i am so proud of you!
i vote we do all women one where you get a tiffany bracelet at the end!
that would be worth 26.2 
Wow!! sounds like lots of fun, but i know it is so much work leading up to it – rob did the full marathon a few years back, the half the next. So proud of you guys – you make me want to start running – thanks for running for these precious children!!! Ryan just hit his one year off of chemo and I found myself thinking of all the sweet faces I have looked into these past two years since he was diagnosed – there are far too many who are no longer here and it is more than my heart can stand. Hope you guys have a wonderful Christmas!
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