Christina and I flew out to Vegas on Friday and the marathon was on Sunday. I figured this was a great plan - it would give my body a few days to adjust to Vegas before tackling the half marathon. Vegas itself is such an exciting city - but when you add over 1,000 Team Challenge members, along with the other 30,000-40,000 Rock'N'Roll marathon runners - it becomes an EXTRAORDINARY city! I was in awe of the Team Challenge apparel that everyone was wearing - it was so amazing to know that so much awareness was happening for Crohn's and Colitis! The Venetian was an excellent hotel to be at for the stay (although I am fairly certain it seemed like we were walking a mile to get to our rooms - which ended up being the longest walk EVER after the 1/2 marathon on Sunday night). There was a giant Fitness Expo happening that my mentor, Abbe, took us to. By the way...Abbe is the most amazing mentor ever - she was so encouraging and helpful over the months leading up to the 1/2 marathon and then during the entire weekend. Her helpful hints came in very handy (always have chapstick with you on the Vegas course, bring gloves for after dark, etc.) I was very thankful for her while on the course - I think I reached for the chapstick multiple times due to the dry Vegas air (not to mention the unexpected wind advisory!). As for the gloves - they were short lived...I lost them along the way, but they were helpful while waiting in the corral line. Friday night there was a Team Challenge - National Team reception. That was a great place to hear everyone's stories about why they joined Team Challenge and to put faces to names that I'd been hearing on the phone every week during our team calls. It was here that we met Kathy! She is an amazing Team Challenge member from North Dakota. :)
We tried to take it easy on Saturday, I swear we did...but when you're in Vegas how can you NOT go out and do things!? Christina, Kathy and I ventured out onto the Las Vegas Strip to grab lunch...and then we kept walking after lunch. :) Maybe not the best idea to walk so much the day before the race - but it sure was fun at the time! Saturday night was the Team Challenge pasta party. Let me tell you...waiting in line to go into this Pasta Party was absolutely beyond-words surreal. There were lines on both sides of the hallway of people cheering and making noise in celebration for Team Challenge. It was here that I stopped to just stand there and really take it all in. I was doing this...the dream was quickly becoming the reality. After two years I had made it to Vegas and I was standing in this line where people were excited about Team Challenge...no longer was I ashamed of what could happen if my Crohn's kicked in...I was standing around a huge number of people who understood, who got it, who also lived with an IBD. It was at this moment I wanted to cry with happy tears - because that is a feeling I'll never forget. It's impossible to put it all into words - but it was like I finally had purpose - I finally had a reason as to why I have this disease. I finally felt like I was gearing up for one of the biggest moments in my life - I was getting ready to literally kick Crohn's in the butt the next day!
Sunday was a pretty low key day. We had a team meeting that morning which was awesome - what a great group of people Team Challenge is! They set you up for success with this program...during every step of the way I had a wonderful Endurance Manager (Cindie), a fantastic coach (Coach Dave) and the most inspiring mentor (Abbe). With these three people on your side - and the amount of support from friends and family - you are for sure going to succeed and cross the finish line. After the meeting we took a quick stroll around the hotel and did some shopping with Kathy and Becky. Shopping in Vegas is an experience! The day flew by fast and before you know it we were getting ready - fake tattoos, sparkles (because, hello, it is Vegas after all), energy blocks, blister band aides, chapsticks, etc. We were totally ready for this thing! We had very nice shuttle busses that took us to the starting line. Of course, being in a later corral meant waiting a while to cross the starting line...but when we finally did...there was a burst energy that came around that screamed, "You're here! You made it! Let's do this thing!"
I don't even know how to really explain the Strip at Night with the Rock'N'Roll 1/2 Marathon. I think the closest word is EXCITING...but that really doesn't begin to do it justice. There were bands at every mile, people along the route cheering you on...and when you heard cow bells, you knew that those were Team Challenge supporters. The lights of the strip kept you energized and going...and then the other part of the course was just dark enough to make you want to get through it FAST. The 1/2 marathon started out really great...we started out by the airport (which I found very appropriate and I felt my Grandpa there with me). We kept up a really great pace (faster than anticipated) and even had a few spurts where jogging happened. The last few miles were hard...we had completed 10 miles in training and 13 miles is VERY different from 10. By mile 11 and 12 my stomach was hurting, my feet hurt, and I wanted to be done. As soon as the finish line was in sight another burst of energy hit (along with another burst of wind gusts). Knowing the finish line was so close really kept me going. Crossing it was one moment where I was in absolute awe.
I know that to some 13.1 miles is not a big deal. For me though - it was HUGE! I have never been an athlete of any kind - and so to make a goal to complete a 1/2 marathon while battling Crohn's Disease - was a pretty big deal for me. To finish and check that off the bucket list...that was an even bigger deal. Team Challenge changed my life - I have a new outlook where my Crohn's is concerned (and it's always been a positive outlook but now there's a whole lot of hope mixed in with it). Challenge. Change. Cure. I truly believe one day I'll see a cure...or at least a way to better manage IBDs. Please know that if you know someone that suffers with an IBD...they may look like they're fine (because let's be honest - if you met one of us tomorrow you wouldn't be able to tell by the way we look that there's anything wrong with us) but they may not be. For far too long IBD patients have suffered in silence because it's an embarrassing disease - not something everyone wants to talk about. Be there for them. It doesn't mean you have to ask details about it or know everything that is going on with their medical stuff...it just means that you let them know you've got their back.
THANK YOU to everyone who has had my back along this journey. Thank you to those who have made a donation, who made a purchase through the Tastefully Simple, Pampered Chef, and/or Scentsy parties, who have purchased from "Cupcakes for Crohn's" and thank you to those of you who have offered a kind word, watched my journey unfold on Facebook, and who have believed that I could accomplish this. I know that my positive outlook is only possible because of the wonderful support system I have. Thank you to Dr. Petersen for being a wonderful doctor who has done everything possible to make sure I am managing my disease. Thank you to Christina for committing to completing Vegas with me and helping me out with all of the cupcakes. It was a very LONG journey - with lots of cupcakes - but we crossed the finish line! Thank you to my family who sees me at my absolute worst with this disease and are always there for me. Thank you to everyone who cheered me on via Facebook the night of the event - you have no idea how much that helped! My phone was with me on the course and knowing I had so many people watching for updates helped to keep me going! Thank you to Abbe - without your guidance and our Facebook chats along the way I'm not sure I would have been as prepared as I was for this 1/2 marathon. It was a good feeling to know that I could talk to someone who had been through this journey and was doing wonderful work through Team Challenge. I couldn't have done this without you!
For now - that's one bucket list item checked off! I think the next bucket list item won't be as physically challenging - but maybe mentally/emotionally draining...I think I'll try writing a novel. :) As for Team Challenge...I hope to see you in a few years! Is Nashville an option? :D Cupcakes for Crohn's will be an ongoing thing. That's how the fundraising will happen for the next Team Challenge event. Cupcakes are on hold though until after the holidays...it's time to get serious about some Christmas baking.
THANK YOU again for all the support!
