Days til brace off: 32
Days til move and start outpatient care: 13
Days til mom heads home: 6
What a helluva day! Oh man… so long, too. I am bushed. Going back to timeline style:
5am - Wake up and get ready to go cheer on Rebecca and dad at Soldier Field 10 Miler.
5:55 - Climb into car and head to Soldier Field
6:25 - Mom and I get a spot exactly at the starting line to cheer on the runners. Really cool.
6:55 - They let the elite runners in, including Rebecca. She came over and I wished her good luck.
7am - AND THEY’RE OFF! Rebecca is off quickly and my dad is right behind her since he was entered under my bib number in corral 1. Both are smiling. My dad is seriously pumped. He was so anxious all morning driving my mom nuts.
My mom and I cheered on waves of runners before heading over to the 9.25 mile point to try and cheer on people and catch Rebecca.
8:01am - Rebecca comes blazing through with Stephen alongside. I last about 5 seconds with them in my wheelchair. Mom and I try and go find them at the finish line with no luck. Finally we go back to see if we can catch dad at the same spot.
Notice how few runners are around at this pace. Also Stephen doesn’t count.
8:45am - Rebecca, Stephen, and Leah find us waiting for my dad. She finished in 1:06! Crazy fast. 27th out of all women. Stephen and Rebecca go down to the 9 mile marker to try and run the last mile with my dad.
9:05am-ish - We see Rebecca, Stephen, and my dad coming up. I take off slowly on the lake shore trail. Leah comes with me and tells me to slow down because they aren’t catching us.
Nice shirt, dad. Rebecca looks like she’s walking.
Finally we’re all together and go the entire last half mile, through the gates of Soldier Field, out the tunnel, onto the field and cross the finish line together at the 50 yd line!!!! I can’t believe they let me do that! My dad was pumped. He did fantastic and we were all proud of him. We grabbed a beer before all heading to Melrose Diner up north for a big and well-deserved breakfast/brunch.
My dad’s medal with my bib that he used.
Brunch crew.
After that everyone pretty much crashed. Rebecca went back to pack and catch her flight to DC. My dad passed out. I laid down but couldn’t sleep (so will pass out in just a sec here). I think my mom was doing research or something.
4pm - Jake shows up and we catch up on his unbelievable adventures.
5pm - Mom, Jake and I head to the hotel where my parents are staying to hang out, order pizza and watch the Blackhawks play (currently score is 4-1, Blackhawks.. where has this been???).
5:15 - Erik and Nina show up. They are definitely getting in race shape. I’m jealous.
5:45 - Louise, Amanda and her friend show up.
Most people leave to go to the game and Amanda and her friend stay to catch up. It’s been a while. Turns out we were only a month apart in our trips to Cape Town. Really random.
After the pizza arrived (Papa John’s, obviously), my parents and I ate and watched the first period of the game. I experimented by hopping onto various seats in the room. That was interesting. Then I headed back which brings me to this point.
All in all, an incredible day. Because:
- My dad had never run more than 5 miles before today’s 10 mile race.
- Rebecca got a PR as well and did amazing
- I got to finish with my dad and also catch Rebecca twice.
- I didn’t feel down seeing the runners. I might try and sing the national anthem and plead my case :)
- Melrose brunch was awesome
- Everyone had a great time
- The Blackhawks are doing great
Great day. I’m beat.
Ohh… The Blackhawks just won! Woohoo!
G’night!
Chip
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