Ultra Marathon - What It Meant to Me

Daniel (our marketing guy) asked me to write about my personal experience with the “One to Grow On Ultramarathon”, but words cannot really capture how the event touched my heart.

When I woke up on Saturday morning, the day of the event, I did not even want to get out in the rain with my kids and go down to Treaty Oak Park where the event was taking place but then I realized it was not about me and my family, it was about supporting Wolfson Children’s Hospital, the children who have benefited from the hospital, especially Jake Medley, and all of the volunteers from our office who dedicated the last 6 months to help raise awareness for such an incredible cause. 

When we got to the entrance of the event, one of the 6 runners participating in the Ultra Marathon was crossing the finish line and I could not even start to imagine running for 9 straight hours, 55 miles, over 22 bridges and being able to run across the finish line.  Talk about finishing strong and running for a purpose.  Then I told myself, I know I have not trained for the 5 mile run starting at 2:00 pm but if these guys can do 55 miles for the kids, I can run 5 for Jake.  So, I signed up. 

While we were waiting for the 5 mile event to start, Payton and Paige (my daughters) got to enjoy the bounce houses, face painting, cupcakes, cotton candy, popcorn and watched the 55 children sponsored for  the event  be honored in front of the crowd.  Then Payton, my 5 year old, asked why the kids were sick, or why did the little girls not have any hair, or why is Jake in a wheelchair and why couldn’t they come out and play with her?  Wow, what a defining moment for me to share with her the gift of health and why our company gets so involved with supporting Wolfson Children’s Hospital. 

So then Payton decided she wanted to run the 1 mile fun run for the kids.  Did I mention she was in a long monogrammed pink dress, a bow, and boots?  That did not stop her from entering the race and she ran her little heart out, stepping in puddles, running in light rain, and with smile on her face and a slight belly ache.  This is the same kid that just ate cotton candy, pop corn and cupcakes prior to the start.  Needless to say it took us a little time to finish but she ran with a purpose and my heart was so full of joy to see her cross the finish line with all of the Wolfson children there clapping for her along with the rest of the runners.

After I finished the 1 mile fun run with Payton, I somehow had to muster up the energy to turn around and run the 5 mile event.  What was I thinking?  All I could really think about was being at the lighting of the birthday cake press conference a month before, outside the entrance of Baptist Hospital, in the freezing cold at 6:00 am with Payton by my side.  She kept asking why are we here, mommy, It is freezing?  Good question.   Then when we saw Jake Medley’s candle light up…That was my answer to her... we were there to support little Jake, Dean, Jennifer, Anna, and Caroline (Dean works with us at Medical Methods). That is why and it was the only reason I could run 5 miles that cold, windy day on January 30th, 2010. 

It was not about the distance, lack of training, wind factor, 3 bridges, or rain…it was all about the heart and the community involvement supporting this amazing Children’s hospital.  We will never forget the Ultra Marathon and the great memories my family and I shared  while participating in this incredible event.