No I Won't Back Down. Gonna Stand My Ground. The Marathon

Did I mention that when I first arrived in the second transition tent I was greeted by about four awesome ladies. Since there was only like one other person in there with me I had plenty of help. The only problem was, initially, they placed me RIGHT by the door opening on the chairs and the door / flap of the tent was WIDE open. So I quickly made the motion "I'm going to take my shorts off" and they realized that I was saying "let's move somewhere more secluded" so they grabbed my bag while I started to undress quickly! They even held little towels around me! So sweet!!

Anyway, I was putting on my socks and shoes while they were spraying me with bug spray. I got a big mouthful of it (I heard there were wicked mosquitoes on the course) and decided that was as much cancer as I wanted to swallow today!

I ran out of the tent wondering how my legs would feel. Within the first five minutes I was overjoyed. My legs felt great, like I hadn't even biked!! I made some adjustments to my race belt and started trucking along. Transition was right behind a big super market in town and there were plenty of people cheering and saying things like "Muy Bien Senorita!" I couldn't help but smile ear to ear and give a wave or a fist pump! The run was three 8 mile loops of out and back and I would see many of the same people and places over and over again.

Those first four miles I was clipping along and noticed that the Garmin was still set from yesterdays 15 min run. So I just started it right where it was rather than messing with it trying to get it reset and then on to that screen again giving me pace per mile. I decided heart rate and pace per mile would be my guides (along with how I felt). Miles 1-4 were a little faster than I wanted (6:50-7:15), but honestly, I felt great and my heart rate was fine. I was hot, but other than that, I felt well-prepared to run a good marathon. I decided it was ground I wouldn't have to cover feeling terrible later (which I knew I would).

Miles 4 though.. well the rest of the race were a different story.
My legs started getting heavy around mile 5 and it never really let up after that. I just took water and Gatorade intermittently and tried to be thankful my stomach didn't seem to be having any major issues. I probably smiled a lot less in those later miles. When I would look at my watch I would try to hold around 8 min pace and just not let it stray too far off of that. I didn't know where the other girls were, I didn't see many (except for right at the beginning), and really, I didn't care. I just worried about my race, how I felt, gritting my teeth and either getting to the half way point or back into town.
I saw Kyle when I was in town and made a face. I think that face said "it is mile 8 and I still have two laps to go and I am HURTING!" He just kept on cheering. I think on my second loop when I was turning to finish off my third he said something like "come on Kim - RUN GUTSY" and that certainly meant something to me. I just couldn't back down.. not now, not when I had already come this far. One more eight mile loop and I was home. I had to put my head down and give it everything. The miles clicked away and I couldn't wait to see 18, then I couldn't wait to see the marker for 20 - a 10k to go.. you can do anything for a 10k I told myself.

I started to think of all the people watching me online, and the people written on my arm that morning that between the four of them, were family, or felt like family anyway.. and that I knew were going through some tough times health-wise. Even my coach who had spent countless hours with me via email and phone investing time with very little return but still believed that I could do this. I just couldn't let them down.. or myself down. It was time to put this baby away. My quads felt like a thousand needles were piercing them with every step. Everything hurt.. right down to the bottom of my feet.

Finally I felt it.. the rush of town. People started lining the streets and were cheering pretty loudly. Some people were even stepping out in front of me to take my picture (which I thought was strange but hey - that's fine!). "Just get there!!" I kept thinking.. over an over.. cross that finish line.. get to Kyle.

The crowd was like a funnel and when I saw many people in front of me make the turn to go back out on the course for another loop, I step into the side for the finishers.. I WAS MAKING THE TURN FOR HOME!!

I saw the big screen with the professional women getting their awards.. and there it was.. 400 feet away.. plain as day 10:03.. I hadn't known I was that close all day. I thought I MIGHT be.. but never really knew. You have got to be kidding me I thought...

We did it..We freakin did it! Ballou Skies had a pretty big day :)

I don't know if I have ever been so happy in my life. I started dancing and cheering. The stands on either side started cheering with me!! I felt so blessed and so thankful!!
I had made it!! I was home!!
Needless to say..
I was flying..

And even though the names had long faded from my arm.. and the small tattooed cross was only barely visible.. I knew each step of the way I was running on faith. Faith in those that helped me get here, and an even bigger faith that if this was the day I was supposed to have.. well, then I would have it.

And it was.. and I was so grateful.

and in pain

But I beckoned the cameraman over to give me a huge hug seeing as I couldn't take one more step.

Another great part of the race was seeing Charisa after in the finishers area! She had a great swim and is just a wonderful, fun, charming person. It was awesome to get to race alongside her.

Calling Coach Justin after the race. I almost fell off my chair when he told me I was the first amateur female and 6th including all the professionals.

And I met the policia after I was finally able to get out of the medical tent.. which I didn't want to visit but considering I only had to pee once (a very small amount) during the day.. the fact that shortly after I was dizzy and lightheaded made me realize I probably did need that IV.

You know who you are.. and your stories and thoughts have touched me in a way I can't describe. Thanks for taking this journey with me to the finish of Ironman Cozumel. I couldn't have done it without you.