Kansas Half 2015

My brother, the Comedian is amazing. He embodies everything that was great about my father. He loves his family. He volunteers his time and energy for all sorts of community projects. He is kind and thoughtful. But, he is humble and he always puts himself last.

The Comedian used to be a fast runner. He was a runner decades before it became everybody's sport, decades before it was a social sport. He ran a 3:40 marathon with his wife in 1984. He had stress fractures in both feet. He rested to recover. He never ran another step. This year, he decided to change that. After years of putting himself last, he decided to do something for himself. Instead of volunteering to be a course marshal for a 5K, he decided to do a 5K. And then another one. And he focused on healthy eating. At the second 5K, he won a door prize entry into the Kansas Half Marathon. That's a big step. I promised him that if he signed up and trained and did the race, I would do it with him. Every step of the way. So, he did. With amazing support from Ad Astra running, he trained using the Galloway method of run/walk. He discovered the social sport of running.

So, after finishing the Masq on Saturday, I hopped a plane to Kansas. It was a fun family weekend. My oldest brother, the Protector, picked me up at the airport. We had a few hours together in the car. After getting to the Comedian's house, a few hours of conversation, then to bed. It was late. Thank goodness for Daylight Savings Time and that extra hour. Also grateful the Comedian had already picked up our race packets. I sent him a shirt from INKnBURN, but he says he's using it for inspiration. Today, he was showing his loyalty and support to the guys at Ad Astra who got him here.

It was still Halloween weekend, and I was dog tired from rushing around, so INKnBURN zombie sure felt like an appropriate attire for the day. We got up early because the Comedian had made signs for friends on the course. See .... super thoughtful. We got to the race start and I met a fellow INKnBURN ambassador who was pacing the 2:45 group. I knew we would be behind them. We stopped by Ad Astra tent and talked to several of the Comedian's new running friends. Everyone knows the Comedian. We eventually met up with his training partner who was also running her first half marathon. I'm inspired by these two.

As the race started, we started at the back. The Comedian and his partner were excited, almost giddy. As we paced 10 second walk/30 second run, they planned their nutrition strategy and their pace strategy and talked about following the plan laid out by their coach. Seriously, does anyone really follow their coach's instructions? These two were focused. The timers were set.

As we came across volunteers, course marshalls, aid stations, anyone just cheering the crowd ... the Comedian took time to thank each and every one of them with real gratitude and enthusiasm. It's a college town, so many of the folks out there were young college kids and he thanked them for not sleeping in that morning. Last year he was a course marshall. This year he is a runner.

Mile 3: The Kids. Amazing community support for this race. Last night, children got candy. This morning, they were on the course offering it to runners. The Comedian accepted with true gratitude and put it in his pocket. "Even if you don't want it, if a child offers you candy, you accept it." It's important to remind the children that they are important, appreciated, and it's important to show gratitude for their acts of kindness.

Mile 4: The Fall. This would catch up to us. Running Partner landed in a super deep pot-hole and did a circus move type of roll. The fall was hard. She wouldn't let that stop her. Her ankle was sore, but she was moving forward. Same intervals, she wasn't going to be stopped.

Mile 5: The surprise: We had seen the signs put out by the Comedian. But, here, there were people walking into the street holding signs. They had our names on them. My sister, the Fighter and Superwife, had come down to surprise the Comedian. I knew they were coming. No one else knew. The Comedian was moved ... maybe, a tear or two. Later, my sisters admitted that they were getting worried because there weren't a lot of people still on the course. They weren't sure if they had missed us or if we had dropped out.



Mile 6: Feeling good, so changed the pace to 15 second run/30 second walk. That's the plan and everything was going right.

Mile 7-9: The Levee: Straight out and straight back. The landmarks never seem closer. And running partner was feeling the fall on her ankle. Mental mental mental. We passed INKnBURN Melissa, the Jumping Runner on her way back in with her pace group. I lost my INKnBURN Skeleton tech tube and thought I might cry. I couldn't wait for the portapottie because I didn't know when it was coming and found a nice private place under the bridge. You're welcome for that. On the way back, I found my INKnBURN skeleton tech tube and felt a boost of energy. Woohoo!!!

Mile 10-13: Running Partner's ankle was hurting. Calf was cramping. We were back to a walk. Run intervals were attempted, but just not possible. Lots of stretching was needed. But, forward progress was still being made. And, there was a sign with all three of our names on it. He had made one for us, too. There was a child on the course cheering on the straggling runners and the Comedian dug in his pocket and found that candy from earlier. The smile on that kid's face was amazing. By accepting the candy, he made one child happy. By giving it away, he made another child happy. That's my brother!!! Before I stop finish up, I should mention just how beautiful the course was. Across the bridge, through some cute neighborhoods, historic downtown, and through parks.

Mile 13.1: We found the sign the Comedian made for his coaches. He and running partner picked it up and decided we could run it in to the finish. I admit, I started to cry. I've never cried at a race. Not when I finished my first marathon, not ever. But, I'm so dang proud at this moment. My sisters were alongside the chute with my nephew. And, one of my best friends from high school met us at the finish. Haven't seen her in 30 years, but it was like old times. An ultrarunner friend of the Comedian stuck around so she could have the honor of putting the medal on his neck. There were lots of women of all ages and sizes who wanted to see him finish ... my brother, the ladies man. So, 31 years ago, he did a 3:40 marathon and today he did a similar time in a half. He's on his way back. He said he never got into the groove of his "floaty" feeling he gets at the end of a long run, but he was sticking with his running partner when she needed support even though he felt like he could have run. Secret? I didn't mind walking either.

And then, you know what he did? He went back out on the course. There was one other person still out there. The Comedian went back and ran in with him, but dropped off just before the chute to let the final runner cross on his own to celebrate his victory.

After medals, and juice (thanks, Sis), and some conversation, we headed to lunch. Then back home for a quick shower and my Sister drove me to the airport in time for work on Monday. Wheh, what a weekend. So, final thoughts ...

1.  I am so grateful that my father's legacy lives on .... and my brother would make him so very proud.
2.  I should start calling my brother my Hero or the Inspiration, because he is so much more than the Comedian
3. I am grateful that the Inspiration is taking care of himself now. Did I mention, in his training, he lost 60 pounds?
4. I'm grateful for all of the support from Ad Astra running to get him to this starting line. I call it a starting line because he signed up for another half 2 weeks later. Woot!! Now, to get them to carry INKnBURN.