Ya'll.... (that's how my southern friends down here start sentences that are sure to be followed by some amazing news). WE DID IT!! And... SO DID YOU!!! We still have a few checks to come in, but you have generously given over $5,000 to Andy!! My heart floods with gratitude as I write those words- your support is an amazing outpouring of love.
What an amazing weekend we had in Indianapolis! We are still processing the different emotions and the whole experience. We headed up on Thursday night to Indiana and got to see some good friends before settling down at my Aunt Cathy and Uncle Johnny's house. They made us all a lovely spaghetti dinner and my mom brought down her amazing bread and joined us with Andy and my dad to have a carb loading good time.
Saturday morning arrived early at 5:00! We laced up, carb-loaded some more and headed downtown to join the 35,000 other participants! Seeing that many different people running and walking was an amazing sight!
Johnny, Cathy, Bart (Lauren's cousin) and Jon and I headed out, wondering if this really was such the good idea it seemed last Fall!
Jon and I had a plan to run about 4 miles and then walk a bit since we both so injured this winter and hadn't gotten up to the mileage we had planned on. My Aunt Cathy's advice however was "Lauren, you just need to do it as fast as you can and get it over with!" Well, we didn't quite go as fast as we could, but around mile 4 we felt so good that we decided to keep going! Then, by mile 7 we were on the Indy 500 Speedway, and that was so exciting, we just kept going! Each block had different bands playing and people encouraging, clapping and cheering everyone on.
After running the 2.5 miles around the Speedway, we realized that we were more than halfway done and that there was no way we were going to stop! While I was on the speedway, I began to feel amazed at how good I felt- neither one of us had been in any pain during the race, nor out of breath. Now, I think a lot of things contributed to that- the flat terrain of Indiana vs all of the hills we usually run on, a cool 50 degree day, the gel energy shots that our friends gave us, gatorade pit stops, etc...What really was carrying us though was the love and prayers of our friends and family and the strength of God. We got many texts and emails the morning of the race encouraging us and lifting us up. I had such deep joy and a heart overflowing with thanksgiving as we ran.
Around mile 10, the rain started- we felt pretty intense. :) We got so excited every time we saw a huge orange mile marker sign! I think we were both in awe when we saw that 11, and then 12. We set several personal records several times during the race.
The last mile of the race is called the "victory mile", and we gave it all we had as we ran into the city and saw that big finish line banner and a huge 13. The rain even stopped and the sun came out and shone down on us as we cranked it into high octane and grabbed hands as we ran across the finish line!
I have to admit that the last mile was a little emotional as I considered that we had met this great goal and had been loved the whole way by all of you. I was hoping so much that we were honoring Andy and somehow taking part in his story.The gratitude we have for you is immeasurable- thank you for giving your kindness, your money, prayers and encouragement. Andy is grateful and moved by the kindness of strangers that has been so evident through this process.
And... registration is already open for the 2012 Indy Mini-- who wants to be on the official Running for Andy team?
13.1 miles... done and done!
We will continue to run, and also continue to grieve for Andy and be amazed at his spirit and determination. We will also continue to give of ourselves for the good of others as you all have so inspired us to do. So- whether you run or not, get out there and do good and don't ever give up!
This is one of my favorite quotes that I dedicate to Andy.
With much love and gratitude,
Jon and Lauren (and for Andy and the Bridge family)
