— Lacy Jaye Hansen

My head is spinning but I had to pause to show you who I saw today. The picture is blurry, but that’s okay.
I was walking through the expo and caught a glimpse of Ryan Hall and then he walked over to Josh Cox. With sweaty arm pits I interrupted them and asked for a picture.

Our first night in Breckenridge was christened by visiting a karaoke bar. The altitude didn't effect Kenton's lungs enough to prevent him from embarrassing me. He brought down the house with his rendition of "Use Somebody" and Huey Lewis', "The Power of Love." There were many other great performances from brothers and cousins. And…. I may have been forced to sing, "Total Eclipse of the Heart." Maybe.

Kenton & Judah go alpine sliding from Kenton & Lacy Hansen on Vimeo.

Lacy & Judah Crash from Kenton & Lacy Hansen on Vimeo.

We rolled in to Brighton, CO at about 3 AM our time, 2 AM their time. Uncle George left the light on for us!
After too few hours of sleep, Judah, who slept for a solid 8, came bounding in with mountain fever. I tried to suppress his excitement to no avail.
"Okay, I'm up!"
I woke to find various aunts, uncles, and cousins scattered through the house.
Judah and I were quickly put to work, picking the gooseberry harvest from Aunt Kathy's garden. We're loading enough food for 18 people, most of it grown right in Brighton. I wish we had all these farms at home.
Cousin Matty decided to take off on a run with me. He's in from NYC and his sea level lungs couldn't hang for long. He released me to go on and I did.
Brighton is just outside Denver and there's an amazing view of the mountains. The mountains did their best to distract as I was noticing the altitude sucking my air. I took a solid 3-5 minute break after 5 miles. I quickly recovered and made if back to Uncle George's for fresh garden produce.
Everyone loaded their cars to the brim and began the trip up to Breckenridge.
We grabbed a quick tasty lunch at Panda Express, potty breaked, and now we're rolling up hill with our 92 year old Great Great Aunt Faye keeping us very entertained.
We just drove through a mountain!  What a beautiful state! Next stop, Breckenridge! 

We used to fret over the amount of Swedish Fish and Red Vines we packed for road trips. Today we spent 30 minutes trying to fit 4 bikes in a Mazda 3.
Oh, how life changes!
Off to Breckenridge, CO!

I miss my little guy. I’m pretty blue without him at home. Doesn’t really make me feel like blogging. I’m blessed to love him so much.
Hopefully I’ll still feel this way after he comes home and destroys the house

1st Day of 1st Grade

Walking to School with Daddy

The gun went off and so did I. There were so many tid bits that I kept telling myself to “remember that, don’t forget this.” But honestly it was all so surreal and crazy, it kind of just blurred into one. Immediately I was bombarded with runners ditching off to the sides to “make.” It was so crazy that I just stared straight ahead as much as I possibly could. I quickly found that I could break a record for the amount of high fives given in one day. I had to resist because a friend had told me how tiring it actually was to give out so many high fives. We were greeted into each town with bigger and drunker cheers. Those Bostonians like their beer and they really like to drink it on Patriots Day as you run through their town.

I had chosen my shirt earlier in the week. I was at a sports store and it was like the shirt spoke out to me, “I’m the one.” Because of my choice in clothing, the incredible fans in Boston, decided to call me “Trust.” One single word printed across my shirt gave me a new name for 3 hours and 29 minutes. “Let’s go Trust!” “Come on Trust!” “TRUST, Trust, you can do it!” On that day, it was good to have a new name. I think I needed to hear that word over and over. It was nearly halfway, and I needed to trust I could do the rest, because my legs were already so tired. I hadn’t even hit the real hills yet and I needed to trust I was still going to see that finish line.

I left the ruckus behind and kept looking to the right. I told the family, I’d stay to the right and look for them. Kenton had planned to be at the halfway point, so I started looking more intently. As I was running through the town, I heard my name, my real name being screamed from the left. It was Kenton, Judah, my sister-in-law Tara, and my brother-in-law Scott! It was crazy and I think I cut some people off but I managed to get a quick wave and smile. I hollered out something about staying to the right, but it was all in fun because I only learned later what chaos they had to endure to get a spot to cheer from.

The weather remained beautiful. The sun shined and the temps were mild. I never even noticed the wind. These were such good things, because I could only deal with a few bad things at that time. My biggest concerns were the fact that I was listening to veteran runners telling others that “the hills” were coming right up, and the blisters that were forming back at mile 5, were really, really starting to hurt!

I never stopped to check on my blisters or get some Vaseline at the medic tents. I considered it, but I assumed stopping would be worse than the blisters.

The route was adorned with huge signs. One for each town and a tag line that represented the traditon of the course. Most of the hills are in Newton. I looked up and read, “Run Newton Better In Pain.” I laughed! That was the best line out of all the signs. At least I knew the pain I was in was expected and normal.

The crowd was so thick. So loud. So amazing. So…. Boston.

I ran the last turns. I was showered with screams. I turned ON TO BOYLSTON STREET.

I could see the finish. It was still a long ways off, but I knew I was going to get my body across that line.

I was tunneled by the crowd, but I was in another place. A place that only days later was I able to describe.

On our last night in Boston, I broke down in tears to Kenton. I had finally been able to describe the feeling I had as I finished. Of all things, Chris Brown’s song, Forever, had unlocked that feeling for me.

I was playing all the memories of my running life through my head. From running my first mile in 2006 with my Dad at my side. To completing new distances with friends running with me or cheering for me. To training for my first marathon with Wendy by me, every single step of the way. I thought of my talks with my Dad about trying to BQ. My conversations with Jamie after I fractured my pelvis. The tears shed to my husband. The sweetest words of faith from my son. The support my mom had given at every single race. Maria telling our whole church goodbye, but specifically reminding me that they’d have a room for me when, not if, I got to Boston. I thought of all times Kenton let me dream out loud. I thought of how he always pushed me to go after my dream, to never let anything stop me. How James mapped out 26.2 miles and used it as a teaching instruction at church. How Stephanie was first to pray when I was scared. How Rachel and Dave laid hands on my injuries. How my sister screamed the loudest when I got my BQ. How my Dad abandoned all formalities and told me everything he felt. How he got worried and came after me in the last few miles of my qualifying race. How Dad jumped in front of me to block the wind in that last mile. How Dad pushed me to run in the first place. How he helped me take a fluke and turn it into a way of life. And so many swarming words of encouragement I’d received from family, from friends, from strangers. How I had truly come so far. I was accomplishing my dream. And how I was doing it by traveling on the legs of my loved ones. I was trudging through those last footfalls on a path they had built for me. I desired so badly to take everyone by the hand and celebrate this moment with them. I had waited for so long for this moment and in my heart, I desired so much to share it.

All things had truly been made possible for me and in that moment, as I crossed the finish line of the 2010 Boston Marathon, I became living proof that, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). I could look my son in the eyes and tell him nothing is impossible.

From the finish line it was chaotic. I was exhausted, but when a nice woman placed my medal around my neck, I cracked. I was completely and totally finished.

I was herded through thousands of people. My family was stuck on the T. I had to have help putting my warm ups back on. I managed to find Kenton and then I got in view of my Dad. I was greeted by a great reception of family and friends, but I passed them up because I had been waiting all day to hug my Dad. Running had become our thing. I believe it was a gift from God to bring us closer. Closer than we’d ever thought possible. Running may have saved us from living this life as strangers. And Boston was the stage for all of our emotions regarding this relationship to be on full display.

I have had such a hard time expressing my feelings about Boston. Finding those perfect words to truly describe what the journey was like. I just couldn’t do it. It’s been such a long road for me. A strange turn of events turned an unsuspecting girl into a runner and got her to Boston. A mob of friends and family carried my hopes and helped me turn them into a reality. How do you put those experiences into words? I don’t think you can.

If I was alone when I finished, I never felt like it. I had loved ones across the nation cheering for me that day and I knew it. I had a family just minutes away on a train. I had thousands of adopted friends screaming for me. But as my sister pointed out, I had my God, my savior, and my friend by my side the whole way. I was so impacted by a father that gives good gifts to his stubburn, selfish child.

How I long for everyone to experience that joy. How I wished I could have taken you all by the hand and shared this journey with you.

Kenton made this video, and he nailed it. My words never came, but this is exactly how I feel about “my” road to Boston.

My Road To Boston from Kenton & Lacy Hansen on Vimeo.

I waited for these images before I could post about this race. These images are the pure, wordless expression of what Boston meant to both of us. Of what running had done for us. Of what we discovered about each other through this journey. Of what God will do with a life, if you let him have his way.

So, when Persia was dust, all cried, “To Acropolis!

Run, Pheidippides, one race more! the meed is thy due!

Athens is saved, thank Pan, go shout!” He flung down his shield

Ran like fire once more: and the space ‘twixt the fennel-field

And Athens was stubble again, a field which a fire runs through,

Till in he broke: “Rejoice, we conquer!” Like wine through clay,

Joy in his blood bursting his heart, – the bliss!

-Robert Browning, his 1879 poem Pheidippides.

There are things worth fighting for.

What more can I say?
I will end with a quote from one of my favorite minds.

Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So… get on your way.
Dr. Seuss

Well, humphf! It can’t always be sun shiny and rainbows, I guess. Boston is in one week. I should be done and showered by this time next week. I’m not giddy. I’m not excited. I’m tired, worried, and pretty burnt out.

You DO NOT talk about Fight Club….. or the possibility that I’ve injured myself while training for Boston!

I crossed the finish line and immediately had to go to the pumpkin patch, celebrate Judah’s 6th birthday, have a mad science birthday party, and then comes Halloween. One of these days I’ll get to report on my marathon, one of these days!