Half Marathon Blog Post #92
Chevron Houston Half Marathon, Houston, TX, January 14, 2024
Race #92
On January 14th, 2024, I ran the Chevron Houston Half Marathon on a chilly but sunny day. It was about 40 degrees at the beginning of the race, but I always prefer cooler to warmer weather when doing a half marathon! My time was 2:25:55, which is my best time ever in a non-virtual half marathon and my knee actually held up pretty well! I had my patella supports on and since Biofreeze has become my new friend, I actually carried a spray can with me so I could use it throughout the race (I did look a little funny with my belt with water holders that carried my Biofreeze can instead! I competed with over 20,000 other racers but I definitely had some tunnel vision that day. I spent much of the race thinking about everyone who helped me get through the last 7 months and how grateful I was for all of the love and support I have received; sort of like Mikie’s prayer list that he used to do for his half marathons. So I decided that for this blog, I would thank them, because I know that I could not have gotten through all of this without all of them. I know that I am extremely lucky to have such a wonderful support system!
My Family: My mom, my sister, my brother, my sister-in-law, and my nephews—they were all there for me in various ways, sometimes in ways I never knew I needed. You might think that as a grown up, you don’t need your mom in the same ways that you did when you were younger, but when something like this happens, you definitely do. My sister made sure that I was never alone in the weeks following Mikie’s death and has been there for me ever since. My brother was the rock and stepped in to keep running the family business and fill the void from Mike being gone. My sister-in-law was always there to help me and my nephews were such great supports. And of course, my sweet Bailey and Gracie—even though they also lost their beloved daddy, they never cease to be there to give me love, puppy kisses, and eternal emotional support. In the midst of my grief, I also feel very blessed ♥️
My Friends: I feel very blessed to have so many amazing friends, near and far. JJ, Michelle, Tam, Barbie, Aimee and many others, were so supportive in the days and weeks after Mikie’s death, helped me with his service in July and were there for it as well, and have been there for me ever since. I can’t thank you all enough for EVERYTHING! I love you all!
Mikie’s Family and Friends: I am so grateful for Mikie’s Lebanese family in California. He loved them dearly (as do I) and getting to visit them has been the best. Aunt Louise and Uncle Joe, Lori, Loretta and all of Mikie’s cousins, thank you! And I have been so amazed at the outpouring of love I have received from Mikie’s friends, former staff members, students, and parents. I knew how much he was loved and how many lives he impacted, but all of the beautiful messages, notes and cards I received has truly warmed my heart. And everyone who continues to check in on me—I am so grateful!
Last But Not Least, My Guardian Angel: Even though Mikie is gone, I can’t complete this list without him. In my early days of loss and grief, I felt such despair over losing him and didn’t know how I would go on without him by my side. I will always carry my grief with me and I still have many days where I grieve deeply, cry, get upset, and feel so bereft because I am missing my person. But I am working to take the happiness and love that we had together and the beautiful memories we shared and carry it alongside the grief. I feel so blessed that I had 25 incredible years with the love of my life. I feel so blessed that I had the most amazing best friend. I feel so blessed that I was loved deeply by such a wonderful man. And I feel so blessed that I found my soulmate and the person who completed me. So very blessed ♥️
My next race is February 18, the Ascension Austin Half Marathon!
