Marathon Woman!
Well, there she is! My BFF Jill just hours before running a marathon in beautiful Salt Lake City, Utah. Last week was such a blast spending time with her and her lovely family and watching her do something I found profoundly amazing. I’ve known Jill – well it seems like forever, but really it’s since 2nd grade. All the same it’s been a LONG time, and it was such an honor to watch her meet her goals and do something I could never do.
Things start out early with Marathons – like TOO early I think, but then again, I’m not a runner so who am I to judge? We started things off at the University of Utah campus at 6:30am. There we met up with some of Jill’s running buddies and her family and I sent her off in style! It’s so amazing to me how many woman are running not only for themselves, but for their families. One of Jill’s friends, Erin had her kids and hubby’s name written on her hand so when she felt like she couldn’t keep going she could look down and see who she was doing this for. That really touched me. Another gal had her children’s initals on beads in her shoelaces. So many of these gals are just flat out astonishing! It was such a pleasure to meet them and hear why the run.
Jill’s daughter, Abby wasn’t excited to see her mom running away. But a hot cocoa cheered her up not long after this.
We were able to cheer Jill on a little over half way through the race as it made it’s way through Liberty Park. We also got to see the marathon leaders as they ran through. Let me just say, those boys were FAST! It was pretty cool. It was really, really windy on this particular day too, so between that and the elevation difference I can’t tell you how amazing it was to see Jill as she rounded the bend and made her way toward us her little cheering section.
After Jill kept going we headed to the finish line and made it just in time to watch her cross victoriously! There were huge crowds, and tons of runners (over 13,000 people participated in the races that day) and their families cheering on those who braved the course. Despite having some elevation sickness, Jill powered through and finished 13.1 miles in 3 hours and 20 minutes. Seriously, I would STILL be running that if it’s been me. Seeing my best friend cross that finish line was just a really, really cool moment for me. It was hard not to be a big ol’ bawling mess, but I held it together and was just bursting with pride.
After getting her medal Jill was greeted by her family and other running buddies. It was really awesome to be able to document this time for Jill. I mean, heck, she’s got such a cute family, right?
I honestly don’t think I could possibly be any prouder of her. In the past year she’s gone from a girl who hated running to a girl who has finished two half marathons and is training for more. She has become centered, has realized how freaking awesome she is, and how loved she is by her family and friends. Jill, you are a HUGE inspriation to me. I love you more than my luggage, and can never thank you enough for being the best friend a girl could ask for.
I do believe I’ve choked up…I can’t begin to tell you what it meant to me that you were there. What a great time we had…and then there was the marathon!
I love that picture of you and I…perfection, if you ask me.
Smooches to you.
Jill
Uhm, ladies – I choked up as well!! Sarah I think it’s so awesome that you’re documenting your BFFs progress through this amazing journey.
Jill – as a current non-runner on my way to the SF Nike Woman’s Marathon in Oct two weeks after my wedding, I definitely feel that you’re an inspiration.
Thanks so much for sharing this Sarah! Hope to see you two girls in Oct.
That is great!!! Congrats to Jill. What a great story of success, determination and most importantly, friendship. Thank you for sharing.
Incredible images of your friend. The daughter’s emotion is fully contagious. Congrats on the finish of the race. Inspriration to all!
I can’t believe I didn’t see you gals after the race! I didn’t get my goal time and was pretty bummed… it was hard to celebrate and enjoy the moment for what it was. Now that I’ve had time to look back over the entire experience, I am really mad at myself for being so self-centered and not looking for all of the other ladies out there finishing their races.
So I am SO SO glad we met the night before! I can’t tell you how happy it made me!
Holy moly, girl! You take gorgeous photos! I just spent about 1/2 hour oooh-ing and ah-ing over your amazing works of art! I wish I could get married all over again just so you could photograph it!
good job silly willy jilly – i am glad i did not miss this one. (well i missed it, but that’s “TRAX” fault) I love our group picture – Can I have a copy?
I can’t believe that I finally found you.
You know how sometimes people tell you that they are a photographer and you just sort of acknowledge it and say ‘cheese’…well, ya…it happens. And what I didn’t realize is that you actually are a PHOTOGRAPHER!
Amazing. There aren’t really words for the emotions that you capture…that is why we have photo’s and yours are so…well, there just aren’t really words.
But if I were to pick some words…they would be…brilliant, beautiful, peaceful, still, inspiring, fragile, musical, risky, soft, majestic…Okay, I could go on and on.
Do you know how happy I am that I found your photo blog?
Do you know what a pleasure it was to meet you?
Do you know how my heart skipped when I saw that picture of me with my family’s names on my hand. It sort of feels like that day never happened. It is sort of erased from my memory…not all the way…but fading fast. Thank you for taking that photo. It even made me feel like running which I have not done in a very long time. It also made me happy to remember being with you and Jill. I’ve been so swamped with work and girls camp lately that I haven’t had even a second to email or blog…and while I am making flyers at this very late time of night, wishing they were done, I happened to check Jill’s blog (even though I think that she thinks I am dead because I have been so overwhelmed that I haven’t even written or called her forever…so tell her I’m alive) and there was the link to your blog and my HEART SKIPPED A BEAT when I saw that Sarah was going to cut (and I love the word cut) Jill for being late to SEX AND THE CITY. I so wish I could see that movie, but my husband would kill me. I might have to sneak away! Hehehehehe!
So I love you and Jill. Please tell her that. I’m so happy to have met you. I can’t wait to RUN into you again.
I sure hope to hear from you some time.
Erin
erin.anytimefitness@gmail.com
I think that I should add one more thing.
You two both have perfect teeth and I hate you (love you) both.
Blah!