Breathe, Annie, Breathe
Page 87
“Just wanted to make sure you’re awake,” she says, and it nearly makes me cry because she believes I can really do this.
I grab a shower to wake myself up, pull on the clothes I laid out the night before: my favorite pink shorts and the panties that never ride up. I safety pin my race number to my white tank.
I ride to Nashville with my family, just the three of us. Nick drives and Mom mans the radio. They both took off work. My knee shakes the entire drive.
After getting good-luck hugs from my mom and brother, I join my team under the tree with Matt’s blue flag. Andrew has an arm around Liza’s waist, and they both hug me.
Matt smiles around at those of us who made it to today. “I’ll see you all at the finish line,” he says without a trace of doubt in his voice. And then it’s time for us to head to our corrals.
But I have one final thing to do: I slather Vaseline all over my thighs.
“Another Vaseline convert,” Matt says, chuckling. “Told you it’d help with the chafing.”
“I don’t think I’m comfortable with you talking to my girl about chafing,” Jeremiah says as he walks up to our team.
“I’m her coach. It’s well within my bounds.”
“And I’m your brother. It’s well within my bounds to knock you upside the head.”
And of course, the brothers start in on each other. Jeremiah grabs Matt in a headlock and Matt jabs at his brother’s stomach. I roll my eyes.
An announcer’s booming voice tells us to report to our corrals. The cool air seems to still. I begin to follow Andrew, but Jeremiah takes my elbow.
“Good luck,” he says, quickly pecking my lips. He tweaks my braid, then walks off with his brother, waving at me over his shoulder.
I weave through the crowd to my corral.
I check my shoelaces one last time.
Make sure my official timer is attached to my shoe.
Shake out my legs.
Slip Kyle’s red Nike headband on.
A gun fires in the distance. The crowd inches forward. Cheers echo in the park. And I’m off.
And as I cross the starting line, I picture Kyle’s face and say thank you for helping me get through this. Thank you for all you’ve given me.
And when I look up at the gray sky, light breaks through a cloud and I feel the sun on my face.
Marathon Training Schedule~Brown’s Race Co.
Name Annie Winters
Saturday
Distance
Notes
April 20
3 miles
I’m really doing this! Finish time 34:00
April 27
5 miles
Stupid Running Backwords Boy!!
May 4
6 miles
Blister from HELL
May 11
5 miles
Ran downtown Nashville
May 18
7 miles
Tripped on rock. Fell on my butt
May 25
8 miles
Came in 5 min. quicker than usual!
June 1
10 miles
Let’s just pretend this day never happened…
June 8
9 miles
Evil suicide sprint things. Ran w/ Liza. Got sick.
June 15
7 miles
Skipped Saturday’s run…had to make it up Sunday.
June 22
8 miles
Stomach hurt again. Matt said eat granola instead of oatmeal.
June 29
9 miles
Matt says it’s time for new tennis shoes.
July 6
10 miles
Jere got hurt.
July 13
12 miles
Finished in 2:14! Only had to use bathroom once
July 20
13 miles
Halfway there!
July 27
15 miles
Humidity just about finished me off. Time 3:06.
August 3
14 miles
Hurt knee. Overdosed on Pepto.
August 10
11 miles
Wore new knee brace—it messes with my gait.
August 17
16 miles
Didn’t get enough sleep in dorms.
August 24
20 miles
Need lifetime supply of Pepto & ice packs. Stat!
August 31
14 miles
Ran w/ Liza & Andrew
September 7
22 miles
Holy crap! Time 4:35. I ran for 1/2 a school day!
September 14
20 miles
Knee brace is The Devil.
September 21
The Bluegrass Half Marathon
Finished in 2:26! Won a medal!
September 28
12 miles
Tapering off.
October 5
10 miles
Almost there!
October 12
Country Music Marathon in Nashville
Signed up for San Francisco Marathon!
I grab a shower to wake myself up, pull on the clothes I laid out the night before: my favorite pink shorts and the panties that never ride up. I safety pin my race number to my white tank.
I ride to Nashville with my family, just the three of us. Nick drives and Mom mans the radio. They both took off work. My knee shakes the entire drive.
After getting good-luck hugs from my mom and brother, I join my team under the tree with Matt’s blue flag. Andrew has an arm around Liza’s waist, and they both hug me.
Matt smiles around at those of us who made it to today. “I’ll see you all at the finish line,” he says without a trace of doubt in his voice. And then it’s time for us to head to our corrals.
But I have one final thing to do: I slather Vaseline all over my thighs.
“Another Vaseline convert,” Matt says, chuckling. “Told you it’d help with the chafing.”
“I don’t think I’m comfortable with you talking to my girl about chafing,” Jeremiah says as he walks up to our team.
“I’m her coach. It’s well within my bounds.”
“And I’m your brother. It’s well within my bounds to knock you upside the head.”
And of course, the brothers start in on each other. Jeremiah grabs Matt in a headlock and Matt jabs at his brother’s stomach. I roll my eyes.
An announcer’s booming voice tells us to report to our corrals. The cool air seems to still. I begin to follow Andrew, but Jeremiah takes my elbow.
“Good luck,” he says, quickly pecking my lips. He tweaks my braid, then walks off with his brother, waving at me over his shoulder.
I weave through the crowd to my corral.
I check my shoelaces one last time.
Make sure my official timer is attached to my shoe.
Shake out my legs.
Slip Kyle’s red Nike headband on.
A gun fires in the distance. The crowd inches forward. Cheers echo in the park. And I’m off.
And as I cross the starting line, I picture Kyle’s face and say thank you for helping me get through this. Thank you for all you’ve given me.
And when I look up at the gray sky, light breaks through a cloud and I feel the sun on my face.
Marathon Training Schedule~Brown’s Race Co.
Name Annie Winters
Saturday
Distance
Notes
April 20
3 miles
I’m really doing this! Finish time 34:00
April 27
5 miles
Stupid Running Backwords Boy!!
May 4
6 miles
Blister from HELL
May 11
5 miles
Ran downtown Nashville
May 18
7 miles
Tripped on rock. Fell on my butt
May 25
8 miles
Came in 5 min. quicker than usual!
June 1
10 miles
Let’s just pretend this day never happened…
June 8
9 miles
Evil suicide sprint things. Ran w/ Liza. Got sick.
June 15
7 miles
Skipped Saturday’s run…had to make it up Sunday.
June 22
8 miles
Stomach hurt again. Matt said eat granola instead of oatmeal.
June 29
9 miles
Matt says it’s time for new tennis shoes.
July 6
10 miles
Jere got hurt.
July 13
12 miles
Finished in 2:14! Only had to use bathroom once
July 20
13 miles
Halfway there!
July 27
15 miles
Humidity just about finished me off. Time 3:06.
August 3
14 miles
Hurt knee. Overdosed on Pepto.
August 10
11 miles
Wore new knee brace—it messes with my gait.
August 17
16 miles
Didn’t get enough sleep in dorms.
August 24
20 miles
Need lifetime supply of Pepto & ice packs. Stat!
August 31
14 miles
Ran w/ Liza & Andrew
September 7
22 miles
Holy crap! Time 4:35. I ran for 1/2 a school day!
September 14
20 miles
Knee brace is The Devil.
September 21
The Bluegrass Half Marathon
Finished in 2:26! Won a medal!
September 28
12 miles
Tapering off.
October 5
10 miles
Almost there!
October 12
Country Music Marathon in Nashville
Signed up for San Francisco Marathon!
