The 4K that nearly killed me!

I was working on getting Christmas Cards out today and I came across the cards that came in our mail today and right there just waiting for me to open, was a card from my Grandma and Grandpa Harvey (my moms, mom and dad), inside the card was another card, a thank you card, on which Grandma started it by writing "Melly", that simple word just brings the biggest, goofiest, smile and the warmest sensation of love to me, she is the only person on this earth who calls me that (or I should say who is allowed to get away with calling me that!!).  She just sent a cute little thank you for our help with putting together our Harvey family reunion.  Reading her note made me think back to that family reunion and how we Merkley's all came together and put on one heck of a reunion!!!  But there was 1 thing that we did that nearly took me out, literally!!!

My brother Matt, who is a beast, was put in charge of doing a family fun 4K (nobody is fessing up to me as to who put him in charge), he mapped it out, ran it first to make sure it was what he wanted and then showed everybody the way to go on the day of the race.  I had to be coaxed into participating because I am not a runner, Cassie did you read that, I am not a runner.  I can walk, I can even walk fast, but something happens to me when I run and my body rebels.  But I found some buddies and off I went, I can't remember how many participants we had but it was a pretty good size group, I want to say around 35-40 but I could be wrong.  My sweet Grandma decided that she would give it a try as well, so when I expressed concern for her being able to complete it, being that it was on dirt road and Matt had said there were some steep places, she just waved off my concern and said she will walk it until she thought she couldn't do it anymore and then she would turn around and come back, besides she was walking with Aunt Pam and Aunt Dawn, so all was good.  I started out by running, which didn't last very long but hey at least I was doing it, the first little bit was fine but then we started on a down hill slope which slope does not descibe it very well, it was steep, I kept slipping and had to just settle for slowly walking with my peeps which consisted of Sienna, Ian, Hunter and Big Aiden (not to be confused with little Aiden), Kennadee, Morgan and Makayla, all of these kids were 13 and under, I was just happy I was keeping up with them :)  Just about the time I was beginning to wonder if we were even on the right path, we saw Justin just ahead of us, and thankfully soon after found the path that was supposed to lead us back to the top of the mountain.  Through this narrow path in the forest, I found myself gulping for air, each time I passed a spot that even remotely looked like it could be a place to rest I took advantage, and I found myself acting like a child that had been cooped up in a car for hours upon hours and hollering to Kennadee, "Are we there yet?, can you see the end?, how much farther??????"  The only thing that kept me going was the fact that it was shorter to continue rather than turning back.  We didn't ever really run into anybody else and only caught the voices of those that were behind us every once in a while.  The best moment came when Kennadee announced she could see the end, we had reached the top of the moutain and were now headed back to the finish line, which sadly enough was still about 1/4 mile.  As we came out of the forest into the clearing, I was just near the passing out stage, I was slowly trudging along when I saw my boys (who had already completed the 4K) riding a bike towards me, when they got within ear shot they started cheering me on, saying "c'mon mom, you can do it!, just a little farther, mom!, you are almost there!"  Their chants lifted what little energy I had and propelled me to at least walk/jog.  Justin had passed me a while ago and I was finally catching back up to him with just a little over 20 yards to go, when Bradley said "Mom, this is it, you are almost done, just sprint to the finish, do it Mom!!!"  And with that I was off, I passed Justin who immediately put it in gear himself as we were coming to the end, neck and neck, I gave one more short burst of energy (or Justin let up a little) and I took the lead and finished the 4K, still alive, still breathing (although barely), and excited beyond belief that I did it!!!  About 20 min. passed and we were still cheering on people as they came back, when I saw my Grandma, and she was jogging!  I smiled and thought to myself "only grandma", she is such a wonder to behold sometimes, I felt a little chastized at the thought that I had to be talked into this and grumbled most of the way, and couldn't wait for it to be over so I could sit back and relax (after I strangled Matt) and here was my 70+ grandma with a smile on her face and excitement in her step and I could just imagine that she sang her way through the hard trails and danced up the mountain just because she was surrounded by her family.  I love her and I feel honored to be named after such a great woman, and I hope I will live up to that name, and be the kind of example to others as she is to me!!    I love being her Melly!!!

As for a couple other stats from the race: Bradley finished 1st (what a stud), Sophie finished 4th (she ran the whole thing all by herself, which I thought was pretty cool), Scott finished 5th or 6th (??), I can't remember any places after Scott, but Zachary finished shortly after Scott, I finished a little under 1 hr., Kennadee shortly after me and then Lainee came in about 15 min. after that and to her credit she walked the whole thing with Cassie in her flip-flops (I didn't know she was coming or I would have made sure she had proper footwear, but this is Lainee and flip-flops in the summer months are just molded to her feet!!)

Oh and don't worry Matt, I have forgiven you, it took a couple of months but you can now sleep without keeping one eye open ;p