Dude, That's My Sister.
My sister Cathy ran a marathon! All 26.2 miles, dude. Seriously.
Rock. N. Roll.
And we got to see it. People, if you're going to run a marathon anytime soon, may I suggest the lovely city of San Diego as a location? It's perfect. Nice mild temperatures, ocean breeze -- no humidity. Ahh. (The South has its finer points, but humidity SUCKS.)
I'll get back to San Diego and its fabulousness in a minute. THE MARATHON. So much fun. We got up at around 8:30am (no small feat since the previous night had included a tequila party -- pictures later -- and Cathy had already been running for TWO HOURS! ) and drove bleary-eyed downtown. Cat's husband and his parents were already staked out at mile 14. Somehow, through the grace of God and the organization of the Rock and Roll Marathon, Jacob and I ended up near the finish line. We camped out on a little grassy area about 3/10 of a mile from the finish. And then I cheered for about three hours straight.
I didn't realize how FUN it would be to watch people run a marathon. Lots of people write their names on their clothes, their numbers, or up and down their arms and legs, so you could yell "GOOOOO SARAH! YOU GOT IT! HOME STRETCH, BAY-BEE!!" and then the runners would give a thumbs up or a smile, and just keep on running.
I was getting so excited for these strangers, that they were so close to finishing a marathon -- so I should've been prepared for how PROUD and EXCITED I would be when my sister ran by. I wasn't. I was so overwhelmed! Luckily, Jacob was prepared, and had his camera ready to take some actions shots...
Go Cathy! Home Stretch!
So I started screaming, "That's my sister! Woo-hoo!" and running on the side when I saw her totally kicking ass. Here's proof:
Crazy Bag Lady Cheers Runners.
And she totally finished - 6 hours and 18 minutes. They even called her name out as she crossed the finish line!
Check out that medal!
So. Proud. The 800 runners/walkers from Train to End Stroke, (Cathy's fundraising group) raised over a million dollars -- rock stars, all of them. It was so inspiring to see people of all ages and sizes and shapes out there to raise money for stroke victims. It's enough to make a girl wanna train for a half marathon in Atlanta on Thanksgiving Day... I guess I shouldn't put that on the blog if I don't mean it!
I will post later this week with other details from our trip to San Diego, including the tequila party, Jacob's totally awesome cousins and their awesome friends, OB, PB, the OC, and more. Whee. Oh, and I finished one shawl, I'm 3/4 of the way done with another!
Comments (53)
Love these photos! How do I ask you and your sister about being able to use them for our scrapbook examples?
Michaelene
Posted by michaelene | May 14, 2006 1:58 PM
Love the post title!
You were in Orange? That's my hometown! Did you get to go to The Circle? So cute downtown!..The trainstation is great too...didja know that's where Tom Cruise put Dustin Hoffman on the train at the end of Rainman? Cool Orange trivia!
Posted by Christie | June 14, 2005 12:44 AM
Go for it! Running a half marathon - or a full one - would be a fantastic thing to do. Besides, you've got built in inspiration there!
Posted by Richard | June 13, 2005 11:54 PM
Cathy...you ROCK, ROCK, ROCK!!!! Congrats on finishing!
San Diego is my favorite city. I lived there for 4 years...I should know! Awesome weather for anything.
Great pics...thanks for sharing!
Posted by Eilene | June 13, 2005 8:11 AM
Just to add to the gazillion other commenters, Yay Cathy! You are amazing! Way to work hard for a great cause!
Posted by sarah b. | June 11, 2005 11:41 PM
Wow! What an amazing day! Your ROCK CATHY!!!
I love all the photos!
Posted by atouria | June 11, 2005 3:16 PM
How cool! Congrats on your sister finishing the race! Just being in a race is amazing to me.
Posted by srmc | June 11, 2005 2:34 AM
Also: I came back to reread this this morning, and I was looking for a reason to run. I'm going out now! And you, girl, get out there! You know the Nike Marathon in SF (I think it's Oct or something, plenty of time to train for the half) gives out great schwag -- last year every lady got a Tiffany's bracelet. I think you should get out here and run with me. xo
Posted by Rachael | June 10, 2005 12:06 PM
Cathy is the FUCKING BEST! I'm aMAZED. You go, girl. I was just sitting here, reading this post, and Lala noticed all my goosebumps. Cathy, you're my new hero. xoxoxo
Posted by Rachael | June 10, 2005 2:17 AM
Way to go Cathy. And Carrie your such a good sister and cheerleader!
Posted by Shelley | June 9, 2005 11:38 PM
That is so AWSOME of your sister!!!! As one who lost a grandparent to a stroke, her training & racing is extra special in my eyes.
Posted by Caren | June 9, 2005 11:19 PM
Congratulations, Cathy! (Didn't your glasses bob up and down and drive you crazy?)
I'd never be the marathon runner -- I'd ALWAYS be the bag-lady cheerleader. :)
Posted by alison | June 9, 2005 1:18 PM
Way to go Cathy!! Your are freaking AMAZING!
Posted by Leslie:) | June 9, 2005 9:10 AM
How proud you must be, I cried reading this. (Tears of happiness)
But then again I cry at almost anything, show me a picture of a puppy and the tears roll!!!!
Glad you had a fun trip.
Posted by Betsy | June 9, 2005 8:56 AM
You guys are superstars. Yay for her running for 6 hours for something she cares about! You are a good cheerleader too!
Posted by BigLug | June 9, 2005 8:44 AM
YAAAY! GO CATHY! GO CATHY! That IS really awesome of you to make a sign and run along with her!!! Sounds like a FUN day for a GOOD cause!!!
Posted by Lara | June 9, 2005 1:17 AM
I knew she could do it! Go Cathy, great job!
Posted by jenny | June 8, 2005 10:51 PM
i can't even FATHOM running for six hours. so proud of her! and for such a great cause! and with such cute glasses!
Posted by carrie m | June 8, 2005 10:38 PM
I am sooooo impressed by your sister! Running is so...extreme.
Can't wait to hear what you thought of So Cal...
Posted by stacey | June 8, 2005 10:32 PM
Awww! I'm all beaming and proud, and I don't even know you two personally! Cathy is a superstar, and you are the world's best cheerleader (and that pic of you two together, that is so sweet!!). YAY!!
Posted by Giao | June 8, 2005 9:39 PM
CATHY ROCKS!~ 6 hours of running, my gawd. She will no doubt remember this day with pride for many years to come. (I sure as heck would!)
Posted by amy | June 8, 2005 9:37 PM
Congrats Cathy! You did awesome! I am a runner, although not a great one, and I always get teary eyed reading marathon reports. Same thing here. I want to run one someday and hope someone makes a big sign with my name on it!
Posted by Stacy | June 8, 2005 8:57 PM
Cathy is a ROCK STAR! Go Cathy! I wish I had that sort of drive! Tell her I said so...
Posted by Skylar | June 8, 2005 5:40 PM
YAY, how awesome!!!! I am so proud of Cathy! Love the photos! I was thinking about moving to San Diego, is it really nice?
Posted by Camille | June 8, 2005 4:06 PM
Wow, your sis looks tough in those pictures, like she could beat a few hundred people up all at once! You two are the cutest and I'm so proud of her (and of you for traveling to see her!!) xo mj
Posted by MJ | June 8, 2005 3:29 PM
That post got me all teary for some reason... so cute!! (fragile emotional state, anyone?)
GO CATHY! She is such a superstar!
Posted by frecklegirl | June 8, 2005 3:24 PM
ooo... here's a wee comment, so I can be lucky commenter #26.2! congrats Kathy and way to go cheering-bag-lady!
Posted by chelsea | June 8, 2005 2:52 PM
That is so fabulous. I know what you mean about it being fun to cheer the runners on. The first time I went to see the Peachtree Road Race, I stood near the finish line and yelled till I was hoarse. I didn't even see the person I came to watch -- I was screaming for perfect strangers! But they were doing something I can't do, and I was just so proud for them. So hollering is good.
I liked the non-humidity in San Diego when we were there in April too. Excess humidity sucks rocks.
Posted by Janice in GA | June 8, 2005 2:05 PM
Congratulations to Cathy! That's not something I can imagine ever being able to do, and so I'm triply impressed. And, boy, do the two of you ever look like sisters! My sister and I look like we're related, but nothing on the two of you. It sounds like a great day for both of you!
Posted by Deb | June 8, 2005 1:50 PM
Rock on Cathy! I totally cried the first time I watched the NYC Marathon. It was so... overwhelming. Just amazing to see. Congratulations to your awesome sister!
Posted by Megann | June 8, 2005 1:50 PM
Go Cathy! That is so awesome! As I've mentioned, I can't even run around the block, so running 26 miles is completely incomprehensible to me. Wow. Glad you had a great vacation and missed all this icky weather!
Posted by Stephanie | June 8, 2005 1:44 PM
the two biggest smiles on earth! you two are toooo cute!!
Posted by carolyn | June 8, 2005 1:42 PM
Go Cathy! I got to see one of my daughters finish an Iron Man race in Couer d Laine last year so I know how you felt. You are right about how much fun it is to cheer people on. It was so awesome and I was so proud of her.
Posted by Sally from Big D | June 8, 2005 1:34 PM
Congrats to Cathy! She's my new hero.
Posted by Stephanie VW | June 8, 2005 1:22 PM
Awesome for your sister! 6 hours? That's amazing!
Isn't watching a marathon the most fun? We watch the LA marathon and totally scream for people we don't know. Good times, good times.
Posted by Christie | June 8, 2005 1:18 PM
How incredible! Glad you got to be there to see your sister kick so much ASS!
Posted by Valerie | June 8, 2005 1:13 PM
congratulations to cathy! i am really impressed by her dedication and rock star running stamina. and the fact that she really does look super cute even after running 26 miles. you do too, of course and i know that knitting is strenuous and all but... :) glad you had a great time in san diego- i can't wait to hear all about it. are we still on for friday? anne marie said that she's in!
Posted by jenna | June 8, 2005 1:07 PM
I told Ryan that I want to run a marathon before I'm 25. Crap. I turn 22 in August. Maybe we should start training together? :)
Posted by Amanda | June 8, 2005 12:44 PM
Awesome! Cathy, you rock! That is so coo :-)
Posted by Amanda | June 8, 2005 12:36 PM
Aw! I want a sister! You guys look so cute together.
Running a marathon is Hard. Core. Cathy rocks.
Posted by Mary-Heather | June 8, 2005 12:34 PM
Awesome, just awesome. And what a wonderful charity. Your sister is truly inspiring, and my goodness could the two of you be any cuter. I mean really it's disgusting. So a marathon in your future, eh?
Posted by Rebekah | June 8, 2005 11:55 AM
I am so sappy...I got chills reading your post! I am so proud of Cathy. I have her new nickname "Kickass Cathy". And also, she is so luck to have a sister who makes a sign and runs along side of her like an insane person. And another also, I'm glad you had a wonderful trip...you needed a vacation!
Posted by Anne Marie | June 8, 2005 11:52 AM
AWESOME! Totally awesome. You know what I love? I love that she ran with her glasses on. I always run with my glasses on.
How she's feeling post? It was great you could be there with her. Jacob did a great job with the camera - love the pictures.
Posted by Cara | June 8, 2005 11:49 AM
What a great post, Carrie! Sisters are the best, huh? I was cheering my sister on this past weekend too (as her bridesmaid!) You look so cute out there with the sign.
What an amazing accomplishment for your sister. Way to go!
Posted by Lolly | June 8, 2005 11:24 AM
Now, it that were me, you would have taken a pic of me crawling on the ground after having run 26 miles. I ran one mile in the Susan Komen Breast Cancer run/walk event last year and couldn't walk for 2-3 days after.
but it was SO worth it...especially since I'd never done anything like that.
Posted by Nik | June 8, 2005 11:17 AM
Congratulations to Cathy. I haven't run one (yet), but I love going to the Boston Marathon every year to cheer the runners on.
Posted by Kat | June 8, 2005 11:13 AM
You are the best sister ever. I think it is so cool that you flew to San Diego to cheer you sister on. That is an amazing demonstration of sisterly love. And how great is you sister? Running a marathon is truly admirable....but running for such a great cause makes it extra special. Congrats to her for kicking ass, and to you for being so supportive!
Posted by Sarah | June 8, 2005 11:13 AM
Geez, not only did she run 26.2 miles, she did it wearing those kickass glasses! Awesome job!
Posted by laurel | June 8, 2005 11:10 AM
Way to go Cathy! What they said. I can't imagine even standing up after that, let alone looking so cute.
And hey, Carrie, thanks for hooking me up with Jenny, and a place to live! I'll be there in mid August, see you soon!
Posted by jodi | June 8, 2005 11:06 AM
You Go Cathy! (her face isn't red at all...I look like I'm about to keel over if I run 5 feet, red as a beet!!)
What a cheerleader you are! I love the sign!!
Can't wait to hear about gorgeous san diego and your adventures!
Posted by heather | June 8, 2005 11:03 AM
Go Cathy! That's fantastical! All those other runners appreciate your cheering for them, too - it's what kept me going around mile 22 in Marine Corps last year. Cathy's got great form in those pics - really difficult to do in the home stretch! Woot!
Posted by natalie | June 8, 2005 10:59 AM
And she looks happy and normal! I could never run a marathon but if I did I know I wouldn't look that beautiful afterwards. You must have been doing some marathon knitting too. Good job girlies! :)
Posted by Vicki | June 8, 2005 10:59 AM
You guys are the best cheerleaders ever...
I can't wait to see the rest of the pictures! Thanks for coming to see me run. :)
Posted by Cathy | June 8, 2005 10:38 AM