^{PLACE & TIME:}  Robin 6th Place; 3:30:59

To start out, I wanted to share with you a wonderful testimony emailed to us by our good friend Michelle Ridder.  She also competed in the Napa Marathon and had a wonderful day out there:

I would like to share one short story from the race.  I was nervous starting, for lots of reasons, but the bursitis under my 2^nd toe on my right foot was the main reason.  It started hurting about 6-7 weeks ago and continued to worsen with each run.  I saw a podiatrist last week, and he scheduled me for new orthotics to try to take the load of that metatarsal.  I have a bunion that pushed the 1^st metatarsal to the left, putting all the load of running on the 2^nd metatarsal, and the bodies reaction is to try to create padding to absorb the pounding – hence the very swollen, painful bursa sac.  He told me I wouldn’t be able to finish because it would hurt too much.  Last Sun. I ran 10K pushing Robbie and Joshua and I tried to adjust my foot strike because my bone was hurting with each step.  I limped around afterwards because other stuff hurt with the corrections.

I started race morning with breakfast and 2 advil and David carefully packed 3 more for me in my race belt.  Sometime during those first 10 miles, I was trying to decide when to take those next 3 advil – I wanted to take it before it started hurting bad, but late enough that the advil would last to the end.  Then God spoke to me very clearly – “don’t take your advil”.  I responded with, “What???”, and he said, “Don’t take your advil, just trust me.”  So I did, and it was awesome.  I didn’t think about it, I didn’t worry about it, I trusted, and although I could feel that bone, it didn’t hurt or cause me to correct my strike.  It’s pretty swollen today and hurts a bit, but not for those 26.2.  

And this really isn’t about the marathon for me, it’s about me responding to God’s direction to me.  I’ve been focusing on it for a while now, and I’m getting better.  I know Him better, so I hear Him more clearly.  5 years ago, I would not have heard Him, or I would not have believed that the message was from Him, and I would not have trusted Him, and I would have taken my advil.

It's Saturday. I'm driving to Napa with Team JaS (Jami and Sherwick).  I just left the moving party in San Jose.  5 great guys are helping us move our stuff into a 24' truck (Neighbors Randy and Bill; Troy's Bible study guys Scottand Bill Parker; Troy's Running Buddie, Dick).  I feel a little guilty but I know they understand my early departure.  I'm the only representative from Team Soares this time. Troy and Anna need to stay behind.

When I signed up for this race months ago, It was planned to be a priority race for me.  After hurting my knee I lost a couple months.  Normally I do a couple twenty mile runs but this time I could only reach 15 miles.  When I signed up I also didn't think we would be moving our stuff out that weekend.  So The plan is to run the first 20 miles with Jami and then stop and stretch every 2 miles there-after.  Jami's is going for a 3:15 pace, a PR for her. I hope to give her good company out there.  I'm not sure how long it will take me after I let her go at 20.  I might have to walk to finish.  Only thing I know for sure is that the Lord will be with me.

Sherwick, is planning to run a 3:10.  Michelle Ridder wants to run under 3:59.  Trudi and her new husband Randy are also doing the race and looking to have a lot of fun.

We get up early Sunday morning and jump on a bus to the race start.  My prayer for today is to glorify the Lord and to encourage others out there, especially Jami.  We are dropped off on the Silverado Trail in beautiful Calistoga and are surrounded by vineyards.  I have on my FCA jersey and a fish tattoo on my calf.  It says "Philippians 3:14".  After a warm-up on the temporarily quiet course we split off to take turn in our sweats for transport to the finish and for bathroom breaks.  I find a place on the starting line and pray for endurance and total focus on Him.  Ironically my focuse is tested quickly.  A guy asks me what the verse says on my calf.  That verse was on our wedding mugs, we reference it a lot, but suddenly I'm drawing a blank!  Oh no, I'm "Bible bonking"!  (as I once heard from fellow Christian triathlete and pastor, Dan Perkins).  Totally embarrassed, I say, "I forget.  But it reminds me that it's all about Him and not me".  "Amen", he says, "you must have read A Purpose Driven Life".  "Yes I have.  Great book.  Have a great race out there!".  Oh, I'm so sorry, God!  Thanks for the wake up call!  Later the verse comes to me, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."  Next time I'll remember.

Where's my running buddy?  I find myself getting concerned that Jami cannot find me despite my bright yellow FCA hat.  She finds me and all is well!  Thanks Lord again for taking care of me!  Focus, focus, focus on Jesus! 

On your mark, get set, go!  I start my Garmin GPS watch.  It will tell me the pace. Troy set the "virtual partner" feature for me.  The virtual partner is an image of a runner that you set to run a pace.  He's set for a 3:15 marathon (7:26 per mile). Today, Jami and I decide that the virtual guy's name is "Troy".  Yes, let's get Troy!

We start off at a slower comfortable pace.  For 2 miles we average 7:42 pace.  The pressure is on a bit because "Troy" is ahead.  Let's get him!

Mile 3: running faster but Troy is still ahead.  Jami really pushes hard the next 3 miles and we catch up to Troy.  Even then Jami is pumped and continues to push the pace.  She's tough!  Mile 6: While going through the aid station, I slow down to get fluids.  I look up and see Jami has made a gap.  That's so impressive that she can move that fast through the aid station!  Not I gotta catch her! 

I spend the next 3 miles (7 to 10) working to catch up and keep up with the brisk pace...around 7:15 per mile.  I can see that we are way ahead of Troy now. 

Mile 10: I finally catch Jami and tell her great job.  It's nice to run together again. 

Miles 11 to 13 are again fast and we average around 7:20 per mile pace.  Troy is 0.1 miles behind...we've got him!  I don't want to get behind Jami at the next aid station so I decide to get a head start.  I go through, get what I need, and set my sights on the trash to drop my cup.  A young boy, probably around 7, is helping his dad pick up the cups left on the ground.  Suddenly the boy dashes into the street to grab a cup.  Our paths collide and he falls down. My knee-jerk reaction picks him up and ask if he's okay.  Dad apologizes, I apologize, and I'm quickly off again.  A few feet down the road I feel bad.  I should've stopped to really make sure the boy was okay.  Jami catches up and she assures me the boy looked Ok.  That makes me feel better.  Next time I'll do better(=

Miles 14 to 16 we loose our momentum and average 7:35 per mile.  Here comes Troy!  Better pick it up!  It's getting harder to keep going but I feel the Lord refresh my energy.  I surge and Jami matches my stride.  It's just a little further.  Lord, help us stay on pace. 

Miles 17 to 18 are better and we continue to hold off Troy.

Mile 19: Uh-oh, I feel a bathroom break coming on!  I tell Jami this is most likely the furthest I'll be able to go with her… nature is calling. 

Once I get back on the road, I push hard to catch up to Jami.  I hope to catch her by Mile 20 before my "race" is over.  I'm almost sprinting by people to get to her.  These runners are going to laugh when they pass me after mile 20.  They will probably think I'm nuts.  I'm tempted to just keep going hard past mile 20 just so I don't look funny.  Stick to the plan!  The real Troy would say so and I know God agrees.

I hit mile 20 and Jami is still ahead.  Oh well, I tried.  I stop to stretch and I also pray that Jami can stay on pace.  The last 6 miles of a marathon are the toughest.  Some call it the second half of the race.  You go girl! 

Once I get going again I feel stiff but my legs are still able to keep a decent pace.  Maybe I will get to the finish line sooner than I thought.  I really don't want to be out here much longer anyway.  I want a free massage and food!

Mile 22: I stretch again.  As I start running, a man comes along side and tells me he likes the fish tattoo.  I say, "it's all about Him and not me".  "Amen" he replies.  He's trying to qualify for Boston and needs to break 3:30.  I tell him, "You've got it!  You're at 3hrs right now."  He's pumped and says "I can run 4 miles in 30 minutes."  I run with him to mile 24 and tell him I'll be praying for him.

Mile 24: I have to let my friend go.  Thanks God for that!  That was encouraging to me to be encouraging to someone else! I stop to stretch again. 

The next 2 miles drag on but the finish motivates me.  Just need to get there!  "Lord, be with me. help me to get there but to not be in such a hurry that I don't focus on You and the plan. 

Mile 24: Only 2 more miles!  Boy do I want to get this over with!  I look at my watch… 3:14… Go Jami!  Go girl!   Please Lord, help her to her goal! 

Mile 26: Somehow I'm actually finishing the race.  Thank You Lord, thank You!  I'm tempted to sprint to the finish and pass people.  Not today I feel the Lord tell me.  Not today.  I'm totally content and maintain the current pace to the finish.  I throw my arms up to Him in praise!  Yes, I'm done!  Thank You Jesus!

I head straight for the free massage.  I see Jami and Sherwick there.  Sherwick ran 3:10 like he wanted and Jami ran 3:17.  That's a 3 minute PR for her!  Alright!  Then we run into Michelle.  She ran a 6 minute PR!!  What a great feeling to have the whole gang satisfied with their races.  So cool!  Thanks God!

(Click on pictures to enlarge)