The Race

So, after months of training, raising money and talking about Crohns and Colitis with everyone I know, it was time to get on the plane and head to California. I was calmed when my mom arrived safely the night before we left and as I lay in bed that night I vowed that I was going to have fun...no stressing about anything, it would be what it would be.

In the morning, Jackie's friend Brennan came over to ride with us to the airport. I know it made her happy and put a spring in her step. Dylan was pretty fired up to get on a plane and get out of town! He and I had a ball acting like complete juveniles in the airport at Denver. I have to tell you, it was really fun to let loose and not worry about anything..we tried to stay out of people's way and be respectful of property..and I think we were though Gramma and Jackie eventually had to confiscate our "ball". I loved laughing with him...letting loose.

When we got to San Fran everything seemed to be working beautifully. We got on the bus to Rhonert Part and our hotel without any trouble. We met a couple other gals who were with CCFA and that made it SO real! They were pretty excited too! The bus ended up getting caught in traffic and it took us 3 1/2 hours to finish a 45 mile or so trip...ugh. But nonetheless, the enthusiasm wasn't dampened much! We hit the pool quickly and then went to the "packet-pick up" and team meeting. THis was my first chance to meet the rest of the National Team. They were from all over the country and basically loners like me...in other words they were in an area where they were the only participant in this race so we trained via telephone and online. I knew right away that I was in good company. The CCFA staff was exceptional. It was really fun to meet Carly and Melissa who had been our main contacts, in person. They were just as energetic and positive as I thought they would be and I could tell Carly by her outgoing, friendly voice before I actually ever met her.

Getting my jersey and my little packet of race stuff was very exciting for me and once again made the whole thing so real. Even with all the training and hours of work raising money, it all kind of seemed like a dream. Having my race number in my hand, with my name on it, made it pretty hard to deny that I was really going to be running a half marathon whether I liked it or not! THe only thing that slightly dampened my glow was that my official certificate said that I had made at least $38XX...rather than my goal amount of $5,000. Being the goal hound I am, that didn't set well with me, but I knew in my heart that when it was said and done...I'd be there. I met another lady whose daughter was only 18 months when diagnosed with Colitis. The poor little thing lost most of her colon before her second birthday. This woman had raised nearly $20,000 on her own!!!! All while taking care of a 3 year old who had suffered way more than it is fair for any child to have to suffer. I was humbled and excited to be part of such a team.

The next day we went into Sonoma and had a great time visiting some shops and walking around the beautiful area. WE had breakfast at a great "local" spot that our cab driver recommended and saw lots of Charles Shultz's characters in statue form everywhere. That was pretty fun. We had lunch at a nice little out-door Mexican place but I didn't have much appetite at this point. We went back to the hotel and mom and the kids went for a swim while I took some time to put my race stuff together and get all organized for the morning...our bus would leave the hotel at 5:00 am to take us to the race start.

That evening there was a Pasta Party at a beautiful vineyard in the Russian River Valley. It was gorgeous. When we got off the bus we were met by a huge welcoming line of CCFA volunteers whistling and cheering and giving high fives and encourgament. It was pretty incredible and loud and crazy! Talk about rolling out the red carpet! Dinner was great and the company was even better. Tracy, Fred, Joy and Joe became lifetime friends that evening. Fred, from New York City, had Crohns and was about to begin Remicade after having some trouble. Tracy has had Colitis for years and like myself has a couple of kids and a family and her story was so similar. Joe had Colitis for a number of years and had mostly done well though he had struggled with some injuries during training and Joy was running and had raised tons of money in support of Joe and others with IBD. They were all great and we heard some inspiring stories throughout the program. THe most exciting news came when we learned that the 506 Team Challenge participants together had raised more than $2 million. It is just stunning to think what can be done with that kind of money. Kids who suffer from IBD would be attending a summer camp, because of us! New treatments would be tested and put forward sooner, because of us! A CURE is more possible now because of US!! AND because of all of you who helped all of us. It was pretty amazing to think about all the ramifications.

I was able to eat better than I thought...believe it or not I had actually practiced eating pasta before my long training runs to be sure I could stomach it and that helped alot because I told myself - "self, I know you don't feel hungry and it is possible you may throw up, but you should eat this and get the energy you need for tomorrow, it will help you ROCK THE RACE. You KNOW you can handle it" I actually listened! I was even more excited that I was able to sleep pretty well. I really thought I'd lay awake the entire night, but I got at least four hours of sleep and woke a little before the alarm feeling pretty awake and ready to go. Mom came down to the lobby with me and got some photos and gave me a farewell and off I went! I had a banana and some oatmeal to go bars and a luna supplement that, once again, I had practiced eating so I felt comfortable it would work. ON the bus I visited with Tracy about life and family and felt pretty at ease. The one thing that went wrong was that my head band broke. I ended up putting in a second pony tail which did the trick. I'm actually a little glad it happened because it was like - problem, solution.... I can do this!

When we got to the start at Cuvasion, there was a sea of people - more than 2500 runners! BUt it was most exciting and motivating to see the massive number of CCFA runners in their bright orange singlets. There were tall people, short people, skinny people, heavy people, young people and older people....all there for the same reason. I felt a part of something really big. Everyone was smiling and saying encouraging words. I remembered the best advice I've ever been given about getting through a race - THANK EVERY volunteer along the way and encourage every person who passes you or who you pass (within reason of course, this could be exhausting wiht 2500 people in the race!). I also decided right then in there in the beauty of a sea of vineyards that I was going to keep my head up and enjoy the scenery. I took my phone out of the bag that would be carried to the finish line for me and put it in my race belt...who knew I may need to stop and take a picture along the way! I was here..I'd done the training and I was going to enjoy it. I couldn't help but smile.

And then I couldn't help but need to pee! Again! SO off to the porta potty line I went. I got in line with 45 minutes to spare before the start of the race at 7:00. At 7:00, I was IN the porta potty! YES IN THE POTTY!!! I couldn't believe it! Talk about taking the jitters out of getting a GOOD start, I was just hoping to get TO the start!! Luckily the race hadn't started yet when I made my way out of the potty and toward the crowd. I was feeling a little out of sorts when I spotted Joe, Joy and Fred! What a relief! I caught up to them and before I knew it, we were off. we sputtered along in the crowd and it seemed like forever before I got to the START line..but I knew my official time wouldn't start until my chip crossed the pads so I didn't worry too much.

Shortly after the start was "the BIG hill" the one they warned us about. I had trained on hills and truthfully, it wasn't that daunting to me - I wanted to attack it. There was this little welling up of emotion in me and for a second I thought I might cry...and then the adrenaline kicked in I said to myself, leave it all out on the course - don't wish you would have done more. I got in my zone and took off. There was admittedly a little bit of me that thought maybe I was shooting myself in the foot...but mostly I was excited to devour the hill. WHen I hit the 1 mile marker I was at 10:30 on my watch...which was under my goal time of 11 minute miles, but slower than I wanted in my "dream" scenario. I acknowledged and accepted that it had to have more to do with the crowd I was weaving around than my conditioning...that first mile was pretty packed and I had started way at the back. I decided to get right to the edge of the pack and see what I could do.

At the second mile mark there was a water station and I had decided ahead of time that I was going to walk through each station (they were every other mile) and actually drink the little cup of gatorade they give you. At four miles and eight miles I was going to have a GU. I wasn't going to lollygag about by any means, but in my training I learned that having a couple sips and swallowing them carefully upset my stomach way less than trying to swallow while I was running - beside I spilled most of the cup on myself when I ran vs actually getting some fluid when I walked. Anyway, I grabbed the dixie cup, thanked all the volunteers and then started running again. When I looked at my watch I was at 19: 20...I had smoked that mile! BUt I was not winded and did not feel out of whack at all at this pace.

When I hit the four mile mark, I had the GU and a good drink and checked my watch again. I was at 38:40...still under a 10 minute pace...Cool! I decided to get out my phone and take some pictures while I ran...they didn't really turn out, but I'm glad I have them. You can see they're action photos and it helped to divert my attention from running. In training, I always seemed to bog down a little in the fourth and fifth mile. THis turned out to be good strategy!

At the half way point there was supposed to be a main road where we might get stopped while they let traffic through. When I thought I must be at about half way, there was only a line of people on both sides of a paved (but didn't seem main) road cheering wildly so I thought I must not be there yet. I was concerned that I had fallen off my pace and decided to pick it up a bit. Before I knew it I was at the 7 mile mark...so the people had indeed marked the halfway, I was relieved! At 7 miles I was still under a 10 minute pace...I couldn't believe it!

At 8 miles I had my last gu and was feeling pretty good. It was starting to get warmer and the sky was really clearing. There was far less of a crowd and it was easy to settle into a groove. At 10 miles I was stunned that I was still under a 10 minutes pace. I kept thinking that maybe I should slow down a little so I didn't die at the end. My next mile was my slowest of the race...but I was still under 10 minute miles and I only had 2 miles to go. I thought, heck with this, I'm going to go however fast I feel like going! I started doing math in my head. I was thinking if I did 15 minute miles I would still beat my goal and then all the sudden, I was at 12 miles! THen I started thinking, oh crap! I told my mom and my kids that they didn't need to be at the finish line until at least 2:15 cause I wouldn't be there until AT LEAST then! I got out my phone again and called Jackie (who as a teenager, always has her phone!) but she didn't answer. I was like, hey guys, I'm kicking ass!!! Better get to the finish line cause I'm going to be there in less than ten minutes! I hung up the phone and thought, oh my dear and loving God! I am going to be there in less than 1o minutes! I had to swallow the urge to cry again...tears of joy and gratitude for the incredible blessings which I had recieved.... As I got into town and could see the park ahead of me I knew that I was going to finish, and finish strong. I could feel someone behind me and said, NO WAY, I sprinted as much as I could and let myself hear the people in the crowd...who I didn't know yelling, GO JODIE, YOU ARE ALMOST THERE! KEEP IT UP! Then I hear the announcer say, and from MONTANA, CCFA runner JODIE DeLAY crosses the finish line. I could see my mom and my kids smiling at me and the pride in my mom's eyes was exploding....my kids....I just completely fell apart. The tears of joy and triumph and victory started falling and I couldn't stop them at all. It was just a feeling beyond words. I think this is long enough for now. THanks for reading...even after waiting all this time to put it down. I feel like I'm right there again...and its a feeling I'm glad to relive. Thank you all so much for everything you have done for me and for the CCFA and for my family. I am forever indebted.
jd

Introspection..why did I do this in the first place? Long and reflective so skip if you wish!

Now its time to get a little introspective...when I think back to January when I first heard about CCFA's Team Challenge, it seems like forever ago. I remember pondering whether I should take on such a big project. It had been a really, really tough year for my family (2007).

You've heard a lot about how very, very sick Kody was and how extraordinarily difficult it was for him and for his girls. Their lives were very much uprooted and it was tough going for all of us just trying to be there for them, and still function in our own worlds. Kayla and Tonii were without their dad for long periods and still went about doing their best in school and sports and really rocking the house at not just functioning, but thriving. They had a couple of years when they only saw their dad in pain and hurting and I know it was really, really hard...but they were champions. By January, time was just dragging and I so badly wanted to do something to help but I just didn't know what... Believe me, I'm so proud of how ALL of them dealt, all along - even then, ...but honestly my heart was just aching for all three of them.

Also during the prior year, my sister Suzanne's son was diagnosed with diabetes...at age 3. It was such a scary time and has been incredibly difficult for them to adjust to a life of needles and constant checks 24/7. Suzanne has been brave and a model of strength for Braden...ensuring that his "lifestyle" hasn't changed and he hasn't become a "victim". Braden's courage has been truly inspiring. Diabetes hasn't slowed him down a bit. He gives himself shots and just keeps going 100 miles per hour. Suzanne has learned everything imaginable about how to combat the big D and been on duty full time making sure that Braden gets exactly the treatment he needs. It has been remarkable to see her step up to this challenge. They, and little miss Taylor, who has done a lot of growing up way too quickly, are very motivating, too.

My sister Julianne had a health scare with her son, Brody, also...and though things appear to be okay, he'll need his liver checked regularly to be sure that doesn't change. When news came at a checkup that there could be a problem, she stepped up to the plate, got the tests and did what needed to be done. All the while she mangaged to absolutely kick butt in college - and eventually earned a 4.0 in her last semester of course work to finish her teaching degree with highest honors. Amazing.

My parents during this time dealt with all of us going through tough times, and their own things as well. My mom suffers from immune related issues and my dad has had terrible back trouble - but they just rose to the top, never faultering and ALWAYS being ready to jump to be sure that us kids had what we needed. Their strength was very much a factor in my thinking maybe I could do something that would help us all focus on something positive, in the face of so much adversity.

My own little family - my kids and Scott - consistently was at the top of my priority list..so important to me...something I wanted desperately to protect and nurture. But even as I contemplated taking on Team Challenge, it was coming apart. I'll reflect on this more in a different, more private place...just can't do it here.

In January when I started thinking about this project, it was not good, and to make matters worse, a problem that Dylan had first experienced with his digestive system a year before started to rear its ugly head again, too.

All this led to my decision to take a leap...I needed to be able to DO something to help my brother and my son and to have a positive goal in my near future to keep me moving ahead and stop me from stalling out. I wanted so much to have something that I believed in and a goal that I could control. All the illness and disease in my life had left me feeling VERY out of control. And so very helpless to be able to make my family smile...have happiness and joy amongst everything else.

When I decided to take the challenge, it was with a lot of hope and expectation...almost desperation. I NEVER could have dreamed it would be such an amazing and truly life-changing journey.

Facebook | Jodie DeLay

Facebook Jodie DeLay

Hopefully, you will all be able to open the facebook album that is posted above. I'm not really a techno person so I'm not sure how that works, but I did manage to put a little picture journal there and I'd love for you to be able to view it. If you have trouble, will you please email me at jodiedelay@hotmail.com so I know? thanks!

I'm not sure where to begin so I'll just get some business out of the way. My drawing!!! I put everyone who was kind enough to make a cash donation into the drawing and here are the big winners! (I'll get you the prizes in the next week or so!)

Beautiful handmade quilt - Don and Judy Mathre
Cool sculpture of a wildcat - Doug and Lori Steele
$25.00 gift certificate for Stampin Up products from Nicole Flournoy - Michele Farmer(http://www.nicole.stampinup.net/)
Front-end alignment - Daryl Monroe-Bilotti
Bottle of wine from NAPA, California! - Pat Morrow

THANK YOU, EVERYONE, for your support. I could not have done any of it without you and with everything in me I believe we are a giant step closer to a cure.

Okay, so first things first...Kody. He is doing really well! I'm so glad to report that he is making good strides. He was able to start Remicade a few weeks ago and will have his 3rd infusion in a couple weeks before getting on an 8 week rotation similar to what I do. It's probably too soon to tell if its working as well for him as it does for me...but there is reason to be optimistic that his great medical team has begun to get the puzzle put together. He is gaining weight and strength and feeling a little better each day. I haven't been able to see him in person since the race...which bums me out...but I'm really encouraged by how much stronger his voice is sounding on the phone and how much more positive things seem to be going.

Yeehaw! The next series of posts will be my wrap up with the first one actually be about why I did this in the first place. I needed to write it because for me it is perspective and I want to always remember WHY I did it and how I got from there to here. However, it is something that is probably less interesting if you don't know me very well so please feel free to skip the Introspection post and go right to the race update if you like!

jd

Long update coming soon!

Hi all!
I'm still recovering from an amazing weekend and not quite ready to pen my thoughts here just yet. I wanted to thank you all again for everything and to share the Bozeman Chronicle story that was published on Saturday before my race. Tim Dumas did a great job capturing the essence of "my story" and I'm truly grateful. IBD isn't really talked about much, but so many people have a story about it to share...and I feel like this is a beginning point for opening that dialogue. Thank you, Tim!

http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2008/07/19/sports/000delay.txt

If you've seen my fundraising page, you know that officially, we met our goal - we surpassed $5,000 AND I beat my goal time significantly. I hoped for 2hours 20 minutes, secretly thought MAYBE I could get 2 hours and 15 and actually finished in 2 hours 9 minutes and 12 seconds. The people, the course, the weather....everything was fantastic. I'm just completely thrilled with everything and couldn't have hoped for it to be better.

I did have the best support crew...THANK YOU MOM, JACKIE and DYLAN for riding shot gun...and to my DAD, KODY, JULIANNE, SUZANNE and definitely SCOTT and MONTY - Thanks for carrying me through...I wish you could have been there too, but I thought about you a lot along the trail! To everyone who sent me notes, said a prayer and lifted me up - believe me - you mattered. Part of me thinks that I just floated through the race...my feet barely touched the ground.

Thanks, so very, very much. And remember, anytime is a good time to send a few dollars to CCFA! http://www.active.com/donate/napa08national/JDeLay1

More later,
Jodie

Overwhelming...

No, not the distance (though 13.1 miles is way more than I thought possible five months ago!) and not the fundraising (which I NEVER thought I could be effective with, but here we are in excess of the minimum requirement and nipping at the heels of my goal)....

The SUPPORT, the words of ENCOURAGEMENT, the PRAYERS...its truly overwhelming to me! Wow, THANKS so much to every single one of you for lifting me AND my family up. We are all so fortunate to have had this inundation of kindness and blessings. For the rest of my life, I will relish in this experience, this opportunity to see inside the hearts of people and KNOW ABSOLUTELY that this is a wonderful world. Words cannot express how grateful and truly overwhelmed I am by all of you.

THANKS to KBZK in Beautiful Bozeman Montana for running a story on my race and the need for awareness and funds for IBD. Here is a link to their story: http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=8691172
I really appreciate that the station listed this blog link on their page, also. This is so key in raising awareness and I'm very, very pleased with the compassion and the coverage!

Click here to donate...every penny counts!!! http://www.active.com/donate/napa08national/JDeLay1

And keep those prayers coming! I'm going to be so light from being lifted up by all of you that on Sunday, my feet aren't even going to touch the ground!

May God bless you all,
jd

Deadline extended!

Hi all, I'm going to go ahead and extend the deadline to be entered in the drawing for the prizes listed below until RACE DAY, July 20th. The local media has been so good about helping me with raising awareness, that I really don't care about being recogized for hitting my goal of $5,000 - by the 16th; but I STILL hope to reach it and surpass it by the race!!!

I'm much more committed to giving anyone who comes here as a result of the coverage a chance to be a part of my Team Challenge. If you want to be involved, here is what you can do:

1) Click this link http://www.active.com/donate/napa08national/JDeLay1 and donate online
2) Send a check made payable to CCFA to: Jodie DeLay, 706 Home Run Drive, Belgrade MT 59714
3) Pass this link on to a friend or family member
4) Make an appointment with your doctor! If you've been having a slow decline in your health with general symptoms such as diarrhea, fatigue, mouth sores, low grade fever, rectal bleeding, joint soreness for an extended period - get it checked!!! While sometimes Crohns and Colitis will hit with a vengeance, often it is a slow period where things just kind of get worse and before long its hard to remember what it really felt like to feel GREAT! If you're in this position, please get checked.
5) If you're in a bad episode of IBD and need a shoulder or a good set of ears, call me or send me an email 406.209.0277 or jodiedelay@hotmail.com . If someone close to you is suffering and you just want to vent, I'm here for you, too! We will survive and THRIVE!!!
6) Say a prayer for me, my brother, my son and everyone else with bowel disease or digestive issues and then send up another prayer for their families and friends and for everyone who has been so generous and gracious and supportive of my participation in Team Challenge.
7) Wish me luck on completing this half marathon on Sunday with a SMILE on my face and great memories of a great day. I really want to finish in under 2 hours and 20 minutes, but I'm a little afraid that I might push too hard and not enjoy the race...so pray for my patience and ability to just let loose and have fun! (I appreciate this tremendously!!!)

If you can do any or all of these things, you will officially be a member of my own Team Challenge and the IBD Support Crew of Montana...I just made that up but it is catchy!

I'll announce the drawing winners on July 23rd after I return from NAPA!!

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!
(Watch Z7 at 5:30 to see my moment of fame!)

jd

Confidence

I have spent the last couple of days trying to calmly visualize myself running through the beautiful vineyards of northern California. I'm able to get into this place that feels pretty serene and then BAM I realize that it is nearly time for this goal of many months to come to be!

I've done the training. I've been blessed to be able to tell my story to a lot of people and to hear the stories of a lot of people. Much of the anxiety that I've felt at trying to raise money has faded, because I'm so completely confident that this is an incredible worthy cause. People whose lives have been affected by Inflammatory Bowel Disease, deserve a voice and this is one small way to help raise awareness, to talk about the symptoms of these diseases, to encourage people to see a doctor if they are having trouble, to let people know they aren't alone and that many, many good people are fighting WITH them to find better treatments and ultimately a CURE for IBD.

I would still like to be able to add Montana to the 5K club...and that means that we have a little more fundraising to do. We are currently sitting at about $4100 (by the time we count checks that I've sent that haven't been added to the tally on my page yet). We have basically 24 hours to come up with another $900. Will you help?

Please log onto my fundraising site: https://www.active.com/donate/napa08national/JDeLay1
and donate whatever you can. I am offering a raffle ticket for every $5.00 donated through tomorrow, July 16th. The prizes are listed on the previous post.

But don't stop there, please send this page to your friends and family... let's put us on the map!! IBD must be stopped and I'm very, very sure that together we can get us a big step closer to that finish line.

Thank you all so very much. My shout out today has to go to my colleagues at Montana State University... they have been absolutely phenomenal. I've been touched to the core of my being by the generosity of coworkers that I barely know. They've changed my life already. THANK YOU!!

Before I close, I think today is a good a time as any for a challenge. I am one of the biggest Bobcat fans in the world...i do truly bleed blue and gold...but I'm from a mixed family...my brother Kody - yes the one who is my inspiration and who I would do just about anything for - is a diehard Grizzly fan. I'm pretty sure that other than some Levi's and possibly underwear, he doesn't own any clothing that isn't licensed Griz wear. I love him very, very much despite this one flaw. TODAY, I challenge all my good Griz friends to step up to the plate and donate to CCFA on behalf of Team Challenge. Sadly, all of us are equally likely to be affected by these diseases and I'm just really sure that by joining together in this fight, we'll all win.

Thanks, have a great day and GO TEAM CHALLENGE!!
https://www.active.com/donate/napa08national/JDeLay1

Jodie