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So it is said “I dare you to train for a marathon, and not have it change your life”  On March 25th, 2021 we received word that we were accepted as a Duo team in the Chicago Marathon.  We put that on the fridge and made a plan.

June 7th we started our 18 week training cycle, it included lots of volume, two workout days,two runs with Andrew/chair and long runs.  He liked to run with Friday run club in the summer and then on Sundays I’d go out for ten then come home pick  up Andrew and Scott for some tired legs with the chair.  The heat and humidity were ever present, especially on those long runs, most of which started around 74 degrees.  There was the whole month of July, no lie every single run I had GI issues, running to every port o john or YMCA or my parents house or family express or the fairgrounds..you get my drift.  Then in August we both got sick, like go get a covid test sick (negative).  Then there was that one week in September with the calf gremlin, you would have had to seen it to believe it..all in all though there were 7 days I did not run this cycle.. It was a very rewarding and confidence building time. Grateful for my Strava friends, we really do support one another.  Many people joined in on runs to share the miles and experience of pushing! WE love to share the chair!  

A few days before the race we received an email from AWD giving us all the information for packet pick up and race day details.  We broke into tears knowing all the accommodations were in place to ensure Andrew would have a comfortable safe place to start and finish the race.  Having to say goodbye to Bob, Will and Taylor Sunday morning I knew no matter what, if something happened to me, Andrew would have a team of support to help him, if I could not.  As we headed up Michigan Avenue to Monroe in the dark, wheeling to the Art Institute the magnitude of this day was not lost on either of us, we cried, we hugged, we prepared for battle! 

Standing on the side of the starting line we listened to the anthem, met other athletes, some duo teams, some guide pairs, a lovely women who shared her battle with melanoma and how 18 surgeries later she was here to run her first marathon and hoped to push someone like us some day, we hugged, and got in line..the energy was coming from the corrals.  Our fearless leader headed up a huge red bubble sign and yelled “Athletes with disabilities ARE YOU READY”???? “YES” we all screamed and she began guiding us into the first wave.  

Off we go, wind at our back, chair loaded to be self supported into this wide free road, our hearts open,  Soaking it all in, exchanging an ugly cry face look between us, I look up there is a huge bridge and I see lots of police and people..betcha a million dollars Bob is up there watching us, I just feel it! I just know he is watching over us! (be sure to see the opening of our video)

Before you know it, we were surrounded by runners, this time though no Scott, Ben or Stacy around to direct traffic.  Just us, we shouted out, on your left, behind you, on your right, other runners would tap peoples shoulders, to let them know we were coming! the mental game for Andrew and I had to be sheer focus, in many of the pictures you will see a stern look on my face, not hitting a runner’s ankle is a top priority! This naturally gets us clipping along at a quick pace, truly getting sucked in with the pack, before the next wave swallows us up. 

Miile 5, we see Grandma, she has gatorade, we cant stop,the pack is moving too fast.   All I can think of is she is allergic to bees (we already saw someone get stung) hope she’s ok, Oh and HI! Lisa, Ed, Michelle, Sue.. this waterstop rocks! Focus Kathy Focus!

The plan was salt, fuel at 5,10,15,20 and water often and more often.  We quickly adjusted at mile 3 based on the conditions and how they were going to deteriorate, like we inevitably would.. At 10ish the wind was no longer in our sails and the battle would begin. By 14 miles, could feel a strange fatigue creeping in, I needed more, by 16 miles needed a pit stop, parked the chair, in and out I went, Andrew needed to go too, in and out he went with one missed step he fell, we both gasped, got him up and back in the chair,  immediately switched focus to a snack. he chose fruit snacks, I shoved some dried apricots in my mouth, more water.  17, where are my salt stick tabs, literally stopped on a bridge frantically looking for them, about in tears and maybe not thinking clearly.  Out from the crowd  Chrysanthemum appears,  what do you need. I said salt tabs, they dissolve, you can chew them, she pulls out a bottle,YES, they are watermelon..YES! gives 3 to Andrew and off we go. Seriously, I can’t believe that just happened, and I knew it would be the trick to get my legs feeling better..  People were starting to cramp up, dropping, staggering, people in big trouble.   I told Andrew I am going to walk the overpasses, grab the wet sponges and we will just keep moving forward.  

Pilsen, OH Pilsen you were Amazing, a beautiful culture rich experience that breathed life back into us, you seemed to go on forever in the best way,  we felt the love and the cold water, sponges were wonderful. China town you were loud, crowded, filled with energy and it felt like a bit of a farewell, to a far away land, I heard a man say “they don’t know the hardest part is yet ahead.”  

I am not sure if the salt tab was just working or I knew in about 3 miles we may see my parents or our music speaker died.but it just got quiet, and less congested with runners and it was good, we were moving forwarded,,more water,  Saw Max from Team Compass for the 10th time, but this time we shared the struggle.  MIchael and Andrew looked at each other, fist bumped and we kept moving forward.  Andrew said we are getting closer to the White Sox Mom, we chatted as he gave me stats for the wheelchair finishers. 20, Andrew turns to me and says “Mom, it’s just a 10K, we are going to finish” I believed in him and my training at that moment 100%.  We saw Bob and he said I yelled ” we will get home when we get home, it’ll all be ok”  I do not recall speaking these words, maybe delirium or just plain  willing us to keep moving forward. 

We turned left and there she was MOM, we pulled over for a second, told her we were ok, that we were having fun, she and Andrew hugged,  she had frozen water bottles that tasted and felt amazing..Andrew said those sips were the best of the day.  We turned left again and two volunteers were screaming!! Kathy, Andrew your DAD is here..there he was, cheering us on!  He’s done this race over 25 times, we work for the elite team together and there he was seeing us in person!  Running Dad’s race! What a thrill. I just can’t even!

23, 24 ….picking up the pace..thought of all those repeats, you can do anything for a mile, two miles I thought… Andrew asked when will I get out?.. soon, soon son.  Mile 25 was incredible, crowds screaming, rows of people ten deep, I just kept looking for the hill.  Dara told me about it and when would it come? Ahh There it is…. we stopped, Andrew threw his legs over and got out of the chair, up that hill we went heading to the finish line.  The crowd exploded when he got to his feet!  He was walking so fast, breathing so hard, he looks over, grabs my hand and says we fricking did it.  Last left hand turn to home.  There is no sweeter feeling than accomplishing a goal.  Wait, yes there is, helping someone else accomplish their goal, is even sweeter!

Many people supported us Sunday, from family to friends  to so many runners on the course giving and taking energy as the miles went by.

Athletes with disabilities team was  right there at our side when we finished.  The volunteer and Andrew walked ahead of me into the crowd of weary, joyful finishers fading out of my sight. I walked alone, yet surrounded by hundreds of people. I went to a place, a safe place where I could let my brain and body rest.  He was safe and soaking in HIS finish line! and so was I.

It is also said “If you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon”

Sunday, October 10, 2021 we returned to racing. We’d like to report that Human Nature is Alive and well!

4:42:52 Official

#Strideon

May 25th @ 8:44a.m.  I was approached to run the Marine Corps Marathon with the Kyle Pease Foundation.  There was only ONE way, I would say yes to another marathon, that was if my brother Scott would do it with us.  Immediately it became clear, that the logistics were going to have to be timed perfectly to get us to the start line on time.  We made our plans, booked tickets, and settled in to run a big Fundraising effort, and a Kick Ass marathon!  

I searched for a training plan, didn’t want to ask anyone, wanted to find my own way.  Marine Corps Marathon website had a link to runcoach App, Downloaded it, and got my first email Sunday June 23rd, it said run 14 miles.  This was the beginning of “Pushing ourselves to Push others.” I was giving myself over totally to this training, so that I could be there for Andrew and Scott through every step of this race.  I wanted to do my share, be ever present and hopefully be so deep that the beast that is the marathon wouldn’t get us. I know, it left some scratching their heads, with no time goal, running all these miles, risking injury and possibly missing the start lin.  I pushed on, completing every workout in the 18 weeks and running 764.75 miles, this commitment has forever changed me. The past 18 weeks, reaffirmed that my support system is DEEP, and the Thanks goes to Many….but Mostly to Bob! His unwavering belief in me and support is something that can not be explained!  

Days before the race, logistics started to unravel, real plans and conversations had to happen, CHANGE at every corner was coming at us.  We had to delegate, work with less manpower, step up to the plate and get to D.C., Scott would not be arriving until basically 4 hours before we were leaving for Charity Village.  The forecast was grim 58 degrees with 100% rain until noon then 78 and bright sun. Complicating for any runner, but this is not about any runner. This is about being responsible for an in-chair athlete, their comfort, their nutrition, their RACE!  The tent preparations were chaotic, grabbing garbage bags, wrapping athletes, checking gear all while completely soaked to the bone and pitch black. The level of concern is unimaginable. Just know that our pre-race nutrition, bathroom breaks, etc, were last on the list.  Without Taylor being Andrew’s person, our person it would have been nearly impossible. Plus, what was she going to do in a flooded city for 5 hours, it was a lot! This is what we trained for, all those Sunday 5 am runs in the rain at 66 degrees, we knew, we knew what to wear, what to do, so we did not have to worry about ourselves! WE could be there for Andrew! Scott and I training together solidified and deepened our bond.  Other than my husband, I KNOW I can depend on him with my life, but more importantly my Sons life! We were prepared, as prepared as anyone could be pushing an athlete in a monsoon….#letsgo

The course was beautiful, crowded, challenging and very moving!  Scott and I took turns every quarter to a half-mile for the whole race, constantly rotating, calling out holes in the road, turns, crowds to navigate, filling water bottles, opening nutrition, reminding ourselves to fuel and hydrate.  The rain is deceiving..it was hot, we could not bonk, we had to be there at the end so Andrew could conquer the HILL, do the .2 of the 26.2.

Andrew is the Bad Ass Athlete in this story! His patience and ability to be uncomfortable for a long period of time brings me to my knees! He reminded us at 11 that the Blue Mile was coming, a silent mile.  Every person that gave him a way to go, high five, he thanked them and wished them well with a smile! All while wrapped in a tarp and garbage bag that kept blowing open from the winds off the Potomac….he asked for nothing  He worried that he would be too stiff to get up and walk fast to that finish! He was wrapped and in the chair a full hour before we even officially started the race. 5 plus hours like a mummy! The weight of his clothes and shoes when we stripped him down after the race to get dry would blow your mind.  Speaking of official start time….We found out on our way out of DC that our time will have 5 minutes added to it, not sure when. The handcycles went at 7:45, us at 7:50 and then the Official race start at 7:55. We had no idea the mats were not live for us and all the other wheelchair athletes, so unofficial 4:18:49, not that it was ever about the time…

Thank you so very much to ALL that have supported us in our journey to the Marine Corps Marathon 2019.  We hope we made you proud. We are so honored to have run with the Kyle Pease Foundation and were able to put the Capitol “I” in Inclusion alongside 18 other Push Assist Teams and many other differently abled athletes on the Streets of D.C.  Together we raised over $5,000.00. From handing out flyers at the local park, telling our story wherever we could, the CPXC Family, the dog show community, the running community, or our CP community, and mostly my parents, it’s All about the Hooper Labus Family, without them we would not be here this cold rainy Thursday telling this tale of Triumph and that on October 27, 2019 we were Champions!  Gail running out to present us our medals was Everything! we are loved!

If I may, taking one last moment to honor The Marines, The Armed Services, Heroes and those that made the ultimate sacrifice.  I proudly wore my USS Frank Cable Naval cap and believe deep down my training for this “Special” life I live, this “Special” day started back in 1993.  A bond that can never be broken, so well represented at this race, on this day! We Salute you!

“A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his/her life wrote a blank check made payable to the United States of America for an amount up to and including my life.”

#pushingourselvestopushothers

#runforthosewhocant