Finish line stories that will make you want to cry happy tears:)

Hello everyone!  I hope your day is a great one!  I can’t wait to share all of these amazing stories from you guys.

I’ll give you a short recap of my day—> 11.16 miles easy w/ Josse, kids, lunch with some friends, kids, hanging out on the computer and a HALLOWEEN CRUISE.  Our kids have been looking forward to this for a very long time and it lived up to their expectations.

DSC01559

DSC01555

Thank you everyone for entering my Anniversary Giveaway:). Here are the two winners… email me asap!

Screen Shot 2019 10 21 at 3 28 20 PM

Screen Shot 2019 10 21 at 3 29 35 PM

———————————————————————————–

I would love to have this be a post each month… your stories are incredibly inspiring and have brought me so many goosebumps/tears already!  Send them to —> [email protected]

———————————————————————————–

Taylor!!!

My son had a heart transplant when he was 4.5 months old and we spent 7 months in the hospital this past year. He was there to greet me at the finish line of my first half marathon in 2 years! Running is amazing how it gets us through the tough times but it’s also the best way to express gratitude and joy when we run happy and give it our best effort.

4 7

———————————————————————————–

Rebekah!!!

This is a picture of me getting ready to cross the finish line of my first Half-Marathon in 2014. I had worked very hard to run this hometown race. My parents were not planning on coming to the race. The day before the race my boyfriend, now husband, went to talk to them. He told them how hard I had worked, how big of a deal it was, and that I would greatly appreciate them being there to support me. When I rounded that last corner and headed towards the finish line, I saw them! That smile on my face was because I saw them. This is just a snapshot that was taken by a volunteer, perfectly timed. My parents are the two off to the right watching on. This ended up being the only Half-Marathon that my Father was alive for, as he passed away a few months later. This photo and that finish line will always be priceless…

NewImage

———————————————————————————–

Stacey!!!

Your post made me want to go through my old racing photos. I found myself tearing up at these two, so I had to share. This is in 2009 after qualifying for Boston for the first time. I qualified by 6 seconds! Back then, you were 100% guaranteed entry if you qualified at all, so I was definitely in. I could not believe I BQ’d. I didn’t even own a racing watch back then, so I had NO IDEA what my time was. The first picture is immediately after my dad checked the results board and told me “You did it! I am so proud of you!” and the second picture is me with my hero, my dad himself.

4 4 1

———————————————————————————–

Corey!!!

My best story is about the Rehoboth Beach Marathon in 2012. After several years of trying to get a sub-4-hour marathon, I was in an awesome groove for not only that goal but also a BQ (3:55 for me that year). Just after mile 15, I fell into step with a guy whose friend had dropped back a bit. He asked me if I was aiming for a specific time, and once I told him my A and B goals, he assured me I was going to stick with him and BQ that day. As we ticked off the miles, he kept me distracted and motivated, then he started telling everyone we passed that I was headed for a BQ. Everyone shouted encouragement as we passed. About 2 miles from the finish, his friend caught up to us and joined my BQ effort! With one as my “rabbit” and the other at my side, we approached the finish line. Since they didn’t know how much of a cushion I had on the clock time, Frank made sure I didn’t fall behind and miss my 3:55! My official time was 3:54:11 and, though that ended up being 49 seconds too slow for the Boston lottery that year (it would have been the year after the bombing), it’s still my most rewarding and chill-inducing finish.

4

———————————————————————————–

Shelley!!!

I know this is terrible quality but this is my favorite finish line photo. Here is why:
The 2017 Atlantic City Half Ironman is the biggest race I have ever done. I went into it feeling so prepared and ready. I had trained for months. Crossing that finish line was the most accomplished I had ever felt. I remember getting this picture and laughing because I look just like my mom does when she cries! When the race is over my husband and I hopped on a plane to fly to Las Vegas for a much needed vacation. When we pulled up to our hotel, my mom and dad were there to surprise us! They were leaving to go home in the morning but stayed up talking to us all about the day and celebrating with us. It will always be one of my favorite memories because my mom passed away nine month later. It was one of the last times I got to be with her. She was my number one supporter and still is. Every time training gets hard I just talk to her and she gets me through it. The second photo is my mom, husband and I when we arrived in Vegas.

Screen Shot 2019 10 20 at 8 19 08 PM NewImage

———————————————————————————–

Rachel!!!

I really started running after college and when my husband and I moved to Nashville, TN. I signed up for the Rock N Roll Half Marathon here in Nashville the first year we were here. That is a super hilly, humid, and hard course, but I really enjoyed it! I signed up for the next year (because it was cheaper to do so at the expo), but really didn’t want to be at the finish line the next year.
You see, we were right smack dab in the middle of a brutal battle with infertility. Every year I’d sign up for the Rock N Roll Half Marathon, secretly hoping that I’d either be pregnant or have a baby and not be able to run. I reached that finish line 3 years in a row. For 3 years in a row I was so proud of what my body had accomplished, but still felt that it couldn’t do what I most wanted.
Long and complicated story short, God gave us our miracle baby girl this past March. The Rock N Roll Half Marathon in Nashville was in April. I have never been so happy to watch email reminders about the race go unread. I watched the race that I had registered for a year ago. For the first time in 4 years, I didn’t reach that finish line and I couldn’t be more grateful

———————————————————————————–

Sloan!!!

This finish line story is about my brother who is a sophomore in high school. We were at a meet in September that had different races based on school size. The teams I coach ran the first two races of the day and the larger schools ran after us. My brother noticed that there was a boy struggling through the race. He was last (by a good bit) and was having to walk a lot. My brother, having already run his 5k, went to him and asked if he could run with him to the finish. My brother helped him the last 1.6 miles. Because of that, this boy ran a PR and even said, “I would not have been able to finish if it weren’t for you.” I shed a lot of tears that day…proud tears of the selfless act of my brother.
This is why running is so good. Even though this boy was last, he still won because he ran a PR and finished the race.

4 3 4 4

———————————————————————————–

Dee!!!

In December, 1995 (I’m old!) I ran my first marathon (CIM!) and I qualified for Boston – it would be the 100th anniversary in 1996. I, however, had committed to trying to start our family so I didn’t sign up. I got pregnant and had a baby December 8th, 1996 (she was almost 6 weeks early!) and she was born on the day of CIM one year from when I’d run it! The doctor almost missed the delivery because he was stuck in marathon traffic! I did eventually run Boston in 2008!

———————————————————————————–

Victoria!!!

First 2 (pink kit) are from Olympic distance triathlon nationals in 2016 in Omaha, Nebraska. There are 18 spots in each age group for world championships, and this is the most competitive amateur triathlon race in the world so that’s REALLY hard (some years my age group has 200 people or more). The year before, I set a PR and finished 50th in my age group and thought that maybe, just maybe, I could improve enough in one year to get to go to worlds in Rotterdam, Netherlands in 2017, if everything went perfectly. I made a mistake in the swim and went a little off course and for a moment, almost gave up, but then I told myself that you never know what is going to happen and kept swimming. I came out of the swim and my husband told me I was in 10th place! I thought it would be more like 30th so I was very happy and hopped onto my bike. I only got passed by 2 people there and started the run ready to hang onto my worlds qualification. It was VERY hot (Feels like 90F+) and people took the run out really fast, and somehow I got passed by at least 10 people in the first 5k. But then they started coming back to me. With a mile to go, I’d lost count but knew I was in contention and gave it everything I had…as you can see from these two pictures. In the end, I was 19th and a few people declined their spots so I got to go to worlds in 2017! Very glad I did not give up at the beginning or the end.
The third pic (Navy Team USA kid) is from long distance triathlon worlds in British Columbia in 2017. I typically haven’t done well at long distance, or on hilly courses, and…this was both. I thought I might really be out there 9 hours or more, had a panic attack maybe 30 seconds into the race (do not recommend) but pulled myself together and kept moving forward at a good pace. I came out of the swim 3rd in my age group (in the world!) and rode a strong bike despite all the hills and then went way faster on the run that I thought I would. Wound up finishing in 7:54 when I thought that 8 hours would be a perfect day PLUS I got to carry an American flag across the finish line.

Unnamed

Unnamed 1

Unnamed

———————————————————————————–

Rachel!!!

Hi Janae! My favorite finish line was last October – The Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon. I ran the half marathon in 2018! These pictures don’t show the finish line, but they show why I ran. My daughter, Eleanor, receives a lot of care at the hospital. At the time of the race I was 5 months postpartum and Ellie was 2 months post open heart surgery. I ran the race to raise money for the cardiac floor at Nationwide Children’s and ended up raising over $5,000!
The finish line was INCREDIBLE. At the expo, my husband and I were trying to take the picture with the sign “Because children need hope, and hope needs a champion.” The man that offered to take our picture ended up being the emcee for the race! He asked about our story, why I was running when I clearly had a small baby haha. After he heard her medical story he offered to host my husband and I in a heated tent before the race (by all of the elites!). Unknown to me, he then asked my husband to join him at the finish line. My husband and daughter were able to see all of the elites cross the line. As I finished the race (1:54) I started crying, thinking about what the race meant to me. Passing the hospital and the Ronald McDonald house where we’ve stayed so many times brought up difficult memories, but also so much gratitude! As I was nearing the finish line spectators started telling me to look up and then I heard the emcee through the speakers telling me to look above the finish line because my daughter Ellie and husband Ryan were cheering me in!! Doing what I love to support my daughter and other heart warriors was empowering. Having them at the finish line meant the world to me.

4 5 4 6

———————————————————————————–

Kayde!!!

This August I ran the Leadville 100 Run in Colorado. It was a very LONG training cycle with many ups and downs, starting back in February. I had the the most amazing friends and training partners along the way.
For the race the first 50 miles is “on your own” with your crew seeing you about every 15 to 20 miles at the aid stations. Then the return 50 miles you can have up to 4 pacers. I was fortunate to have the most amazing girl friends that joined me for various segments and continued to crew me through the night of running, and run in the final mile to the finish line with me. I am eternally grateful to these ladies for their support, motivation and dedication to getting me to that finish line!
Then to my surprise my best friend Tammy from College drove 800+ miles overnight through the mountains with her family of 7 (!!!) just to see me at the finish line of the LT100!

Unnamed

Unnamed 1

Video of my Leadville Trail 100 Race Course (with videos and photos!):
And my husband, Brad, also ran and finished the Leadville 100 race this year – completing the “Leadman” race series (6 events – Marathon, 50 Mile Run, 50 Mile Mountain Bike, 100 Mile Mountain Bike, 10K Trail, 100 Mile Trail). We trained throughout the entire spring and summer together! <3
That’s love right there to run 50 and 100 mile races together and stay together! ha!
Unnamed

———————————————————————————–

Stacey!!!

I’m a “back of the pack runner”. Ran a good majority of the 2016 Chicago Marathon (my first and only so far), but walked MOST of the second 13 miles. Ran a few short periods but mostly walked the second half. Hate to admit, but I’m proud of it in a way. I still did it!
Finally, came up to the 25.2 sign. Realized, I’M ONE MILE AWAY. I have NO IDEA where my wind came from because I WAS TIRED, but it sure came. And I RAN THE WHOLE LAST MILE! FAST for me too! Even part of the ending is uphill, VERY slightly, but after 26 miles of flat, you feel it! But ran I did. Ran so focused and crying (“crunning” as an aliontherun interviewee called it). Knowing I had done it. My best friend was there just before the 26 mile marker, got my attention, and I glanced at her but she said later “I was surprised you didn’t come over and give me a hug!” but I was IN THE ZONE. I finished the race, 6:27:45. Earned my medal. 00:02:15 away from not being an “official finisher”. Of course, it was empty feeling not having my husband at the finish line (due to Boston bombings a few years earlier) But I didn’t get to get a hug from my husband until a good 30 min AFTER crossing the finish line. And my WHOLE training cycle I just pictured running into his arms and crying with him, but that didn’t happen. When we finally were able to meet up, my husband and close family, I didn’t even know my finish time. All I had cared about was getting TO the finish line. When they told me I finished under the 6:30:00 time limit, I can’t even explain how excited I was! And I guess them telling me made up for the fact that I didn’t get to run into his arms!
———————————————————————————–

Laura!!!

I have two for you!
One is from 2018 NYC Marathon.  I had wanted to do this race forever and ever and managed to get in via lottery my first try.  I ran with my friend from work and it was her first marathon.  To say the race was a struggle for me is an understatement.  I got through training okay but the stars just didnt align on race day.  I was in the med tent twice and ended up walking most of the last 5 miles. My friend stuck with me and we crossed hand in hand.  Her positive attitude and energy truly got me through. I’ve never worked so hard for a finish line.  I was so disappointed in myself and it took me a long time to realize I did my best and there’s always another race!!  Hoping I will get the chance to try NYC again someday.  
The second is my mom’s first road race!  We ran a 4 miler together on the 4th of July and totally rocked it.  She has always supported me in my running (biking alongside me for mostly every marathon training run ever) and now she is rocking races herself.  Shes run 3 additional races this year (5k and 10k) and podiumed every time!! 
Thanks for letting us share our stories and always being such a positive force in the running community! 

4 2

4 1

———————————————————————————–

Have you done any of the races that were in these amazing finish line stories?  Which ones?

Tell me about your run today!  Who else has already started layering for their morning runs?

Are you dressing up for Halloween this year?  What are you going to be?

Anyone running a Halloween themed race?

You May Also Like

40 comments

Reply

These are making me cry!!!

Reply

ME TOO!! Seriously… these stories inspire me big time! I hope you have a beautiful day Julie!

Reply

I had a difficult run this morning… I have run 5 marathons (3:24 pr) but took some time off from running and have run very sporadically for the past 5 years. I’m finally getting back into a groove, running every Saturday with my friends for 5 miles and then often on Sunday with my friend for 5 miles or on my own. I’m a gym rat so I do work out every day, just not a ton of miles b/c I was having some injury issues. My hip had been hurting for 2 years! I realized that I was walking my dog with a waist leash and maybe that was contributing to it. I stopped wearing the leash about 2 weeks ago and my hip feels great! So I started an October run streak – at least a mile each day, the first 7 days, I did 5 miles each day. But 5 miles has been my max over the past 2 years. I used to do this 10 mile loop the last weekend before each of my marathons and I had the goal of wanting to do that run by the end of October. So I did it this morning. I was feeling wonderful. I do wear a garmin but I never look at it during the run. I only look at the end. .. My only goal was to run 10 miles but about midway through I was thinking “I imagine this run is well under 9 minute pace. I hope it is!”. When I finished, I was super proud until… I looked down at my watch. 10:04 miles in 9:01 pace! Baaahaaaa!! I was SO disappointed! I started the run at 5:06 am, finished 10 miles by 6:37 a.m. and was sad!! Next time I am looking at my watch at mile 9 and will sprint the last mile if I have to :) I’m just super disappointed b/c in the past, it would have been a no-brainer that the run would be under 9 pace and this was defeating. Definitely positive takeaways – got huge runner’s high from mile 6 on and felt good. But it’s almost as if the 10 miler defeated me. The darn watch :) Sorry for the long rant! I did text my friends and they helped but just felt I needed to flush this out again. Runners understand :)

Reply

BUT AMANDA…. YOU DID THE TEN MILE LOOP for the first time in YEARS! I’m sitting here clapping for you when I read this and just so thrilled you figured out the hip problem and you are back to running with friends and your run streak. BUT I also totally get where you are coming from, it’s easy to get down on ourselves. You are amazing and I cannot wait to see you hit your goals and keep enjoying those miles (and teach me to like the gym so I do more strength training)!

Reply

Yay! Thank you! I’ve emailed you. :)

Reply

Wahooo so happy you won!

Reply

AWESOME post!!! I LOVED reading all the awesome finish line stories!!!! Thanks for compiling them together for us!!

Reply

Oh I am so glad you loved them! Hopefully I can get more posts like these together. Have the best Tuesday Sara!

Reply

Hoo, boy! I just cried my way through all of these stories–they get me every time. Running gives back to us, and runners give what they gain from running, and I love it!

Reply

“Running gives back to us…” I’ve never thought of it like that. So so true, thanks for sharing Corey and I hope your day is a beautiful one!

Reply

Thank you so much for sharing my post, Janae! To know that I am listed amongst all those amazing stories really brought a smile to my face. I’m going to show this to my dad. He’s the Rockstar of my story, for sure!
I went on a rainy four mile run this morning at 5. I was REALLY tempted to sleep in, but I went for it and guess what… no regrets!

Reply

THANK YOU for sending it Stacey! I know your picture well that pops up when you leave a comment but it was so fun for me to see the PURE JOY on your face in the pictures that you shared. Sounds like your dad is amazing and that picture of you two should be framed. So glad you got out for that rainy run! Have the best day!

Reply

Well I have been blubbering reading these at work!! My heart is so full. What an awesome community. Thanks to everyone who shared!

Reply

Aw I LOVED reading these!! Made me tear up and really ready for another finish line

Reply

YAY!! I hope you have a race soon Colleen… I love being inspired by these stories. Hope you are having the best day!

Reply

I agree… this community is the best of the best. I hope you have the best day!

Reply

Now I have to explain to my boss why i’m crying at my desk!

Reply

Bahahah I hope that your boss understands! Have a wonderful day Brooke!

Reply

I ran/walked the 5K Donut Dash in St Joseph, MO last Saturday. I sent you a picture of my daughter and me last year. It is a race my daughter and I had done every year since it started 5 years ago and we look forward to it and talk about it non stop for weeks. She’s now 13 this year and last week we found out she told a pretty big, serious lie to her friends. We live in a very small town and she goes to a very small school and we’ve only lived here a year and a half so this could be very damaging to her and our family. Of course there was some hurt, anger, tears shed and hard lessons learned. As a result of this, she was grounded which meant she would miss out on the Donut Dash, a fun celebratory breakfast after and a church youth dance Saturday night. IT WAS SO HARD to go to the 5K without her and not let her go to the dance. The morning of the race it was raining and my head hurt and I didn’t really feel good but I wanted to do the 5K and wanted to do it with her but I just couldn’t allow her to go under the circumstances. When the race was over I just wanted to forget the whole thing. It was my worst time for a 5K and I missed my daughter. We haven’t even talked about it and I can’t bring myself to even look at the race shirt. The good thing is there’s always the Turkey Trot next month and I think she’ll think twice about lying.

Reply

Oh Betsy, I am SO so sorry about what happened this year for the 5k. I cannot even imagine what you felt during those miles without her there BUT you are an incredible example to me as a parent. You did the harder right rather than the easier wrong. You are teaching her correct principles and consequences and that is so needed. Just the reminder I needed, thank you for sharing. I hope the Turkey Trot is a wonderful experience for you and her after she learns the lessons you are teaching her. Cheering for you Betsy, you are strong!

Reply

You did the right thing – you’re a strong mom ❤️

Reply

Wow so many amazing people read your blog, thank you for finding room for my stories!

Reply

Finding room… UMM YOUR STORY IS AMAZING! Thank you for sharing Victoria! I hope you are having the best day and I can’t wait to see what is up next for you!

Reply

So glad I didn’t put makeup on yet..those stories are so beautiful!!

Reply

Oh I am so glad you loved them! Have the best day Christina!

Reply

These stories want to make me give a great big hug to our running community!

Reply

Runners are just the best of the best:) . Hope your Tuesday has been a bright one Michelle!

Reply

Such beautiful, inspiring stories! Totally teared up reading them. thanks everyone for sharing!

Reply

Thanks so much Leigh and I hope your day is an amazing one!

Reply

And, now I’m crying like a baby. I’m tapering this week for a half marathon on Saturday. 5 years ago I did a half marathon and said never again. Fast forward 5 years and a baby (now toddler) later, and I’m getting myself back. Training has been a true joy and given me such a sense of accomplishment. I’m so excited for Saturday!

Reply

AHHH MEGAN! Good luck on Saturday and I would love to hear all about it! Seeing your toddler at the finish line is just going to be the absolute best. So happy that you have been loving training, you are amazing Megan!

Reply

Ahh these are all amazing!!! Such a great idea to have a post like this!

I had some 1K repeats today. I had to start layering this week! It was tough for me to admit it’s no longer summer here in Wyoming!

Reply

OH I bet winter in Wyoming is HARD. Way to go on those 1k repeats… you are STRONG!

Reply

I LOVE all these stories so, so much! So inspiring!! Thank you to everyone who shared! It made me go back an re-live some of my best and worst finish lines. And, that made me so thankful for what running has taught me and given me! ❤️

Reply

This is a great post. Please do these more often! My husband always stayed home to handle the boys & baseball duties while I ran races. He started traveling with me to some races ( in Baton Rouge where his sister lives, Little Rock where his brother lives, Boston, Chicago). Now …without a doubt…every time I see him or any family member, I almost hyperventilate! The emotion gets me. Every. Single. Time.

Reply

Love these stores, so inspiring! I’m running marathon #6 in Istanbul next month, and these give me such a pick me up as I’m tapering! Thanks for all you do!

Reply

I did the Columbus Nationwide Half for the second time this year! It’s an incredibly emotional race, even for me not having a personal connection to a patient at Nationwide—there are patient champions every mile on the course, cheering and giving high fives, which is amazing and kind of indescribable. So happy for Rachel and her family that she got to run, and that her husband and adorable, strong daughter got to be right at the finish line! :)

Reply

Hi Elizabeth! Thank you for the kind words :) I agree – it’s such an emotional race. You can’t run it and not be effected! Love the way running connects these communities together <3

Reply

I am SOOO glad you warned us about crying! I needed tissues from the first sentence! AMAZING stories! I hope individuals submit their stories and this type of post continues! Great idea!

Reply

Hi Elizabeth! Thank you for the kind words :) I agree – it’s such an emotional race. You can’t run it and not be effected! Love the way running connects these communities together <3

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *