I remember my alarm sounding off at 4:00 am and thinking today is the day, the day to prove to myself that I can do anything. Rolled outta bed and I could start to feel the nerves kicking in. I start to get ready and then my mom tells me it is only going to be in the 40's this morning! Really? Really? Just figures. We load up the car, eat a small breakfast and head for the race. My dad and I get there first and its 5:30 and the parking lot is almost packed! The race doesn't start until 7. My mom and brothers soon follow.
It is cold and dark out. Cold enough to see your own breath. I get my bike and head over toward the transition center. There is already a line. While I wait to get in, they come by and do body markings. You get your number marked on your arm and on one calf it is your age and on the other your number. Now not only am I cold, the nerves charge through me. It is real, I am really doing my first tri! After setting my bike and race gear up in transition center I head over to pool area to get my timing chip and then line up for start. The race is sold out! Over 600 participants!
Around 6:45 they tell us to line up by number for the start of the race. I am number 63! Unfortunately, I had to wait outside in nothing but my tri shorts! It was so unbelievably cold, I was shivering and just wanted to get inside the pool. I could feel my muscles start to tighten. Finally, I am up next, I jump in the pool and start to swim. The swimming was a lot harder than I ever imagined. I kept thinking just don't stop, keep going it will be over soon. The water was so choppy in the pool due to so many people in at same time. I remember getting out of the pool and thinking to myself, THANK GOD that is over, now the easy part.
I run to transition station I can hear my family yelling GO CARTER! I hurry to put on my socks, bike shoes and helmet. As soon as I get on the bike I know I got this. The next two parts of the tri are the easy parts for me. I love to cycle and I run Cross Country for my high school, so I got this.
As I come up the last hill I hear my dad and little brother, Ayden yelling "GO CARTER, GO!" Then I come to the last stretch before the transition and I see my mom and brother, Zach. I hear them yell "GO CARTER! YOU ARE DOING AWESOME!" Thank God for my family pushing me. Throughout the race I could hear them yelling GO CARTER! They split up so my dad and little brother would be at one section to cheer me on and my mom and other brother at another to cheer me on, so I basically had support throughout the whole race. THANKS GUYS!
I hurry off the bike and change into my running shoes and start to run. As I start to run I realize I am almost done! After the first mile I am hot, tired and my legs and feet are killing me. All that keeps running through my head is don't give up, push through the pain, do not walk, whatever you do, do not walk! I look up and there is my mom and brother yelling "You only have 1/2 mile left! Keep it up!" Thank God is all I can think at that time. My legs felt like jelly and pains were shooting through my feet and legs. Then I come around the corner and I see the finish line and surge toward it.
I FINISHED MY FIRST TRIATHLON! I DID IT! I did not finish first, not even in top 100 but I finished! I came in 245th place and finished in 1 hour 25 minutes. Plus I was able to wear my Carter's Challenge Race jersey and raise awareness for my disease.
So remember, just because you have a disability does not mean you give up. You can do anything you set your mind to. The sky is the limit!
Until next time...............Don't give up, keep fighting the fight!
Carter
Showing posts with label CMT pain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CMT pain. Show all posts
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
These last few weeks have been utterly overwhelming. At times it just seems as though the upward battle is getting steeper and steeper and we will never reach the top. Finding strength to get through the day is difficult at times, sometimes I just want to curl up in bed and cry but I can't. I can honestly say the only things getting me through each day is my faith, my family and a incrediable support group of friends. Thank God for my CMT friends, whom I met through Facebook, of all things. They truly get it, because of course they have been through it or are going through it.
As I said these last few weeks have been difficult to say the least. Both boys are struggling not only with school but with their physical limitations. Zach all of a sudden is showing more signs. Halloween he went out trick or treating with his friends and of course came home in horrible pain. He just did not want to tell his friends he couldn't go any further, so he indured the pain. When he got home he was in tears because his feet and legs were killing him. He was just exhausted. Then the next day they had a Diabetes Walk at school and instead of not participating....he walked! Ugh!!!! He said he just didn't want to be different. Which I understand but he came home and could barely walk through the front door. Again, horrible pain in legs and feet. So we soaked in Epson Salt and warm water and relaxed in the recliner. Oh how I wish I could make the pain go away. I am so glad I have my ARD meeting coming up with his school. I really need some help with making sure he does not feel different yet he isn't causing himself any discomfort.
As for Carter, rough week to say the least. He received his night braces on Tuesday and lets just say it hasn't been fun. First night was really rough, no sleep. For those of you who are not familiar with them let me just say this. Once you have them on, there is no getting up. They are not the most comfortable either....to say the least. First night was really rough, no sleep. He was in pain, so I loosened them up but he also had a hard time getting comfortable, he sleeps on his side. So, we came up with a game plan, if he needs to get up or if he is in to much pain he is to call me. So we keep his cell phone charging on his nightstand and he calls me on the home phone if he needs me. First night, like I said was rough. He even asked if he could sleep with just one brace. Second night a little better. We adjusted it a couple of times but then at 1 a.m. phone rings, he is in a lot of pain in his achiles heal. So off went the braces. He needs sleep for school for crying out loud! Carter did find some humor in his braces last night. He was watching Forest Gump over the weekend , remember Forest had leg braces too! So he made some jokes last night when I put him to bed. Like "Run Forest, run." Which reminded me that we all need to keep a sense of humor in all this madness.
I told the boys we just all need to keep the faith and stay strong. Strength will come from our faith and from each other. I told Carter remember when you were first diagnosed, you said "I am not going to let this disease control me." "I am going to stay strong and believe." You need to remember that time and find that inner strength again. WE ALL DO!
Until Next Time.....Keep the faith!
"Stay Strong, Believe"~Carter Hayes
As I said these last few weeks have been difficult to say the least. Both boys are struggling not only with school but with their physical limitations. Zach all of a sudden is showing more signs. Halloween he went out trick or treating with his friends and of course came home in horrible pain. He just did not want to tell his friends he couldn't go any further, so he indured the pain. When he got home he was in tears because his feet and legs were killing him. He was just exhausted. Then the next day they had a Diabetes Walk at school and instead of not participating....he walked! Ugh!!!! He said he just didn't want to be different. Which I understand but he came home and could barely walk through the front door. Again, horrible pain in legs and feet. So we soaked in Epson Salt and warm water and relaxed in the recliner. Oh how I wish I could make the pain go away. I am so glad I have my ARD meeting coming up with his school. I really need some help with making sure he does not feel different yet he isn't causing himself any discomfort.
As for Carter, rough week to say the least. He received his night braces on Tuesday and lets just say it hasn't been fun. First night was really rough, no sleep. For those of you who are not familiar with them let me just say this. Once you have them on, there is no getting up. They are not the most comfortable either....to say the least. First night was really rough, no sleep. He was in pain, so I loosened them up but he also had a hard time getting comfortable, he sleeps on his side. So, we came up with a game plan, if he needs to get up or if he is in to much pain he is to call me. So we keep his cell phone charging on his nightstand and he calls me on the home phone if he needs me. First night, like I said was rough. He even asked if he could sleep with just one brace. Second night a little better. We adjusted it a couple of times but then at 1 a.m. phone rings, he is in a lot of pain in his achiles heal. So off went the braces. He needs sleep for school for crying out loud! Carter did find some humor in his braces last night. He was watching Forest Gump over the weekend , remember Forest had leg braces too! So he made some jokes last night when I put him to bed. Like "Run Forest, run." Which reminded me that we all need to keep a sense of humor in all this madness.
I told the boys we just all need to keep the faith and stay strong. Strength will come from our faith and from each other. I told Carter remember when you were first diagnosed, you said "I am not going to let this disease control me." "I am going to stay strong and believe." You need to remember that time and find that inner strength again. WE ALL DO!
Until Next Time.....Keep the faith!
"Stay Strong, Believe"~Carter Hayes
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