My Favortie Race – Running the Tuscaloosa Half Marathon with Ainsley’s Angels

I've been running for about five years now and can honestly say that I've had a love/hate relationship with the sport. Well, until now.

The 3rd annual Tuscaloosa Half Marathon was my first experience running with Ainsley's Angels, an athletic ride-along program created for children, teens, adults & veterans with disabilities. They pair rider athletes with runner athletes and compete in races all across the country.

This was my 7th or 8th half marathon to date. I didn't know what to expect going into the run because I had no idea of how heavy the chair I was to push would be, nor did I understand how difficult (or not) that it would be. Then you factor in that I'd be running with others. Would I hold them back? Would they hold me back? I went into this weekend excited about the opportunity to run with Ainsely's Angels but had a bit of anxiety about it as well.

Because I stay busy, I was unable to get my official Ainsley's Angels race shirt until five minutes from race start time. I slapped my race bib on the shirt crooked (which drove my OCD nuts) and ran to line up with my team.

I met my fellow "Angel" Lisa and our "Captain" Kylie, who I had met before at another race because she is Ainsley' Angels of Alabama Ambassador Vera's daughter. We had time for a quick photo opportunity and were off on our 13.1 mile journey through the streets of Tuscaloosa.

Funny part of the story... I'm not a fast runner and when talking with Vera about not putting me with a group of fast people, I was assured that she would take care of me. Needless to say, when Lisa and I had a conversation about how she qualified for the Boston Marathon, I felt hopeless for a moment thinking I wouldn't make it the whole way while trying to keep up with her pace. Luckily for me, Lisa had nothing to prove that day and completely worked with me and my snail's pace. Even allowing me to stop to stretch out a cramp or two... or three.

The weather couldn't have been more brilliant and the scenery around Tuscaloosa more exciting Saturday. As we moved along the course, Lisa and I devised a system to give our arms a rest. We found it was much easier to each grab a side of the handrail, letting one arm swing freely and periodically switching up so that both arms get some work in. In the picture below you get an idea of what we had worked out.

As we headed off of the Tuscaloosa River Walk at mile 12, our Captain Kylie came alive. This being her 6th half marathon, she knew the excitement and the rush of the "runner's high" when coming through the finish line! She was a local celebrity throughout much of the course but at the finish line, she was a superstar!

I can only match the feeling of finishing the Tuscaloosa Half Marathon with Kylie and Lisa to running through the campus of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital during the St. Jude Memphis Half, knowing what you're running for. It brings new meaning to the phrase, "Run with a purpose."

I look forward to our next race together. If you'd be interested in signing up to run with Ainsley's Angels, click here.