Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Giveaway winner and some news

The big weekend was memorable.

Not all in a good way.  More on the good and the very bad soon.
For now just a few updates because some of you know that I ended up in the hospital after the Long Beach Half Marathon.

Ok First I want to thank everyone who sent me well wishes for my 25th race and also get well messages yesterday via twitter, email and here on my blog.  You guys are the BESTEST of the BEST. (Yes I know Bestest that is not a proper English word.)

So quick news

  • I am home and I am OK.
  • I did finish the race. (I probably should have DNF)
  • I did not get a PR or a PW but really I don't care. Time 2:31:56 on Garmin. Don't know official time yet because my name and bib # don't match on results website, no 10k split either. I emailed them, they confirmed name and bib don't match..already knew that...  Second time this happens to me this year.
  • Things went pretty bad at around mile 7. Chest and calf pain. I walked.  Was not well after the race.  On the way home, things got much worst.
  • Ended up in the ER.
  • After a couple of tests I was admitted in the cardiac unit because my cardiac enzymes were elevated. They said they were not sure I did NOT have a heart attack.  At that point I cried and freaked out a little...ok a lot.
  • I spent the night in the cardiac unit hooked to a special monitor. 
  • I did not have a heart attack or a blood clot.
  • Will bore you with the rest in another post but now I am home and no running today.
Will did so great at his race! I am so proud of him.  This was his first mile run. He did 9:12.




That was the best kids race we had so far. Way better than Disneyland!
I love love love Long Beach!

Something else I love?

KEITH URBAN!!!!!!

He is the best. That concert was fantastic. He was on fire from the first to the last song. He is crazy.  He goes in the middle of the crowd more than once to sing songs.  One time he climbed in the upper levels and he sang right in the middle of a sea of people.  He had 2 special guests: John Fogerty and Jack Black.  With John Fogerty he sang Proud Mary, it was awesome!  If you don't know who John Fogerty is or the song Proud Mary (that he wrote btw) you must google right now.  He was on stage for 3 hours!  My kids were up and dancing, it was a great night.  We had fantastic seats, lower levels, on the side of the stage and he had a mini stage on each side so we saw him from up close!



Before the concert, I went to the meet and greet with Jonathan.  He was really excited.  They were taking people in groups of 8 to go meet Keith. We ended up with a party of 6; mom, dad, their 15 yrs old daughter and her 3 friends.  It was the 15 yrs old bday and dad bought the meet and greets ($$$).  They asked to go alone but the people in charge said no, it is 8 minimum.  I heard the dad say "let's make sure those 2 are on the far sides and we will just crop them out"! That is OK, I was not mad BUT no way I was going to let that happen.  I told Jonathan: "When it is time for the picture you go in front of Keith" He said OK.  When it got to be our turn, the 6 went in first and said hello.  I knew from past experiences it is best to go last to have a chance to talk to him.  Jonathan walked in and Keith was so nice to him.   He saw the shirt and he read what it said "When I grow up I want to play guitar like Keith Urban!" He laughed really loud and said "Best shirt ever!"
He asked Jo his name and age and he gave him a hug.  He got up and asked my name and I got a hug also!.  Picture time: one of the girl grabbed Jonathan by the shoulders and tried to put him next to her but Keith took him and parked him right in front of him!  I was on the far right but I did not care as long as Jonathan was close to Keith it was all good.  After the picture the dad started asking Keith about his cars and what he was doing after the concert (weirdo).  Jonathan wanted to say something so I told him to go ahead.  Keith went down to his level and Jonathan said : "It's my dream to sing with you!" Keith said "Oh my Lord! Do you play guitar?!" Jo said yes and Keith reached in his pocket: "Here is guitar pick for you, it is a special one with my name on it!"  The look on Jonathan's face was priceless.  I thanked him and he said "thank you for being here and I hope you will have a great evening with us!  Could not have been nicer. (Oh and yes ladies, he is very handsome!!)

It is something very special to see your kid meet his idol and to have that person be everything they imagined them to be.  He was just as great, if not more, as Jonathan thinks he is. That is really wonderful.






And a WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Michael!
Email me your address!!!!
Thank you to everyone who entered my first Giveaway!!!!

28 comments:

Michael said...

This almost made me cry...two different times.

Caroline - I'm glad you are ok. Scary stuff!! Take extra special care of yourself!

Keith giving Jonathon that pick....sweetest thing EVER!! Oh my gosh that is so awesome. I'm so glad he got to have such a memorable and pleasant experience.

And yea!! I'm so excited that I won!! I will send you my address.

Feel better! Rest!! I'm worried about you!

Becky said...

I am so glad you are okay!!!! Holy cow!!! Take it easy and make sure you are 100% before doing anything else.

Anne said...

OMG That must have been so scary...I'm so glad you're ok and that it was NOT a heart attack!! OMG! Rest well and take care of yourself. Big big hug from Québec ((((()))))

That is so cute about Jonathan and Keith Urban...what a nice guy. :)

Tricia said...

I'm glad you are okay. I was wondering as you usually post fairly quickly after races. How very scary and I'm so glad it wasn't a heart attack.

Jonathan and Keith Urban -- awesome!! That is very cool and he seems so nice.

Amanda@runninghood said...

first off, scary experience. I'm so glad you are okay! Hope things continue to be okay. And wow, what an amazing experience for you guys! The race for Will and the Keith concert. Happy for you!

The Unexpected Runner said...

I am happy you are ok. I can't even imagine how scary that must have been for both your & your family! Please take care of yourself...the running will come back :)

Yay for Will!

Unknown said...

I hate working on Mondays...I didn't know you were in the hospital! I'm so glad you are okay.

I had blood clots on my lungs years ago, very scary...I'm so thankful that wasn't your problem.

Congrats on a great race!

Jill said...

OMG, Caroline - I did NOT know!!! I don't have a Twitter account (ok, that's a lie, I do but I don't remember the name so never got on it - hah) so didn't see the updates. I am so sorry you had to endure that nightmare, but so relived to hear you are home and all is ok. BIG HUGS to you, girl!!!! What a way to finish a race!!

Fruit Fly said...

Holy cow!! I must say I was NOT expecting to see this hospitalization news. I'm glad you are out and okay!!

middleagedrunner said...

Oh my goodness- I'm so sorry that you ended up in the ER... SO SCARY. I hope you are feeling better now are taking it easy!
I'm glad you and your family had so much fun at the concert, looks like a really great time!

Kate Geisen said...

I can totally see keeping it together until they tell you it's not xyz and then kind of flipping out that they even considered it. Scary, scary. Glad you're OK.

And what an awesome experience for Jonathan. Keith Urban sounds pretty deserving of your boys' adoration.

Nelly said...

Wow, that is really scary about the heart attack scare, definitely make sure that you are okay before you do anything else.

The concert sounded like a blast, glad that everyone enjoyed it!

RockStarTri said...

The cardiac unit is a scary place even if nothing is wrong. I'm sure you will follow on tests forever. Feel better

Carla said...

Oh my gosh! That is scary stuff. So glad you are okay, and hope you get to the bottom of whatever it is. Take care of you!

XLMIC said...

I am so glad you are okay! And I love your story about that picture :)

Christy @ My Dirt Road Anthem: A Runner's Blog said...

SO glad you are doing good and are home.

What an awesome Keith Urban story, I love him even more now! i have seen him in concert twice. One of my favorites!

Laura said...

So so glad you are ok...very scary.
Your story is so awesome...I don't even really know his music and like him because of this.

Unknown said...

I'm so glad that you are okay! Take care of yourself and don't rush back into things!!! :)

So great that Jonathan (and you) got such great one on one time with KU. Sounds like he's a stellar guy and I can only imagine how much that meant to Jonathan!

And congrats to Will... the kid is speedy!!! :)

Elle said...

So glad you you had such a great time at the concert. That's a memory to last a lifetime for sure.

AND I do hope you are all right. Scary time you had at and after the race.

Pam @ herbieontherun.com said...

Oh my gosh, Caro, that's so scary! I'm so, so, so glad you're home and okay! PLEASE take care of yourself! (((HUGS)))

Zaneta @ Runner's Luck said...

oh no! That's so scary!! I'm glad you're ok!!
That's awesome that keith urban was so nice and gave jonathan the guitar pick! How sweet! :)

Terzah said...

That's wonderful about Jonathan and Keith! What a great photo!

And I am SO GLAD you are home, OK, no heart attack, etc. Definitely take it easy. You are hard-core finishing that race.

Glenn Jones said...

Ugh. Glad to hear that you are doing better!

mabel said...

Hi I am glad you are doing better. I had to comment because your son is in one of my son's Brightroom race pictures. My kids loved the race but I am bummed I was not able to see their finish times. My son is #486 (next to your son at the beginning of the race).

Caroline said...

@ Mabel ..wow you have a good eye
they had a clock for the time to the left of the finish line

Christine said...

OH NO! I'm so sorry this happened after the half marathon, I'm glad you are feeling better now. Get some rest and take it easy!

bobbi said...

First off, I swear I thought I already followed you. My brain, she ain't what she used to be.

I am so sorry to hear that you went through all of that! I am glad you are feeling better...take it easy...

And lastly, Keith Urban puts on the best show I've ever seen. He comes across so real and humble and personable - I'm so glad (for you and your son too!) that he's exactly that way in person. I have a ton of respect for him (and he's hot, too!)...

Black Knight said...

Will looks very fast, congrats to the new runner and his proud mom. Sorry for that health problem but now you are safe at home.