Saturday May 19th 7:00 am, a day I look at and get a little teary eyed. Who know 5 months ago I would walk away from this experience with so much self esteem and confidence. This experience has shown me that I can do hard things and I can improve at things as well.
My last marathon, 6 years ago, did not go down as well and I walked away feeling that I would never run another marathon again. It was hard, I was injured and pregnant!! I was defeated!
I found that I really enjoyed running half marathons and got pretty strong at them. A lot of it has to do with finally finding awesome ladies to run with! After having an amazing summer last year of 7 half marathons me and my friend Shannon looked at each other and said lets do it!! Let's run a marathon!!
Well, we did it!! I couldn't have done it without Shannon and her help in getting me out on our LONG, EARLY runs. Those were the funnest times ever. I think that did a lot for me and my outlook on this marathon. I looked forward to our long runs, I looked forward to all of it and I know it is because of the awesome support I had.
7:00 am the gun goes off, I am watching my watch to make sure that I don't take off too fast. I want to finish this race feeling good and I know I can do that if I run it right.
Miles 1,2,3,4 I am feeling great, took some GU at mile 4 with water and feeling strong. I look to my right and see this lady and she says something to me and before ya know it we are talking each others ear off. She has run this race 3 other times so it was really nice to have her there to give hood advice on the course and what to do. She made the race for me. She got me through what I knew would be the hardest part of the race for me.
Miles 5, 6, 7, 8 still feeling awesome. I am taking my Gu every 4 miles and I have popped some Ibuprofen because I feel a hit os soreness coming on. I am still running with my new friend , I wish I had asked her name but I didn't.
Miles 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 still feeling strong!! I was really worried about getting to this point!! My last half I killed myself and thought there was no way I was going to make it in my marathon, but I am at mile 13 and feeling awesome!! We stop to go to the bathroom I get some oranges and right there handing out oranges is one of my cute neighbor girl Mary!! That lifted my spirits so much. To see someone I knew, it helped a lot!! I gave her a hug and off I went.
Miles 14, 15, 16, 17 I'm surprised at how good I am feeling!! At mile 16 I left my new friend. She needed to stop and I was feeling so good I kept going. I was on my own now, with my own thoughts!! I got a text from Greg telling my they were going to meet me at mile 17! I was soo excited!! I got to 17 and they weren't there. I missed a text from him saying they were gong to have to meet me at the opening of the canyon because it was impossible to get up it at all. All I could think about was seeing him and the kids.
Miles 18, 19, 20 WOW!! I am still feeling great!! I am really doing this!! The joy and happiness that is going through my body right at that moment was unbelievable!! I knew at this point that I could finish this and feel good! I couldn't hold back the tears! I couldn't help by feel overwhelmed with gratitude to my Heavenly Father for blessing me with a body that is able to do the things I want to do. I said a pray of thanks to Him that I was able to do this.
this is mile 23!! I see my fam and that brings a huge smile to my face!
There's the fam waiting for me to come at mile 23
Mile 23....stop for a quick picture, drinks, a few hugs and I'm on my way.
Miles 21, 22, 23 the course from 19 on was down hill and it felt great! I was still feeling awesome and feeling tired too. I kept up on my GU and water and eat oranges. Mile 23.....there's my family!!!! That was awesome!! Their smiles and hugs and encouragement was what I needed! I thought I would cry but I think I took care of all of that back at mile 20 :)
Miles 24, 25, 26....the end!! I really started to feel tired! I took my GU but I think my body was done with that!! They were handing out cookies but I couldn't bring myself to eat one. My guy was starting to not be happy. I tried to drink as much as I could but my gut started to really cramp up....I think it was from all the GU. I have to say though, I wouldn't have done it any other way. I knew the end was near. I knew I could do this!! I was not going to walk at all!! I have to say it felt like an eternity to the finish once I hit mile 25. You could see it, but it seemed to take forever!!
The end...I did it!! I crossed the finish, I did it, I'm alive and I can't believe how much i loved it!! I couldn't see Greg right away so I grabbed a water, a bag of ice and sat down and cried. They were tears of joy, relief, fatigue and my gut still hurt. This sweet lady next to me asked me if I was ok. She said we did it. She was right, I DID IT!!!!
At the end of the race.....I'm still standing!
So grateful for my family and all their support!!
I DID IT!!!
