I DID IT!

Okay, I keep needing to do things so I keep putting this off, because I want to have time, but I just got to do it! So I ran and finished a MARATHON! I am still wondering if it was a dream.

First of all, can I just say, I loved meeting lots of you mommies on Friday night and we missed the ones who didn't come, but you were thought of so remember we love ya! It was fun to hear your tips and anxieties, it was the perfect pre-race night for me! You are such cute women and I was truly inspired by each and every one of you! I was wondering if I really was cool enough to hang out with all of you.

So after the dinner and drive home, I set out my race stuff: garmin, ipod, gu, breakfast for morning, ibuprofen, drafted the "I am at mile 24 " for my husband so he could be ready for me at the finish line, screamed into my pillow and tried to get some zzzz's. My cute little one woke me up 45 minutes later, I then took an hour to fall asleep and then I was in deep slumber until 4:15 AM. My friend was running the 1/2 so we rode down together and hopped on tracks and got in the porta potty line first thing. First happy moment of the day: ran into a friend from Logan that I haven't seen for 5 years. She was running the 1/2 , it was so fun to see her. I ran into Kera (WRFDJ cutie) and wished her luck. Then when we were headed to drop off our gear bag, we ran into Laurene (hope I spelled it right) marathon mommy from Canada. So we went to the starting line together. The starting line was so exciting, the choir, the crowd, the anxiousness, the gun and we were off.

I was there running a marathon and thinking...is this really it?, am I going to make it?, i wonder what this journey will be like for me? I got to see Kera and Jen along the path, I looked for all you others, but I felt excited knowing there were so many of us there and in all my people watching was hoping your races were going good for ya! I saw the barefoot runner, funny long striped socks, a afro wig guy, and lots of runners of all ages, shapes, and abilities, and this marathon mommies is why I love running in races! I am truly inspired by everyone. Now I think setting goals is important and sometimes I reach them and sometimes I don't. But just to be there and finish, EVERY person that ran by me and in front of me and behind me, they all are MY heros!

I had a good race day! My family met me at mile 8 and mile 18: my four cute kids in their "Keep Moving Forward" shirts, my Lance (the best hubby for me!), cheering me on and giving high 5's. I got to talk with a couple different inspiring people along the race, one girl completely talked me through VanWinkle (before I knew it I was headed onto 5th East). A NICE man on his bicycle at Liberty Park rode along side me and said, you still have some spring in your step you are going to make it! I love him! The crowds cheering! Cute little Kristi (WRFDJ GIRL) I got to see her, I think 4 or 5 times and she was a awesome cheerleader (hugs to you cutie, I want to cheer for you when you do yours!). When I hit mile 24 my emotions were there, I was feeling tired, but I was thinking...wow, I made it 24 miles, I never would have thunk it, I am going to do this. The gusty winds did seem to have much more strength than I did, I wondered if I could have been blown over at any moment, but there I was running 24!!!!! miles. So yeah, maybe a little bit slower than normal, infact I almost wondered if I was really running at one point. I hit that mile 25 aid station, walked with my water until the last trash can, chucked it in and started running again. Mile 25 seemed to be longer than other miles, but the crowds cheering and people saying my name, one guy said it is just around the corner and two blocks, I saw my brother in law and his family, then my fam, and my sister. There IT was! The finish line! I DID IT! As I stopped and walked after the finish line, wowzers, the calves began to burn, the legs turned in to bricks and reality of running 26.2 miles set in. I got to see Marathon Mommy Erin, she was a great cheerleader! I was so glad that even though I ran alone, I didn't feel alone, I knew there were other mommies there that day! I know the wind, hills, pains weren't great for everyone. I know we all had different challenges! But I AM a different person! When you think for 4 hours 26 minutes and 34 seconds you learn something new about yourself. I hope all in all, each of us that did the Salt Lake 5k, 1/2, or full, or a race somewhere else this weekend grew a little and stretched a little to be a better person and to make us want to reach for the stars again!