So I was silly enough to sign up to run a marathon. I have ran a few half-marathons, but I've never felt ready to run a full marathon. My friend Erica was going to come to visit and told me to find a marathon here and she would come to visit and we'd run it together. Well, she didn't end up getting to come, but I'd already paid the $95 and so I was gonna run it! And I'd done really good about being consistent with my training. I was going for a 4:00 marathon.
Mom and Dad drove up to be at the finish line. I have such amazing parents and I'm so grateful that they were willing to sacrifice time and money to come see this momentous day in my life.
Because I'd done my training, I even had the energy and presence of mind to pose for this great shot, just about .2 miles from the finish. After going 26 miles, running under my own steam, I was SO close to the finish! I couldn't wait to get there! I knew I was close to my time, I'd already gone over the four hour mark, but I put the last of my energy and sprinted as fast as I could to get to the finish line. I finished my marathon in 4 hours and 10 minutes. Not exactly as fast as I wanted to finish, but I FINISHED A MARATHON!!!
My niece Dana also ran the marathon. She was hoping to finish in under 3:33 to break the record of her age-group. I apparently passed her somewhere between miles 7 and mile 13.1 because I passed the half-way mark at 1:55:52 and she passed at 2:05. We started at the same time, but because I was expecting her to be so far ahead of me, I didn't even start looking for her until mile 17, and I'd already passed her. But I had enough energy to run the last .2 miles again with her. As completing a marathon is a feat, even if you don't make your time!
Ruth wanted a shot where I was biting my finisher's medal, just like the Olympians. And while I am not an Olympian, I am now among the 1% of Americans who have run a marathon. I am just as proud of that medal as I am sure the Olympians are of theirs!
My dear family who supported me through a marathon and many of the other trials that I've gone through in my life. I know that they will be there for me no matter what. I love them and I know that they love me. I am truly, truly blessed.
