at mile 1...seeing everyone made me cry.
i know it is long overdue, and actually i wasn't even going to write a report...but i've been asked where it was. lol
Race weekend started friday afternoon, when i went to pick up mine and Portia's race packets. I arrived at the high school where they were having the Expo and met Lisa and the other gals who ran the relay. It was fun to walk around and look at all the run gear and goodies. Got my race number and shirt and hat. I hadn't been feeling well the last couple days, and the kids had been sick. I would not let myself feel sick. I was popping tylenol and just trying to rest. I spent the majority of saturday just resting. Portia and her family were coming from Valencia and arrived around dinner time. I made spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. It was yummy and was a good carbo load before the race. We visited a little while before heading to bed at 9. Race day would start early. The alarm rang at 5, although i had been up for a while. I was really nervous, but excited. so much anticipation leading up to this day. Got dressed...and went to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee. Everyone else was getting up too! i had yogurt and a banana for breakfast. and about a third of a cup of coffee. It was about 6:15 and portia and i headed out. The boys and kids were gonna see us at mile 1. We got there and found parking. We headed over to the applebees to meet up with lisa and the girls. We all prayed and then wished everyone good luck and would see them at the finish line. Portia and I headed over to the corrals. We were in corral C. Lots of people. i was surprised. we stretched a bit and before we knew it...the gun went off and the whole mass of people started walking...and then it turned into a jog. With so many people it was really hard to even run. about a quarter mile into it...i said goodbye to Portia and went on my way. The first mile was really slow...because so many people. Got to the first mile marker and saw my family. Rich and the kids, my mom and dad, & Katie. I started to cry when i saw them all. I am so thankful for everyone's support. I could not have done it without them. around mile 3 i had to go to the bathroom. saw the porta-potties, but there was a line...so i didn't stop. saw more potties at mile 4...only one person in line...so i stopped...seemed to take forever...it was probably 3 or so minutes. finally got back on the road...found a good pace and just kept going. had my tunes playing and was just enjoying the scenery. There were bands along the way, although i couldn't hear them, because of my ipod. around mile 6 i chuckled to myself as a girl in front of me pulled out her camera and started snapping self-portraits and then random scenery shots. she then ran over to the side and took a picture with her family. i felt really good, just cruising. around mile 7 at the turn around...were rich, my mom and shannon. they were cheering...made me smile and get choked up again. cruising along until mile 8 or so...decided to eat some sport beans...had to walk through the rest stop and got water and ate my beans...then at mile 9 was the hill. i remember putting my head down and just booking it up the hill. i knew we were almost to the end. after the hill, the legs were a little tired, but i knew i was in the home stretch. kept running....finally saw woodward park. kicked it into high gear for the last half mile or so...ran up to the finish...and was so elated! 2:23:57. i did it! i finished!!
enjoyed a nice hot breakfast, and chatted with everyone after.
Race weekend started friday afternoon, when i went to pick up mine and Portia's race packets. I arrived at the high school where they were having the Expo and met Lisa and the other gals who ran the relay. It was fun to walk around and look at all the run gear and goodies. Got my race number and shirt and hat. I hadn't been feeling well the last couple days, and the kids had been sick. I would not let myself feel sick. I was popping tylenol and just trying to rest. I spent the majority of saturday just resting. Portia and her family were coming from Valencia and arrived around dinner time. I made spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. It was yummy and was a good carbo load before the race. We visited a little while before heading to bed at 9. Race day would start early. The alarm rang at 5, although i had been up for a while. I was really nervous, but excited. so much anticipation leading up to this day. Got dressed...and went to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee. Everyone else was getting up too! i had yogurt and a banana for breakfast. and about a third of a cup of coffee. It was about 6:15 and portia and i headed out. The boys and kids were gonna see us at mile 1. We got there and found parking. We headed over to the applebees to meet up with lisa and the girls. We all prayed and then wished everyone good luck and would see them at the finish line. Portia and I headed over to the corrals. We were in corral C. Lots of people. i was surprised. we stretched a bit and before we knew it...the gun went off and the whole mass of people started walking...and then it turned into a jog. With so many people it was really hard to even run. about a quarter mile into it...i said goodbye to Portia and went on my way. The first mile was really slow...because so many people. Got to the first mile marker and saw my family. Rich and the kids, my mom and dad, & Katie. I started to cry when i saw them all. I am so thankful for everyone's support. I could not have done it without them. around mile 3 i had to go to the bathroom. saw the porta-potties, but there was a line...so i didn't stop. saw more potties at mile 4...only one person in line...so i stopped...seemed to take forever...it was probably 3 or so minutes. finally got back on the road...found a good pace and just kept going. had my tunes playing and was just enjoying the scenery. There were bands along the way, although i couldn't hear them, because of my ipod. around mile 6 i chuckled to myself as a girl in front of me pulled out her camera and started snapping self-portraits and then random scenery shots. she then ran over to the side and took a picture with her family. i felt really good, just cruising. around mile 7 at the turn around...were rich, my mom and shannon. they were cheering...made me smile and get choked up again. cruising along until mile 8 or so...decided to eat some sport beans...had to walk through the rest stop and got water and ate my beans...then at mile 9 was the hill. i remember putting my head down and just booking it up the hill. i knew we were almost to the end. after the hill, the legs were a little tired, but i knew i was in the home stretch. kept running....finally saw woodward park. kicked it into high gear for the last half mile or so...ran up to the finish...and was so elated! 2:23:57. i did it! i finished!!
enjoyed a nice hot breakfast, and chatted with everyone after.
