Crazy!!!! :-) I still can't believe it! As I approached the day I knew I would complete it but I had no idea how the race would go!!
I started the race with a smile and my husband! Seriously it was a great morning we were a little tired but determined to take on the race!
The sight was absolutely beautiful as the sun rose over the city. It was a perfect morning to run and it stayed that way right up until about 30 mins before I finished.
I started out in the back and I mean the back of the 2nd wave of starts... I paced myself at that point because I knew I had 13.1 miles ahead of me.
The amount of people,port-a-potties and energy was a little overwhelming to say the least! As soon as i started going I found a great steady pace and it felt awesome. I found myself smiling the entire time which felt very odd I couldn't comprehend how I was actually doing this! Lol that feeling carried me through the whole way.
As we headed over the bridge the first of my little inspirational sights caught my eye. There was a man wheeling his heart out in a wheelchair going up the bridge to the other side of the harbor. Here was a man who was enduring the same discomfort as others were but in very different way. At this point I said wow I'm given the ability to run this race in great health using my legs,it was what I needed at mile 3.
I looped around The Queen Mary an came upon a man who had to be in his 70's just chugging along he had a shirt that said "why be nrml" in this crazy font it was sooo funny and again another boost.
Throughout the next 6 miles I came across people wearing inspirational quotes and bible verses. I came across a lady wearing a shirt that said "my body was tired but my heart was not." I love that these little messages where so great and really allowed me to be thankful and maintain excitement through the whole thing.
I got to the 10 mile point and I got a little overwhelmed first that I was a part of this and second that this was the furthest I had ever run. I thought of where I had come from and that never in a million years did I think I would do something like this. I started to get a little emotional and I had to pull myself together because I wasn't quite done yet!
The last 3 miles oh sorry 3.1 miles I saw people at the aide stations getting help,1 lady on a stretcher, 1 lady Hooked up to EKG on a grass beltway and a lot of people walking,talking, 1 lady stopped to by a big gulp...lol so much going on.
At this point you also rejoin the people who were doing the full marathon... Here I realized and said I have absolutely no desire whatsoever to ever do a full marathon but it was encouraging to say to myself I can surely go 3.1miles further if these people have run so many miles more than I have!
It was awesome to run down Ocean blvd and approach shoreline dr where the turn was for the finish line!!! I was almost there and as I was about to cross I looked up and saw mikes smiling face waiting for me!!! Ahh I love him and it was so cool to do this with him and have him there at the end to tell me how proud he was of me and how well I did! It was awesome!!
I can now check off my list doing a half marathon and find the next race to be a part of and look forward to!! It was one of the most fulfilling things that I have ever done by setting a goal and actually completing it!
Mahalo!
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