It started off with the alarm going off at 5:00 am.... it was a quite ride to downtown Louisville! No traffic anywhere & my nerves getting the best of me.
We got downtown & the shuttle buses were crazy - I've never seen so many people in my life! Are we ALL crazy? But I got to sit with a cool chic from Georgetown, Kentucky who was running her 2nd marathon. She was so encouraging & I loved the ride with her. The down side - it was a bus ride & I was looking at her during the conversation - which meant, yep, you know me - I was getting CAR SICK!!! BLAH... This is me getting off the bus & waiting for the sun to rise to get this party started...
But we got our spot in the line & we were off!!!!! Oh man... the energy was pushing! I was making GREAT time... We head into the dreaded park - & I got 4 Miles in under an hour! For me - that's a personal best! I know the winner of the race was about finishing while I'm still under half way - but from the very beginning - this to me wasn't about ANYONE else BUT ME! This was a challenge to myself - FOR myself!
The run through the park was rough! Hills!!! I took the advise & walked up the hills & ran down the slopes, but man it was over & over... Coming out - I was half way! YES!...here's a picture of middle of the park.... (& notice the guy on the left? I called him the Ronald McDonald man - he was dressed in such BRIGHT red & yellow!!!)
Then the cool part - running in ChurchHill Downs- the home of the Kentucky Derby! That is the 8 mile mark! It was cool because horses were running... Look how happy I'm still looking here... & notice my pile of Kleenex in my pocket. With the sinus infection, I was prepared! And had to have something to hold my phone for Tweets & my camera for my blog! (BTW - I saw someone who stopped me & said they know me from my blog... HOLLA!)
Then BAM... we hit about mile marker 10 & I hit what they say "THE WALL"!!!! Oh dang... my legs were cramping & I think my blood sugar really took a nose dive! I had ate at 5:00 AM - & had nothing but water for 5 hours & whoooo buddy... I started feeling BAD! I thought I was going to pass out... dizzy & light headed.
I have to tell you - if my husband wasn't with me - I dont know what I would have done! He pushed me when I was feeling funny - took care of me! He even ran up ahead of me & ran into a store & bought me a Diet Coke to try & get my sugar back up!!!! Everyone even "AHHHH'ed" for him when he gave it to me. Now you have to know - Ricky could have done the whole marathon in like under 2 hours - he even went ahead of me - at MY request, I didnt want to hold him back - but he ended up waiting for me at the end of the park because he said he wanted to do this with me.... Yep... I fell in love with him all over again today!!!
But we made it! We took that curve at the last mile & could see the finish line & it was like "LETS DO THIS"... we took off!!!! & with everyone on that final stretch screaming & cheering - when I crossed that finish line - I had tears in my eyes... I'm a sucker - I know! But I had tears in my eyes because I knew there were so many people out there who didnt think I COULD do this...& you know what - I was one of them... I doubted myself & wasnt sure of my own confidence! To prove everyone & myself wrong - it was the best feeling in the world!
So here I am after crossing with my metal!!! And that picture right there is the first time I stopped my legs since the starting line!
And then the real test - getting those legs to move again to get to the car! OH MY!
So we ordered some food that offered curb side service & came home & had some lunch.
Believe me - I've got all sorts of things that went through my mind while I was going through this "adventure"... I'm sure the blog will be full of insights on how God pushes us in this Race we're in... I saw so much of Him throughout! Its going to take me some time to stretch, relax & put my thoughts in order! The main thing is LITERALLY:
"I have fought the good fight - I have finished the race - I have kept the faith"
-2 Timothy 4:7
And one final THANK YOU!!! To all of you who have left me comments - emails - thoughts, ENCOURAGEMENT!!! You have no idea how helpful you have been to me! When I doubted myself - people I have never met in person have inspired me to push myself harder.... Words arent even enough .... so to all of you.... I am sending you big ole bloggy hugs!!!!!
