Early... 3:30 in the morning, just going to find the buses!

Giving my kids a five at the finish line!

Finish line!

My friends at the finish line!  Month of training - the finish line was awesome!

How sweet it is!  I can't even describe my feelings!

Nerves.  Wow.  What other word describes the days leading up to Saturday?  I've worked for months preparing for this.  The past month and a half I've been fighting my IT band, before that neuromas in both feet.  The past week, every morning I've been at physical therapy trying to get on top of my IT band - would it be stretched and flexible enough?

I hydrated, carb loaded and stretched for a days before.  I was ready.  I kept thinking about what I would do when my knee started hurting.  Stop.  Stretch.  Run.  Walk.  Whatever I had to do.

I got up early Saturday morning.  My friend's husband picked us all up.  We had a prayer before we left.  It's just what I needed.  We were early for the buses, got in line.  We were the second bus to arrive at the start.  We all headed to the potty (TMI?) and then sat by a fire.  It was 4:15 AM.  We just waited and talked.  An hour passed so quickly.  We watched as more and more buses arrived.  Thousands of people had invaded this horse pasture, 26.2 miles from home.  One more potty trip and it was time to stretch and warm up.  Time just flew.  Soon it was time to drop off our gear bags and line up.  I gave my friends a hug and told them I would see them at the finish.  No doubts.  I would be there.

I had decided that I would walk every mile and slow down.  I wanted to keep my IT band in check.  I did okay and felt great for 6 miles.  I could feel that familiar twinge.  I stopped and stretched.  I wanted to stay on top of this.  This was a great stretch - my friends, dad and daughter, saw me stretching.  I was so happy to see them.  I ran with them for a while.  They had a great plan and a great pace.  I loved running with them.  The only problem was my IT band and asking them to stop every time I had to stretch wasn't fair to them.  They left me just before Deer Creek.  It was okay.  As I was stretching a guy stopped and offered some ibuprofen.  I took four.  It was all I could do to get to the half way point.  I had a lot of pain.  A lot of walking.  Some running. The wind was terrible.  I won't mention it again but it was blowing HARD and I was running against it.

The railings were my friend.  I could lean on them and get a good stretch and run for a little way.  I walked a lot over the dam, and for a mile after that.  How was I ever going to finish? I wanted the medal.  Only runners under six hours received one - I wanted it!

I said a prayer.  I asked for angels to be around me.  I needed their help.  I had taped a picture of my grandma on the back side of my number.  I knew she would be there.  I felt impressed to stretch my quads and hamstrings as well as my IT bands.  It was awesome.  I started to walk, faster and faster until soon I was jogging.   The aid stations, located every two miles seem to come quickly.  I didn't dare stop running between because I knew how hard it would be to start again.  I walked into the aid stations,  fueled up, took in liquids and fruit it they offered it.  I also took some more ibuprofen.  I stretched everything and then started my walk into a run process.  Soon I was at mile 17, then 19.  My thoughts were on my family who would be waiting at the Riverwoods.  I just had to get out of the canyon and I would see them and get a boost.  I expected to have two more miles until I saw them.  I was so happy to see them just after substation out of the canyon.  I loved it!  I was feeling so good.  My son, nephew, brother-in-law, husband and father-in-law ran with me to the Riverwoods where the rest of the family was waiting.  They made a tunnel for me to run through and gave me fives.  I felt great.  Next I saw my friends - awesome.  He ran with me for about a mile.  It was awesome.  He set a good pace, had a nice conversation and sent me on my way.  I headed toward Will's Pitstop and then the hill.  At Will's, they had a mister set up - it was so refreshing.

I headed up the hill.  I knew if I stopped I would have a hard time starting again.  There weren't any places to stretch.  I made it up the hill and down to the stadium.  I was getting tired here, the finish line looked miles away.  It was here that my other brother-in-law and nephew (who had already run the 10K) came to run with me.  I'm telling you, I wouldn't have made it without them.  I passed through another mister.  It was refreshing but it took my breath away and I never could get it back.  It was weird.  I was running out of fuel.  Those two running with me helped so much.

Soon the finish line was getting closer.  I picked up speed and they sent me on alone to the finish line.  It was awesome.  I can't describe the joy.  The pride.  Pure happy.  The pictures say it all.

I'm grateful to have good family and friends who supported me through training, the race and at the finish.  They'll never know how much I love them and appreciate everything!

Today, I feel pretty good.  My knee and IT band are stiff and achy.  Other than that, I feel pretty good.  I'm going to run a marathon again.  I'm going to be healthy and I'm going to do it!