Girlfriends Run is Done!

It's been two weeks since the big run. It was an amazing experience.

I was a bundle of nervous energy the morning of the race, but once we got going, I tried to just put it in perspective...I was just out there on a nice Sunday morning going for a nice long run with over a thousand of my girlfriends. The weather was perfect, the course was nice and flat and the scenery was beautiful. We couldn't have asked for a better day. Before the race even started, I ran into a bunch of people I knew from a variety of places and instantly I knew it was going to be just fine because I was going to turn it into a social thing, and that always makes working out more fun! One of my favorite parts of the day was seeing all the dads and kids and families along the race route. It was also fun to cheer on the leaders and other friends that passed us on the way back. It was such a great encouraging environment.

The highlight of my day was seeing my own family along the way. They had made me a poster and cheered me on from three different locations. Damon and Megan even rolled it out right before the finish line so we could run through it, it was priceless. My mom and dad were there and my mom was so proud of me she even teared up!! Wow mom! To think that my finish line would have been a half way point in a marathon is sort of out of my realm of thinking! I have absolutely NO DESIRE to EVER run a marathon. In fact, I really want to buy the t-shirt that says "13.1 isn't half of anything" because I couldn't agree with it more! I was sore for about three days, just in my quads, but it was really painful. What's the saying? No pain no gain??

To think it all started with a friends suggesting it and me of course saying, NO WAY, I'm not a runner. But sometimes it just feels good to prove yourself wrong, or just have a goal and go for it. I still don't consider myself "a runner" and I'm not sure I will do it again, but to start out barely being able to run 3 miles and to pretty much run 13, it was a feeling of "I did it!" There were women in all ages groups, there were runners, joggers, run/joggers, jog walkers and walkers and it really didn't matter, we were all there encouraging each other and being encouraged by those along the course.

I just watched a video clip that the organizers put together from the run. It actually shows footage of Lisa and I crossing the finish line and in an instant I was right back there! I was feeling the excitement, the accomplishment, the comraderie (if that is even a word) of girlfriends all around me. I was also feeling the pain, fatigue and soreness, but the excitement certainly trumped pain!

It felt great to cross that finish line. It felt even greater to cross it with my girlfriend!

Tamara invited us over for our "last supper" before the race, I ate A LOT!

Damon is running backward trying to take a picture of us!

Megan ran out to run with me for a bit...it was so encouraging seeing my family cheering me on!

Lisa being goofy!

see ya at the finish line!

Megan and Damon held the poster for us to run through right before the actual finish line!

My awesome and supportive family. Katelyn is upset because I tore the poster :)

We made it, friend!

Nicci, me, Amy, Lisa and Tamara after the race

Me with Sarah Miller (our salmon creek running scheduler) and Lisa

Nicci personified the word girlfriend by running with Tamara even though she was a bit injured and didn't officially enter the race, she ran almost the whole thing!

Megan took this picture of us post race!

I know you can't see it, but my name is on this list. I finished about 10 min behind my goal and it only bothered me for about two minutes! I let it go and enjoyed the moment!

Kristi and I after brunch after the race

Darcy (another salmon creek running buddy) with Sarah and myself

The party after the party at Lapellah, yummy breakfast! Kristi, Sarah, Ashley, Julie, Ashley's sister, me and Michelle...great job ladies! Ashley gets the trooper award for crossing the finish line with the worst injury! You are a champion in my eyes Ashley!