26.2 Miles !

So sometime in October I decided to try and run a mile....then 3...then 6....then 10 and then I decided to run a marathon.  I logged over 200 miles while training to run the Rock N Roll Marathon.  It started in Balboa Park and wound its way through downtown, on the 163 Freeway and down Friars, Morena, and then landing on Mission Bay for the last 6.2 miles down and around Fiesta Island.  As the days approached I started questioning if I was ready, if I could really run 26 miles.  But that morning standing on the start line with 40,000 other people I realized I could and would do it, even if it killed me.  The first 10 miles went fast, and I somehow lost mile 3-6 somewhere.  Jenn, Ben, Jack and Julie were waiting for me at mile 7 with signs.  And then at mile 14 the whole gang was there.  I even stopped to enjoy an iced vanilla latte from Starbucks...lol.  At that pitstop I was exhausted, my legs were heavy and I stood there wondering why I actually paid to do this.  But as I hugged all my family and friends I realized that it wasn't just running, it was overcoming a mental wall and pushing through pain to achieve the goal of a lifetime.  I took off jogging from mile 14 and never stopped.  I ran the next 12.2 miles without stopping...finishing my first marathon in 5 hours and 41 minutes.  It has only been 10 days since I stepped across the finish line, and am already back to running....

Look out because I am running the Carlsbad Marathon on January 27!  I am hoping to cut my time to running it under 4 hours.