The BIG day

Race Day .. How do I put into words the end result of the last 8 years, or even the last 5 months of my life..

The training alone was the single biggest thing outside of being a parent that I have ever done. Running when I didn't feel like it, and sticking thru it all, to come to this day. This moment in time.

So so much feeling and so much to say that words can not express.

It was a very ealy wake up call at 3:00am, my nerves woke me at 2:15am so I was plenty awake when my alarm went off. 3:10 am we turned on the lights to find notes slipped under the door from TNT Staff and from family.
I was blessed to receive a beautiful letter from my sister so the tears were flowing very early. Very inspiring and so heartfelt, just the pick me up I needed for this morning. Read my letter and notes, and finished getting ready.

Out the hotel door, and I turn to see the sign posted on my hotel door. Words of encouragement and appreciation from TNT staff again. Again the tears were flowing.

We get downstairs at 4:00am, and on the shuttle by 4:15am. I sit quietly, by this time my nerves have gotten the best of me. I am so nervous I am nauseated. Couldn't eat a thing. A short but intresting bus ride later, we arrive at the starting point. 5:00 am and I have two more hours to wait till starting time. I pass the time talking to Judy. A lady from another TNT team. She is a 17 year survivor, and this was her first half too.

Together we pass the time. I finally get some food, slowly I take in a bagel. It stays down, thank goodness.

Then it is time to line up in our corrals.I am way back in corral 33, Judy and Jessica are a few back in corral 35 but they are only like 10 feet away so they come forward in my corral. We allwait together. Finally 7:00 am arrives and the first horn goes off. Wave by wave the corrals are released. At 7:54am I cross the start line, my time begins. 

8:39am and I cross the 5K mark, and feeling good. Doing my best to pace myself as I know I still have 13 miles left to go. There is a band at every mile so it gives me a little game to play too. Called keep going to see who is at the next mile marker..

9:24am and I cross the 10K mark, just trucking along. My phone is going crazy with all the texts. During slower walking moments I am sending updates to FB,so that keeps my phone buzzing.

Somewhere between 8 miles and 9 miles, just before the down hill slope, I see off on my far right a mother and her 3 or 4 year old son, out side their home cheering people on. He is soo cute.. Curly blonde hair, standing there with his hand out, just waiting for someone to give him a high five.. I watch as I approach and no one is doing it.. I can't stand it, the mom in me just won't allow it. So I go from the left side of the road all the way to the right side slowing down to give him the high five he so deserves.

He jumps happily, and it is just the push I needed. It is a moment I will never forget.

10:04 am I hit the 9 mile mark, getting tired, but I am following the feet in front of me. At this point I am still on point to hit my goal time of 3 hours. I am losing steam, so I walk for a while. 10 Miles, then 11, and then 12. These are the hardest miles, most of them spent going the wrong way on the freeway over pass, which in itself was wierd but fun. Cars on the other side of the highway honking and truck drivers too. They all cheered us on.

10:50am arrives and I am in the home stretch, rounding the corner in the city, it is hard to fight back the tears. I put on my sunglasses and just let it out a little. I can feel everything from the day, the tiredness, the pain, and every emotion both high and low.

One of the other TNT coaches sees my tears and jogs out to pat me on the back and that sends me on my way again.  In the distance I can hear the crowds and I begin to see the big arch way of baloons.. Thank goodness it is the finish line! I find every ounce of umph I have and kick it up to finish strong.

11:05am I cross the finish line!!!! I did it, I completed a half marathon. Waiving my hands in the air I cross the line.

Holding back the tears again I get my medal, and my photo taken.

As quick as I can I call Ryan "I did it baby!". Tears come flooding out now, no holding them back.
He is my rock, he knows what this meant to me, to us.  I did it.......

Ending an 8 year journey and begining something completely new.