The Sweet Smell of Finishing!!!

Ok, so maybe I didn't smell too sweet after finishing the marathon, but BOY did I feel good. 

I did it! I really did it! 

Trying to explain the feeling as I ran down the finish line area was one of the best moments of my life. Knowing that I was able to accomplish something that I never thought that I would be able to do was overwhelming. The entire marathon was overwhelming. It was challenging, but when I got to about mile 24 and I knew I was going to finish, it was very emotional for me. 

I started the race out a bit fearful. I didn't know what to expect and I didn't know what the outcome would be. As I climbed into the first 7 miles, I was nervous and it took a while for me to find a pace. There were a lot more hill then I anticipated and the rolling hills were harder then I expected since I didn't train for them. I struggled during those first few miles. 

As I passed the 10 mile mark, I continued to climb up the hills, but knowing that I had the support of Tom, Scholl and my parents on the course helped me out. Reaching the 13.1 mark was exciting knowing that I was half way there. It was a bit disconcerting when I saw the half marathoners break off, but knowing that it was "downhill" from that point helped (it wasn't actually downhill, it was uphill for at LEAST four more miles)

During the second half the crowd thinned out and we ran in a more secluded area, which was nice, but also a lot different. The were spots of crowds, but it was different from the start. The hills continued through miles 16 and 17. We ran out by a lake, which reminded me a lot of our fletchers running route, which was nice because I was able to channel my training. 

As we rounded to the last six miles, I was encouraged that the finish was close. We were out on another lake, and it was very lonely, but knowing that we only had a few miles to go helped us push through. We did walk a lot on the last six miles and we were physically and mentally exhausted. If it wasn't for Colleen, I wouldn't have made it through the last six miles (well really the whole thing). 

Running the last mile or so was amazing.  Colleen and I were together and as we crossed the finish line, she grabbed my hand and we raised our arms and crossed together. It was amazing and it gives me goose bumps just thinking about it. 

Now that I've finished, I want to do it again. Although the journey was long and hard, I want to do it again and I want to do better. I want to run the entire time and I want  to finish with a better time. I know I can do it now and now i want to do it again... I guess you could say I have the bug!

Thank you to everyone who supported me and helped me reach this goal. I'll be back to start it again soon -- this time with the Marine Corps marathon as my goal! :) 

It's almost here...

Well, I am less than 24 hours out.

I got to Nashville yesterday morning. The flight wasn't bad... I think that my nerves were more focused on the race then anything else. We went to the expo, then this morning we ended up going on a short run, which was hilly!!! WOAH. Lotsa hills here in Nashville.

Anyway, it is really starting to hit me that tomorrow is the actual race. Five long months of preperation come down to hopefully less than five hours of work. I have so many emotions - I am nervous, I am scared and even a little doubtful. I want to finish this. I WILL FINISH THIS.

I don't really knwo what to expect tomorrow - except a lot of people, hills and some pain. But I know I can do it. I have to believe in myself. There are so many other peopel that believe in me, it is time to do it.

It really has been overwhelming the amount of support that I've received from friends and family. I know I am not in this alone. I know there are people out there thinking of me tomorrow. I am not doing this alone. I may be out there running but there are people pushing me along at home -- and that is what makes me know I can do this. So, thank you to all of you that believe in me.

And a special thank you to those that will actually BE there with me - the Keoghs, Ryan Scholl, my parents and of course, my rock, Tom.

So the next time I post, it will be over. I will be a marathon FINISHER.

26.2.

It's almost here.

I've put in the miles. I've put in the time. I've raised over $3,000 for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. 

There is one thing left to do... run the marathon. 

I would be lying if I said that I wasn't scared out of my pants... I know I am physically ready. It is the mental part. I need to get myself in the mindset. Get myself psyched up. Get excited and to believe in myself. DO IT!

We leave on Thursday and run Saturday at 7 am. I don't know my race number yet, but I will be sure to post it so everyone can follow along. I will be posting all week so until then...

GO TEAM!

NO PAIN!!!!

Well, it may have been a while, but what an update I have.

First and foremost, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to everyone who helped me reach my fundraising goal! Now I want to go above and beyond, so if you know anyone who would be interested in donating, send them to my website!!!!!! So far I have raised $3,100, which is great. I have decided to donate the entire NCAA Pool to Colleen, since she needs the money to reach her goal and I have already reached mine. I figure all the money goes to LLS in the end, so if it helps her reach her goal, it is all good!!!

On another, great, amazing, I-never-thought-I-would-do-it note, on Sunday, I ran 20 (yes, 20) miles!!!!!! And surprisingly, it wasn't that bad. 

I spent the entire last week stressing out about the big run. Since we are traveling to Tampa this weekend, I wasn't able to do the 20 with the team, so I had to add six onto the existing 14 that the team was doing. 

I was stressing because when we had to run 18, my knee was bugging me and I stopped after six. I was frustrated, scared and not really sure if I was actually going to be able to do it. The week leading up to Sunday was rough because mentally I was doubting myself, doubting my decision to run and doubting that I could actually do it. 

Insert My Rock: TOM. 

He has been my saving grace through this entire journey. When I first called him to tell him that I wanted to do it, he was on a bus to NYC and he told me from the start that it was going to be tough and that there were going to be times where I would give up things (going out) and that there were going to be times in which I doubted myself and that I would want to give up - just like last week. 

Well, last week, he got me in the right mindset, kicked my ass, put on Rocky II and Rocky IV and got me to believe in myself again. And after the run, he said to me that what he saw before I left was a smile -- something he doesn't always see before my big runs. It is without this support that I wouldn't be able to make it. 

As for the run itself, it was good. Very good. I started running directly from our apartment and crossed the Iwo Jima just as the sun came up. It was stunning as the sun came up over the monuments across the river. I have to say, I am lucky to have a backdrop like DC to train for this. From there I crossed the bridge and traveled to meet the TNT team at Fletchers. 

The rest of the run was good - and I felt strong both mentally and physically. I think when you get to mileage like this, it really comes down to how you are mentally. Having the support of the TNT team is the best possibly situation in training like this. There is nothing like running and having people encourage you!! 

As I neared my final 2-3 miles, I cranked up some Rocky and thought of the scenes that Tom pointed out to me the night before - in Rocky IV when he is getting his ass beat down by Duke and he continues to push and say "NO PAIN"... as I got tired, I thought to myself "NO PAIN" and of course the mantra "WIN SAM WIN"... nothing like a little Eye of the Tiger to get you through, right. 

The best part of finishing it was at the end. As I saw my end point nearing, I saw Tom, waiting there for me. That meant the world to me -- it was like my moment in Rocky I when he screams "ADRIANNE!!". And for all you cheesy people out there saying "oh she is such a dork", I want you to run 20 miles and then let me know if you would like to see your rock standing there waiting for you as you finish. 

Anyway, I did it. And I am going to DO IT. I am going to finish this marathon. I am going to make a difference. And I wouldn't be able to do it without each one of you that has donated your time, money and thoughts as I've been through this. I can do it... and we can all make a difference.

So THANK YOU to Tom and THANK YOU to all that have supported me... now we have taper (sounds like swimming again, eh?) and then the race... 25 days from now, I will have finished a marathon... who EVER thought I would say that! :)