26.2

The Before Picture! Getting ready to make my way over to the starting gates

It was Marathon Day Today!! I am very happy with my performance and am glad to have accomplished a goal that I have wanted to do for some time now - completing a marathon in my life time. I give credit to all those who ever have run a marathon as it is not an easy task!
This morning when I woke up it was raining outside. It then stopped just in time as we headed out the door at 7:00 am to get to the start line. At the start line I lined up with the pace setter to try to finish around a 4 hour 30 min time. I did this to restrain myself from starting out to fast which I have a tendency to do. I did not want to burn all my energy in the first half of the Marathon. I found a comfortable pace with the group and then found a friend which I stayed with from about mile 5 all the way to the finish. Her name was Sarah and she and I helped one another make it to the finish line. We ran in poring rain from about mile 3 all the way to mile 15. It then stopped and I was starting to feel semi-dry again about mile 21. I am proud to say I kept a good pace all the way and did not stop to walk once. I ran the entire Marathon. That was my other goal! They always talk about your body hitting a personal wall and mine was about mile 21.5. At that point I really had to mentally make it through as my body was wanting to give up. As I continued to push through I was revived at about mile 23.5 when I knew I was almost there. I was really going to do it! At mile 25 there is no greater feeling than to realize you only have 1.2 miles left. At this point in the Marathon we ascended a slight hill and then after you round the hills corner I went through a tent that was blasting music. After the tent the streets are packed with people all the way to the finish line that was in sight. I got a second wind at this point and sprinted....well what I thought was sprinting, but really it was not that fast if you were watching, but it felt fast to me. I then crossed the finished line and there was a wonderful feeling of accomplishment and excitement.
Best of all through the Marathon was all the support by the community and family members of the runners. It was really nice to have people cheering you on from start to finish. Best of all was having my husband cheering me on. He was there at the start, Mile 14, and then at the Finish. It is not easy to be a spectator of a Marathoner. He deserves a lot of credit today too! He stood in the cold, the poring rain, and still was able to capture the moment for me. Thanks so much honey. I love you!! He even had a present for me for finishing! Thanks!!
My Results
Overall: 5012/7966
Division Place: 548/1079
Sex Place: 1693/3190
Marathon Time: 4 hours 30 minutes and 54 seconds
Averaged Pace: 10:20 min/mile

And I am off!!

With the pace setters

Mile 14...Where's Kristin can you find me!

Mile 14 and feeling good. My running buddy Sarah is next to me in the green tank

It's the finish just ahead....push it!!

Sarah and I did it...26.2! All smiles again!!

Sporting my metal! I am now an official marathon finisher!