7.

Day 7: A photo that makes you happy.

This whole experience makes me happy.  Yesterday Colby and I ran the St. George marathon.  Part of me still can't believe we did it.  But the thigh, very upper calf, and buttocks parts of me definitely make me a believer.  Yep.  We really, really did it.

After watching Perry, my step-dad, complete the marathon the last couple of years I got it in my head that I ought to give it a try.  When I told Colby I was serious about doing it he told me he'd run it with me.  I was shocked, since Colby HATES running.  He is pretty darn quick but likes to keep his runs about the length of home plate to home plate (at the longest) when he plays softball.  I let him know he didn't HAVE to run with me, but he wanted to.  He said, "if you're gonna run it, then I'll run it with you."  Boy am I glad he did.  We had a great time and I'm so glad I shared the experience with him.  He's my best friend and he is the most supportive hubby a girl could ask for.

I was pretty nervous the couple of days leading up to it but was still able to get a little sleep the night before.  We got up early and got on the first bus up the "hill" and got into the spirit of it all.  It was pretty cool to be surrounded by all of those people, sitting by the bonfires, hearing all the different stories and perspectives...  When it all got started, Colby got me to go up in the middle of the crowd so we could really feel the spirit of it all.

I loved the friendliness of all the runners and the awesome support from the community.  Around mile 15 I got all choked up watching these people out in the middle of nowhere sitting on their tailgates encouraging complete strangers.  I can't explain it... it was so cool.  I also got a real kick out of all the signs.  Every so often I'd read a new one that I'd think, "Oh that was a good one!!!  That's the best one out here," and then I'd see another better one.  Funny thing was, my name seemed to find its way to the bottom of each one of those signs.  Even the ones that said "I love you Daddy!" I could still hear the encouragement coming my way.  Haha.  I must have been delirious.  :)  Some of my favorite signs went something like this... "26.2 miles (something something) because 26.3 would be crazy" and my favorite one "Nordstrom Sale (with an arrow) Hurry so-and-so"  Really, I was smiling at just about every sign I saw because they gave me a little chuckle.  I wish my memory was a little more sharp so I could share them all with you.

We kept saying to each other that we couldn't believe we were actually running a marathon.  Even once we were finished, I couldn't figure out where all those miles had gone.  I mean, I realize it took us almost forever and my body had never been through something even close to this before, but once we were done it didn't seem like we could have actually run 26.2 miles.

I'm still in awe... but its very surreal.  It seems huge but then just pretty ordinary at the same time.  I mean, we ran for nearly 6 hours.  I have three little blisters to prove it.  My muscles are screaming at me any time I move.  But it almost feels like just another Saturday.  I don't know how to explain it.  I think the appeal of completing a marathon was the fact that it seems/seemed SO IMPOSSIBLE!!!  But all sorts of people do it all the time so I figured I must be able to do it.  And now I have.  I have achieved the impossible.  Let me just say... I think anyone that wants to could totally complete a marathon.  So if the crazy idea ever enters your mind, DO IT!!!

We were shooting for a time of 6 hours but finished in 5:47:13.  Wow!  I even figure I'll do it again and improve on that.  As for Colby... he says he won't.  However, he doesn't have me completely convinced on never.  Not yet anyway.