We did it!!!

(Other friends who ran: Bishop Steve Andersen - did the whole marathon in 4:21 and Steve & Sharalee Nabrotzky finished in 2:45 - good job guys!!)

Oh my goodness... I keep asking myself... did I actually really truly just finish a 1/2 Marathon?? I had it in my head from the beginning that I was pretty sure that I could probably walk 13.1 miles. So I figured I had nothing to lose signing up for it. I just hoped that after training that I'd at least be able to run some of it. I am feeling really blessed and grateful that the training has gone so well! I ran the entire 13.1 miles, averaging about 10 minute miles, and finished at 2:12.

Some of you may know, some not, but this really is a HUGE feat for me. In highschool I ran cross-country my freshman and sophmore years, but had to quit because I got really sick. I was on home and hospital for about a year and a half during highschool (doctors weren't really sure what was wrong... they just said possibly chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia). But it was really weird. I went from healthy and strong, to barely being able to move. I feel like I've really come a long way with my health problems. I struggled off and on for quite a few years, but finally found a good doctor who helped me figure out what the problem was (which is kinda complicated to explain because it was a lot of different things all going haywire). But some of the problem was I was having reactions to certain foods (especially anything processed) and chemicals like household cleaners... anything mildly toxic. For some reason my body holds onto any toxins and doesn't easily get rid of them. I've had some problems here are there if I ever get around toxic things (like mold!) But I've had to learn to take a lot of responsibility for my health, which has led me to learn how to eat ridiculously healthy and change some habits. It's definitely not been easy, and has been a long and hard road. I've run a little bit here and there for exercise since highschool, but have never gotten back into it until now. And I'll tell ya what, it feels great!! It really feels like tying up some unfinished business and taking back those lost high school years. I feel so blessed!

Thanks to all for your support! It really has meant the world to me. Thanks to Shane and Jada who came to watch. Shane has the flu and still came (what a guy!) And thanks so the Marathon Mom's who were so much fun to run with, and truly motivating! (I'll write some more details later when I'm a little more with it!)

Okay, to any of you thinking of doing it next year, it was a lot of fun... There were a bunch of live bands that were set up on stages throughout the course. What a great tribute to Nashville! Well, time for an ice bath... but I'll put up some more pics later!