I DID IT!!!!!

You GUYS!!!

I did it!

I completed a half marathon. I'm very, very proud. (Please don't confuse "Proud" with "Eager to do it again.")

It really is an amazing feeling. I felt pretty great the first 8 miles or so, taking walking breaks here and there. I had a very scientific system where I'd bargain with myself--"Ok, get to the stop lights and then you can walk to the first street sign."

Mile 10 kicked my ASS. It was slightly uphill, the end was in sight but not so in sight that it gave me any momentum whatsoever to really dig deep and kick 'er down--ugh. Mile 10.

Mile 11, however, FLEW by.

The crowd started at mile 12. I rounded the corner & got a call. It was Chet. I answer (cuz I've got my ear buds in) "Can you see me?!?!" I'm scanning the crowd....

"No.... we can't get in..."

They had been driving around for 2 1/2 hours, all the roads were blocked. They couldn't get into the race. All my dramatic visions of me scooping up my kids and passionately making out with my husband at the finish line--Shattered. I just started bawling.

You have to remember--this is very emotional. It's emotional because you're so happy, you're exhausted... I was already tearing up anyway-- So, my emotions manifested themselves in snot and a minor panic attack because I couldn't catch my breath. HOT.

Anyway, I made it--Obviously. And was still thrilled. I got my medal and strutted with AZ's finest runners. I'd wanted to complete the run in under 3 hours and I did it in 2:42. So I was pumped!

A bit later, my girlfriend Kimmy finished--her hubby & kids were in the car with mine so we had each other. Awwwe. Then she called her parents and sister, who were also going to be there.

They had gotten in a car accident! They'd TOTALED their car! They're banged up but fine so you can imagine the emotions for poor Kim! After assuring her they had a ride and would take their car to Dave Stanley--the guy to KNOW in the East Valley, she & I focused on what was important--WE were promised one free beer and we were going to collect!

It was a can MGD 64. It was so-so. Next year I'm going to have a thermos of Bloody Marys waiting for me.

But now we had another problem--Getting home. We're in Tempe and all the roads are closed. So, we decide to walk a 1/2 mile to the Light Rail. Because that's what one wants to do at this point. We had a $20 between us so we bought our tickets to just take us as far towards Gilbert as we could go & have Chet pick us up. Turns out, it only goes another 2 stops and then it's the end of the line. So, there we are in a not-so-hot part of town. Sore, drained, and wearing our PF Chang's racing numbers and medals. Oh--and Kimmy's carrying her fanny pack containing the change from our lightrail passes: $16.50 in dollar coins.

We spotted a grocery store in the distance and made a decision. We needed fuel.

So, we hoofed it another couple of blocks so we could buy two subs from the deli and a 6-pack of Smirnoff Ice with our dollar coins.

And there we sat. Outside a grocery store. Sipping our vodka drinks, eating our subs and proudly wearing our marathon garb. In the ghetto.

Juuuuuuust about perfect! ;)