MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! RAN 26.2 MILES IN THE CARLSBAD MARATHON!

OH HAPPY DAY!  I made it, I actually made it.  What an experience!  Being elbow-to-elbow with some really crazy people - people who get up in the wee hours of the morning to do, of all things, 26.2 miles!  And even though we haven't really had a winter here in So Cal, it was cold!  But mercifully they had a tent where we could go to be warm before the race.  I was accompanied by my cheering section, husband and daughter, and my daughter's future mother-in-law and friend Annette, who is a "Marathon Maniac", going for a marathon in all 50 states...crazy and admirable. 

It was an absolutely beautiful day, just a little cloud cover to make it cool.  The ocean was beautiful and the support was absolutely great - more water than I could really drink at the water stations.  The first 7 miles along the ocean were perfect, felt good and ready to go along Carlsbad Blvd. Then we turned on to Palomar Airport Road and started on our climb...this was the difficult part.  But the support was still there and coming back down was blissful!  Then we did a turnout on to Avenida Encinas and the mental work began - WHAT?  I have 13 more miles to go?  You've got to be kidding!  No,  I don't want any more GU!!   I want my bed, I want to take off these shoes and lay in the sand!  But I kept pushing on, around the turnaround and back on to Carlsbad Blvd.  By this time, the half marathoners were on the road in their journey to 13.1 - I was a little jealous.  This part was difficult...the mental game continued.  On past the turnaround for the half marathoners, away from all the fun and the bands, mostly by myself, as I had been kind of left behind by most of the full marathoners.  That was ok, though, I was going to finish.  By mile 17, I was feeling pretty exhausted and the thought of having 9 miles to go was pretty daunting.  By that time I was feeling pretty lonely.  But I pressed on...had to send a text to my family telling them..."hurting".  By the time I got back to the part where the half marathoners were, most of them were done.  The bands were packing up, the volunteers had picked up all the tossed cups, and the spectators were long gone. 

By mile 20 I was wondering how and why I was doing this.  Why would anybody in their right mind to this to themselves?  By mile 22 I was thinking 4 miles was like going to the moon.  But I plugged on.  At mile 24 I didn't have anything left.  The supporters were still there, cheering me on, thank God!  I kept plugging on.  Mile 25, mile 26....and what?  Oh, there's that 0.2 to worry about!  But fortunately my daughter who had run the half marathon, came out to join me for that last little bit.  And that great announcer, who when he saw me said, here's another person running into history!  She's a marathoner!

I crossed the finish line, 6 hours and 28 minutes, to have my shiny finisher's metal put around my neck and all the glory was mine...I was a marathoner.  Mission accomplished.

Now...what do I name my blog now?  Any suggestions? 

P.S.

If I succeed, I'll have to come up with a new name for my blog...any ideas?

Almost there, tomorrow is the day!

Well, tomorrow is the day, the day of truth.  When all the miles, all the sweat, all the lost toenails will come to fruition.  We're blessed with really great weather - that seems to be all we get in So Cal these days!  Even though I trained in the rain, I don't think I'll need to worry about it. 

So six months ahead of THAT birthday, the big 5-0, I hope to reach my goal.  I know there are no guarantees that I will finish, you never know what can happen, at least I got out there and TRIED.  Try, try again.  As my mom used to say, good, better, best, never let it rest until good is better and better is BEST!  And I'm absolutely sure  I will be giving my absolute best tomorrow at the CARLSBAD MARATHON 2014! 

If anybody out there has been following this obscure blog on the universe of the internet, I thank you for your support and I'll try not to let you down.  FOR 49-YEAR-OLDs EVERYWHERE - THIS RACE IS FOR YOU!  :)

Four more days!

After many months of preparation, the day is almost here.  Four more days until the Carlsbad Full Marathon!  I can't believe I'm actually going to do it.  After a whole lot of miles and a lot of sweat, it's almost here.  I'm a little scared and apprehensive...just hope I'm not that person they're picking up the cones after, but I probably will be.  But that's okay.  This is the hardest thing I've ever done, but I have a feeling it will be the most satisfying, once I get past the pain. 

CARLSBAD, HERE I COME!

Almost time for that marathon!

It's almost here!  Four more days until my FULL marathon!  26.2 miles....wow.  I can't believe I'm actually going to do it.  After months of long, long run/walks on the weekend, it's finally almost here.  After a lot of work and sweat I'm going to do it.  I hope to make it in 6 hours, but I kind of doubt it.  It's a challenging course with rolling hills and one big grade...so, we'll see how it goes. I think it will be the hardest thing I've ever done in my whole life.  I'm expecting a lot of pain and a whole lot of self satisfaction! 

HERE I COME, CARLSBAD!  :D