Diving Into Blue

Seven days from today, my friend Heather and I will be running in the Marine Corp Marathon in Washington DC. I

For five months, I've worked hard, sweated, and lost precious Saturday morning sleep. I've hurt the toes on both feet so bad that the nails have turned black and blue more than once. I've graduated from a walking/running program (heavy on the walking) to a running program (it's all about the running!). I've been challenged by this new running group and the coach to want more and do more. At first, I was the one in the group that lagged behind, happy when the mileage was complete. Now, more often than not, they lag behind. I've run with my fast friend Heather, who's got a few marathons under her belt--and I've kept up.

So why do I run?

I run for the "I'm glad to be alive" feeling I get when I'm done.
I run this marathon in celebration of my Dad--he's a marine and it's his birthday on race day!
I run to challenge myself to do better each time.
I run so my weight and my age can't catch up!
I run for my friends who are looking for a healthier life.
I run for my sisters to challenge them to do something more with their life.
I run for my husband so he knows he can do it too.
And, most of all, I run for me because I don't want life to pass me by.

Finishing this marathon--my first marathon--gave me the best feeling! It was conquering a challenge; finding out what I had in me; accomplishing an awesome goal; living to tell EVERYONE about it! And wanting more!

When you accomplish something like this, you feel like you can do anything! Now, the thought of completing another marathon was, "Of course, I'm doing another! What about you?"

After crossing the finish line, I received my medal, and we (my medal and I) posed for a professional photo. We both looked so proud!

"Ring, Ring!" It was my friend Jorge calling to congratulate me on completing the marathon! He had signed up to receive updates as each of us crossed certain points along the course. He'd received my last update--crossing the finish line--while he was in church. And he still called to congratulate me! He'll never know how much I appreciated that call!

I didn't know when Kristy and Kim would cross the finish line but I wanted to be there, to share in their joy! So I anxiously waited, pacing back and forth, not far from the finish line. I remember talking to my husband, my mom and dad, and one of my sisters. I was so excited!

I saw Kristy and Kim just as they crossed the finish line! Wahooo! We all made it in one piece! We hugged, laughed, and congratulated each other! And, of course, after receiving their medals, the three of us posed for a photo. But the one posted here was taken by Kim's son, Liam! He was so proud of his Mom!

Now, where's the food? Because I'm STARVING! Don't ya know--I just completed 26.2 miles!

At Christmas time, December 2005, even before I completed my first marathon--the January 2006 Disneyworld Marathon--I was already trying to recruit family members to participate in the October 2006 Marine Corp Marathon in Washington DC.

Why? Then, I couldn't tell you. I didn't know what kind of expereince I was going to have at Disney. I didn't even know if I was going to like it. All I knew was that I would finish the marathon--one way or another. And I was going to have as much fun as possible...