I did it!!!

I cannot believe that I did it!!!  I ran in and finished the Marine Corps Marathon!!!  The whole experience was truly incredible.  It was amazing.  I am so glad that I did it.  I still can't believe that I finished it!!!!

My family and friends came down and cheered me on.  It was so neat to see them along the route.  My sister even came on the course and ran with me for 2 miles!  The crowds and Marines were lining almost the entire course cheering on the runners. It was so inspiring and encouraging.  It was so neat to be doing it in DC too.  It felt very patriotic.

My goal was to "beat the bridge."  That is the 14th street bridge at about 19.5 miles.  The runners had to be there by 1:15PM or they would not let you continue running.  Those people, who didn't get there in time, were put on busses and driven to the finish line.  I did not want to be on that bus!  When I reached the bridge an hour before the cut off time, I was thrilled!   I knew then, that I was going to finish the race!!

My final time was 6 hours and 8 minutes!  That was very exciting because I was hoping that I would be able to come in at 7 hours, if I was able to finish at all.

Brian took lots of pictures, as did the MCM people.  I will upload them in the next day or 2.

In the mean time.  Here are some pictures from Friday when Brian and I went to DC to check in.

When we took this picture...I was thinking that this might be the only finish line I'd see.

Yes, we are cheesy..aren't we???

That night we went to some good friend's of ours house for our church community group.  When we knocked on the door, my friend Shawn answered and he was wearing a little card taped to himself that said, "We support #17341"

As, I entered the house I saw that everyone was wearing one.  I was so touched.

I love these people!!

I had to take a pix with the photographer too!

Thank you all for your kind words, love, encouragement and prayers.  I know that I wouldn't have been able to do it without you.

I am so incredibly sore today.  My knee held out for the entire race, but as soon as I finished it totally locked up on me.   I'm in pain, but it was soooo worth it.

In a day or two, I'll be feeling fine....and I'll always be able to say that I ran in a marathon!