When the going gets tough...the tough get going! (aka, I did it again!)

I am home from my trip to New York City and The Hamptons! We had a great time and packed alot into our five days away. Thursday night, I experienced my first broadway show at Mary Poppins. Friday morning, Carly and I went to the Live with Regis and Kelly show (our favorite part of the trip!) There we saw Nick Lachey, Victoria Beckham, and olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt. After our morning in the city, we managed to make it out of the city traffic and get to the Hamptons.

Saturday morning: Race Day!

7:45AM: A light drizzle begins to fall from the sky, but we're hopeful that it will stop momentarily

8:00AM: Race Start

8:00:30: Pouring rain, our socks and shoes are drenched (we keep telling ourselves this is better than running in florida heat, but we're not so sure running either 13.1 or 26.2 is possible in the sloshing shoes)

Mile 0-6: The rain comes and goes in intensity and then Carly and I have to part ways as the race courses separate between the half and full

Mile 6-8: I run behind a guy for two miles, at one point he turned around and yelled "Are you gonna make it??" At mile 8, I pass him and never see him again...until thirty minutes after I finished the race, that is.

Mile 8-18: This portion is a bit of a blur for me, but for the first time in a race I continually catch up to and pass people without seeing them pass me again a few seconds later

Mile 18: A really annoying pattern of rolling hills begins and I think whoever thought that placing these at mile 18 of a marathon is not a nice person. At some point up a hill I pass Larry, a man who has run over four hundred marathons and one in every state. Needless to say... you can tell.

Mile 19: I suddenly find myself running through the forest portion of the course, right at this moment another downpour occurs and I run for a mile in mud. At one point, I started to think I must have taken a wrong turn but eventually I see the 20 mile mark and I'm relieved.

Mile 20-26: The last six, I was tired but felt much better than my last marathon and know that I'm going to finish.

Mile 26.2: I come across the finish line...23 minutes faster than last year in San Diego...despite the rain, running over hills, through mud, and with blisters all over my feet.

Last year after the marathon, I could barely walk through the airport. This time, we walked all over New York City the following day! (However, we all groaned as we walked up and down stairs in the subway stations!)

Thanks for praying for me while I was away. I'm so grateful that God has given me the ability to run...no matter what the weather brings!

"The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running." Nike