I did it

 Well, I did it.  I finished.  I ran my come back marathon last Saturday and did what I set out to do.  I have to say that it was a little bitter-sweet.  Sweet because I conquered, bitter because I was making really good time up until about mile 23 and then it hit.  I guess you could call it "the wall" because my body didn't want to go any further.  Every step was torture. I knew that if I had been better prepared I could have rocked it but I also knew going into this race this probably wouldn't be my fastest time and I was o.k. with it.  The above picture shows how undecided I was about refueling...snickers? gels? chocolate milk? pumpkin bread (just kidding that was from Jen.)

 The race started in Monte Cristo and ended in Hunstville.  The run was absolutely beautiful.  The fall colors were rich and vibrant and it totally helped that I borrowed Rob's polarized sunglasses.  That just made it seem like I was running in paradise.  I had a huge smile on my face until about mile 15 then I started to feel my IT band.  That got me worried but I stopped and stretched every couple of miles and  that seemed to keep it under control.

 I had to walk/run the last three miles.  I knew I would make it at this point I just didn't know how long it would take to actually get there and it was great seeing my parents and family at the finish.  I knew they would be there and that kept me going.

 Not my best time but like I said....this was my comeback marathon and I was super happy that I accomplished it.  I really felt like I wanted to puke at the end and vowed to myself that this would be my last marathon....yeah I know myself too well and know I'm actually lying to myself..

 Dont know what I would do without the support of this guy.  I told him that I would just drive to the start, run the race and drive home so he didn't have to take time out of his Saturday.  He wouldn't hear of it and drove me to the start and was there with kids in tow at the end.  I was grateful for the ride home.

Kind of a random picture that I threw in there but I really thought about this little guy a lot while I was running.  I'm so grateful to have him in my life.