I did it!

I wanted to "change up" my work out routine a bit......I was getting BORED of the gym every day, so I decided to train for the PF Chang's 1/2 marathon! This was my 3rd 1/2 marathon....the last one being in 2002! Not much of a runner these days, but I loved it!

Rich was my chauffeur to the starting line....it was COLD...
It was exhilarating being with all the runners before the race.....everyone was so pumped up! After a moment of silence for the shootings in Tucson, and then the National Anthem, the gun went off to start.....it was pretty overwhelming, and I immediately teared up! Probably a combination of nerves and excitement! Because there were so many runners, they had us in "corrals" and we would start in "shifts". I was in corral 9, so I didn't really get to "start" until 15 minutes AFTER the gun went off! Thank goodness I wasn't in corral 20!

The run was hard, but FUN. I had my ipod with my good music, plus when I was tired of that, I would take off my head phones and listen to the LIVE BANDS that were every 3 miles! There were so many spectators cheering us on, cheerleaders from everywhere, I even ran through 3 "tunnels" some of them made with their pom pons! A wonderful surprise was Lynnette CALLING me during her run! She was running the FULL marathon at the same time, and called me at her mile 12 and my mile 6...that was awesome! SIMONE and JIMMY were at mile 8 to cheer me on! Simone got on her bike and rode with me for a bit....such a huge help! At mile 10 a huge HILL approached me...I think I said out loud, "SERIOUSLY?!" It was somethin' else! But, the best was at the FINISH stretch of the race seeing and HEARING Rich, the boys, and mom and dad! I was SO happy to see them, I knew the end was in sight! I raised my arms and crossed that finish line. YEAH!

We enjoyed all the goodies after the race...this friendly Gecko handed out pez candy!

My fans...

Lynnette is so awesome....this was her 5th marathon! Way to go, LJ!

My friend, Russ (I sing with him!), ran his first 1/2 marathon!