...Race Day...

I've had some health concerns over the past month and a half which have kept me from adventuring. My doctor cleared me for the race, but I wasn't to push myself, get overheated, or get dehydrated. My regular running pace had gone from an easy 10 minute mile to a labored 13 minute mile. I was deeply concerned I wouldn't make it to the finish line. My stomach was a mess of knots that morning.

I had been raising money for the A21 Campaign, an organization that seeks to abolish modern day slavery in the 21st century, and so many friends donated to the cause. I had committed to wear silly race attire for each increment of money that I raised, so I pulled the silly socks and homemade tutu on as my final act in getting ready.

We had a quick breakfast at IHOP before finding a bus that would take us to the starting line. As I began to line up with 24,999 of my peers, Andy texted me encouraging words and found a place along the course to cheer me on. How sweet and kind and faithful! There are few who would wake up so early to show their support. (I can't tell you how excited I was to see Andy just a few miles in. I ran a bit faster just to get to him sooner.)

I was in the third wave of runners, so, though the race began at 6:30am, I didn't even cross the starting line until sometime after 7. Unlike Andy, I made no friends, but offered a few smiles here and there. I stopped along the way to take pictures, and walked up one obnoxious hill, but ran the majority of the race at an easy jog, smiling, laughing.

The morning was a mess of fog. Though it was intended that we'd be able to see the painted Ladies and the Golden Gate Bridge, you really could barely see the runners in front of you.

All along the course there was encouragement. Whether it was cheerleaders, a marching band, a drum line, or water and electrolytes, Luna bars, orange slices, etc, you never felt like you had been running that long. Then, of course, there was the chocolate mile, where they pass out, you guessed it, chocolate, to motivate you to the finish line. The entire event was so well organized!

After I crossed the finish line, I waited for my Tiffany necklace medal and then headed to the line to get my picture with the firefighters. I decided not to wait in line for a massage or food and flowers, as I really just wanted to go back to the hotel and have Andy hold me for a while. We waited in the line, chatting with people around us, and were soon headed back. As I took a shower, Andy got pizza from our favorite little pizzeria. After a good 40 minutes of yin yoga, we crawled into bed and fell asleep for a few hours. It was about noon.