So a little back ground...my marathon runner friends wanted to do the 1/2 marathon in Pittsburgh...but it was sold out. So they sucked me and 2 other "walker" friends into doing the relay with them...so thats how I ended up in Pittsburgh at 5am in the morning on my 17th wedding annivesary..sounds romantic doesn't it!
So after getting a quick pic with my sweetie...we got our bibs pinned on... grab our water and walked to the starting area and stopped for a few team pre race pics.
We were team LADIES AND A TRAMP...haha
Now the actual start time was getting closer and it was time for me to give my hunny a kiss and head to my relay exchange...I was leg 2...he was head to leg 3 to see me finish...we hoped!! haha..so off I went alone...I was nervous...scared and excited all at the same time.
As I was waiting for my team mate I had time to think about a lot of things...how did I end up here today of all days...usually on our anniversary we were eating dinner at some really good..but O' so bad for us place...sitting in a dark movie theater ..chowing down on fat laden snacks but not this year...this year I was running in a race...a big race...a 25,000 people race!!
I can't even wrap my head around it yet and its been three days....I was never athletic after 7 grade....had 2 broken knees due to a cheer-leading accident that never healed right and have had knee issues since...arthritis set in early in my 20's and the 80 pounds extra didn't help!! Last May....I was about 10 pounds down in my journey and I was just starting to see that there was someone different than a couch potato inside of me...did I see a runner...heck no!!
But guess what.....here she is....
....did I run my whole LEG...nope...did I run across that relay exchange O YEAH!!! and guess who was waiting there with tears in is eyes....just like 17 years ago on this exact day .....my "boyfriend" of 20 years!! My #1 Cheerleader...my sweet and adorable hubby!! I couldn't have asked for a better day!! It was perfect!!
So as far as my personal time goal ...I was 2 minutes short of what I wanted....those "Burgh Hills" got the best of me...lol.....but our team goal was 5:25 and we finished at 5:09!! So we were all really happy and really proud!! I love that my two friends who run all the time never made us walker/runners feel like we didn't do our part...they were so so proud of us...the fact that we are trying to change us!! To be participates......NOT SPECTATORS!!!
Us with our new bling....aka Finishers Medals
Me with my second favorite piece of "gold" jewelry I have ever gotten on a May 6th!!
First race ever + my 17th wedding anniversary = perfect day! (w/pics)
