Blood, sweat & tears

I wasn't sure if I could do it, but...

6 hours
7 blisters
& one MASSIVELY scraped up knee later

I DID IT!!!

18 miles.

Let me say that again...

18 miles!!!!

At one point, my coach, thinking I was only doing 10.2 miles asked me how far I was going.

"18"

"Why???"

"Because I want to!"

And that was that.

Never mind that as soon as I got to the park, I fell & ripped my knee to shreds. I wasn't going to let that stop me. We quickly washed it off w/ some alcohol & betadyne wipes & slathered on some vaseline to keep it from scabbing over & I was off. It was my battle scar & I wore it proudly. At every water station, I'd simply wipe off the blood that was dripping down my leg & continue on.

For about the 1st 10-12 miles, I was doing great. I had lots of energy & was jazzed. Around mile 13/14 is when I really started feeling that sun beaming down on me & those blisters starting to form on my feet. But I kept going. I knew I was in the home stretch & with every painful step, I felt more & more of an accomplishment. That last mile was the hardest, but knowing there would be people waiting for me at the end of the finish line, cheering for me, & the fact that my good friend Evan was there by my side, gave me that last push I needed to get it done.

We came running into the park, down a path flanked by TNT banners, streamers, & balloons, the "Rocky" theme song blaring from the stereo, & a group of coaches, mentors, & teammates clapping & cheering us across the finish line.

It was a great feeling.

I am more exhausted than I have ever been, but I am SO damn proud of myself.

GO ME!! :)