Motivation, Inspiration, Inebriation...

So, in case I haven't mentioned it, I ran a marathon.  A MARATHON!  Twenty-six point freakin' two miles!  I knew I wasn't going to win, but I prayed to Baby Jesus that someone would finish after me and that I wouldn't be last.  Thank God for those three people trying to run without any limbs.

It's kinda like when you have your first baby.  You know other people have done it, but when you do it for the first time, it's like you've discovered fire.  I was very proud of myself, sure, but I also knew how many friends were supporting me and I wanted to share my excitement with them.  Their motivation and encouragement got me through it all!

I posted a bunch of pictures on Facebook and even wrote a race report because I found out that's something that hard core runners do, and we all know I'm hard core, so....  

I had so many people say things like, "You look so pretty in your race pictures!"  

I have to admit there are some good ones.  

Here are my favorites:

Here's the thing, I agree.  I do look good in these. What you have to understand, though, is that this was the finish and I was so damn happy to be finished.  I DID IT!!  

Screw that.

The real reason is that I'm vain.  I just wanted to make certain I didn't look like this again.

If I saw a camera during my 26.2 miles, you bet your ass I was smiling.

It's no secret that I'm proud of my journey.  I ran my first mile exactly one year to the day of the marathon.  I was never ever a runner.  I was in athletics in high school, and somehow I could manage to run up and down a basketball court all day long but could never run a mile without stopping.  So, yeah, it's a big damn deal.  I've been told that my year has inspired others to run, too.  Knowing my progress was encouraging enough to get someone else out there is very cool.

 In 2007 I walked in the Breast Cancer 3-day.  While walking, my sister-in-law and I were chosen to be in their 2008 ad campaign.  

Through commercials and print ads, I helped to inspire millions of people to walk 60 miles in 3 days.  I had women tell me that my words in the commercial prompted them to get their annual mammogram.  I was completely humbled then, just as I am now.

And then this happened.....

Shit.