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Marathon # 5
9 minute PR
11+ minute BQ 🦄 

Overjoyed. Grateful. Proud. 

Also still trying to process it all 🤯

On one hand, I knew I was going to have a great race. I could just feel it. 
But at the same time… I cannot believe I did that 😱

I woke up race morning knowing with my whole heart, soul, mind, and body, that it was my day. It was a feeling so deep down - I just knew 🥹 my mindset had been dialed in and I had a strong training cycle. I had a goal of racing a 3:15 and I believed with all of me that I would hit it - it was just a matter of by how much 🙃

I ran this course last year and when I finished I swore there was no amount of money that could ever be offered to me to touch it again… and then I went and just paid for round 2 myself 🤣 As race day got closer I printed off my 2024 race garmin data and studied it to know where all of the 800+ ft of elevation gain happened and plan out how I would tackle the hills. I went into it so much more prepared and confident this time!

I felt so good in the first half! And then miles 13-15 my legs both cramped from quads all the way down 😅 I’ve never had to grit out anything harder than those miles. When I hit mile 17, I felt the very tender and real presence of Ben’s grandpa with me. I felt like he ran those last 9 miles with me stride for stride. Heaven was just so close. 

As I crossed the finish line I darn near hit pavement as the world started spinning and I couldn’t keep my head up 😅 so grateful for the medical help there and my friends who scooped me up and kept me vertical. 

I was sad that my family couldn’t be there. We had to divide and conquer in many directions. But I ended up having so many people there cheering for me 🥹 my sister in law, Ben’s aunt, uncle and cousins, my coach and friends, and grandpa too. It was such a beautiful day and I am overwhelmed with gratitude and joy! 

What a beautiful gift! As @tyrunnasaurusrette taught me, we’ve spent the last several months (and years) building, preparing, and wrapping up this gift for ourselves. And race day is our opportunity to open it up and enjoy that gift 🥹 Such an empowering perspective! I’ll carry that with me forever!
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