26.2!

Today was marathon day!  I joined around 15,000 other runners this morning for a beautiful 26.2 mile run through Denver.  I'm so glad I did it, but I'm also so glad it's over!

Here are a few tidbits ruminating in my head as this long running journey finally comes to an end:

Miles logged from the time training started in June to race day:  502.46
Calories burned from June through race day:  59,115
Weight gained: 10 pounds (not kidding!)
Pairs of running shoes: 3

Most of my runs happened at o'dark thirty in an attempt to reduce the impact on my family.  As a result, I witnessed some of the most beautiful sunrises.  Here are a few favorites:

Favorite quotes during training:

"Mommy, you can run far" --from Jacoby
"Erin, I don't understand the point of running so far for no reason.  There are only two reasons to run: if a thug is chasing you or the police are chasing you!" --from one of my favorite people at work

Why do I run? A question I've asked myself countless times when I'm out by myself at o'dark thirty:

I run away from:  feeling overwhelmed and stuck; fear; impatience; mistakes of the day, week, month, year; sadness

I run toward:  grace; gratitude; wanting to be a better mom/wife; patience; renewal; calm and peace, strength; and a desire to instill in my boys that if they try their best, they can do hard things too

Favorite signs out on the race course today:

"It seemed like a good idea three months ago!"
"Motivational Sign" --held by a sullen teenager of course
"Not much farther to go!" --as we pass mile three

Some unexpected tunes on my phone that came to be mighty helpful for getting the miles logged and across the finish line:
Usher
Guns n Roses
Flo Rida
U2
Bon Jovi
Macklemore

I owe a huge thank you to my family for putting up with the countless hours of training and an often tired mommy.  Justin, whose patience knows no bounds, has graciously endured my emotional roller coaster over the past few weeks after the Boulder Marathon was canceled and lots of things were in flux for awhile.  And my boys, they are the reason that I run, and as I wearily climbed the front steps after my long Saturday runs, they would greet me cheerfully and want to know if I was finished with my run so that we could go to the park and library.

I am a Marathon Mom!

 

Snuggling with my little one on the bus ride to the car...Morgan was eying some rambunctious Broncos fans.  Very busy day in Denver!

 

 Jacoby taking care of my medal on the way home for me

Hooray for 26.2!