When I moved to Austin, I picked up running as a way to stay in shape and meet people. (Perhaps I should first mention when I arrived in Texas, I picked up a few extra pounds due to the introduction of Tex-Mex and barbecue into my diet. Then I realized I needed a hobby!) Running supplemented my newfound friend, "moderation," and helped me set and achieve goals. I never took to running when I was younger, but now I can't image my life without it!
My first marathon was the Austin Marathon with my sister Stefanie (February 2008). We trained via satellite, and it was an awesome experience. We took our time to finish, and I even moved furniture for my new apartment that night. We felt great. We wore shirts in our mom's honor. It was rad.
Then I ran the Portland Marathon by myself (October 2008). I was not a fan of this marathon. It was rainy, cold, and I went out too fast in the beginning. I hated life after this race. (I did, however, get to keep the space blanket. I always wanted one of those! I felt so official!)
And then, this past weekend, I ran the Whidbey Island, Washington Marathon (April 2010).
Whew! This was my third (and perhaps final?) marathon. With my best time yet, I reached my goal of finishing in four hours (my time was 4:00:38!). I was eighth in my age division and the 17th female overall.
I'd like to thank my best friend and "personal assistant," Emily, as she traveled with me to the island and kept me motivated throughout the run. If not for her and the miracle worker that is GU (gross, I can't believe I actually ate GU), I probably wouldn't have done as well as I did.
The post-race celebration meal included eggs benedict, champagne, and later, a red velvet cupcake I stowed away in the freezer for a special occasion.
