4:40:17

Today I have a red chappy face, couple of blisters on my toes, major red isssues near my nostrils, and two achy thigh muscles, but one jubliant feeling of happiness!!

Yesterday I ran my second marthon in 4:40:17. 4 seconds faster than last year, heh. Not my hoped and intended for 4:20, but I am so happy that I finished and at least 4 seconds faster.

The morning was so cold! I believe when we started the temperature was at 27 degrees? Personally, I really didn't feel the cold, not even when I squatted among the parked cars in the parking lot 20 minutes before the race, my bare ass didn't care, and didn't feel it. I think I was so amped for the start and the actual race, I was buzzing with anticipation and nerves.

We got there after the delay in shi'ma braiding my hair, taking it apart, and rebraiding again cause she wasn't happy with it (heh). Had about 20 minutes to hit my corral, hence the squatting in the parking lot, and with a bad omen of thinking I had purchased eye drops the night before to lubricate my contacts at Target, but instead buying lens cleaner which I stupidly put in my eye so I was left with a burning,swollen, red, puffy eye right before we parked..oh joy.

Luckily I used my water to flush out my eye which I then proceeded to get all over my shirt and shorts, which with the cold ass weather wasn't a good way to go.

I had packed an old ratty pair of black sweats that I have owned for about 10 years to wear over my shorts if I had to, until the start of the race. D suggested I put them over my cold wet shorts to offer some sort of warmth, so I did.

I had on my red bandana, white long-sleeved Nike dri-fit tee, my brick red Under Armor running shorts, my black ratty sweats, my trusty and trusted race sox that I wear for every big race, and my semi-new Nike+ Air Max's from my love...perfect.

Got to the corral and jumped in line. Got situated and plugged into my Nike+ system, kissed my loves, did my thing with the Man Upstairs, shook out my legs (but didn't have time to stretch), and before I knew it ...we were off.

Jogged easy and light down the line, crossed the Start and heard the chip go buzz. Eased into a9:20 pace..

(sorry..my Son needs me ..more later)

------------Back in this...

so anyway..off we went with a quick wave to Ms. Mary Kim Titla on the side, who I understand ran the 1/2 Marathon? It all went so fast, I wasn't feeling the cold, and I didn't have time to peel off my sweats so I just kept trucking.

Mile one was up with a quickness, peeps passing me left and right as I tried to maintain my 9:30 pace and slow down the adrenaline running through my veins telling me to go faster. Pretty soon, the 4:30 pace group leader was running by my side, holding up her sign. I freaked out when I saw her as I was still pacing myself with the 4:20 finishing time. I speed my ass up, big mistake, and floored it to a 9:05 pace.

Mile 3 had us face to face with some big mega signs that we were all running to hell. Nice, real inspring guys. I said as much to this ladee running next to me. Shook my head and moved on. By this point, I was feeling a slight dull ache to my side. I tried to not think about it and just push through. I believe we also ran right by the Frybread House which I had to look directly at as a lil good luck charm..corny I know.

I believe the dull ache might have been caused by this brand new energy drink I had that mornig on the way to the run, not too smart to try out new things the day of the marthon.

Anywho, before I knew it, we were turning to our right, onto mile 6 and only 20 more miles to go.

to be continued..

The bend in the road gave me hope for what was to come ahead. Even this early, I was having doubts in myself. Physically I felt fine, a slight pull in my side, runny nose, but it was mentally I was feeling shaky.

Made it on to Mile 10 with a quick glug of my GU, with surprise surprise no stop, just a slowing down and a quick swish of H2o.

Pushed past the crowd with carried me during this mental battle and prayed like I had never prayed before.

Mile 13 had me dashing by my parents with a quick handoff of gatorade and new gel packs. I walked a bit to drink down the gu and gatorade (that accelarde stuff they were giving out sucked ballz). As soon as I stopped, my right heel started up with the stabbing pain. It came out so fast that it pushed me to run with a limp. When walking with it, it hurt worse than to run, so off I went, tossing my gatorade to the side and tried to get the boogers under control.

Mile 20 I ran to my loves, a salty, sweaty, boogery, bushy mess. Stopped for a quick second to give Son a kiss, but when I bent down to lay one on him, my right thigh started to cramp up...had to move on and start running again.

Mile 25 had me running with my brother again. Me whispering to him that I wanted to stop, I was so tired and so beat down...I just wanted it to be over.

Mile 26.2 had me smacking that fugging finish line with my feet. POUND POUND..your out sucka!!

At the end, I was greeted by my Godfather (who I didn't even know was going to show up and made me cry), my parents, my brother, my D and my Son....as well as later on my LADEE'z witha quick bootie sign that read," KIK BOOTIE REDLADEE".

I did it...

My second marathon. Come June..Ima do it all over again. Am I crazy ?