"Dare Mommy right dare! Dare Mommy right dare! Mommy running!"
This is almost the finish-line dialogue I imagined I'd get from Leslie when I decided to run this half marathon. Rarely do our little fantasies about big moments in our lives play out the way we build them up. This one did.
In fact, it was better, because about a tenth of a mile from the finish, my little girl ran out -- as impulsive, excited two-year-olds will do -- and gave me a hug. My fantasy also didn't factor in the amount of enthusiasm she'd have when she spotted me. Jody was thoughtful enough to video that moment for me.
I feel great after this run. I set an ambitious goal for my finish time -- 2:45, and I made it. It was a little frustrating that the official clock passed the 2:45 point before I got there, but after subtracting my start differential I finished at 2:44:18. If it weren't for the East Broad Street hill, I would have easily finished a whole minute faster.
There were some surprises in this race. I was so focused on the individuality of the run, I didn't realize how much FUN I'd have with my friends. Ashley Long stayed Saturday night with me and went on to finish first in her division, which was so exciting. One anecdote from packet pick-up was Ashley walking up to get her number.
Ashley: "Ashley Long"
Volunteer: (Couldn't find her bib) "Are you fast?"
Ashley: "Ummmm, I don't know."
Volunteer: "What's your anticipated finish?"
Ashley: "1:30"
Volunteer laughs about Ashley saying she didn't know whether she was fast. "Your bib's over there." (with the fast people)
Then there were my training buddies: Ally and Deanna. And their families -- Stephen and Lizzie ran the last tenth to the finish with Ally. I'm not a sentimental person and didn't expect to feel so emotional about these friends with whom I shared this experience.
Another surprise was the number of times I heard, "Way to go, Carla!" at the finish. I saw Deanna first, which is so fitting because I don't think I could have done this without her help. Then Jody, Leslie, Josh, Anniston, Ashley, Derrell, Tommy, Anna, Madison, and Emma were all cheering for me. One of the perks of finishing near the end.
A local guy who's lost like 200 pounds for a reality show finished after we watched Ashley take first place in her division at the awards ceremony. I cried then, too. Nope, don't know the guy. But his wife and newborn were waiting to put his medal on at the finish....who wouldn't cry? I'm pretty sure Stephen did.
As for me, after my race I headed straight for the food table, starving, then found the family. Leslie put my medal on for me with no prompting. I didn't get a medal that my husband made; those were reserved for the first 100 and last 100 finishers. I finished 1,628 out of 1,791 finishers. I love that Jody made the top 100 finishers medal that Ashley now has -- and her plaque. It just makes this event all the more special for me.
I must have a pretty darn good self-esteem to be so exited about my finish considering the fast company I've been in today. Both sets of Longs ate with us and I, the slowest finisher, was the only person bragging about her time. Works for me.
