RACE DAY!!

It's here! It's really here!! By the way, this came VERY EARLY!! We were up at 3:15AM!! Our early start team met downstairs at 4:15am!! Honey, Sara & Janet even came down to wish us luck!!

Our team headed over the starting line & we got to be at the front! That was so cool! Let me tell you - it was rather dark & chilly! They had a girl lead us in some stretches - very helpful. A group from California spontaneously led us in "The Star Spangled Banner". That was very touching!! Then - the 10 second countdown to the start!!!

The adrenaline was pumping as we started - it was so neat to have people cheering us on that early in the morning! They had a calypso band at mile 1 and a gospel choir at mile 2!! Wonderful!! By the time we reached the Golden Gate Bridge, the sun was coming up!! What a site! Then, the hills...nothing, I repeat nothing in Oklahoma can prepare you for this. The view however, from about mile 7.5...you can't touch that! The hills, the ocean - breathtaking!

Throughout the course, TNT staff and coaches are dressed up in theme costumes cheering you on. They had a group in 70's & 80's costume, there was Colonel Sanders, Richard Simmons, the Escape from Alcatraz group, and a possible Elvis sighting! The favorite for most people was the San Francisco Cheerleading Squad ( a very FABULOUS group of spirited guys!) We saw them at miles 3 & 23!!

We cannot begin to describe what it's like to have thousands upon thousands of strangers cheering you on!! It's like being in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade & being the feature float! Families watching from their windows. Lots of kids & dogs - so cute!! And the volunteers - WOW!! THOUSANDS of volunteers handing out water, Gatorade, cheering you on. The American Red Cross with first aid, the porta potties, the entertainment, AH - the list is ENDLESS! The chocolate, the socks, towels, all sorts of goodies handed out along way, but where do they expect you to put it? I gladly accepted the towel so I could wipe the salt of my face. Yes - maybe this is T.M.I, but I literally had salt (from the sweat) on my face! HA!

Perhaps the toughest part was going around Lake Merced. There weren't as many volunteers cheering you on, and it's mile 20-23 - at that point it takes all the mental strength you can muster! One final hill and then you see the incredible ocean view!! Mom & I were keeping up with each other via BlackBerry - she was about 1.5 miles ahead of me. Mom crossed the finish line & let me know where to look for her cheering me on. Sherry Furseth heard them announce Mom's name & got a picture of her! Oh yeah, that's another cool thing - is that they announce each person's name as you cross the finish line. I crossed the line with my co-worker Patty, her poor knees had hobbled her, but she did it!! I could see Janet & Sara as a crossed the finish line too.

Mom & I quickly found each other as I made my way through the finishers line (getting necklace, shirt, removing the timing chip). It was so fun to celebrate with mom, Honey, Janet & Sara!! WOW!! We really did it!! With all the thousands of people in this area, they really know how to manage this - it's all mapped out very well. Next, it's time to check in at the TNT tent where you get more "jewelry", you're 26.2 pin!! YEAH!! We were both moving a little slow at this point. Mom's knees were killing her & I knew I'd earned some fantastic blisters on the bottom of my feet around mile 20 or 21. We were anxious to get our cushiony flip flops!!

We also found Sherry Furseth amongst the crowd. She successfully completed the half-marathon!! I saw her parents, Gerry & Betty Ann as I approached the 12 mile marker & they waited for her to finish her race!

We gingerly walked to our shuttle - it felt like 3 more miles!! Once back at the room, it was time for a shower, ibuprofen, and a nap!!