ThE MaRaThON**

It was an early start. We had to leave the house at 4:30a.m. to be there by 5.
Here I am in my delirious stupor sleepwalking to the start line.

I think this picture was taken as I approached mile 15, still smiling. I was smiling until about mile 22, then I thought I had died and gone to hell. At that point my body hated me. The last 5 miles felt like 15, I wanted to cry and scream and gnash my teeth. But I didn't.
I made it!

I had told myself that if I could finish in under 5 hours I would be happy, I finished in 4:06! really exciting. There were 181 women running the entire race and I placed 36th. I took walk breaks the first 20 miles and I think that really helped. Once I approached mile 21 I didn't take any more walk breaks, I knew I wouldn't be able to start running again if I started walking. I'm not sure if I will do one again any time soon, just thinking about doing it again makes me tired.

Today is my last day of school for the year! I'm looking forward to a long relaxing summer.
Just last week I got a couple of big commission, so that should keep me busy the month of June. I'm also teaching a couple weeks of summer school. Happy Wednesday.

Monday*

The weekend was way too short.
I had a funeral to go to on Saturday and worked Saturday night.
Relaxed Sunday morning in the back yard with the V man and then took a motorcycle ride up to Morrison for lunch.
Went for a super short run then over to the BrInKS for Mother's Day.
Had a nice hang out with Lanka in the evening, a good chat with Duce on the phone and was in bed by 11.

Only 6 days until race day.

Breckenridge*

Dave and Dawn flew in from Cali last weekend for a little mini vaca with us (and Brian and Michelle) in Breckenridge. We picked them up from the airport on Friday, rented a nice little house only a few blocks from downtown and had such a relaxing time. Lots of soaking in the hot tub, sitting by the fire, eating yummy meals, and great conversations.
I did go on a little run but was sucking air from the high altitude. My lungs were burning, I was coughing like crazy. It felt terrible.
A week from Sunday is the BIG marathon day. I think I'm ready, my 20 mile jaunt a couple weeks ago was successful so I think I'm now ready for the real deal. Now I'm just cutting back on the mileage. Cutting back makes me feel like I'm being lazy but I guess it's what I'm supposed to be doing. My parents fly in next Friday, this was a good excuse for them to come into town for the weekend.
Only 2 weeks of school left!
summer is almost here!