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I always see this slogan: "It is not all about the finish line, but the journey also."
I don't want to disregard the real athletes who train very hard and give their all, everyday to achieve a successful run time. I have few friends who are real athletes and see the amount of time, discipline, effort and practices that they put everyday to achieve greatness. Couple of them had my other friend and I do a little crossfit training that they do before the real game and they modified stuff so we can get through them tough excercises and drills. I could not imagine what goes on in their real training, if ours were modified and still are tough. How much tougher do they really do. But that is why they are athletes and most of them got paid and sent to college for being one.
My friend, Crystal and I finished our first 1/2 marathon yesterday- the San Diego Rocknroll 1/2 marathon. http://www.runrocknroll.com/programs/
I did not know what to expect and was so nervous before the day of because I have never ran straight over 4miles beyond my 5-6mile runs in the gym. If anything We walked/ ran but we finished. There were plenty of bands playing that were in almost every mile of the run. I was so amazed how highschoolers and gradeschoolers were organized to have their cheering squads on the road pushing up to the finish. The gay community was so loving dressed with big balloon boobies and glam squads giving high fives and cheers from the beginning and saw them again in after mile 10. The military familys had their row of flags cheering us up- "you can do it!, you are running for the others who sacrificed their lives!" That mile was very moving I had to stop Crystal, my friend from crying upon seeing the long road of pictures of young man and women who was killed defending our freedom every single day.
San Diegans are one of the nicest people. Neighborhood gather in their front lawns to support gave cheers, even tequila, dance, sliced oranges, anything they can think of to keep us going. I even saw iphone docked for music outside their gate. Lots of volunteers for water, gatorade, candies, coaches that are in the road for injuries and responsible medics spots. I am glad my first marathon was here. We felt genuine love from everyone.
Everyone is standing in their respective coral while we find bathrooms and they are everywhere. Look, these were lines going to bathrooms.
Ready...3,2,1....go!
These photos are not just randomly placed here for display, these are sons and daughters or moms and dads or brothers and sisters or friends who sacrificed their lives for our freedom.
Crystal noticed how young they are like 20's, 21, 22... It made her very sad and teary eyes until she realized we still have to focus and we are running for them too like one family member or a friend, was saying, cheering us up.
These kids are handing out paper towels to wipe our sweats...everybody is just so supportive in anyway they can. P.s. Sign behind them says: " Honoring the services and sacrifices of the American Military".
There was a sweet old man waving inside that window
This made me laugh for I seem to need it every 10 seconds.
The pink sign says : "You run better than the government."
This man is giving whisky shots at the 5 1/2 mile sobriety check point. 
"Seemed like a good idea 4months ago" "Seems like a lot of work for a banana".
These cheered us up.
He said he won't tell
Blister-boo-boos...note to self: don't wear new shoes even if it a month old. Pick favorite running shoe now and use it often if not always training to test for blister forming so next year it should be ready for zero blister.
No shame in stopping just not quitting;)
We can not quit, if they can do it, ee can too
He said he won't tellBlister-boo-boos...note to self: don't wear new shoes even if it a month old. Pick favorite running shoe now and use it often if not always training to test for blister forming so next year it should be ready for zero blister.No shame in stopping just not quitting;)We can not quit, if they can do it, ee can too
"Your lazy friends are still sleeping"
Yes a cow!
Another band and so grand stage
I stopped counting but the great Alaskan Airline arc you can not miss.
These home really have a full on bar set up in their front yard. A couple really stopped for their free shots.
10mile mark...3 more...we got this.
We are in the freeway
They turned the tunnel into a dance club with DJ from the entrance of this tunnel
I see downton
The music that kept me going plus Elements of life
Less than a mile to finish line.
Ice to greet us after the finish line...and rows of gatorade, bananas, pretzels, cup of fruits, sweet pea chips, chocolate milk. Rocknroll marathon came prepared with photo booths and camera people during the race and after the race. 
Rescue Crystal's blisters
Taxi that a very helpful lady who works/volunteer for rocknroll was super nice to help hail for us. 
Less than a mile to finish line.
Ice to greet us after the finish line...and rows of gatorade, bananas, pretzels, cup of fruits, sweet pea chips, chocolate milk. Rocknroll marathon came prepared with photo booths and camera people during the race and after the race. Rescue Crystal's blistersTaxi that a very helpful lady who works/volunteer for rocknroll was super nice to help hail for us. 
Yes all that yummy healthy nourishment, and no I did not finish all that food in 1 sitting.
And yes I was taking videos and pictures while running and walking and all that love distracted me from the pains in my bum, back, legs, feet and we got through this for the first time and reached finish line and got our medals.
Great photo album of your day! Your pix from Mile 7 and Mile 8 have my teammates in the background! Nice work Jackie!
ReplyDeleteMarathon Mom!