Two of a Kind Working on a Full House: Run This Town

{disclaimer: I have about 13 posts in my draft file. I hope to rapid fire them out over the next week!}

So April 26, 2014 was a BIG day for me.

If you want to see where all the course went, click here to watch a YouTube video.

(as I watch that, ICANNOTBELIEVEIACTUALLYDIDTHAT!)

It was an unbelievable experience.

I've always said I really wanted to do (at least) these two things in life: donate my hair to be made into a wig for a cancer patient (check December 2012) and run a full marathon (check April 2014).

I'm happy to say I've done both.

Now to focus on my other lifetime goals....

Friday I left work and met Dad at his work and we drove to the Music City Convention Center to turn in our waiver and get all of our garb. (Dad ran/walked the half for like the 6th year in a row.)

OUT OF 30K PEOPLE RUNNING THE RACE, I ran into Katie and her friend Carrie.

They were running the half.

I couldn't even believe I got to see the blushing bride-to-be... what a fun surprise!

After doing everything we needed to do at the convention center, we headed north and met T and Mom at Carrabbas because TRADITION BEFORE COUNTRY MUSIC MARATHON. And because CARBOHYDRATES.

After dinner, we went home and I prepped everything for the big day.

Including my shoes.

"So I run straight towards the finish line, with purpose in every step." 1 Corinthians 9:26

And believe you me... I repeated that to myself on the constant.

T's friend from Pharmacy school and his girlfriend came into town to run the race and stayed with us the night before, but I was already out by the time they made it.

Alarm set for 4:45 am and we were off to the race.

All I can say is its an unbelievable experience.

(Yes, I know I've already said that... but its the only way I can describe it.)

Its one of those out-of-body, being-a-part-of-something-bigger-than-yourself, bigger-than-my-body-gives-me-credit-for (thank you, John Mayer) kind of things.

The crowds, the atmosphere, the vibe... to see it is to believe it.

Its indescribable.

Like Forest Gump said, "And thats all I have to say about that."

SO... some of my favorite things:

The encouraging notes written in chalk along the course

Families of all ages and all lifestyles. You name it, it was there.

People having brunch parties, others passing out doughnuts and beer (and cheering SO loud anytime a runner would partake), dancing, bands, etc.

Its just all so entertaining through the neighborhoods.

We even ran RIGHT past Reece's duplex on Clifton.

(but don't you worry... he was asleep. Hey, Reece, THIRTY THOUSAND PEOPLE JUST RAN PAST YOUR YARD!)

I stopped at EVERY water and Gatorade station, plus I drank 2 bottles of water I snatched from Mom/T when I saw them.

I ate Sport Beans that T had for me, oranges slices that were handed out 3-4 times, a yucky GU at about mile 15, an almond bar from Mom, Nutrigrain bar in Shelby Park around mile 22, pretzels about mile 24... needless to say, I was trying my best to stay hydrated and energized.

You ALWAYS feel so bad for the ones who are at the medic stations or laid out on the side of the sidewalk and you're thinking YOU PUT SO MUCH TIME AND EFFORT AND ENGERY INTO DOING THIS AND SOMETHING BADWRONG HAPPENED.

Heartbreaking.