Hoover Dam Marathon

Nathan was able to get off work early friday so we could leave at a decent time and make it to the hotel so i could pick up my race packet and check in. This picture is when we first arrived....hmmm...he looks like he's been driving for a bit too long. HAHA

Me and my biggest fan!!! Morning of the race!!!
AND I'm off!!! Beautiful colors out that morning. The race started at the beaches of Lake Mead. We ran on the backside of the hoover dam...on the side of the mountain...through these awesome tunnels. I WISH I had a camera while I was running! It was so awesome!!!! The weather was perfect and I felt real good the first half of the race.

The 2nd half of the race, proved to be a little more difficult. It was full of Hills, Hills and More Hills. Oh and they were some hills thrown in there too. I'm not gonna lie...there were some real HARD times during the end. I did a LOT of self talk...AND to the man upstairs :)

My dear, sweet, cute hubby...found me at around mile 22....it gave me a quick boost and much needed moral support!!! He then found me again at mile 24...he was holding up a bright neon sign that a few of my sister in laws had made for me! It was AWESOME and again, just what I needed at the moment to get me through to the end!!!!

My body, especially my knees, did surprisingly well!!! I had no problems with pain AT ALL. I seriously couldn't believe it. With the downhill stuff, I was worried about my knee but it did great!!!!

Post race...feeling good, but TIRED
Taking a little breather!!!

Rylie did AMAZING during the race and there was NO need for me to even worry about her!! She slept almost the whole time I was running, thank heavens!!! I was real worried about her because I'm still nursing...but she did WONDERFUL!!!!! Yay for her..and YAY for dad!!!!

Us at the hoover dam

I feel so proud of myself for what I have accomplished. And I also feel SO greatful for the support that my family and friends have showed me through this whole journey!!! My husband has had to sacrifice a LOT of time so that I could do all my training runs, but never once did he complain. He was always happy to watch the kids and do what needed to be done, so that I could do my running.

Its a great feeling to know that I can do something that seemed so far out of reach for me a few years ago. I NEVER thought I could do something like this...and look at me now!!!! And I loved the genuine excitement of family/friends when I got to talk to

them after the race...it made me feel so good.

I had a lot of doubt as race time drew near, but everybody else that believed in me made those doubts and fears go away. So, a big THANK YOU to everyone that supported me and believed in me and my abilities!!!! Who's up for round 2???!!!!!

(yes I want to do another one....I know, I'm crazy)