Nike Women's 1/2 Marathon! I ran like a girl...

... strong, fierce, and sexy! OK, I wouldn't exactly say strong. I do admit that Mile 4.5 found me walking, fighting back tears, because my left foot zinged with pain at every step. So I can't say strong exactly.

And, well, I know I wasn't sexy for certain. Sexy is the opposite of dripping sweat; a goofy gait to avoid pain; a big zit on my forehead. So, I guess sexy is out.

But fierce! Yes! I was fierce! When I ponied up at Mile 5 and told myself that the Tiffany necklace at the finish line would be mine, I was fierce! When I decided I would run through the pain in my foot and LOVE those monstrous hills, I was fierce! When I zoned out and focused only on that yellow line in the center of the road, I was fierce! So fierce is in! Fierce stays! I ran like a girl...fierce!

And, I had bunches of fun!

I ran the San Francisco Nike Women's 1/2 marathon solo. I finished in a respectable 2:29. I would have liked to have come much closer to a flat 2 hours, but with an achy foot and a 1/2 mile walk in there, I am pretty satisfied. I finished just steps behind the first place runner of the marathon. He did two miles for every mile I did! That is pretty zippy! Show off!

The hubs and I had a very nice weekend in the city. We found my name on the wall outside of Niketown amongst the names of 19,999 other runners! It was a wall of names, but there is something cool about seeing your name in print...even though I was on the crease!

The race kicked off at 7:00am on Sunday. It took a full 13 minutes to cross the start line! My hubs escorted me to my pace corral and stood by me until the crowd began to move forward. He bravely brought a Starbucks sandwich into the gaggle of girls which had one woman sniffing the air. He kept the sandwich low and discreet and waited to eat it until after we all started running. My hubs was swept up for a couple steps but eventually made it to safer ground.

I knew it was a women's run when I saw the Ghiradelli Chocolate Mile. I couldn't imagine eating chocolate at that point but I nabbed a couple squares for my dear hubs.

This race was so unlike any I have ever run before. There was the chatter of women the full 13.1 miles. There were random calls of support from runners to other runners. When the road split between the 1/2 marathoners and the full marathoners, I found myself yelling cheers and good luck wishes to the strong women doing a full 26.2 miles. There was a sense of camaraderie. The course was packed and there was definite support from runners of all different levels and ages to other runners of all different levels and ages. It was truly a great experience.

And, yes, I did earn my Tiffany necklace at the finish line! That little baby blue box was grasped tightly in my hand. I have yet to take the necklace off. It has reminded me that I can do anything no matter what obstacles I face...and also that my hubs will always be there right beside me.