This morning I couldn't hear the traffic sound of JTB from my house. Why? Because 9,000 people were running on the highway for the
26.2 with Donna breast cancer marathon.
Last night I was looking to see how pinned in to the house I would be due to the race, and I found out
the course comes within a mile of my house! So, I decided to walk a mile to A1A to cheer on the runners. If I couldn't run with them, at least I could cheer them on (one of my 2011 New Year's resolutions was to run a half marathon...didn't plan on being 8 months pregnant at the time of the race)!
Great idea - except it was 28 degrees when the race started this morning! I got up early and layered up with knee-high socks, lined track pants, hand-knit gloves, headband, long sleeve t-shirt, hoodie, and I even broke out my winter coat (it was a little dusty!). I took along a travel mug of coffee and hiked the 1.1 miles to Mile 4 (A1A and 37th Street South).
This was about an hour into the race. Soon after, the lead 1/2 marathoner was police-escorted back the opposite way toward the finish line. There were pink shirts everywhere. I saw a lot of runners holding pictures in celebration and memorium of family members and friends. People were also dressed up in costume. I saw guys and girls alike rocking pick tutus, skirts/kilts, and wearing decorated bras over their running clothes (yikes!)! There were shirts with slogans like "Save the tatas," "I support second base," and "Boobs for President 2012." It was hilarious!
I cheered for about an hour, then I decided it was time to make the trip home. I had two motivational factors propelling me toward home quickly: the stinging wind and the mug of coffee that my body had processed. There were some port-a-potties by Mile 4, but it was too cold to expose anything outside!! I believe I set some land speed records getting home.
