Who AM I?

I ran my first marathon yesterday!  What the heck?  WHO AM I?!?!
I never thought I would be the girl to run a marathon!  I'm the girl who takes naps!  I love TV!  I have an addiction to cookies!  I might be able to work out on the eliptical for 30 minutes, but that's pushing it!  I am NOT a runner!!!
And yet, in the last year, I have run/walked/walka-jogged 3 half marathons, the hood to coast, numerous 5k's, a few 10k's, and a full marathon!  WHAT THE HECK!?!?  Seriously, all of this started on October 9 of 2011, so that's all in less than a year.
Who am I?
Well, I'm still figuring that out!  I just know, I'm not done living yet!  There is too much to experience!  Who knows what I will do next?
But this just goes to show me, that we can do anything!  There are no limits!  For how much I have accomplished in my life, I feel like I haven't even started yet.  There is so much more to do, so much life to live!
So what's left on the list?  Well, honestly it doesn't matter, because none of this was ever on my list, so throw that list out the window and just live!

Also, I find it interesting that I keep talking about this as my "first" marathon!  I already want to do another one, just so that I can see if I can get a better time.  The funny thing is, I could care less about my time!  I hate when people ask about my time, because it's not about the time, but about the journey.  I just know that I can do better on that journey.
Good thing I'll be out of country next year, so that I don't have to think about it yet!
And the song in my head today?
Ryan Shuppe and the Rubberband, "Dream Big"

This picture is from around mile 19, where my family came to cheer me on! I saw my mom and nephew down the road, and ran over to them, and they ran a ways with me, then I stopped to give hugs, celebrate, and of course...take some Ibuprophen!  My sister realized that she forgot to take a picture, so I had to "take a loop" so that's why I look kind of funny, but I had been running when I saw them, and that felt good!  Plus, I was almost done...hence the smile!  Ibuprophen, and a short 10k left.  Life was good!  And...Life IS good!


Okay, I guess I'm not done talking about this yet, because there is still more I want to mention.

I am so blessed!  Not only did my family come out and cheer me on, but they brought our "extended" family (an old student of mine and her mother) with them!  Then, at mile 25, when I was so focused on seeing the mile mark, I didn't even realize that the people standing in front of the sign were my friends!  My friends came out to cheer me on!!!  How awesome is that?!?!
Then, to top off the night, my friends came over (another group) and celebrated with me!  We drank champagne, ate pizza and guacamole, and just talked about life, the marathon, and Africa fundraising.  I am SOOOOOO blessed!!!  I'm such a lucky girl!

And quite thankful!