I did it!

I ran 13.1 miles to get that medal! And it was worth every step of it. The race was wonderful. I decided from the start that I was going to enjoy the day, not get stressed, and not get competitive. I ran as fast or slow as I felt like, I stopped to go to the bathroom once, I stopped and talked to my friend Holly who cheering for me at mile 9 - just when I was feeling weak. I left Holly feeling wonderful. My time was definitely not good, but it IS my personal best for a half-marathon - since I have not done one before.

My daughter enjoyed the race too, which I feel very happy about since she didn't train at all. She just called to see how it was for me to walk up my stairs in my house... ow! Holy Cow, I am really hurting, and she is too. But it is a marvelous kind of hurting - from doing something I have always dreamed of doing, and trained for 5 months to do. I just hope I don't lose any toenails, but I am afraid I might.

Thank you all you sober men and women who surround me and hold me up when I am flagging. Even when you are not there physically, you are still there with me spiritually. Can you imagine a drunk Mary Christine at the age of 55? I would be a terminally old woman, not a woman who actually beat her 28 year old daughter by about 15 minutes in a half-marathon. Life is good.

"Everybody knows that those in bad health, and those who seldom play, do not laugh much. So let each family play together or separately, as much as their circumstances warrant. We are sure God wants us to be happy , joyous, and free." -- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 133