Sunday, May 20, 2007

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

17 comments:

Mama Dukes said...

clapping
jumping up and down
and saying yipppeeee
personal best is awesome
congrats on the medal and the run

Scott M. Frey said...

yea MC way to go! I am so proud of you and happy for you! Well Done!!!!!

big ole hugs!

Syd said...

I knew that you would do it. I'm so happy for you. That is a great achievement. I'm glad that there were friends there to cheer you on.

Anonymous said...

CONGRATULATIONS, Mary Christine!!!

In my bones, I felt too, that you would finish.

What a medal. What a testament to living. What a wonderful thing for a sober member of AA to be able to do!

It's all wonderful!!!

Willa
458 days sober.

Shannon said...

wooooooohoooooo Mary Chrisine!!! wooohoooooooooooooo
wooooooooooooooooooooooohooooooooo
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
CAN YOU HEAR ME
I am proudly cheering for you woooooooooooooooooooooooooohoooooooooooooo
take a nice hot bath, eat some advil, rub down with some icy hot and relax

((((HUGS))))

Pammie said...

I'm so very very proud of....and for you. What a freakin' inspiration you are!!!

dAAve said...

Ain't it grand to be running FOR something ... instead of away from something?

lushgurl said...

Aww, I feel like a proud momma, watching her child take their first steps! You see all of us knew that you could do it! I'm so lovin' the fact that you beat your daughter by 15 minutes ha ha ha!
Did ya see me waiting at the finish line with flowers from my garden for you?
YOU ROCK- Gurl!

Clarity said...

Great big smiles and hugs for you. What a woman!

Anonymous said...

AWESOME!!!!
You are a true inspiration!

Zanejabbers said...

You "WENT" ghurl!!!! What an accomplishment. I am so happy for you. Now REST! A run OF sobriety.

Scott W said...

Congratulations on your half-marathon! Your excitement was infectous and we were all thinking about you this morning! The next week do some special stuff just for you to avoid those postpartum blues. I know that is usually reserved for child birth, but tonight you probably feel a bit like you gave birth.

Benchmark said...

Congrads you running machine..

Anonymous said...

Fantastic. Well done!

Meg Moran said...

what great news! congrats MC!!!

JJ said...

Way to go my friend!
JJ

missmg said...

well done....what an amazing thing to achieve.