Go 7396!
Just checked in with Amy, who’s coming up on Mile 18 as we speak. She’s going a lot of walking but she’s hanging in there and she sounded pretty upbeat. You can track her live results here (search on “Amy Howard”). Go Sis! I’m just in awe right now.
Update: SHE DID IT! Final time was just over seven hours. Thank you so much to everybody that supported her and donated to the cause.
amy (the aussie version)
December 15, 2003 — 7:32 am
Whoo-hoo! She so rocks.
And has a great name! (insert cheeky smile here)
Kris
December 15, 2003 — 9:18 am
That search form seems a little wonky, but apparently she’s passed the 30K mark. She’s gonna do it!
stefanie
December 15, 2003 — 7:19 pm
yay! many congratulations (of cours I never had a minute of doubt she would complete…) Now on to the next one, right? There’s always London in late April!
aim
December 16, 2003 — 7:52 pm
huh! i just thought i posted something, but guess not. i’ll try to remember…
umm, yes. thanks to all for your comments and other support (financial, emotional, etc.) i needed it. i looked down at my shoes several times during the race and thought, “i never want to wear these again.” but the pain slowly passed. it was a tough, tough course. 25,000 other people participated, and it was hard to get any kind of a rhythm going with so much congestion. (even the lead runner said he felt he was way off his expected pace.) the weather was also hotter than what i’ve been used to, and oh yeah…we had to run over diamondhead mountain TWICE. i hate mountains!
other than that, the marathon was surprisingly FUN. i was going good up until mile 14 or so, run/walking as usual, when i pretty much crashed. i walked a long time but like kris said, was pretty upbeat. talking to family and friends helped me keep my head up. (i left my frequently-peeing running partners behind at a port-a-potty for an hour or so.) the closer i got to mileage in the 20’s, though, the further i felt from the finish. (strangely.) finally, my sweet dan was at mile 23 along with my coach, and they shuttled me on to the finish, which was quite possibly the longest, most painful 45 minutes of my entire life. i had heard all weekend about “the moment” – that split second when you absolutely realize that you will finish the marathon. some people have theirs at like, mile 6 or something. mine pretty much came when i was finally within sight of the finish line. i broke down crying and just felt so incredibly thankul for having the health to complete the race (and to see that beautiful finish line) and for the people who supported me along the way. YAY!
now that the race is over, hawaii is behind me and i’m in my quiet little aparment in LA (my pooka-beaded medal hanging next to all my race numbers from the past 6 months), i have this evil voice telling me, “you could do better – try it again!” and i’m not sure what to think. we’ll have to see i guess.
p.s. less than 1% of the population has completed a marathon. now i can say i’m one of them!
aim
December 16, 2003 — 7:57 pm
p.p.s. something i’m most proud of and most thankful for is that i pulled my shoes off after this race to find only one tiny blister that was really half-formed on my pinky toe. and that was it! a miracle, considering what my feet looked like after the santa barbara half marathon just a month ago. i’m massaging/icing/relaxing my way to ease the stiffness in my muscles and joints right now, and am having some slight numbness/throbbing issues in my toes that i’ll probably get checked out. other than that, i think i came out unscathed. hallelujah. mahalo. aloha!
Eileen
December 17, 2003 — 4:43 am
congratulations amy!!!!
Tricia
December 18, 2003 — 1:39 am
Congratulations!