3:56

Last Sunday I ran my second marathon! I know, not exactly a peaceful Sunday stroll but most marathons are scheduled for Sundays and I have to run 'em when I can between birthing babies.

The "River City Marathon" started in Folsom (where we live) and ended at a park in Sacramento. It was MUCH smaller than the Portland Marathon that I did a year and a half ago and a way different experience. Seriously, it was some dude at the starting line with a stop watch that just said, "on your mark, get set, go!" and all 115 of us started running.

Brad dropped me off and then met me around mile 5 before heading back to get the kids (my mom spent the night to be with them in the morning) and bringing them back to cheer me on. They showed up around mile 16 (where this pic was taken) and it was so motivating to see them! Then they met me around mile 20. Having my cutie kids cheering me on was so cool.

It was a beautiful course and I felt unbelievably well until mile 24. I was so tired and hot (record heat that day) and thirsty and I didn't know if there was going to be another aid station before the end. I was seriously blacking out and then out of nowhere, there was Brad up on a ridge! I asked him for water and he ran back to the car for a bottle and then chucked it at me. MY HERO!

Those last couple miles were tough. I was wearing my friend's Garmin Forerunner and as I came up on my watch saying 26.2 I still couldn't see the finish line. I asked a lady cheering on the sideline if I was almost there and she assured me ".1 mile!" A few minutes later, still no finish line. I asked another bystander who told me ".2 to go!" What?! How is the finish line getting farther away? My watch actually said 26.52 when I finished. I don't know if the watch or the casual course was off by .3 miles, but either way I met my sub-4 hour goal and finished in 3:56! Hooray! And one cool part about running with such few people is that I placed 3rd in my division. I don't run to compete, just to complete so I'm pretty proud of my 3rd place title. And boy did that Sunday afternoon nap feel good!