Hello All,

Thank you again for your support and cheers! The guidance, encouragement, love and support has moved me beyond the descriptive hand can lip and make known.

It is Wednesday eve and I am but still winding down from a heady, racy, salty and sensational Sunday. - That Sunday burst- into the very moment the day opened -waking me to the very day that the past four months of my life has been all about.

The night before I unwittingly burst into tears as I crossed off my last training day. All that stood left blinking at me - with a still limelight - was the Marine Corps Marathon .

I showered and slept.

It seemed I was out but just two shakes when the alarm tortured me to wake.

I woke and dressed- everything laid out the night before so I could easily slide into my running things without a freak out frantic search laced with curses and wall kicks.

Needless to say I was still the last one in the car with my running bag overflowing and the rest of my necessities spilling out of my arms. Shocker!

I shoved everything in the trunk and off we went! My Dad driving my three brothers and my brother Nick's girlfriend Sarah and myself. This would be Nick's tenth marathon and Sarah's sixth. It would be Wisam, Bassam's and my first.

I was surprisingly not nervous a whit. I couldn't wait to run! The last three weeks of taper and the last three days of complete rest (as the running guides spell out for you as the last part of your training) prepared your body to have "fresh, expectant legs" for the 26.2 mile assault.

We were dropped off at ye olde Roslyn and we made our way over to the grounds of the Iwo Jima to the "Reston Runners" tent to peel off our layers and drop our bags off. The 'tent' was actually a tree with a couple of the Reston Runners guarding our things for the duration of the race.

Nick and Sarah were with the "Scarlett Wave" a.k.a as the "faster runners" who get to take off first.

The rest of us were with the "Gold Wave".

I strapped my fuel belt on which was heavy laden with carbo fuel galore. Clif and Zone Bars, GU Clif Shots and Clif Bloks. Also: blister pads, safety pins, body glide, Aleve and the like.

I wasn't planning on this but I was worried I was going to run out of fuel as there were only three fuel reloading stops along the course. Luckily, there were water and powerade stops every two miles. I can't stand powerade so I stuck with water. I re filled my water bottle at every aid station.

My brothers of course made fun of me for my 'picnic' fastened to my waist. I certainly wasn't the only one. I looked around and saw so many belts squashed down with "GU".

Jennifer Lopez "Let's get Loud" was pumping at the start line as we found our way over. I thought I was going to split apart I was so excited!! and the music coursed thru my veins and I could not help but dance my way forward.

I kissed and hugged my brothers. We had trained together all summer for this and it was time to race!

The guns fired and the runners dashed off - we waved excitedly at the cameras like the kids at the high school dance in "Grease".

Ay yi yi. First two miles up hill thru Roslyn! We had reached mile 1 so fast it shocked me and I was thrilled to be at the first mile marker!

I didn't exhale yet. I knew we had more uphill until mile two. Somewhere around Lee Hwy and Veitch St .

Ah yes, aid station and then like a roller coaster there were screams of delight and relief as we reached the peak, over the top and then gleefully down down down...

until mile 3.

At mile 4 I didn't realize where we were. The crowd was so thick and my running perspective changed the city. I wasn't pleased about running on concrete when I looked around me - and realized I was on the Key Bridge about to race into Georgetown  - into mile 5 and the first fuel stop of sliced oranges.

My brothers and I were close by running together or sometimes behind and ahead- catching up and 'running' into each other at certain points.

Miles 6-9 may as well have been a dream thru Rock Creek Pkwy. I didn't even feel myself as we wound thru the shade and were kissed by the tree wind as they dropped and spun the leaves about our flying feet.

Mile 10 was somewhere around the Lincoln Memorial and I burst into tears as I read the back of a girls shirt. It had said that this was for her brother who told her to "never back away from a challenge." Below was the date he had passed away.  I wept over mile 10.

Miles 11 and 12 we headed towards the Capitol and back around again by the Air and Space Museum and into mile 13.1 (half marathon point with Clif Shots galore!) And there was my sister screaming my name as I popped out of the crowd and threw myself around her and asked where our parents were. She said she didn't know. (I find out later my mom was on the other side). I see my brother Bassam standing in line at the "rest stop" as I pass by. I am running towards mile 14 when my brothers come up behind me and surprise me. They move ahead and I can see them in the distance.

Miles 15 and 16 at the Tidal Basin as we head towards Hains Point.

Photographers are hanging over a bridge as we race under, leap about and reach up to them.

Miles 17 and 18 I lose sight of my brothers and find myself at Hains Point running by the statue of "The Awakening". The quote from the Reebok ad rings clear and true.

I couldn't wait to reach mile 19. More than any other mile I couldn't wait! Jamie Lewis ran the MCM ten years ago. I used to work with him. He advised me to take mile per mile. To think of it as "26 one miles" instead of "26 miles." I had been doing that very thing- but the stress of waiting for mile 19 was excruciating.

I did have a non specific goal of finishing somewhere under five hours. I was wearing a stopwatch and my pace predicted that if I kept up my time thus far- I would make it.

The music, bands, and the roar of the crowd at various points added an extra spring to my step and eased moments of stress and worry.

I believe it was at the water stop at mile 19.5 that I hit the proverbial "Wall". I didn't know at the time this was what I had smacked into (though I had certainly read about it in my training guide. Dave Kuehls says it usually sits out there on the course waiting for you somewhere between miles 16-22).

Suddenly I felt heavy, and depleted of my energy sources. I sucked down another of only Lord knows how many "GU's" and "_Mocha Clif Shots" and went to stretch by a tree. (I hadn't the palette for the enery bars and I finished the race with all of them but had devoured all the GU)

I had stopped. I tried to run again but to no avail- my body wasn't letting me have it.

I couldn't believe this was happening to me!!! This did not happen in training! I had run up to 24 miles in training and managed to at least run slooowwly the last few miles (in pain nonetheless).

I felt lightheaded right before mile 20. Literally. I saw the "Mile 20" sign beckoning me as I took a "rest stop" break right before.

This was my lowest point. I was nearly in tears and felt woozy. My feet hurt. I knew this was normal and I had felt it before in training. My glycogen sources were depleted though I wondered how as I rehydrated constantly and took in a lot of carbs.

I wasn't going to make it in under 5 hours now. It had been four hours - and sure I COULD make it in less than 5 hours if I were doing a 10 k FRESH without having run 20 miles first.

oh my gosh... was I going to make it? Or would someone have to drive me back to the Iwo Jima grounds?

The high and lows throughout this race mirrored what one goes thru in life. I went from elation to depression to anxiety, to fear to debilitation and back to hope and strength.

I walked over mile 20. I sucked it up and walked. I hadn't planned on walking in this race but it was all that could come up to snuff now. There were so many people walking but I looked longingly at the people who ran by me - like they were cake.

I was so conflicted. Had I given up? Does this mean it's all over now? All this training was all for naught?

I know I hadn't trained "perfectly". I followed my training workouts with a passion and sometimes had to make some up had I missed some days if I had overnights for work. So they weren't always on time or on schedule but nonetheless I completed them all. I didn't lose enough weight, I didn't give up sugar entirely, I ate a lot of healthy foods but not strictly, I barely drank alcohol after July. I kept thinking thinking... "Why did I put whip on my oatmeal this morning? I should have rested my legs more the last three days. What happened to all my speed training combined with long distance endurance runs? I thought I was prepared for the long haul."

Then I thought about Minnie the elderly lady I stayed with while I was working "Companion Care".

She watched me take 32 lbs of ice up the stairs as I hauled it into the tub and she wondered what in the hell I was doing.

I told her about how ice baths help heal my muscles and joints after a long run and that I was training for a marathon.

She muttered "Oh myyy Gadddd, can't you find yourself something else to do?"

She has short term memory loss so my next stay she said: "Oh my Gadddd, what in the hecht are ya doin that for?"

At my third stay she sweetened up and said "What will you do when you come in first?"

I thought about my best friend April who couldn't be there as she had work in Seattle .  She sent me a beautiful poem that she wrote and a card with a drawing of Wonder Woman standing between the jaws of a dinosaur like monster as she has its jaws stretched open, pushing its teeth apart.

April wrote in her Post Script:  "Love you Darling! I'm with you, screaming for you, with fists clenched!"

I thought about The quote from the Reebok ad.

About Jamie's advice.

About all the positive reinforcement I have received along the way.

Not to mention the supportive runners and the spectators!

But I walked, haunted with depression, anxiety and tears. In shock that this was happening.

My heart sank into my stomach.

The disappointment and sadness welling up inside me.

Mile 20-21 was the loneliest loneliest.

I cross the 14th street bridge and pick up my walking pace.

I had to pee so somewhere before or after I hid behind a tree.

There is no shame or modesty in a race like this I find out. Pretty much whatever is A-ok.

I walked from mile 19.5 to 22.

I smiled when I saw mile 22 b/c this last leg was part of the 8 k portion I ran last yr. I remember seeing mile 22 as I ran by it last yr and it seemed so quiet and still. The marathoners still had a long time to arrive there but I could hear their fast feet approaching in my mind. And here I was this yr- a marathoner- arriving at mile 22.

This was also the spot that Oprah Winfrey said she saw "Jesus". She ran the MCM around 12 yrs ago. She said it does not matter what your religion is or who you worship- you will see Jesus at mile 22."

And this is where I got my running legs back. For a mile anyway. From mile 22 to 23 I ran. Thru Crystal City and underneath the tent where I hear Freddie Mercury's achingly impassioned beautiful throat belt out "We are the Champions".

I was elated and the spectators were thick and frenzied!

Along the way I met other runners who commented on my hair and running outfit. I was wearing my running skirt from "SkirtSports" that had biker shorts sewn underneath it with the logo heat sealed on the back - billboarded across my ass- (you couldn't miss it).

I was sporting a thousand Halloween hair ties that glittered and winked in the very breezy and then windy climate.

I slowed down again to a fast walk from mile 23 to 25 by the Pentagon.

There were people in costume. I screamed for Batman!

And there was mile 25. I couldn't mistake it. I remember this segment last yr in the 8 k. It was a straight shot from here to the finish and I was going to gun it. I did.

I ran towards the finish.

This was mile 4 last yr at the 8 k and I remember a girl running next to me asking me breathlessly if we were near the finish.

I ran bleary eyed, in tears, the spectators thickened again. I saw mile 26 approaching and I was shrieking inside!

I sped by mile 26, up the hill and thru the finishers chute to the last .2 of the race.

I saw my brother Nick and Sarah yelling my name as I ran by them and I raised my hands and smiled.

I crossed the finish line and a young Marine smiled and congratulated me and placed a medal around my neck.

My emotions were teetering all over the place.

It was bittersweet.

I was enraptured and conflicted at the same time.

I finished in 5:47. Not the time I had trained for but I had finished nonetheless and finished strong!

I had my pictures taken and found my brothers and Sarah.

We hugged and congratulated each other and took pictures.

Apparently I had _Mocha Clif Shots all around my mouth and didn't know it.

Nick beat his girlfriend for the first time in a marathon. He beat his own PR at 3:42. Sarah, however was 85th in her division and made it in the paper as one of the top female finishers!

Bassam and Wisam came in at a very impressive 4:56!

Stretching and a hot shower later and off to a floating sleep.

Walking up and down stairs has been painful. Luckily no joint pain. Just the normal muscle thigh ache that is a temporary reminder of a day full of mental and physical stamina I have never faced before.

10 k on November 12!!!

Hope you all had a Happy Halloween!

Mwahhhhhhh!

All the Best

Vivi