FINITO!!!

Hello everyone!

As most of you have heard...I finished my marathon! 5:33:39. Not bad for my first time. I had hoped for a bit faster but I am in no way disappointed!

There are so many people that need to be thanked for all that WE AS A TEAM accomplished for Rescue!

I'd like to thank Ms. Sanya for being her usual bombilicious self for making the blog look so great and for keeping the running total (like the pun?) of all of our donations. I hope she knows how much her efforts to make our site look fantastic are appreciated!

I'd like to thank all of the folks who either offered up their time to volunteer to work for the marathon so that we satisfied our obligation to them and to those who hung out at the Finish Line Festival with all of the beautiful Golden babies! It was wonderful to finish and be around people I like and respect so much and to be around the dogs who just loved giving me kisses! (I think it had something to do with sweat...)

Thank you to everyone who joined the GRCGLA Rescue team. We ended up with 40 participants! Hopefully we will get a lot more for next year (yes...I am planning on a next year!!!)

I would like to thank Barbara Davis and Denise Buczek for their tireless efforts to get this fundraiser out to everyone. WE ROCKED THIS THING!

I would like to thank everyone who generously contributed to the thermometer. Every little cent is appreciated and added to our PHENOMENAL total of $28,200.00!!!

I would like to thank my beautiful Baby Sums for flying next to me during my run. She brought many of her new friends and they gave me the boost I needed. All I had to do was think about them and I didn't feel quite so tired (well I did but it got my mind off of it). I love you, Pretty Girl.

I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Mr. Marty Friedman, aka, The Marathon Guru, for all of his help and wisdom. He took a lot of time giving me tips and advice and I could not have finished without him. A couple of times during the race I heard his voice in my head saying: "come on, lead legs!!"... Of course he told me many times to think of him saying more positive things like "Go Golden runner girl" or "you are the most amazing, wonderful, super duper runner of all time" but all I could think of was "Lead Legs"...which they were! Thank you Guru, so very much, for everything! (Guru is the guy I'm hugging...getting him all sweaty!)

And last I would like to thank everyone who sent me good luck wishes and words of encouragement. I want you all to know how much those words meant and mean to me. And thanks to all who have read this blog and to all who've said they enjoyed it. It was fun.

Things I have learned from running a marathon:

• I can't run and drink water from a cup at the same time
• I can't run and have a coughing fit at the same time (I ran the marathon with a cold)
• I can't run, chew gum, eat GU, and hold water at the same time (are you noticing a pattern here???)
• GU is my friend. I love GU. I am going to carry a GU with me at all times. Bury me with a GU (They had run out of GU (energy gel) at the first station that it was offered. So I had to wait until mile 16.5 to get a darned GU! I thought I was gonna die! I was literally thinking of who I would have to kill, maim or bribe to get one. Good thing I was so weak I couldn't have squished a bug!)
• My nose runs faster than I do.
• Doggies think I am the yummiest after a run.
• Toenails ARE for sissies!! (One of my toenails is falling off.)
• Blisters are BAD!
• Cupcakes are GOOD! 

And, all kidding aside, I am one of the luckiest people to be surrounded by folks like you. It is my honor and privilege to be a member of this organization. I am so proud to be a part of the GRCGLA Rescue.

Be well everyone!
Peace out!