26.2 miles - DONE!!!!

(Kirsten, this post is for you, thank you for reminding me :))

HOORAY!!!  Yes, I made it out alive (although my phone didn't fare so well, I'll give details later) - and smiling - after 26.2 miles of pavement pounding!  Actually, I tried not to pound so hard, I like to think of myself as "floating like a butterfly." :)  It was an amazing experience, and I can honestly say I had a great time, and I hope I helped others to have a great time as well.  I finished well below my publicized goal of 4 hours, coming in around 3:50 (my secret ideal being 3:45, so I was close).  Really, the best part was smiling and encouraging others the whole time except between miles 23 and 26 - I swear those miles were twice the length of the rest.  The course was absolutely beautiful, be envious all you non-Oregonians!  Oh, and I definitely couldn't have done it without Jack Johnson; he gave me just the right beat when I needed it!  I think I seriously underestimated the power of my iPod before Jonny bought me the Nike + for Mother's Day.  But truly, if my running group ladies would have been there, there would have been no need for dear Jack!  Next time, just you wait...

Seriously, I have the most amazing husband!!  He was on the road cheering me on, flashing his sweet smile and wink, and riding his bike around with the camera on his back like the paparazzi!  It was awesome, and then he rode in with me the last 1.5 miles when I got tired.  He even helped me pick up my pace by telling me I was doing close to a 10-minute mile - come on!  I don't do 10-minute miles!  He knew just what buttons to push to start me sprinting :).  

Here's to you, babe!

(Yes, that's me blowing a kiss, not bonking out)

I guess people did notice my smile; at the finish line the announcer was heard to say:

"Number 290, Brittany Gardiner... and she's still smiling!"

Made me feel good.  It was the best when people smiled back, especially when they were grimacing first!  I just told a friend tonight who is thinking of doing marathon that the best reason to do it is to have a good time and be an inspiration to others.  Not that I'm aspiring to be the inspiration, but to have some kind of good influence.  To put a smile on someone's face.  That was worth the whole marathon to me.  And I would do it again for that... just don't ask me when :).  If any of you out there are thinking about it, give me a call and maybe you can persuade me:)

Before I go for the night, I better let you know the sad fate of my phone.  We played at the beach with our awesome friends after I got cleaned up and fueled up again.  I was the only one brave enough to play in the water and I was actually looking forward to it as my feet were done doing their job.  It was all fun and games running into the smaller waves, then a bigger one caught me by surprise so I was hopping back when I heard Jonny yelling at me, "PHONE! PHONE! PHONE!"  At first I didn't understand, and by the time I turned around it was too late. My phone had hopped out of my sweatshirt pocket and dove silently into the sea, never to be seen again.  It was taken away with the tide as soon as it hit the water, and all hopes of recovery were in vain.  Sad.  But Jonny had his own happy thought - now I'd get to inherit his phone so he can get the new iPhone!!  Hmm... we'll see about that.  But at least someone can see the sunny side of things :)