Hi everyone.
Well, it’s been a few days since the event took place now, and although I am now fully recovered from the 13.1 Mile run of last Sunday the mental scars are still fresh!
So where do I start? Well, my family and I left bright and early Saturday morning from Ponte Vedra and we were well on the road by 7:30 a.m. EST, that road being the 95 south! We hit Miami by lunchtime but unfortunately the urban traffic slowed us to a snail’s pace and we were not able to hit my favorite Cuban restaurant before the crowds had gathered outside leaving us no option but to seek lunch elsewhere.
We then decided to check into the hotel and stretch our legs but since our room was not ready we then decided to walk to the registration building to pick up the package. However with a two year old as part of our party that walk became quite the trek and we had not figured the Miami blazing sun into the equation which made the 8 block walk into a 60 block mission.
Finally arrived at the registration building after many stops to take many photographs we bumped into our friends from our hometown. We both picked up our packages, t shirts and runner number and made our way back to the hotel as time had passed that our room should be ready. Once there we rested before choosing wisely what to eat for dinner as we were still on a runners diet. Although Saturday was almost over we had already accomplished a great deal. As we set down for dinner the hotel lobby was buzzing with new visitors, many of whom had travelled to Miami just for the marathon. An early night was in order as an early day lie ahead!
Sunday, and barely Sunday too, as I had awoke just before 1 a.m. for no apparent reason!! I guess the adrenaline was pumping hard enough to prevent me from getting a good night’s sleep but no matter. It was only a few hours before my alarm was due to wake and I spent he time prepping for what lay ahead with a few stretches and exercises to warm me up. I then gave the hubby strict Breakfast instructions for the kids, got dressed for the event and made my way down to the lobby to meet my running partner so we could make our way down to the starting line. It was not yet dawn but the streets were already filled with thousands of people making their way to the specified area in order to start the run. I was located in the K area and my friend was in I so we parted ways. There I stood among dozens and dozens of strangers all with the same goal in mind.
The various other groups eventually set off, fifteen minutes later than planned which only added to the excitement and I watched the countdown hit zero before my group, the final group to start, finally made that first step of what was many, many to come……