"I'm running through the fire"

I survived!!! :) 

(Updated with new pictures!) It was such a cool experience! So many people, all shapes and sizes and ages (thank god), and it was a really nice course. Starting with a kind of intense hill up to the golden gate bridge, then across the bridge and back, then back down to the path along Crissy Field and back to the start.

Foggy, chilly morning

The runners were all nice and considerate, we were in the back with the other run/walk/slow-pacers so there was no real pressure.

The 10-milers taking off! The guy in front was running 5min miles

Prepared to carry me thru it :)

Nerdy lookin and ready!

You can soooorta see the starting line by the American flag

About 5 miles in I thought I was done for and was having some real troubling left hip flexor pain... but by then you could see the finish line and it was just ridiculous to not try and push through.

Crossing the bridge

Impromptu photo session - thank you Ed :)

The end is soooo cloooose you could see the little white tents of salvation in the distance!

SUCCESS!

Chillin cause he runs this distance every day....

With a couple bouts of walking during mile 5, I was able to run the last mile and ran through the VERY LOUD finish line right during the bridge of Foo Fighter's "Walk" which was SO AMAZING. I use that song to push myself hard in the gym and so running across the finish line to 'I'm dancing on my grave, and running through the fire...' was just so perfect. I got the chills from the music and everyone cheering. They even announced my name saying 'Great job Carly!' over the loud speakers. I wanted to cry I was so happy :) Ed was really sweet and ran my pace the whole time and even took time to take a picture of me on the bridge. I asked him how he was a couple times, projecting my struggle onto him, and then I would immediately remember he runs about 10 miles every Sunday now so this 6.2 was a walk in the park. We finished in 1hr20mins or so and I had guessed based on some charts I found online that it would take me about 1hr45m based on decreasing speed per mile, so I'm very pleased I beat my assumed time.

Thanks guys! :)

We had parked about 1.5 miles away, so including our 3mi walk to and fro, yesterday was a total of 9.2 miles. Longest time on foot to date, and longest run for sure. I'm just so happy I did it and that it was really enjoyable. Like I've told people before, Ed did not have to carry me across the finish line and that's pretty much all I can ask for! Thank you to everyone, and there were so many of you, that said such wonderful kind supportive things on here and Facebook about the race. It means the world to me and really makes me feel amazing! (I had other pictures but I can't figure out this iPhone. Stupid thing.)

Post-run... a pain like you would not believe. I just have to laugh about it now, but I was essentially walking like a robot because I could not get my muscles and joints to function after the hour long drive home from the race. Sleep jerks overnight were like little gunshots of pain to my ankles. My knees refused to ascend the stairs after feeding the cats this morning and I debated just sleeping on the couch to avoid the pain. That hip flexor issue I ran through has made it really difficult to lift my left leg for anything. Steps, walking, putting on pants, turning over in bed. I don't regret any of it and I know it'll hurt less each time I run. But I must say this is the most crippled I've been in ages. Tomorrow's a 3.5 mi run which sounds down right pleasant thinking about how much less sore I'll be!

In other news, I went back to the dentist and for those of you that don't know, apparently all of my teeth are falling out of my head. At least that's how I felt after my visit. 7 fillings on Saturday which left me shaking with anxiety and drooling (attractive, I know), with a sheet recommending a possible: 3 root canals if the fillings didn't go over well on some of those same teeth, 2 more fillings needed on the right side, and a crown on that same side. Good lord almighty. The best part of the post-race pain is the distraction from the mouth pain. But that is what I get for avoiding the dentist for about a decade. Yes. About a decade. He asked when was the last time I had work done, like my last fillings for example? And I literally had to say before the turn of the century. (EDIT: Ed would like me to also add that I could have said the turn of the millenium. oy!) Sad but true. Well, 7 fillings later with a huge rap sheet of future work, I've decided to forever keep my dentist appointments and floss like it's my favorite activity in the world.

I'd also like to take a minute to thank all of my friends and friends of my family who have expressed their sentiments about my Dad and Debbie and their troubles lately. He appreciates the support and regardless of what anyone thinks about all the things going on, it's no fun being the one under fire, and it is incredibly hard.

Rosie appreciating our t-shirts :)