
Go Carli it’s your Birthday! Okay, so it’s not my B-day, but it felt like it. This morning when I got up at 6AM, I was so nervous that I was almost sick to my stomach. I had to pray and calm myself down. When I got in the car Maurette Brown Clark’s song “It Ain’t Over
” was on the radio, and gave me a big burst of inspiration. I reminded myself that I’ve done this before, and I can do it again. I stood with the crowd of 8,000 as we listened to Susan G. Komen’s sister give us words of encouragement. The Governor and Shawn Johnson, gold-medal winner on the balance beam at the 2008 Olympics
and winner of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars
, were also there to run in the race. Cardinal’s Hall of Famer Lou Brock
sounded the horn, and we were off. I didn’t let all the skinny people whizzing past me worry me. I was there to beat my time, not theirs. I kept a steady pace, and fed myself positive thoughts. “You have a website about running, you want to encourage others, you don’t want to be last, you’re almost done.” I took a swig of Gatorade at the refresh stand and kept it moving. The 1st mile is always the hardest. I was completely shocked when I saw the 2 mile marker, as my iPod
was a little behind on the distance. When I had about a half of a mile to go, the pavement texture changed, and I felt a blister on the bottom of my foot, and my feet starting tingling. “What the heck is going on I asked?” I’ve never had a blister, or tingling numb feet. I didn’t have time to figure it out, and I was super excited when I checked my time. I knew if I kept my pace, I could beat my original race time of 54 Minutes. When I was about 2 blocks from the finish line, there was my brother in law, the only person downtown in a Sunday Suit, video recording my final push. I turned the corner and saw the finish line, and the clock said 50 Minutes! I did it; the feeling was so overwhelming yet exhilarating. Everyone should experience the natural high of crossing the finish line. I met my goals, I wasn’t last, and I beat my time! Miss Missouri, gave me my medal that I proudly wore around my neck. This time when they asked “How do you Feel?” My answer was “Great!!!” 

Well done!
Very inspirational.
Congrats on setting a new personal record 🙂
I’ll run my first 5k on Thanksgiving this year, and will happily remember this blog when I’m looking for inspiration.
Again – great job!
~Michele~
Thanks Michele, good Luck on your 1st 5K! You guys inspire me with your kind words.
You are a super star! I am inspired!
Thanks Ramona!