LIVEALITTLE

Just in case people wonder why they don't see me online in the coming weeks, it's because I'm in the desert. My last clinical for my university degree is in Broken Hill. It's 13 hours away from Sydney. Let's home we don't break down and get kidnapped by an axe-murderer. xoxo

Lydia turned into a woman this evening and everyone else enjoyed helping her get there!
Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/livealittle/sets/72157602138502808/

Two years ago, if you had asked me to do the marathon, I would have replied, "Do you think I am out of my mind?". Back then, the furthest I had run was 5k/3mi in the Central Park Corporate Challenge. But, today, I ran the Sydney Marathon -- 42k/26mi in 04:21:54.

I figured I would start the race with the 3:30 pace setter. When the horn went off, everyone around me easily dusted me. The 3:45 pace setter passed me within 1 km of the run so I forced myself to keep with the 4hr pace setter. He was the last pace setter and I was fearful of missing the 5hr 15 minute cut-off for the race considering my spotty training recently (I blame assignments!).

I stayed with the 4hr pace setter for about 5k then streaked ahead to grab a drink hoping I would fall back in place with him by the time I finished (I can't run while drinking). When I finished my Gu2O, Mr. 4hr was nowhere to be found. I presumed he passed me while I reached for the jelly beans and hastened to catch up.

It wasn't until the 15k mark I saw Mr. 4hr again... passing me. Surprisingly, I was doing a < href="http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/sclub7/bringitallback.html">Bring it all back" on the ipod. Believe it or not, it's quite a motivational song with the lines "Don't stop never give up. Hold your head high and reach the top".

So, I did finish... The crowd was small and although I had the original plan of thanking everyone who made the effort to come out and cheer us on, my throat did dry from the "thanking". Thanks everyone for the support, especially Lydia and V who met with me after the run for a lunch snack at my favorite place, Cafe Sydney, especially all my runner friends who have given me tips and online support and especially Andreas -- the Austrian inspiration who gave me the original spark to even fathom such a task.

The 2 month ordeal was treacherous. But I believe the disciplining effort and the determination involved was a great life lesson I am glad to have developed and hopefully will stay with me in everything I do. Many have asked if I will do it again... Let me think about that after I recover. Currently I feel like I was just hit by a train... Ok. Maybe just the New York Marathon...

Pictures from Sydney Morning Herald: http://www.sydneymarathon.org/