it. is. finished.

"... let us run the race with endurance the race that is set before us..." hebrews 12:1

hello friends....

i am happy to report that i flew to oregon, saw my bestest from college, and ran in my first ever 1/2 marathon.

i am still alive. i am sore. i am forever grateful for the experience and i already look forward to doing it all over again with my running partners on 10. 9. 11! nope, i'm not crazy... just excited and thankful and give all glory to GOD for the completion.

let me also say i am thankful to my hubs for taking time out of work to watch our boys and have the chance to play with them. i am also thankful to my parents for their active participation as well as prayers from family and friends. you all ROCK!

i completed my mission sunday morning (10.10.10) in super cold rain (seems to be a pattern for me) with my running buddy josh in 2 hours, 45 mins, and 26 seconds. not bad for first try, right? jennifer and her great husband, chris, finished not too far behind us.

can i just be random right here and say how much i love jennifer? it is sad i only get to see her once a year but there is never a time we don't have fun together - this being no exception, soreness and all! :)

i got so many encouraging texts, too, from friends (ie MICHELE :), sweet joy, jess, crystale... etc) while away - i can easily say i'm the luckiest girl alive.

to top things off, after being terribly spoiled by the olsens and my husband's sacrifice to allow me to be "free" for a weekend, my friend noelle came by with 13 balloons representing the 13 miles i ran. how cool is that? love you girl!

sigh! now i gotta start training for next year and hopefully i'll reach my new goal...

but as my sweet joy reminded me... "i can do all things through Christ who gives me strength..." phil 4:13

AMEN!



out to dinner with jennifer... 2 days before the race! ha! :)


morning of race. in parking lot... nervous, excited... and look how super cute we are?! :)


our running partners, chris (jenn's husband) and my new bf :) (that's for you josh), josh!



oh and i did finally get the chance to meet and play with this fantastic little dude, benjamin. a pure love, for sure! i had the opportunity to enjoy sweet girl, avery, as well! love them!!!



the "finisher" shirt. worth it!!! :)



the 13 balloons. yay! thanks noelle