Big News

we are back and... i finished the marathon!! wow, chicago was a great location for my first marathon experience. tom (my husband) thinks that i am crazy, but he thinks all runners are somewhat "messed up in the head." when i started the race, i told myself that i would run the 1st mile then walk the next, just as i had planned- except, there were so many people, i couldn't see the 1st and 2nd mile markers so i ended up running mile 1, 2, and 3. then i slowed my pace down a bit and ran to 13.1 (halfway and also the farthest that i have ever run). tom was at the halfway point waiting for me with the sign "GO JENNY". i felt great until about mile 17, when my legs started feeling heavy (somewhat equilvalent to hitting the wall) and they just keep getting heavier and heavier, till i was doing sort of a hop- jog-walk really fast. i looked ridiculous and i felt worse. lots of people i work with say that the hardest part is mental- i say wrong! (at least with my first experience) the hardest part was physical. but i did it!!! i have been sore for 2 days, but it is getting better. who knows maybe i'll do another one sometime (but i WILL definately train). i would recommend that if someone you know wants to run, go with them to the race, and encourage them, cheer them on-i would not have made it without tom's encouragement.