26.2 Done!

How it began.
About 2 years ago when I first came to IBC, I was introduced to Jen Kim as the "marathon motivationer." She highly encourages anyone and everyone to try it at least once in their life. Since then, it's been on my mind, and when Connie asked me if I wanted to do it, I said yes -- mainly because I wanted a Tiffany's necklace.

We trained for 8 long months, and the week finally came. I'd been on my pediatrics rotation for 3 weeks, and I'd caught a really bad virus. That entire week before the marathon, I hacked up half a lung, downed a bottle of promethazine with codeine, and probably infected a whole host of kids I was trying to treat. In addition, I started developing pretty severe foot pain that radiated to my hips and low back. Up until the night before the race, I was completely defeated and wondering how I could do it. I lay in bed praying desperately for the Lord to sustain me even in my weaknesses.

Race day.
Finally, race day arrived. I woke up that morning feeling surprisingly refreshed. I hadn't coughed at all during the night. We began racing at dawn even before the sun rose. The first half was a breeze, until we split off from the half marathoners (we call it the "Bitter 13." Connie and I would glance over at them jealously and judge them for looking winded as they were about to finish! ) The rest of the race was a total mental battle -- a battle against my will, my pride, and the fact that my body wouldn't do what I wanted it to.

I began chasing after the professional pacer groups but the ones I targeted eventually left me, and I walked and jogged, constantly looking behind me to make sure I wasn't the last one running.

So many thoughts raced through my head,
Will I finish? 
Will I end up in a first aid truck? 
I wonder if anyone is carrying any albuterol.
I can't wait to eat ddokboki!
I wonder what the Tiffany's necklace will look like!

1 John 5:4.
Finally, I realized why I run -- because it reminds me of how pitiful and helpless I am in light of who Christ is. That I am utterly and completely dependent on him. That no matter how hard I discipline myself and how hard I try, it is a battle against sin, pride, and self-reliance -- the same sins that my flesh indulge in that reject my need for the Lord. At mile 20, it was all I could think about, that in this life, when my spirit and flesh fail, I still have hope in Christ and eternal glory with Him. If God can design a plan of salvation through Jesus Christ, I can do this, too!  What an amazing and humbling place to be!

Cool slogans.
Throughout the race, I kept seeing slogans that brought out different emotions in me. One was "Pain is temporary, regret is forever." Another one was "When your legs are tired, you begin to run with your heart." That one struck a chord in me and I teared up thinking about it but decided to hold them in and save them for the cry of relief at the finish line (which I did!).

Thankful.
All in all, I was so thankful for the opportunity and so grateful I did it. The experience helped me realize even more so that Christ has done it all, and in this life, I only have to be obedient and persevere till the end. And even then, whether I do or not is in His sovereign hands.

Pictures.
Some pictures of the weekend! I didn't have my camera on me during the race, so there were none of us finishing in the cold and rain. I swear, SF still hates me. Haha.

After picking up my bib!

Before the soreness began. I took one after the race, too. That one would hurt way more than this.

This picture represents our relationships so perfectly. Thanks for persevering with me, my friend! Sorry we couldn't finish together!

Race day, morning of.

Day after the race - we happily filled our stomachs with brunch from Mission Beach Cafe and Tartine. =)
Janice, Connie, Melissa, Esther, and Swan, you are all amazing women of God. Grateful for these friendships!