WHAT. AN. EXPERIENCE! As much as the weather wasn’t my ideal preference for running, or even being outside really, I honestly don’t have any regrets for deciding to make this marathon my very FIRST.  What can I say?  I LOVE LA!  Traffic, potholes, unexpected hurricane weather, you name it.

So here it is.  My shiny medal.  I shed tears for this bad boy, no joke.  It was quite a journey to the finish line, but it was ALL WORTH IT!

The first couple miles, I was cheerful, feeling optimistic, feeling good, and proud of myself, but when mile 6 and 7 came, the rain was coming down hard.  In my head, I was thinking, “Are you kidding me?  Are you really?”  Still trying to be optimistic, I hoped the rain would let up, but it didn’t.  It was a steady downpour and there was nothing I could do but keep going.

One thing I am MOST grateful for is my support group.  Erin, Jaylyn, Johnboy and Byong!!  Then there was also Michael, Erickson, and Kyle who came out on bikes and took photos of us along the entire course.  I am SO lucky to have great friends!  They were there every step of the way even till I crossed the finish line!

As soon as I saw the finish line coming up, my mood suddenly changed.  I suddenly felt so serious.  I didn’t feel like talking to my friends who were running with me, I just wanted to focus on what was standing right in front of me.  In my mind, wheels were turning, a reflection period began, and my body and mind started to think of what started this all,…why was I running this marathon?  My dad.  A victim of cancer.  Right!  I did all this to run in honor of my dad.  2011 marks his 10 year anniversary of being away from me and my family.  I thought to myself, “Man, time flies…and I can’t believe I’m about to fly right through this finish line!!!”  Immediately, tears came down as hard as the rain and I had NO control over it, so I just let go.  I didn’t care about the photographers and my finishing photo, and I didn’t see anyone around me.  But I heard Byong yelling, “You can do it Grace, almost there, you can do it! C’mon, don’t give up!”  And just like that, I stepped over the finish line, and it was all over.  Ahhhh!!!  What a relief!  It felt so good to cry and hug my very wet friends.

My mom surprised me and came out to Santa Monica.  She toughed out the rain and was waiting for me at the finish line!  I was so happy to see her but I felt so bad taht she was standing in the storm for a good hour just to see me finish.  I actually found her standing there by accident!  I love my mom for being so strong these past years without my dad, and I love her even more for coming to support me, despite the horrible weather conditions.  She looked cute and miserable at the same time, standing in the rain, wrapped in a large plastic bag.  Thanks mom!  Seeing you waiting for me meant a great deal!

To give you a better idea of what the weather was like that day, here’s a clip of what we had to run through.

CRAZY!

Thanks again to my friends who came out to support.

And, thank you so much to those who helped me raise money to donate to Think Cure charity!

Greg Yip, Vivian McWilliam, Tweetie Nguyen, Bo Zalalerio, Chris Saavedra, Jharvis Licera, Sam and Myrriam Cardinal.

So when’s the NEXT marathon?? :)

Here’s a better question: Would I run another marathon?  YES!  And I think it will be LA!!  Gotta have a do over!!!


P.S. I am LOVING my LA MARATHON jacket!  Totally worth it! :)

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