She did it she completed her 26.2 MILES and came out of it Smiling. What a great day and What a wonderful Inspiration. BETTY YOU ROCK, and I think everyone should KNOW How great you did and how wonderful you are, and what a huge Inspiration, Mentor, and Cheerleader you are.

THANK YOU BETTY!!!!!


YOU ROCK!!!!!

__________________


Philosophy: Work You But Off and You will get what You rightly Deserve!!!

SW:285
CW:185
GW: 165

21 Pounds To Goal!!!
http://photos.yahoo.com/iyamamaschke
Right Now My Goal is to run 26 Miles. Training for a Marathon as we Speak May 21st 2006, 2 weeks before my 30th B day.

No Doubt!!! Betty is the bomb!!!!


Congrats on the marathon!!!!!! I am so jealous of you!

__________________
Start Date: 12/30/2005
Restart Date: 3/25/2008 at 240 lbs
250/226/190
Atkins

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What a HUGE acomplishment! I don't think I could ever tackle that momentous challenge! Thank you for your light. Shine on luv....
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Betty, you are totally my hero!!!

I am going to do a marathon, too. Not for a little while yet. First, I am going to lose 1.5 Bettys!

Betty, what an accomplishment!! You must be so proud! I can't wait to hear all about it! Wheeee!!!!!

Oh, and then Sarah will do her's soon. And maybe you two will compare notes about your experiences. And maybe you'll do so publicly so some of us can thrill vicariously!!

__________________

I am sooo PROUD of BETTY she Rocks

Sarah

__________________


Philosophy: Work You But Off and You will get what You rightly Deserve!!!

SW:285
CW:185
GW: 165

21 Pounds To Goal!!!
http://photos.yahoo.com/iyamamaschke
Right Now My Goal is to run 26 Miles. Training for a Marathon as we Speak May 21st 2006, 2 weeks before my 30th B day.

Woooooooo hooooooooooo Betty!!
What a major accomplishment!!
We are so proud of you!!

__________________
Attitude changes everything!
Have a beautiful day! ~ lady hawke
402/366/147

BETTY where are you come take A BOW!!!!

__________________


Philosophy: Work You But Off and You will get what You rightly Deserve!!!

SW:285
CW:185
GW: 165

21 Pounds To Goal!!!
http://photos.yahoo.com/iyamamaschke
Right Now My Goal is to run 26 Miles. Training for a Marathon as we Speak May 21st 2006, 2 weeks before my 30th B day.

Maybe she's taking a well deserved rest from her run?

Fantastic accomplishment on her part!

Way to go Betty!!!! Congratulations!!!

__________________
~Mary~

In the words of the Lion on the Wizard of Oz:

"Shucks, folks, I'm speechless!"

Sarah, hon, thank you so much for starting this thread. You cannot possibly know how many times I thought of you as I was running .. try a bazillion!! Yes, I kept thinking 'man, if Sarah were here ...' Somehow, we gotta work out something so you and I can run a marathon together!!

Perry, you are so right; I stayed home from work today to rest this weary bod. But you know me, I couldn't just sit around doing nothing, so I went on a 2.5 mile walk .. felt okay .. but how weird is this... my legs just want to go in all different directions as I walk!!

Anyway, thanks to ALL of you for your encouragement, support and KUDOS! I was thinking of all of you when I was DOING IT!

Here's a little summary of the day for your reading pleasure:

At 4:00 a.m., THUNDERSTORMS AND WIND (to GALE FORCE), AND MEGA LIGHTNING descended upon Tampa Florida ... But I got up and out of bed, made myself 2 eggs, 2 strips of bacon and a piece of carbstyle whole wheat toast....grumbling all the way...thinking "I *did* move to the sunshine state, didn't I? Isn't this supposed to be our dry season? Then why oh why are we having a major monsoon?" I had momentary thoughts of calling off my marathon and submitting to the weather gods...but NO SIR! I haven't been training for this day THIS LONG to give in now. They say 'whatever doesn't kill you, makes you stronger..' Yeah okay .. fill the fuel belt with SOBE SF energy drinks, grab some extra towels .. socks, whatever .. and GO.

So we left home about 5:10 .. got downtown about 5:30 in total gridlock traffic (nothing new for Tampa .. and the rain didn't exactly HELP ..) The gridlock was sooooooooooooo bad, that DH told me at 5:50 that I better plan to get out and walk to the start line, which was about 1/2 mile. Of course it was a wind-driven torrent of rain at that point .. and I'm seriously questioning my sanity right about then..........

Got to the start line at 6:00 ... lo and behold the START TIME IS POSTPONED .. will start the race at 6:30. Can you say frustrated? So we stand around ... waiting .. getting soaked.... yep .. fun time!!

FINALLY: 6:30 a.m. and we're off. Soaked, but stoked!!

Long story short .. I finished this marathon in 5 hours & change .. running all but 1/2 mile of it which really surprised even me! Initially my plan was to run the first 18 miles, walk for 2, and run the last 6.2. But when I got to 18, I felt awesome ... the rain had subsided, but of course, the WIND DID NOT.. but what the heck .. KEEP GOING!!

I never stopped running until I hit 25 miles .. at which point, my hips started to REALLY hurt .. so much so, that walking hurt more than running, so I cranked it up for that last 1.2 miles....and crossed the finish line IN MOTION...

Kids, marathons are *not* for wimps! The first 15 miles are scot-free ... you feel good, like you can run forever .. the last 11 are another animal entirely. Doing a race of that distance means saving every bit of energy for the last 10 miles. Strength is GONE at 20 miles .. determination fades at 24 .. all that's left for the last 2 are SHEER GUTS and TENACITY ...

What I kept repeating to myself those last 10 miles: IF IT WERE EASY, EVERYONE COULD DO IT. AMEN TO THAT!

Am I glad I did it? YOU BET. There is nothing quite as emotional as crossing that finish line knowing "YOU DID IT".

Thanks again to all of you for believing in me, even when I doubted myself! I took each one of you with me all those miles ..

I LOVE YOU GUYS!

Betty

PS here's the PRIZE:

__________________


5'3, 98.5 POUNDS, AGE 50
FULL-FLEDGED RUNNER SINCE NOVEMBER 2003

MIDDLE-AGE spread is the ugliest thing a man -- or woman -- can possess.

First half marathon completed January 7, 2006, 2 hours 40 minutes

First full marathon completed February 26, 2006, 5 hours

Next Goal: WDW Minnie Marathon 15K "Women Run The World", May 7, 2006

wow better
I am so glad to hear you did it, not that I had any doupts.
Way to go!!!!!
sandi

__________________

YA BETTY IS MY HERO!!!! I Love her

Sarah

__________________


Philosophy: Work You But Off and You will get what You rightly Deserve!!!

SW:285
CW:185
GW: 165

21 Pounds To Goal!!!
http://photos.yahoo.com/iyamamaschke
Right Now My Goal is to run 26 Miles. Training for a Marathon as we Speak May 21st 2006, 2 weeks before my 30th B day.

Betty, you rule! Thank you for sharing your experience with us! I think that is an amazing day you had to get through, weather notwithstanding.

WOW oh WOW Betty. That's AWESOME lady! So, will you do it again next year??

Kathy

__________________








Restart 214 CW 199 Goal 150

Start photo 277 Current photo 205
Proud member of the New Year's Resolution Challenge! 214/199/170 29 pounds to go!

Oh yes, more marathons in my future!

I plan to do the WDW Marathon January 6, 2007 and then the WDW Goofy's challenge January 5, 2008, which is the half marathon on Saturday and the full marathon on Sunday.



Betty

__________________


5'3, 98.5 POUNDS, AGE 50
FULL-FLEDGED RUNNER SINCE NOVEMBER 2003

MIDDLE-AGE spread is the ugliest thing a man -- or woman -- can possess.

First half marathon completed January 7, 2006, 2 hours 40 minutes

First full marathon completed February 26, 2006, 5 hours

Next Goal: WDW Minnie Marathon 15K "Women Run The World", May 7, 2006