thoughts on the marathon

excuse me for being a drama mama here but...this past sunday, I completed the biggest task of my whole life: a marathon. 

you read it right. 

a MARATHON. 

26.2 miles! WHOOOOHOOOOO

We [four best friends + me] trained so long for it I forgot how big of a deal it was. then it hits me every now and then like a ton of bricks and I just think.. "wow. I did it, I ran a marathon" and that my friends, is absolutely invigorating.

This "ton of bricks" comes in waves throughout my day. for instance, I was about to take a world history test when my friend adele {fellow marathoner} turns to me and states that she is totally unprepared for this test and that she was for sure gonna fail it {she didn't}. I just looked at her and told her "don't worry about it. we ran a MARATHON". which is definitely so true. Well, for most cases. I could just see myself 10 years down the road saying,"I don't have a job...uh-oh..... hey, don't worry about it YOU RAN A MARATHON, KP!." 

I also think that running a marathon has connected us with our ancestors. Think about it. they had to walk EVERYWHERE. I bet 26.2 miles was nothing for them. running this marathon linked us with our ancient relatives in a very intimate way. like Jesus and the apostles traveling to spread the news of the gospel or visit the temple, or ancient Muslims making their pilgrimage to mecca on foot. 

it's a lost art that must be revived!

I've been told that upon my completion of the marathon, I was inducted into an elite group. I was also told that only 1% of the population actually completes a marathon in their lifetime. and to do that before my 18th birthday? I don't know where that puts me. I guess that's just an added bonus 

{then again, 85% of statistics are made up} 

still, I feel as though I've been inducted into a highly exclusive club

 at the cost of very sore hips, knees, and feet..

but it was totally worth it.

words cannot describe how fun the marathon was. I can honestly say that I enjoyed every second of it. I loved the atmosphere, I loved that our families and friends were there to support us, I loved going to the expo, I loved all the free stuff at the expo, I loved that it was in New Orleans, I loved the carb load the day before at Venezian's, I loved the bands we would hear every mile or so, I loved running it with my best friends, I loved the "I'm on top of the world" feeling when we finished, I loved that I had a pack of friends to run the whole thing with (and train with), I loved that some of our teachers ran it too, I loved meeting all those different people that were just as crazy about marathons as us, I love shot blocks and cute running apparel, and I love that we had the determination and motivation to actually go through with it. did ya hear? I love marathons.

the best part of the marathon was miles 20-26. those were the best. I don't know why exactly but that's when my inner Kenyan came out and I truly had a blast. We picked up the pace a tiny tad and started passing people! It was also during those miles where we were worn down the most and just at the very core of our existence. There was nothing left. just us, God, and the road. I felt cleansed.

once again, absolutely invigorating.

I'm ready for the next one. I actually would do it right now if I wasn't so darn sore.

yep. We're crazy. 

ellie showed me this vid. figured you'd enjoy it.