Thought I would write a note to let you know I completed my FIRST Marathon, The Tacoma City Marathon.

A group called Marathon Maniacs had pace runners and I joined the group planning to run the race in 4 hours 15 minutes, our leader was Eric and I must say a great pacer. Eric kept us between a 9:30 and 9:44 minute miles building a little space for potty stops or fluid intake all in all he stayed right on.

Eric was a story teller and when things were starting to get tough I would say "Eric I need a story" and he would tell one and before you knew it you felt better, this was a real gift (Thank you Eric). I was able to stay with this group for 22 miles and then I had to slow my pace as things were getting extremely tight at this time and the sun was fully on me so warmth was becoming an issue too.

Not to drag this story out, I now know what people say about those last 6.2 miles, since we trained up to 20 miles the 6.2 was new territory and noticeable at that! I had special people in my head and with me those last miles. For example mile 21 to 22 my son Mark was with me telling me just to shorten my steps on the hill and to keep going. Mile 22 to 23 my son Matt was there running backward looking at me smiling saying "Come on Mom you can do it, just keep moving forward!" I know this sounds like I should be committed but believe me it really helped. At mile 23-24 I was in some great neighborhoods where the folks were out cheering and a group of young people were dancing on the street and they touched my hands giving me life energy which was amazingly helpful. I must add that my husband Bill was there at the start and the finish but he kept popping up at various spots during the race, taking photos and giving me that extra bit of strength I needed to keep going and I really appreciated his support through this whole process, Thank you Love!

Mile 24 a wonderful woman all by herself was shouting "You go sister!" and had her car music up full blast also giving great energy. Finally one of my training coaches from Fleet Feet in Bonney Lake was the next kind face saying " It is a gentle downhill the rest of the way, enjoy!"

"It took a village" to get me through this training and goal. First would be my fantastic Pilates instructor Brandon Gamble, without him the past four years this would not have been possible, core strength following two back surgeries was critical. Then there was the training team started by Paul Morrison from Fleet Feet Running in Bonney Lake, what a dedicated man and group of people he has put together. My nephew Erik Waterland was my physical therapist who taught me so much about using my body correctly and working through some minor injuries and last but not least my wonderful massage therapist Heidi Johnson from BeHive Massage. Heidi has magic hands and between her great work and the assurance that my body was in good shape I knew I could go for the finish line.

That brings me to the finish line, I did complete my race in 4 hours and 17 minutes (don't know the seconds yet) but that qualifies me to run Boston in 2011 if that is something that i might want to do??? Don't have to decide today!

Thanks for sharing in my adventure and thanks for all the GREAT support, it has been much appreciated.

Donna Jackson