In the orange site, I stand in a long line to get some bagel and coffee.

I was too excited and nervous so I couldn't finish the bagel. I only eat less than half of it. I left the half bagel in my runner's bag and thought I would finish it at the finish line. It turned out that I was not hungry at the end?! Billy laughed when he discovered the bagel in my bag when he carried my bag. My bag was transparent so he saw all of things in my bag. At least, I drank the whole cup of coffee.

     

While runners wait for getting started to go to the start line, they sit on the grass -- chatting, sleeping, eating, stretching, and I am only one with no company. I just observe and observe people. I had my pager with me and I had no idea who would be awake in the morning. I just observe until my first friend, Danny paged me  and it was good to chat with him as he was giving me some boosters and cheers!! Few moments later, the Hubers and I chatted as well. I went *gasp* when I saw a very pregnant woman there?!! She was stretching to get ready for running?!! I told Tara about her. She was like OMG!! If she can do it, then, Tara can do it?? I observed and observed. There are many variety of people there. I wish I was thinking of Katie Holmes that time!! She was in the orange group!! I could have walked around and look for her?!! I was too focused on myself. I was too pumped and excited and nervous -- all those overwhelming emotions!

A glimpse of what I see from where I am sitting on the grass... That's the Verrazzo-Narrows Bridge from Staten Island to Brooklyn. It was really beautiful and I was thinking -- wow, I am going there soon?? In few hours??!! I breathe and finally started to stretch my legs. I decided to go to the baggage claim to drop off my UPS transparent bag so it means I have to let go of my pager.... To my surprise, the baggage claim area was packed beacuse everyone were rushing at same time?! Shoot! I was so nervous -- oh gosh- will I make it on time to the start line?!!! Finally, I dropped off my bag into #50 truck. Then, I proceed to the start line -- suddenly, I started to walk?!! Orange runners go on the top of the bridge while blue group go on the bottom of the bridge. The green group went with orange group but on separate route. I was worried if I woud end up in wrong route?!! I kept on checking on runner's bibs to make sure they are orange! So, they are orange then I am in right place. I sure wish I can hear at that time! I just follow orange female runners. I finally stripped off my gloves, hats, and sweater. Threw them off on the bridge. These clothes on the street were collected and donated for the charity. I began to run and run and run and run....

Out of sudden, I needed to go to bathroom?!! Oh crap. During my 5th mile, I went to bathroom -- there was a line at the long johns... (In case you wonder, there is long johns, water station and medical aid on every mile) I was really pumped but bathroom interfered my rhythm of running! After my business in long john, I proceed to run again! I run and run and run.... then, again I needed to go to bathroom during 10th mile again?!!! I went to long john's again. AHH. My mind was racing whether if I would go to bathroom after every 5 mile??? I was sooo disappointed! The two bathroom stops lost about 20 minutes in total.

In Brooklyn, it was the LONGEST run because I ran 13 miles in Brooklyn. Brooklyn is really neat! I never really had a chance to explore Brooklyn much but I can see there's a lot of collective and cultured groups. For example, there was a group of Japanese people playing band, a group of nun singing, a group of Scotlish with bagpipes, a group of Hispanic people serving empanadas, a group of people serving bananas or oranges, kids reaching out their hands to get runners' high fives, and many more... Brooklyn's really neat. Then, I ran approximately 3 miles in Queens where it is pretty quiet. Not a lot of fans there. As soon I ran onto bridge goig to Manhattan-- oh my -- I felt the LOUD music on my chest?! I can feel their cheers! WOW! I almost cried as I arrived into Manhattan because it was so overwhelming with MILLION of people on the both sides.. I ran on 1st Avenue. I knew that my wonderful supporting friends, Tara, Billy, Dave, Melissa and Sarah would be there on 75th Street and 81st Street. So, as soon I arrived on 75th, I quickly looked for the Hubers -- nothing??! Not there?!! I looked for them on one side while they were on the other side?! They told me that they'd be on the other side. It turned out there was a confusion on which side?!! Oh well..That was the picture where Dave took of me on 75th Street and 1st Avenue.

Then, I arrived on 81st Street (18th mile) and, I quickly looked for Sarah. I couldn't find her on the same side where I looked for the Hubers earlier. Then, I decided to look the opposite side -- BINGO! I saw a tall blonde woman waving so high!! OOHH!! YES!!! That was my reaction when I first saw her. So, I ran to her and she told me to stop running so she can take a picture of me. I thought to myself -- OH GOOD!! Let me stretch my legs at same time! Haha. That's the picture of me trying to bend my legs on 81st Street. Then, I kept on running....

I became so excited when I realized that I didn't go to bathroom anymore!! I kept on running and running until I enter the Bronx for few miles there...I was hitting the wall. (In runners' language "hit the wall" means it's when a runner felt soooooo exhausted and the body crash down. Its when the runner wants to STOP and QUIT). That's when I felt during 22nd mile. I was realllly exhausted. I stopped running. I felt so much pain in my legs and especially in my foot. I was really exahusted. I kept on walking until I saw a freaking HUGE screen up front and I saw myself walking. OH NO!! I better run!!! So, I got my strength back and ran again! I didn't like to see when I am walking on the screen?! After I passed the screeen, I became so exhausted and I couldn't keep on going!! I just gave up and walked. I walked and walked and walked....


I was walkiing and looking down on the ground until one point, I decide to look up -- I saw the Hubers, finally?!! It was during my 24th mile. I was really disappointed that I missed them on 75th Street (during my 18th mile). They were cheering and jumping! I was like oh my gosh!! I better run! Yes, I run!! I got my strength back and ran again!! It definitely HELPS to have my friends there to cheer!! I ran and ran... With Dave's wonderful photography skills, he told me to keep on running -- no stop! Thanks, Dave! (Notice a lady in long black jacket with red bag - she's not a runner. She's just a walker in Central Park -- that's so New York! )

I was so focused on finishing the marathon! Only 1.2 more mile to go!!

I saw the Hubers brothers!!! Billy was "running" with me a bit -- then, I saw Dave with his camera! I did not see Tara and Melissa. I was too focused and overwhelmed. Billy was jumping and running to get my attention so I waved but I used a fist?? I am not sure why I did it?  Maybe, I was thinking -- YES YES YES!! It was only 1.2 mile left to go....

Dave took many wonderful pictures. He took some pictures of screen of runners. Find me??

I am still running and running slowly.... Soon finish!! SOON!!

*groans* Just 100 yards more to go?!! I kept on running and running...

That's the picture from the Brightroom. Brightroom Photographers were all over. They stand in middle of the street, on the sides, on the crane up above, on the bridge.. - every where. They have a sign "Brightoom- SMILE! You're on a camera!" I have over 50 photos from the Brightroom and they sent them to me in this small thumbprint sizes! If I want them ordered, I have to pay $$$$$ -- really pricey! I am hoping to blow that up but it looks blurry! But, Dave and Sarah took great pictures altogether! Many thanks!!!!

I finally finished the marathon at 6:15:37 (offical time).

At finish line, it was around 4:30pm. After I passed the finish line, I had to walk about 30 minutes to pick up my UPS bag. There were over 90 UPS trucks. So, each truck is numbered. The first truck near the finish line is number 1. So, it goes on until 50th! My bag is in 50th truck -- ughh.. I walked and walked... While walking to the truck, the organization gave me the heat sheet to keep myself warm, finisher's medal and food bag plus Brightroom photographers nagged me to stand behind the background to have an individual photo. I kept on ralking until I arrived to #50 truck and picked up my bag. My first thing that I took out of the bag was my pager?! *grins* I opened -- yikes -- over 50 messages?! I ignored the others and focused on finding a way to communicate with the Hubers! I sat down on the ground and grasped the whole thought that I actually ran in a marathon. I could not believe that I did it. Then, I told the Hubers that I was sitting donw. They were like-- NO NO!! Stand up!! You will be so tired and you will have a hard time getting up!! *taking a deep breath* I finally stood up - it was just five minutes sitting on the ground. I was so tempted to sit longer. I quickly changed my clothes. I did not feel like going to long john to change my clothes so I decided to use my heat sheet to hide my body while I change my clothes. I changed into sweat patns and sweater and put on hat. I put the medal in the bag. I told the Hubers to meet me. I do not have the strength to walk to meet them. They came and found me. Of course, I shared my thoughts of running in a marathon. I took out the medal and showed it to them. Here's the last picture of my day.

What an accomplishment! Melissa asked me on that night, "Will you run in a marathon again?" I reacted, "NO! I am too tired!" Then, I realized later.. Wait a minute... No, I want to run again!!!! I want to run again! I definitely want to run again! I am seriously considering to run in DC's Marine Corps in 2008. What kept me running is thanks to my wonderful supportive fans and friends!! I definitely need fans at the DC's marathon!! Reserve last Sunday of October of 2008 for me, please??

Since November 4th, I didn't run again until two weeks later. I run 2 to 3 miles now. I couldn't believe how quickly that I couldn't run more than 3 miles now?? It requires a lot of committment and training. So, I am going to get back in training in the new year. I am signing up for Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run in the spring.

Running is amazing, period. Not crazy.