I don't know where to start. I ran this race the best I could under the circumstances. I got a horrible flu Thursday night and was in bed sick all day Friday. I forced myself to the couch Friday night to prove to my husband I was getting better - he didn't want me going to Tampa if I was still sick of course. Saturday I actually made it into the shower and packed a bag. He wasn't really buying it, but a few saltines and a lot of water later I took off for the other side of the state. I wasn't feeling 100%, in fact I still couldn't eat anyting but crackers and Nilla Wafers. I was tepmted to stop in Yeehaw Junction to buy some Gator Jerky from the guy on the side of the road but I contained myself.

I made it into Tampa around 3:30, got to the hotel and met my friends. We walked over to get our numbers and I was really feeling better I thought. We went to dinner and nothing sounded good to me except greasy food. I ended up eating 3 potato skins and 1/2 a cheeseburger. I thought this was great - I got something in my stomach for the next day! I didn't realize that you can't really fuel yourself for a 1/2 marathon on a 1/2 of a dinner in three days. In the meantime the girls I was with kept smoking - before they were about to run the 1/2 with me!

The next morning I did think I felt better. We walked over to the race start and I looked around for BT shirts. I finally did see a cute little woman standing on top of something shouting and waving her arms like crazy - there's Renee! She was too far away though and by the time I got there she was gone in the crowd. A few minutes later I was able to spot Max from his IM tattoo. I got to meet Renee, Christine, Jeff and Rich. Who did I forget?? Then I went back to my friends (bad idea - I should have stayed and strated with the fun BTers!)

The race started and my friends put their headphones on and took off - I was so bummed - I like to talk when I have to go so far! Oh well, off I went at a pretty good pace. I don't know exactly where the race (or my health) went downhill, around mile 3 I was already in that, "It's only mile 3?" mind set. The rain and wind were giving me goose bumps.

Around mile 5 a nice man named Vince came up and started running with me - someone to talk to!! He gave me all sorts of encouragement and told me about his time running the Millenium Marathon in New Zealand the day after he had been sick. I told him I felt nauseous and thought I'd walk for a while, but he wouldn't let me. He told me I was actually running too fast for him so we should slow down our pace - what a nice man!! He helped me make it to mile 8 without walking. I told him at the mile marker I was walking for sure so we decided we'd walk through the water station. Right after that station is where the half and full split so I lost my new parntner but I was finally able to walk!

I had no plan for the rest of the race - I wasn't sure when I'd be able to run again. The only thing that made me smile was people cheering my name (which was written in glitter glue on my shirt) and seeing BTers go by! I was freezing cold - I mean shivering, dripping and miserable! At one point I thought I was going to cry - I just couldn't figure out why I had decided to do this (not overall, just because of being sick) and just wanted to have someone fly me to the finish line. Then I sucked it up and kept going.

I walked from mile 8-9. From mile 9-12 I think I did about 1/2 mile run, 1/2 mile walk the whole way. Mile 11 there was a nice spectator smoking upwind so we got to run right through his smoke - that helped my stomach. Finally I saw mile 12 and knew I was running the rest of the way in no matter what. A pirate handed me beads in a little plastic bag which I couldn't open because my hands were so numb - I had to tear them open with my teeth.

One last water station and the woman said only 1/2 mile to go. She lied. As I got closer I saw a big flag hanging off an overpass and thought it might be JeppFleeb, but no luck yet. As I came to the finish I slowed down to let the man in front of me cross the mat - I didn't want anyone hogging my finish line picture. One of my friends was there cheering me on and then I saw the Official JeepFleeb flag and the BT group hanging out. I got my medal and stumbled over to say hi. Some nice lady (Jess, Trixie? I think I was halluinating by then) gave me strawberries.

After the race I got to meet all sorts of BT people - I know I'll forget some- Lane, Trixie, Wendy, oh, I can't remember everyone - but of course, the stars of the day - Haley and Aaron. Everyone decided to go back and warm up before the marathoners came in while I stayed and talked with Aaron. He is truly one of the friendliest, most enthusiastic people I have ever met! He decided it was much more fun to run in races than watch them. I tought he might jump right out there and join the race!He gave me some good tips and we talked about nutrition (or my lack of it) although I do think he's a little crazy after telling me about drinking the salt water. :)

So - that was it - a long, hard day. I gave it my best. I was hoping to run the whole thing but what could I do? At least it should be easy to beat this time on my next 1/2 mary. The funny thing is, even with all the walking my time was only about 20 minutes off what I was hoping for!

Not get the flu two days before my longest race. Make sure I only run in perfect weather. :) Make sure I have someone to run with instead of having to spend almost 3 hours alone.

After spending some time talking with Aaron I realized I was too cold to stay outside anymore - I had to get warm. I walked back to the hotel, but the wind was so bad and that silver blanket was whipping around so much I couldn't even make it all the way back to the hotel - I stopped to get warm in the Convention Center. I saw Christine's husband and son who were waiting while she got a massage. I considered trying to get one too, but I just needed to warm up. After a few minutes I braved the last block to the hotel. When I got upstairs my friends were all there resting, I got under the covers in my wet clothes for about 1/2 hour before I finally had enough feeling in my hands to get in a hot shower. (did I mention I was cold?) My friends left to go back to where they were staying and I packed up my stuff. I wanted to go back to the race to see the marathoner's come in, but by that time it was about 12 and I figured I had missed everyone. I couldn't bear to walk out in the cold again just to have everyone gone. Turns out I would have been right on time to see Max and Renee finish :( I finally got in my car and headed out for the long 4 1/2 hour ride home.


Being dehydrated and having no fuel.