My First Marathon (Would the Real Amanda Womac Please Stand Up?)

Last weekend was jam-packed full of fun things to do. There was no stopping hardly at all! The most fun though was participating in the Knoxville Marathon!

I am a bit bummed... I ran the marathon last year, and had planned to participate this year and run one leg of a four person relay, but I got hurt over Christmas. I have spent the last two months in physical therapy (shout out, Chris Matthews - whoot! PT extraordinaire and fellow Walking Dead enthusiast!) and had been cleared to only run a 5 K. So... with great reluctance I asked Amanda to trade with me: I would run her 5 K and she would run my leg of the relay. Marathons won't let you trade, however - she would have to run as me, and I would have to run as her.

I shook off my disappointment, and agreed to be the cheering section/transport for everyone between legs of the race. My first time being the cheering section EVER! It was super fun to zip all over town, dropping off and picking up, all the while cheering on my fabulous running friends. 

First stop! 7:25 AM, starting line for the hand cyclists! Yea to my super friend Edee cycling her first half marathon! (Edee's the one with the huge grin, BTW... I like all my friends to be smiley.)

her team name is pedal to the mettle

After seeing Edee off, it was time for the marathoners, half-marathoners, and relay runners to start. After they headed out, it was my turn to run my piddly little ole 5K.

At the finish, Mr. Smith met me with my bike, and I zipped out to Third Creek to cheer Edee up the hill and on to her last two miles in the half. Then, back on the bike to the second relay stop (missed the first; they were exchanging around the time I finished the 5K) where I picked up our second leg runner, Amanda and cheered Kelly off. We took my bike back to the house, grabbed a bite to eat and headed to the third relay stop, where I picked up Jo and Kelly and cheered off Jenny to the fourth and final leg of the race. I dropped the girls all out by Neyland Stadium and waiting patiently inside until they all ran in to finish the race together.

super cute - i also got a video of them clicking their heels as they crossed the finish

YAY TEAM

It was about this time that Amanda got an email saying that she had run her 5K in 30:16! She was confused for a second, but then remembered we'd had to switch. Even though it was my second best personal record for a 5K, I was bummed that I didn't get a medal. I tried to talk Amanda into giving me hers since technically it was mine, but she said no. SO I TOOK IT ANYWAY.

MINE

Kidding. I didn't really take her medal. That would be just plain rude.

Next weekend, Easter!