Sunday, July 31, 2011

She did it!



Congratulations to my amazing daughter Mandi for finishing her first Half Marathon! She is a very physically active and health conscious young woman who has been training for this run for quite awhile now. I marvel at her determination.

I wish I had been with her at the beginning of the race to take a "before" picture, but she was up and out of the house about 4:30 this morning. Her wave took off from the Embarcadero at about 6:15 am. I have to admit that I was still in bed at that time.

We probably should have left the house a bit earlier to give us more time to get to the finish line. When we finally got to Golden Gate Park, we had just minutes to get to the finish line by the time Mandi estimated that she would be crossing. Ron parked the van and we began to hustle over to where we thought the finish line would be for the Half. Ron was carrying a small cooler containing champagne and orange juice (for the requisite victory mimosas) and I carried a basket with champagne flutes and my camera. I was hurrying across the grass to get to the sidewalk when I stepped in a hole....down I went!

I tell you that I saw stars! Ron helped me up but I wasn't going anywhere at that moment. He set the cooler down so that I could sit on it. I gave him the camera and sent him ahead. Luckily, I didn't slow him down too much and he got there in time. Almost all the photos taken today were taken by him. Bravo, Ron!

Eventually, the pain subsided enough for me to hobble over to offer my congratulations as well. I feel foolish for falling and for not being there to see my girl accomplish her goal. We did take her for a big breakfast at Pier 39, but her appetite wasn't too good.

As I write this post, Mandi is curled up in her bed getting some well deserved rest. I am lying in bed with my foot elevated and on ice. Cheese and Rice!! I guess I'd better learn to slow down.


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