Yes! (Big sigh of relief) I did it!

It's 9:30 p.m. and I'm beat!  This morning I ran my first half-marathon.  I don't think I could have picked a better one.  But I didn't know that when I registered.  I just picked it because it was a local race!  But apparently people from all over the country were there to participate.  It was the NC Half Marathon at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.
My morning started at 5:30 a.m. with breakfast (which I could only eat half of because of nerves), coffee, and 2 glasses of water.  6:45 a.m. and I was out the door.  7 a.m. I get off the highway and make my way to the Speedway but run into traffic for the race!  I finally get through the entrance at 7:15, park my vehicle, grab my ipod and water and squishy gel thingys, and make my way inside the track to find a restroom, then make my way to the start.  Just a few minutes to spare!
My nerves have subsided by now thankfully and I feel ready to go.  As I pass over the starting line and watch as hundreds of people in front of me bob along I'm suddenly struck with the absurdity of it all.  It made me smile.  But that was just the first mile.  I'm pretty sure that was the only time I smiled until I was finished. 
Miles 1-5, Feeling pretty good.  Just trottin' along.
Mile 6, Getting close to half way there.  Yeah!
Mile 7, Really?  I still have 6 more miles to go?
Mile 8, Feeling peppy!
Mile 9, Is that a hill?  Looks kind of steep......dying!!
Mile 10, Starting to feel it.
Mile 11, The worst mile.  My legs are angry with me.
Mile 12, Oh yeah, it hurts but the end is in sight.  Pick it up.
Mile 13, Hear the crowd, kick it in high gear, and pass over the finish line!!!  Get the medal, cry, see Cory and the kids, and cry some more. 

Cory and the kids, by the way, made it to the finish line to see me cross with just 8 minutes to spare.  He happened to drive by just as I was getting ready to enter the tunnel to go back into the track to finish the last couple of miles.  What are the chances of that with all of those people?  He had to hightail it in there with all 3 kids!  :) 
I was so happy to finish that race that I cried.  Then I saw Cory and I cried some more. 

Oh, and my time?  My chip time was 2:10:51.  51 seconds over what I predicted.  So, I'm happy with that.  Plus I got a cool medal that lights up.  :)

AND my knees are sore.   But I don't mind.  I did it!