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Keep it unreal and make it happen

Hi y'all

Well...I did it. I ran the hills in San Francisco. Was it all I hoped it would be? It was and more. The race was intense in all aspects. You can run as many bridges and steep ramps as you like but it will not be the same as that last hill between mile10 and 11.  So what did it feel like? Well...

Starting coral:
Firmly planting your feet on the road, listening to the most amazing speech I have heard in a long time. 'Today someone will look at you and you will be their inspiration'. Listening to the buzzing of the growing crowd and how it all stops and turns into the most impressive silence ever when an amazing voice sings the national anthom, the walk up to the starting line and the first real steps into the race.



Fulton road and golden gate park:
Oh my...that is a steep steep hill. Keep on going just keep running even if it is in a dribble tempo and WORK THOSE ARMS! My...survived and there is the park. First toiletbreak. Can you believe this? We are lining up now? Well if you gotta go you gotta go...and ladies those porter potties do not have to be that disgusting! The park. Do you see this? Can you feel it? You are running here. Wow at each turn. This is an amazing park. It is simply beautiful. Unreal. You are running here. Bliss. Wihs my family was here to see this.

Lincoln Boulevard
Leaving the park behind as you enter the presidio and overcome a few hilly roads. The crowd silences as we all prepare for the 10 mile marker. Turning the corner you know you didn't need that big huge sign. Out of nothing a steep hill reveals itself and even though you came prepared this issomething else. It burns, It takes all you have got to keep on dribbeling up that hill. The crowd cheers and screams. Keep your focus and keep going. A man sitting near a sign that says 'the best version of you just crushed that hill'  looks me straight in the eyes and shouts at me: LOOK...you did it! And as I tell him i'm going to cry he roars 'that is okay you are awesome!' I suck it up. Not now. Not yet. Save it for the finish line. Turn a corner and there she is: the golden gate bridge! If you've any breath left she will take it all. What a view. She hangs over the bay like a promise: nearly there. You got this. The afterburn comes with the steepest downhill run you have ever done and you notice a few muscles that you have never noticed before. Run baby.



Finish line
As you enter the final half mile the crowd is intensely overwhelming. Scary even. They scream and root and cheer and it is all for us. You did it. You ran a half marathon in a city built on hills. Your dream run just became a reality and that kicks in. It is over. It is done. Tears streaming down and that is a normal reaction for me when I finish a race that big. You can't describe the overwhelming feeling of accomplishment.



After the finish line
My love, my beautiful man. A hug, a kiss and the look on his face. He is so proud of me and he can't stop saying it. That face, that moment. That is the best gift ever. He was there for me all the way and my race is his race too. Just as much ans just as real. I love my man. Always have and always will.



What remains
 It humbles me to be surrounded by so many amazing women. It truely does show me that each and everyone of us can run this race. You can do it if you believe you can. You can make your dreams come true if you truely believe you can and you are willing to really work for it. I ran with women of all sizes, ages and backgrounds. With legs and with blades even. We tackled the hills together, we struggled and celebrated together. We ran the hills of San Fran. This is one running dream I turned into a reality and with that my new motto came to life:  KEEP IT UNREAL & MAKE IT HAPPEN!



My next dream is taking shape and I will keep you updated. For now I can tell you it is unreal.....

As always, until we read again,
Love, Marlies

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