Well, it is going to take me so much more than just one post to cover the entire experience of this weekend. It all seems like a blur, but I will give you a tiny spoiler, and say that I am a very very happy girl today 😀
Yesterday, Steve, Kara, Nicole, Carolyn and I met up to go to the race expo, and let me tell you, I was amazed!!! I mean, this is only my 4th race and it really is my first big one, but I just couldn’t believe how much there was. We ended up staying for over 3 hours! There were even real life cartoon characters!
LOOK!!!! It's like Disneyland!!! Actually, Peanuts characters would be Knott's Berry Farm, but it's like a THEME PARK where kids (of age and heart) can get their picture taken with the REAL CHARACTERS! Don't crush my dreams,
As soon as we walked in, I was totally pumped! I mean, even before I saw all the free stuff. I was getting ready to run the first big race of my life with my 3 favorite running ladies!
Kara, Me, Nicole, and Carolyn
My favorite--the real life, totally running (at like 7 min pace obviously) action shot. Can't you just feel our speediness?
We got in, got our bibs and Nicole and Carolyn got their super awesome relay drumsticks! I would love to do a relay if I get a drumstick!
Fancy.
They even had some of the medals displayed–it just made it all so real.
Mine looks like this, only blue and it says 13.1, not 26.2. Maybe next year mine will look like this???? 😉
Then, the most amazing thing happened! I found out via facebook a few days ago that my friend Becky was running the race too. Let me tell you a little bit about Becky, because she is honestly one of the kindest, most incredible and inspiring people I have ever met. She was my ballet teacher in high school and at a time where I often felt really low and badly about myself, she was a constant source of inspiration. I don’t know if she realizes just how much she has meant to me, but she is one of those people who has left a really big mark on my life. Anyway, she lives in Tucson and I haven’t seen her in years, and it was looking like I wouldn’t even be able to see her at the expo, but then I heard someone call out my name and there she was!
This is Becky. She is one of those people that is ridiculously pretty and talented, but so nice so you can't even hate her!
We didn’t get to chat for too long, but it was so amazing to get to see her even briefly and I’m sure she rocked it today!!! We’ve gotta plan ahead for the next one and run it together! 🙂
Next we made our way through all of the running gear and bee lined to all of the free sample stations (obviously). We even saw the dragon!
Apparently, it's the year of the drago. 8 people dressed as the dragon and ran the race. I passed them. Take that, dragon! HiiiYA!
There were also lots of other RnR medals to drool over and even the possibility to sign up for some races! I *almost* signed up for the Disneyland half marathon in September. I picked up the pen, but then decided I needed to make sure my honeymoon plans were in place and it wouldn’t conflict first, but as long as I can do it, you better believe I am there. Chase, you in??? I’ll be on your turf!
Nicole even got a chance to see the medal she’ll be getting when she does her Disney World half next month!
Nicole, I cannot wait for you to PR and get that beautiful Tinker Bell medal around your neck! You are gonna rock it!!!!
Finally, we made our way through the entire thing just in time as it was closing! Holy stuff—I could have emptied my bank account in there. The only thing I ended up buying was a 13.1 sticker for my car. I can’t wait to put that baby on today!!!!
More to come, friends!
