I plunge myself into an ice bath before heading to the hotel pool for some shallow-end walking. As enticing as the hot tub looked, I avoided it knowing the cold water was much better for me. Then, a long hot shower. My husband asked if I felt different after the race. I noted that my quads were increasingly sore. . . not apparently what he meant. I didn’t feel like a different person or anything, still same old me. But I did admit to feeling strong and proud of myself. Then, in the suitcase on top of the wonderful dry clothes I reached for, was a jewelry box that wasn’t there before. Seemed the support group has not ended and I opened a beautiful necklace from my husband. We laughed about the what ifs: what if I hadn’t finished? He told me I deserved it and I realized that it represented the real medal for finishing the marathon—the medal of support and will act as a reminder of the ring of support I had around me throughout the race and to get to the race. Even when I couldn’t see them, I knew that support team was there. Support, as I have noted before, comes in so many different forms, but on this day and at this race—my friends supported me by getting up early, riding a school bus, standing in the rain for hours, clapping, and taking photos. Other friends supported me by thinking of me and through congrats afterwards. But for my support group in Burlington—I will never be able to tell you what it meant to see you, and to know I would see you, in so many places along my route. Just like in the months leading up to the marathon—my support team was there when I needed them!
After a break, we ate the most amazing pizza I have ever tasted at Flatbread pizza. We walked along and watched the sunset along the boardwalk where I had crossed the finish line hours earlier. A prom was taking place and we laughed about old times and dresses we now wouldn’t let “our kids” leave the house wearing. We saw dogs and even ran into our friends and took a photo. Then, of course, off to Ben and Jerry’s where I shared a LARGE and TASTY sundae with my training partner—she deserved it too!
Monday, we went out for breakfast, visited the Magic Hat Brewery where my husband had some fun too, and stopped at the Vermont Teddy Bear Company where I got my last congrats hug before leaving town. . .
After cuddles with Otis and time on the couch, it was an early night to bed for me Monday night and back to work on Tuesday.
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