I felt so much love for the city as I ran through all the neighborhoods. Boys’ town was a favorite spot (naturally) who wouldn’t love cheerleaders in bad drag? Pilsen was another favorite with drummers on every corner and people dancing salsa in the streets. Then Chinatown because my family was waiting there and at the twenty-two mile mark I really needed some pumping up. There were also drummers and lion dancers in Chinatown. I ran alongside Nessie for quite a ways. Those guys were amazing –they ran with scaffolding on their backs holding up pieces of a giant loch ness monster. They were running to raise money for Cancer research. Towards the end of the course there were people passing out beer and jello shots. As my ultra-marathoner co-worker says, “It’s like a giant runner’s party”

Here are some of the signs I remember seeing along the way that kept me going. They ranged from funny to touching to inspiring.

“Your feet hurt from kicking so much ass!”

“Hello complete stranger, I’m proud of you.”

“You’re not slow, you’re just enjoying the course.”

On the back of a runner’s t-shirt: “If found on ground please drag across finish line.”

“Running takes balls, other sports just play with them.”

“Chafe now. Brag forever.”

“Why do all the cute ones run away?”

“Hurry up! We’re cold!”

“You’ve done worse things for longer.”

The headband I wore that I now fully believe to possess magical powers since it stayed on my head through 26.2 says, “This seemed like a good idea three months ago.”

My sister held up a sign for me with my adopted slogan, “Embrace the suck.” I stole it from a servicewoman I read about who was training for the marathon in Iraq.

Every one of those signs represented someone who cared enough, not only to come out braving the cold and the crowds, but to take markers and posterboard and plan some witticism that would cheer us crazy people on in our quest. I want to thank all of them, all of my family and friends, all of the volunteers who handed out water and passed out medals and cut timing chips from shoes. And I want to thank all of you at OS again for reading and cheering me on in spirit. My co-worker asked if I was going to run another marathon or if I was a “run and done;” someone who does it once and crosses it off her bucket list. At the time it was too soon. Like being asked when you plan to have another child just after getting back from the hospital. Now that some time has passed and I look back at all this. I think I’m hooked on the distance. I think I’m going to run another.