I DID IT!!!!!

I FINISHED THE RACE AND I WASN'T LAST!!! And, I'm still alive and kickin'. Well, it's a little after 11:00 and I am still cooling down from the walk. It was really neat - not the race course or the corny luminairies that the city had put out, it was the people that lined the course for support. There were at least 5 live bands playing along the course and numerous dj's or loud stereos. It helped to put a skip in my step. I was really afraid that I would be last. When they did the kids 1 mile race before the adult's 4 mile, they announced that they knew the last kids were coming through, because the police car was following them. All I could do was imagine that I would be the last person in the 4 mile race with the police car following me. Well, I DIDN'T FINISH LAST!!!!! When I was almost to the end of the 4 mile route, I saw my husband and 17 year old son. They began walking with me and my teen challenged to race me. He egged me on until I began to jog. I was crossing the finish line and there were my mom and two friends from church. It was too awesome. (I only hope that when I jogged, no one caught the sound or "swing" of that hanging flesh so unaffectionately called an apron. ) So, ending time - 1 hour 4 minutes, I think. I was not looking at the clock. I was too focused on my mom and church friends and telling them that I didn't finish last. On the way home from the race, I started to cry. I'm about in tears again now. I have been given such a gift! A year ago, I could not have walked the several blocks from the parking lot to the starting line without feeling that I wanted to sit down...... and now, I am walking 4 miles?>?>?> Awesome! Thank you God for this procedure! I am truly blessed. Well, thanks for listening and rooting me on. I'm going to go get cleaned up and go to bed. God bless, Andrea

Andrea Congrats I'm so happy & proud of you Can't wait to meet you See you next weekend then I can give you well deserved hug Carolyn

Yeah Andrea!!!! I've been out of town for work and leisure since a little after the 4th and I havn't been on line for a while. So, this is the first I heard about you doing a FOUR MILE RACE. That is awsome. You go girl! Eileen

Hello Andrea, I told you ,you could do it i'm so proud of you I know how your feelinf because when I did the Easterseals walk here in clinton I was so happy keep up the great work when they ever have another walk let me know or I will let you know we can do it together this time. take care see ya next weekend. Laurie

Yahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Congratulations!!! Doin great! Kelly B.

Congratulations! I got all teary eyed reading your post! This truly is a gift of new life! It's the best thing we could ever do for ourselves. Praise God for giving our surgeons the gift to help us!

Thanks gals - I'm still just beeming from the race. I appreciate all of your kindness. Question now - do I go back to walking 3 miles daily or keep it at 4 miles as long as possible? Andrea

Hello Andrea, I am walking at 4 and a half now but there is days I only walk 3 i'm only doing it everyother day now because i been at a stand still for 2 months and I fineally broke it by only going everyother night your doing a great job Laurie

and..... YOU DID IT!!!! (WE all knew you would, you just had to prove to yourself! We have faith in you!) (((HUGS))) Elizabeth

WOW, ANDREA, WE ARE ALL SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love the part where you say, "I was't last". Keep up the good work. Smiles, Jan