7 Hour Time Limit!

All participants must be able to finish the marathon within seven hours. In order to do so, runners in the marathon will need to maintain a minimum average pace of 16 minutes per mile.

7 hours! I would need 5 days. I figured I could maybe handle around five miles a day with a lot of resting and maybe a nap or two. Now I could complete the 26.2 miles in a couple of days if I traveled at night. I seem to be able to walk father at night than during the day. But either way there is no way that I could travel 26.2 miles in 7 hours. Who would want too? I don't even like driving 26 miles if I don't have to. Saturday while attending the marathon expo so Ken could get his runners pack which includes his race shirt, number bib that pins to his shirt and other goodies. I was shocked how many runners there was. Now the line for the half marathon was out the door down the side walk. We full marathon people got to go all the way to the front in a very short line. Christopher told his dad thanks for running the full marathon after seeing the much shorter line. Most of the runners are very thin people so I bet we had some comments when they saw us walking around. I thought I should have gotten a sign to put on that said just a supporter not a runner. A funny site at the expo was several cars on display by Saturn a sponsor. why I thought it was funny is cause the people there don't like driving they want to run every where. But I guess they knew lazy smart people like me would enjoy viewing there cars. I can't forget my fifteen year old that very much enjoyed the test seating (no where to test drive) the cars. Oh yea! did you know there are snickers health energy bars, I saw them they had them out for you to try. This one man came back for another one telling the man behind the table how good they are. Did I try it heck NO I don't like regular snickers (don't like peanuts). I could go on and on at the wonders they sell healthy people. Yes, Mom I took notes......

KEN DID IT!

My husband Ken and Kay Milligan's Son in Law
finish another 26.2 mile marathon. Christopher (my son) and I are very proud. This was his 3rd marathon and he said his last! He told me that after his first marathon, but said today he means it this time. I thought he came home in better shape than I thought he would be in. He is very sore and has blisters and skin irritations, and his lower back gave him trouble for over half the race. Last half of the race he had to run and walk to the finish. He was disappointed in his time but I think just finishing it is wonderful. At the 20 mile mark his time was 4hrs and 16 min. Ken, I know you had to run a slower pace today but I am very proud of you for running and finishing the race when at the end at the few miles it was not easy. You might not have finished in the time you set for yourself but you finished. There are many runners who could not say that tonight. Congratulation, I love you very much.

Few facts from the marathon:

* Unseasonably warm temperatures met the 15,000 runners for the inaugural ING Georgia Marathon and half marathon. Representing all 50 states and 25 countries, the sold out field proceeded their tour of Atlanta and its surrounding communities, joining everyone in a day long celebration.
* Ken said the time was at the six min. mark before he could even get to the starting line because of all the runners ahead of him.
* Man's winner, Joseph Chirlee, winning in 2:19:17 (pace of 5:19).
* Women's winner, 24 year old Valentina Levushkina from Russia winning in 2:41:25 (pace 6:13).
* A 74 year old man from Lawrenceville, GA. who finished at 6:59:27 (pace of 15:34).

Dear Family,

I am sorry for getting so behind writing on the blog. The sheet that I have every body's birth dates, anniversary and so on has been misplaced so I now need to find it or go thru all my stuff to make a new one. I was already behind but this has really set me back. So if I have not wished you a Happy Birthday stay tuned I will try to play catch up the next few weeks... hopefully.

Happy St.Patrick's Day!