Success.

I did it.

I ran the National Half-Marathon yesterday.

I ache all over, my quads are stiff as boards, but

I'm delighted through and through.

Nothing feels so good as achieving a goal. It was exhilarating. The months of training paid off. My biggest fans cheered me into the finish line: Brian, Ella, Samantha and my parents.

These are the lovely ladies I had the privilege of running with. We loaded up on pasta the night before at Gina's home.

Me, Laura (who ran the half with me), Gina (ran the full marathon), Debbie (friend of Jackie's who flew in on Friday to cheer) and Jackie (who also ran the full).

And of course Laura and I afterwards...a little dazed, but delighted.

This picture of me with the girls after the race is amusing. Ella is wrapped in my blanket and Samantha is eating my banana after I'm the one who ran 13 miles. A mother's love knows no bounds.

People keep asking me what my next race will be. I don't know the answer to that yet. But today, as I waddle around, I have little interest. I'm hoping that the effects of running a race are similar to childbirth. After you go through it, you are convinced you don't want to endure that pain again. But then as time passes, the memory of the accomplishment and sheer joy from the experience is what lingers. And that ends up being enough to do it again.

We'll see.