^{PLACE & TIME:}  Robin 4th Place; 1:30.13*

(Pictures Coming Soon...)

I get up early Sunday morning knowing this race is in the hands of the Lord.  I have a lot of physical factors working against me and if I meet my goal of running 1:30 it will be a total gift from God.  Just a week before I ran 20 miles hard with Team JaS (Jami and Sherwick) in the Napa marathon.  The day before, Troy, I, the Frey Family (John, Steph and Bobby) and a couple local teens moved all of our stuff into our new house in Auburn.  The day involved many trips up and down the steep driveway, stairs to the front door and the stairs to our second floor.  Troy did his best to minimize my loads and insisted that I rest from time to time. 

I scavenge around for my race equipment and nutrition products in a number of boxes.  I cannot find any "GU" which is basically sugar in a packet for race energy and find "Hammer Gel" which is a much healthier version.  I pour it into a flask and decide to carry it in my hand.  As we are leaving, Troy tells me to look for my racing flats (a lighter shoe for races).  Oh man, this could take a while.  Bingo!  The first box I open contains the shoes...yes!  Thank You Lord!  That's Awesome!

We drive to West Sacramento to Raley Field which is home to a minor league baseball team.  The race finishes on the field...so cool!  It's a beautiful day!  Thanks God!  We find a great spot next to the field.  Tim Schendne of the Running Revolution in Campbell is here, too, racing. It makes me feel at home knowing someone.  I get checked in and go for a run in my racing flats.  I realize that I forgot to put my orthotics in my shoe and go back to look for Troy and Anna.  I can't find them so I decide to complete my warm-up.  I come back to what I think is our meeting spot and still no Anna and Troy.  I try to wait patiently but I find myself stressing out. If I don't get my orthotics, I'll get injured!  I hear God telling me that I will get the orthotics but to just be patient.  It's almost time for the race to start.  I ditch my sweats in a bush and go to the start.  There's Troy and Annna...all is good!  Why did I stress?  I have my orthotics...thanks God!

We pray and I give Anna and Troy kisses.   I find my place on the starting line.  I see Jim from Forward Motion in Danville.  He ran the 10K with me in Davis.  He's making wonderful progress coming back from a broken femur.  Dinger the Cat, the Rivercats mascot is at the race start and I can see Troy and Anna walking over to him to say hi.  Anna is really interested from a distance.  Daddy tries to take a picture of Anna with Dinger.  Uh-oh!  She doesn't like that idea and breaks out in tears.  A young girl nearby comes over to help console Anna...so cute!  I wave and shout to Anna and she smiles...ah, what a sweet heart!

The race is starting any minute and I realize that I need a bathroom.  Uh-oh!  I'll have to wait.  I'm not stressing this time.  God came through before and He'll come through again.  Maybe He'll help me make it the whole race or provide a key porta-potty along the way.  On your mark, go!  2140 of us are off.  Within the first mile we cross the famous Tower Bridge and head towards the capital building...hey Arnold!  This course is full of lots of turns and at the first turn I can see a lot of strong girls ahead and a few girls are passing me.  Wow, what great competition!  I have a Garmin GPS watch on again.  Like last week for the Napa Marathon, Troy set the "virtual partner".  He's set to run a little slower pace, 1:32?, so I just need to stay ahead of that guy who is nameless today.  Unfortunately I haven't figured out how to see each individual mile split.  I plan on making the calculations in my mind along the way...I hope my brain can process those numbers later on when I'm tired.

I see Troy and Anna ahead.  I give them a smile and shout out "Anna".  It's so nice to see them!  I really need a restroom!  I see a porta-potty ahead.  I'm going to go for it.  I just passed mile 2 on pace so I'll have to hustle to get back on pace after this stop.  I run over there and see that all the bathrooms are full...shucks!  Okay Lord, I know you can help me through this discomfort!  Mile 3 is right on and I'm feeling good.  Thanks Lord!  Please help me keep this going.  We make another turn and head back towards the bathroom.  Maybe this is my chance!  As I approach, I can see a huge line has formed.  There's no time to stop.  No worries, it will work out somehow.

Mile 4 is another good one.  I'm waiting for reality to set in.  I'm wondering if my legs are going to hold.  We cross over Tower Bridge and I see Troy and Anna again.  Anna puts her hand out for a high 5 and I squeeze it on my way by.  It's always uplifting to have them cheering(=  Mile 5 and 6 are good.  At a water station I ask for an energy drink.  I can see the last volunteer freeze at the request.  Before he says anything I'm running past him.  Realizing I won't see fluids for a while so I reach back and grab the water in his hand at the last second.  I didn't even say thanks because I was so focused on getting what I wanted.  Immediately I realize the error and tell God I'm sorry for this desperate move.  I vow to take the time to say thanks.

Mile 7 is on pace again!  Wow, this is good!  I don't feel mentally or physically strained yet.  I actually don't even need the restroom anymore.  God, You are so good!  Thanks!!  We are running up on a levy and I can see the first runner going by below!  Wow, he's almost 2 miles ahead of me already!  That's some fast running...less than 5:30 per mile!  Just then a girl comes flying by like she was shot out of a cannon!  She must have been saving her energy.  Look at her go!

Mile 8 is another good one!  Just past mile 8 is the turnaround for the course.  I can see how the front runners are doing.  There are several girls ahead looking unstoppable!  Wow, you go girls!  I see Tim too and urge him on.  A little further see a few other girls within reach and I'm tempted to pick it up significantly.  I patiently stick to the pace not knowing if I'm going to shut down at this current pace.  

Mile 9 is good!  Mile 10 is good!  I actually pass a few girls that I saw at the turnaround!  Thanks God! 

Uh-oh, this isn't feeling so good now!  Lord, be my strength!  I don't want to have to run another 1/2 Marathon to get my benchmark goal.  Please, Lord, help me to hold on!  Mile 11 is off by a few seconds and I have to strain to pick up the pace.  Mile 12 is off even more!  Come on, push!!

I see Troy and Anna ahead on an overpass.  It's a struggle running up to them.  Oh boy!  Troy tells me to use the downhill on the other side and I do.  I smile and wave goodbye and push hard to go faster this last mile.  Lord, help!  We have to run around the outside of Raley Field to get onto the field.  As I approach the gate, I give it all I have.  I can see 1:29 on the clock at the finish.  Go!!  I sprint for the finish and see 1:30:15 as I cross the line!  That's a PR!  Yes!!  Thank You Lord!  I say a prayer of thanksgiving and praise!  Wow, He actually made it work out so perfectly!

I find Troy and Anna and we hug and kiss(=  Troy and I say another prayer of thanksgiving and praise!  What a day, what a day!  Even with all the challenges of moving, the Lord gave me a PR!  I'm in awe!