amazing day

We lived through an amazing day today, folks. The kind of day that brings tears to your eyes. The kind of day that makes your heart swell with pride.

Chris ran his fourth marathon today in Dallas, TX...the White Rock Marathon. It was cold and rainy, but 15,000 people came out and ran their hearts out. Chris came into this one with a goal of running a 3:20 marathon. That would be shaving a whopping ten minutes off of his previous marathon time, and personal best, of 3:30. In running, it's pretty difficult to shave time off...so he thought that was an adventureous goal.

He also knew, in the back of his mind, that he needed to run a 3:10 marathon time to qualify for the Boston Marathon in his age group. He knew that he has trained incredibly hard this time around...that all of his speed workouts have really increased his speed...that he ran five 20-mile workouts this time instead of 2. He knew he was in the best shape he's ever been in. But to shave TWENTY minutes off of his personal best time? That seemed to be pretty extreme.

So he went into the run without much of a plan. And he was just going to listen to his body and see what happened.

The cool thing about this marathon this year is that Chris was able to sign up online for me to receive text messages along his run, as he crossed certain markers. I received 5 texts with his current pace, what mile he was at, and what his projected finish time was. This was so exciting...Aspen and I watched as his time got smaller and smaller...his pace got faster and faster...we couldn't believe it. So exciting!!!!

My husband crossed the finish line at 3:09:33. He came in just under what he needed to qualify for the Boston Marathon. HE QUALIFIED FOR BOSTON!!!!!!!! HE SHAVED TWENTY FREAKING MINUTES OFF OF HIS PERSONAL BEST TIME!!!!!

He is flabbergasted. He's smiling from ear to ear. He is on a huge high. And I love to see it. I love that he has impressed himself, because he is nearly impossible to impress. I love that all of his hard work has paid off. I love that he can do whatever he sets his mind to.

I love this man more than words can ever say...and I have never been more proud of him!!!!