Hi guys.
I did this race on Sunday - in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Here is an excerpt from the report I posted on another list and hope that it is not too long:
All week long, I have been stressing. This marathon has notoriously poor weather conditions - in 2005, for example, it had weather reminicent of this year's Boston Marathon.
I swore that I would not race, or even train, in the rain, I am too big, too unsteady on my feet, the risk of slipping and injury is too great at this size, yada, yada.
Sunday morning, the rain was not as heavy, but steady, and I was in tears. I did not even put my chip on until we go to the race venue. I told everyone that I just was not going to start if it was like that at race time. At the same time, I desperately wanted to do the race and was certainly not looking for an excuse. I packed up my gear and went with the family.
This has become a real family affair for us. My father in law was a course marshall, right on a very key corner where he could see everyone, quite close to the finish line. My mother in law was out there with him. She told me that she would walk to the end with me if I got there, but neither of them expected to see me due to the rain.
My sister in law, Bonnie, was doing the half. She is the sweetest woman on planet earth, hugged me and told me that nobody would think any the less of me if I did not start. I told her I would just remain right there in that building, but I did get her to put my chip on, just in case.
I just sat there, watching everyone else gear up.
I got up and went to the volunteer lounge, asking if I could help out somehow if I did not start.
I sat, thought, then finally hauled out my gear and checked the bag. I left by the side entrance (runners were not allowed to use the front) and stressed that I would probably be back, that they told me I could stay in the volunteer lounge and help, and everyone told me that I would be able to enter again if that were the case. I walked up and pulled up my hood immediately, steady rain.
(Thank heavens for my Disney poncho).
I was really afraid to start.
So why did I?
There is always something for me that gets me to start even when I don't know if I can complete the race. At Disney (as I have shared before), it was an old lady with a cane, and a race number, going way slower than me. Here it was my father in law - out there for three plus hours in the pouring rain in the middle of his first round of chemo. I figured my petty little issues were nothing in comparison to this, he was the one who had the right to sulk at the deal life handed him, not me, my issues were largely self inflicted.
I needed to overcome this fear and step out.
So I did.
I never have trained in the rain - ever.
It rained steadily the whole time. With the help of my coach, Jeanne, I link up with my mother in law, eventually my husband too and make it to the end. They run out of 5k medals (green ribbon) and so I get one of the kids' medals (orange). Oh well, at least I have two different colours now.
Although my time is deplorable, I feel pleased today. I broke down a big wall, I think, and am no longer afraid of the rain.
P.S. Guess what came out after the race - the sun of course. It finally stopped raining right at the finish line!
The reason I thought of this list is because of your WISH shirts - not only was I DFL, but I set all new records for slowness (just me and the ambulance driver - lol). But DFL was better than DNS and I am glad I did.
Linda
I hope you are very proud of yourself! Think about how many people were still in bed when you were racing! Way to go!!!
Are you sure you have to be a resposible adult and not come my way?
You should be soooo proud of yourself!! We are all so proud of you. Like someone else said, you embody the spirit of WISH! Really looking forward to hearing about your next event. Oh, and regardless of the color of that ribbon -- that is definitely "rod-worthy"!!! 
-- what a darling!)
