Crossing the Line...

It's just over two weeks since the big race, and there is still a little part of me that cannot believe it.

I ran a half-marathon (and I didn't come in last)!

More than 17,000 people ran the half-marathon with us, with an additional 10,000+ running the full marathon. (My hat is off to them, because when I got to mile 10.5, where the marathon runners split from the half-marathoners, I was ready to saw both of my legs off at the knees; the thought of running another 15.7 miles would have sent me over the edge.) I felt interchangeably great and lousy (and let's not talk about how I felt afterward), but ultimately, I felt—and still feel—incredibly proud.



My team—Wayne Ference, Rob Graveline, Brigid McEvilly and I—raised more than $16,000 to benefit the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. Thanks to the generosity of so many of our friends, family, colleagues and clients, this money will go directly to try and find cures for these diseases and help those suffering from them.

This truly is one the greatest things I've ever accomplished. I'm forever indebted to everyone who provided encouragement, good vibes, training tips and support every step of the way, especially those who sent me messages via Facebook or Twitter while I was making my way through those 13.1 miles.



I'm grateful to Dani Rogers at CCFA for managing the Team Challenge program for the DC area. Everyone on Team DC truly benefited from the amazing encouragement and support she provided. From the weekly supportive emails to the sign she put on our hotel room door to send us on our way that Sunday morning, she was a big part of why we ran and why we finished.

I'm grateful to Uzzi, Brigid, Q and Jag from FT Tysons for training me to have the physical stamina to cross the finish line and the self-confidence to believe I could. They truly were (and are) my partners in this success.

Most of all, I'm grateful to Rob, for running alongside me and giving me the encouragement that I needed when the last few miles seemed insurmountable. At Mile 12, I told him that "everything hurt but my heart, which knows I can do this," and he helped me channel that energy when I needed it most. It was Rob who planted the seed in our heads that we could run this race, so it seemed only fitting that he be there as I crossed the finish line. Thank you!!