Today’s 44 was another multi-move exercise!!!  I started in a lunge – 

Staying in a partial lunge the entire time, I did a row –

and then I opened to a fly.

After completing 44 with my right arm, I had to switch and do 44 more with my left arm.

I used an 8 pound dumbbell which was a challenging weight by the end!!!

I decided to do another forgotten DVD today – TaeBo Amped – Express Sculpt.  The amped workouts use this cool stick or “amplifier” –

The amplifier can be used in the shortened form or extended to look like this – 

This workout was 45 minutes and it isn’t  very cardio heavy (not like most TaeBo workouts) but using the amplifier is a great way to really make your shoulders burn!!  

Yesterday I was in Ft. Worth, TX to watch my sister-in-law, Stacy, run her first marathon.  

Start – Between the half, full and ultra which all started at the same time, there were about 30,000 runners and all I can say is – WOW!!!  The start was actually pretty well organized with 8 corrals.  I was in a great position right at the corner for the first turn (about 100 m in).

So, Stacy and her running partner, Anna are looking fresh and ready for the race here.

After the start, I coordinated with Sam (Stacy’s husband/my brother) and he picked me up so that we could get to our first view point.

Mile 4 – the runners were still in one huge pack at this point and it was hard to pick out Stacy but we did see her!!

I think that it was a nice place to stop for a second since they were half-way up a long hill!!!  Both Stacy and Anna were still smiling at this point – all good!!

From here, we had to figure out our next view point (and feed the kids!!).  Getting from place to place was a challenge since so many roads were blocked off.

Mile 10 – this was the point where the half marathon runners were being directed to stay to the right and it was still very crowded.  This time, I managed a picture before they got all the way to us!

Anna had enough of the long sleeves so she handed her shirt over to me when they passed.

After we cheered for them and many others, we let the kids explore the water gardens for a bit and then headed to our next view point.

Mile 15.8 – This was a fun wait!!  There were some other people cheering for runners and we had a great time yelling for people.  Hays and Isabel decided to encourage runners here.

This might have been the first time I cried during the day – it was so amazing to watch the runners switch over so that they could give the kids “5.”   Stacy and Anna were still running strong and seemed to be doing well when we saw them.  

One lady had a huge fan group here and when she came into sight and saw them she did a cartwheel – awesome!!!  I watched another lady stop and hug her baby before continuing on – so many emotions watching all these runners!

Mile 20 – I think that mile 20 was my favorite spot!! (and sadly, the only one where I didn’t take any pictures)  We were at this spot for close to 30 minutes and I had a great time cheering for all the runners.  At this point, they either looked really strong or completely over the whole thing!  

The funny thing about getting to watch and cheer – so many people said thanks for coming out and encouraging them – I don’t think they realized how incredible the experience was for me as a spectator!!!

Mile 26 – Sam, Hays and Isabel found a view point so that they could see Stacy cross the finish line but I went further out.  I was close to the 26 mile point (so they still had to run those long last 0.2 miles) and make one final turn.  

I think I was here for over 45 minutes and this was by far the most emotional part of the entire day for me.  Watching so many runners realize how close they were to completing the marathon – for some their first and for others one of many – but all were happy!!

I saw runners crying, spectators running with them.  Some runners were jubilant and others were just gutting out that last little bit but all had one thing in common – they were marathoners!  

Tired but excited and so close to completing their very first marathon!!!

I didn’t see them actually cross the line but I heard the announcer as he read their names!!!

WooHoo!!!  Watching the race was an awesome experience and I’m so happy for Stacy (and Anna).

I wasn’t totally prepared for the emotional experience that it would be for me.  I always thought that I was OK with not actually racing a marathon – now I’m not so sure.

By the time I got home last night I was completely exhausted and felt like I had crammed at least a week into Saturday and Sunday but I would do it all again!!!

Do you get emotional as a spectator at a race?

Happy Monday!!

Kim