20 miles. DONE!

let's examine the positives:
+ great soundtrack
+ functioning nike +
+ gorgeous view of the chicago skyline at sunset and at night
+ great pace--finished with an average mile 9:49 pace (paused for a stretch at mile 12)
+ amazing personal moments at mile 10 (sober, k. clarkson) and 19 (marchin on, one republic)
+ ran TWENTY MILES when i could've run 18
+ felt mostly strong and energetic

the less than amazing aspects:
- knees hurt like a mother
- cold
- ten miles of crazy chicago wind going against me for the last TEN miles (WHAT THE HELL?)
- finished the run and post-euphoria almost threw up in walgreens of dehydration
- my whole body hurts

too tired to finish. but i did RUN TWENTY MILES. i am awesome and ready for the marathon.

k took the pic of me after finishing. i look heinous but the joy is evident.

i'll leave with the lyrics of the song that popped up at mile 19.2:

We'll have the days we break
And we'll have the scars to prove it
We'll have the bombs that we saved
And we'll have the heart
Not to lose it

For all of the times we fought
For all of the things I'm not

Oh!
You put one foot in front of the other
We move like we ain't got no other
We go where we go we're marchin on
Marchin on

There's so many wars we fought
There's so many things we're not
But with what we have
I promise you that
We're marchin on
We're marchin on
Right Right Right Right Left
Right Right Right Right Left
Marchin On