Jim,

I know this will just about make you want to throw up...but I am going to say it regardless.

Thank you for your guidance, training, and support during the past months of training.  I know I had tons of questions and had a lot of self-doubt.  I appreciate your patience and backing me up when I questioned my ability.

I really had no idea how I would do.  I did put in the time...I followed your schedule and I did push myself...but I still questioned my potential and your assurance in what I could do.  I could not get it out of my head that these girls had done this so many times before and done it well...and I was the new kid on the block. 

Your goal of a 7:30 mile for 13 miles seemed so out of my league.  The first time you wrote that I only assumed I would let you down...that your expectations and confidence of me were far greater than I had for myself.  I laughed when I first saw it.

Jimmy...the first thing I thought about as I passed a friend of mine who led this group of girls...and as I crossed that finish line ...was that I owed so much of my success to you and your knowledge and training.  I did the work and I put in the time...but you knew what it would take for me to do this...and you knew by my times what I was capable of doing...and you knew that if I put in the effort...a 7:30 could be run.

Truth is...and I mean this not to brag but just to let you know...I could have done better.  That last mile I had more gas in me than I used.  I did hold back for the sake of my friend...because she was the one who helped me a lot...taught me a lot of hands on running strategies...and took the time to explain a lot of things that I had questions about.  She paced me the whole race...and I do feel that I went faster by running with her.  

I struggled with knowing what to do in the end.  I had more in me then I used...and she knew it.  I kept getting ahead just by using my adrenaline...and she didn't keep up...so I held back.   It wasn't until the very last 100 yds. that I sprinted ahead just a tad...and even then I felt incredibly guilty about doing that.

I guess what I am trying to tell you is that when I look back on the last few months...you told me all along...but I doubted myself.  It wasn't until 9:39 on Sunday morning that I realized that you were right all long. 

Thank you for having the confidence in me and for helping me out.  Throughout the entire race...up the hills...during the tough spots...I would think about that question you asked me... whether I was going to choose to be a  pretender or a champion.  That got me up the hills and through those unbearable moments...because there was no way I was going to be a pretender!

I look forward to learning more...and I do now have a different attitude...a better attitude...not a cocky attitude...but I do believe that if I put in the time and the effort...I can achieve more than I thought I could. 

Thanks Jim!

Andy

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