May Queen to Tabor, Tabor to Finish 14 miles!

I got to May Queen around 4:40am... My crew was expecting me to be there little bit later, so I had few minutes to wait for next pacer Yukiko.  She pulled me next 7 miles in the trail along Turquoise lake.  We still had to use a head lamp but it was getting lighter out.  I looked at the lake, and it was beautiful... The low clouds over the water, and sunrise were just amazing!  Despite of the joy of the beautiful scenery, my pain in my shin and feet was reaching over my threshold.


Turquoise lake

Yuki, my boyfriend, who is an awesome pro-mountain biker, was the next pacer at Tabor to take me to the finish.  I was looking forward to have Yuki to pull me over last 7 mile stretch.  I felt like this trail lasts forever.... I could not see the Tabor where Yukiko and Yuki switched.  I was in severe pain.. I was not talking...

Finally, I saw my crew!



Thank God!  Team Junko



Yuki was ready to go!  Let's run last 7 miles!!  Why not!

 Yuki was ready to go!!  We Team Junko all looked each other said " last 7 miles!!  Let's meet at the last mile marker, and run together to the finish!!  see you there!"
Yuki said " let's run last 7 miles"  He is such a competitive guy.. I knew he would say that!  I said " Why not!  Suck it up!  I will finish strong" 
We started running( at jogging pace, yeah!)... Most of the runners were walking... We passed lots of people. It was not important to pass people for me.  I just wanted to finish strong.  We ran through the Blvd and long jeep road to the pavement which is almost one mile to the finish.  As we almost got to the pavement road, I saw Dan and Amy, dear friends, Amy, such a great runner, was walking.. she was having hard time controlling HR and breathing.  I could not hold myself, crying... Amy and Dan gave me huge hug.  I saw Team Junko, and we all ran together the last mile, holding hands up!!!  Yeah... We did it!!  Way under the cut-off time.  28:35:14 ... Thank God.. It is OVER!



Team Junko... 2 more coming...




Finish!!



Amy and Me



I got the buckle and pendant!!

I never wanted to quit even once!  I was running for achieving my goal and also even bigger, I was running for people who believed in me, donated to Susan Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer.  I had a huge mission to accomplish " make an closure to my cancer experience!!"  I did it! 

Thank you for all my friends who cheered me on along the way, and helped me to get there! 
Special thanks to Team Junko- Yukiko, Kenji, Kei, and Yuki!  My team was the best!!  Everything was perfect. Crewing, feeding, pacing worked perfectly!!! My team had everything I needed.  I could not have done it without Team Junko. I hope they will crew me again for next time( did I say next??).

Thank you from bottom of my heart!



No blisters!!  but destroyed my left ankle and shin!
Now I know my weakness! work on it! ha!


Junko