What do you get when you add 12,000 people with 26 miles? You get the marathon that happened yesterday in Louisville. You could also divide the 26 miles by 2 and get the mini marathon which many of those 12,000 people ran. I did not do any running, but Joshua completed his first marathon!! We got up at about 5:30am and drove with 2 friends from church to the starting line. 
Twelve thousand people is a whole lot of people! I stood with them in the midst of the runners until the mass of people started to swell forward. I waved them off and went to pick my spot on the route where I could see Joshua when he reached the 6 mile mark. About 35-40 minutes after the start of the race the "super" runners hit the 6 mile mark. They were running SO fast!!
Joshua was not part of this pack of the runners! I cheered on many runners as I waited to see him coming! He was doing great at 6 miles and I bid him farewell and left to meet him at the 10 mile mark. 
In between 6 and 10 miles the race path went through Churchill Downs...Joshua ran through the infield, which is the inside part of the racetrack. In the racetrack horses were practicing! While I was waiting for Joshua to get to the 10 mile mark I grabbed a hot chocolate since it was pretty chilly. I also go to enjoy some swing music being played by a live band on the side of the raceway! So fun!
My next stop was at mile 16. I had to park about a mile away so I got to enjoy a beautiful walk in one of the neighborhoods. There were so many dogwood trees blooming.
Joshua said at mile 16 that he was doing pretty well. His legs were the only thing starting to get tired. Friends from church were going to see him at mile 18 and I was going to see him next at mile 22!!
He was pretty bushed at 22 miles and was wondering why in the world he was doing this! I told him he couldn't quit now since he only had 4 miles left. He wouldn't have quit anyway but I was doing my best to encourage him on! As Joshua proceeded to run across the river to Indiana, I made my way to the finish line about 4 blocks away. 
It was exciting to see all the people that had finished and to anticipate seeing Joshua cross the finish line. Joshua had used the training time and the running of the race to reflect on the spiritual race the Christian is on. We press on to attain the prize! At the finish line there were people lined up cheering the runners on. There were young people and old people. There were some who glided across the finish line and there were those who limped across. There was an announcer who would say over the loudspeaker the names of the runners as they crossed the finish line. 
This made me think of how there are Christians of all ages who die and enter heaven and how amazing it is to think of the names of each one of those who has been kept by God til the end. Some have battled life's hardest battles and are limping to the gates while others have seen different trials but are not limping to the goal. The race has given both Joshua and I a greater sense of anticipation for the day that we leave this earthly tent and are finally united with Christ!! Well back to the marathon! Joshua finished in 5 hours and 20 minutes. And he was really sore. I made him take some Advil when we got home and he has recovered nicely-just over night he's felt much better!
