Blogger’s note: We are pleased to have our second guest blogger today! Mary Bryant, who was along for the 50 for 40 ride, is our Thankful Thursday installment. And of course, a thank you to her!

 

When Lowi and G invited us to write a bit about the O24, my mind began to race as I thought about the experience. It’s only been 5 days since we all met our goals in the most challenging thing I’ve ever done, and I’m only just now feeling back to normal! The sore muscles, physical and mental exhaustion, and bruised toes have eased, but my feeling of accomplishment and gratefulness will stay with me forever.

That is why instead of giving a step by step recap, I’d like to simply thank Lowi and G. Lowi and I have been friends for almost 20 years, and somewhere along the line, G and I became friends too. I’ve tagged along on several of their adventures over the years, and when Lowi mentioned G was planning this ultimate adventure, I was in!

The training began, and because we are spread all over the country, we logged our progress by checking in with each other daily. G is the ultimate coach…the perfect mix of patience, support and tough love when needed! Over the months, she gently pushed all of us to keep it up, and Lowi, Jill and I plugged along. I admire her so much for her determination and dedication, and she fully earned the name “Tenacious A”.

Jill is hands down the funniest person I have ever met! She kept us laughing, and I mean gut-busting LAUGHING the entire weekend! She is a great addition to our motley little group.

Lowi is my BFF (as our daughters would say), and 20 years of life’s highs and lows have been better because no matter what happens, our marathon phone conversations keep us sane.

Finally, I can’t end this little love fest without giving a shout out to Johnny Armani, Crew Chief Extraordinaire! With 30 years of ultra-running under his belt, and his easy going, cheerful, always smiling, often comical pep talks (Bruce Lee, Patron Saint of Self Defense!), Johnny Armani was the PERFECT person to help us meet our goals. Honestly, I never would have made it without him! None of us had to think. We just did as he said and kept moving. And when Jill, Lowi and G finished before me, I had two more miles to go…Johnny Armani did them with me, making me laugh until the last ¼ mile, when I started bawling because I was DONE! So thank you, Johnny Armani, for helping to make this experience epic! Can’t wait to see the movie!

So THANK YOU to Lowi, G, Jillary, and Johnny Armani. I am looking forward to the next time Lowi casually mentions “So G was thinking….” I am SO in!