The long weekend is coming to a close. I spent a couple days of it in the wonderful area of Traverse City, Michigan. Was it crazy? Yes. Was it busy? Yes. Was it crazy busy? Oh heck yes! I drove in Friday evening for packet pick-up for the 30th Annual Bayshore Marathon Series, and despite some of the people driving like bats out of hell, the ride from Grayling over went relatively smoothly.

You know, until I arrived at Traverse City Central High School. Sure, I decided to go pick up my packet for the half marathon during the hours they told everyone to avoid (5-7pm), and maybe I just wanted to prove to myself that I haven't lost my city driving skills, but despite having to wait 15 minutes to turn left back onto the main drag, I'm glad I went when I did.

I ended up at G's Pizzeria located just over the grassy knoll of the Quality Inn and embarked on Carbs: The Gathering. The spaghetti with Italian sausage & marinara, plus their breadsticks definitely filled me up and helped me get through the race on Saturday.

The weather people kept calling for rain, then sun, then rain, then sun, then.. well yeah, you get the point. The temperature was fluctuating from mid 60s to mid 80s to 60s to 80s to.. basically, I packed four different possible outfits for the race as to be prepared. What ended up happening? The sun rose gorgeously over the bay, remained out for most of the race, and it never rained a drop the whole time I was on the course.

It was a great race, especially since I hadn't trained at all for it, had been contemplating not doing it, and then ended up out-of-bodying the first 9 miles. Around mile 10 I actually finally consciously came to and realized that I had in fact gotten out of bed at 4am, got on two buses, and had started walking down Old Mission Peninsula. This is when I lost my game mentally. The last 3.1 miles of the race seemed endless. I kept hearing people say, "You're almost there!" Don't lie to me, spectators! Having two miles to go doesn't count as "almost there" in my book. What kept me going? The runners on the course.

See, I'm a walker. Some runners regard walkers as less than worthy of competing in distance races. But this race, any time I stopped to stretch my hamstrings or calves, someone would say, "No way, keep moving, there's ice cream at the finish line!" Through the whole race, runners told me I was doing a good job. These were MARATHONERS who were telling me, like one of the last half marathoners on the course, that I was doing a good job. It kept me going. The whole time.

As I neared the finish line, I began to cry. I'm not sure if it was because my brain was telling me I wasn't going to make it for 3.1 miles, and that I was stupid for being out there, and that I didn't belong out there on the course, and my heart was like, "Shut the hell up, Brain!" and then beat it into submission. Or if it was the fact that I refuse to not finish things that I start, but as I slowly crossed the finish line, pushed the stop button on my Nike+ and received my medal, I realized that I'm capable of ANYTHING I put my mind to.

Here a blog. There a blog. Everywhere a blog-blog. 

This is one of my numerous attempts at keeping some "track" of my comings and goings. These items may be thoughts, pictures, gripes, celebrations, or whatever other type of topic I can come up with.

I don't necessarily write FOR an audience -- but I do. Like right now, that intro above? Yeah, that was written to maybe reel some people in. But in general, I write what I think, and I write how I talk. I'm a blunt and honest person -- I cause all sorts of trouble on Facebook with items I post and opinions I keep.

Basically, I'm beginning to realize a lot of things about myself that are going to eventually lead to me making some rather "drastic" changes in my life. These are all good things, to/for me, but probably not so good for others. However, I can't live my life for others anymore. And I surely can't continue to keep up with the notion that I have to fit into some ideal of how others want me to be if it makes their lives easier.

Screw that noise. So I leave you with this (ha, writing for an audience again!)...

Who is KimmayLou? Well, that's up to you if you want to find out.