Claudia Sanchez didnít need to hit her alarm at 5 a.m. on the morning of March 5, the day of the 15^thannual Los Angeles  Marathon. Just hearing the rain beat against the window pane was enough to wake the dead. While the rain thrashed against the ground and the wind arched the trees into shapes like bowing giants, she thought to herself "Is this what its going to be like?. Do I really want to do this?"

Nothing she had accomplished in the previous months prepared her for this foul weather. Her resolve sank as she dressed and then placed her left foot and then her right foot into her running shoes.

Sanchez, an assistant programmer in the staff development department of Valley College, didnít want to avoid joining approximately 23,000 other marathon participants in the 26.2 mile run because of the rain. She just hoped it would stop before she started running.

"I didnít train for running in the rain," Sanchez said. "When it rained, I usually didnít train, but I wish I had."

Traveling to her destination to meet up with the L.A. Leggers, a premier running/walker club in Santa Monica, she observed the flooded roads and the large pools of water flowing over high curbs, and the windshield wipers moving back and forth trying to keep the rain at bay as it poured down like a waterfall over the car.

"I met up with other L.A. Leggers at the Bonaventure," she said. "When I arrived they were stretching and checking supplies for carrying during the race. Just being with them lifted my spirits."

Sanchez said all the L.A. Leggers continued to encourage each other as they gathered outside at the start line. Some of them began the race knowing they had injuries and were going to drop out. This was their way of showing support, she said.

"While I was waiting I observed other runners holding umbrellas, wearing ponchos and garbage bags to protect themselves from the rain," Sanchez said. "It was a strange sight."

Electricity filled the air as everyone waited for the start gun she said. After it sounded people appeared to move in slow motion. Beginning to run she could feel the heaviness of the poncho she was wearing as it hung around her body it inhibiting her. Discarding the poncho she felt lighter which allowed her to move more freely. Her shoes were soaked making squishing sounds as she ran.

"I was swimming in my shoes," Sanchez said. "Part of my strategy was thinking of how to avoid the large puddles of standing water."

As the rain continued to cascade she said she thought it would never stop. Her skin was chilled from the rain, but her adrenaline helped keep her warm, and as she stretched her legs out in front of her the momentum of her run began.

"After setting my pace, I began to observe other things around me," she said. "People dressed in bright yellow banana skins, people on the sidewalks holding colorful flags, people handing out water and giving encouragement, and music playing from homes."

She said she was impressed and encouraged by the young kids, mothers with strollers and even older people running alongside her. Inspiration came from other L.A. Leggers who encouraged each of her by saying she could make it, just keep going. She felt this was the incentive she needed to keep her focused on her gait as she ran towards the finish line.

"Iíd kept my pace pretty steady throughout, but as I neared the 24^th mile, I couldnít breath, my legs were cramping," Sanchez said. "Thatís when my mentor from the L.A. Leggers was at my side. He asked me what I needed. I was handed a banana and drank some Gatorade that I had saved for such a moment. This gave me the burst I needed and I again determined to reach the finish line."

As the pain and exhaustion pressed itself upon her, she could see the finish line. A pounding thud sounded in her ears as she placed each foot in front of her. Her eyes looked straight ahead keeping her focused on her goal.

"I just couldnít give up," she said. "I was so near."

Sanchez ran the marathon in 4 hours, 47 minutes. As she felt the ribbon of the medal being placed over her head, Sanchez realized her goal with the "never give up spirit," she said.

"It was a great experience," Sanchez said. "At first it took a lot of training both in time, and costs, but I realize now that if I hadnít succeeded, that I could make other excuses not to accomplish things in my life."