Sunday I got to see my first Olympic sport – women's marathon – and it was purely by accident. I was going to the Tower of London, and it started raining so hard (way worse than Seattle rain) that even this hardcore Seattleite had to take cover. It turned out the women's race was running through the area. They had a great route through the heart of London that they ran three times. So there I was, standing under the eaves with a lot of people in the rain, cheering them on. It was a great way for people to see an Olympic event without having to hold a ticket. There were a lot of families there with their children on their shoulders, creating amazing memories for them.

Photo by Heather Deranek

When they came past, it was inspiring. The shape they are in and the speed at which they went was amazing, especially given the rough conditions. The bells were ringing during their race over by London Bridge, and it gave me goosebumps! It is truly amazing to see people in the top of their sport out there representing their country. Overall I'd say it was a very motivating yet humbling experience.