For Oklahoman columnist Carrie Coppernoll, finishing 7,361st feels close to finishing 1st

Sunday morning was 45 degrees, rainy and somewhere between horrible and miserable. My feet squished along for 13.1 miles. After the first block, sidestepping puddles was pointless.

I was jealous of everyone who remembered to wear trash bags as makeshift raincoats.

Moisture-wicking clothing can only wick so much moisture.

Normally I don't mind being the slowest runner out there, but I didn't want to spend any extra minutes outdoors Sunday.

I still had 9 miles to go when the fastest woman, Stillwater resident McKale Davis, crossed the finish line to win the half marathon. I still had 5 miles to go when the average half-marathon runner finished.

I felt embarrassed by how far back I was. I was behind people who walked the entire way, people who walked backward, people who stopped to dance. Some people passed me several times after they'd taken bathroom breaks or lingered at water stops. The couple that got married at Mile Marker 6 passed me twice.