Where to start.....I knew I did not have a good training cycle and that my plan was for a 3:45 - 4:00 training run. I had the time right but it really wasn't a training run. I had the absolutely, most perfect pre-race morning. Woke up feeling great, things took care of them self, got ready and reached the start issue free - that is a rarity for me. Thought it is going to be a good day and that lasted until about .5 mile into the race. I really struggled finding my groove and getting into the flow of a long run and the whole thing felt really forced even though the pace and effort was easy. Saw my husband at mile 7 and told him it wasn't good and I was contemplating how to not finish this thing. Stopped during mile 8 and used the POP and actually started feeling a little better and thought if I could get to the halfway point I would be fine. Previously that has been the turning point and I love the second half of marathons, not today. I started having lower back spasms between 12 & 13 that lasted up through about 17 and my calves started cramping right about 13. I stopped to stretch them at one point and got a charlie horse in my shin.....not a good sign. It was here that I started taking walk breaks of about 20 sec and then would run again. My running pace was fine, but the calves were killing me. At mile 18 they started being at least every 1/2 mile and the death march was on. I reached mile 20 and had a complete breakdown and cried for a mile and tried to just compose myself. I started actually having short spurts of feeling better but the cramping would return. When I reached the sign stating 1.5 miles left, my watch said 3:44 and I told myself to get my act together and finish before 4 hours. Just barely, but I finished. I was a wreck for the next 1/2 hour while I went through all the finishing stuff and fell apart again when I reached my husband. Bottom line, the time and experience was reflective of the training I put in and I am okay with that. I am dissapointed with my training but it was the best I could do with what was on my plate at that time. No regrets. Now to the interesting/fun stuff: - the Trials were amazing, see my Saturday post.....Can't say enough and I am in awe. Words cannot describe that experience. - They have a system of weighing runners pre/post marathon. I thought it was completely dorky and now I am completely fascinated. I lost 9 lbs during the race, despite drinking both water or gatorade at each stop. I want to know others details and differences during races..... -The city and citizens were extremely supportive of runners. We had people out cheering the entire time and great support, even for the crier - it was mortifying. - This was the most well organized race I have participated in, they did a great job managing 25,000 runners. Houston and I are not done, we will do this dance again with a much better outcome. I have a feeling there is a picture of me walking and I am tempted to buy it to remind myself of what I will not do again. It was an amazing weekend, I learned a lot and I left the trials Saturday inspired to train more, which is good because Sunday I realized how much more I need to train.
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