This was my very first Marathon- been running since the fall of 2002 and never had a desire to run one until this summer. I was VERY impressed with the way this race is put on. Super organized.
First off, I ran with a deep chest cold that showed up during the night while sleeping. I woke up at 12:30 am coughing and my lungs and throat full of sick lung butter. I freaked out. I thought running was going to be impossible. Slept terrible the whole night -feeling icky. I've since lost my voice and am coughing up gunk. Nice... (see yesterdays entry of a little sore throat). My friend Julie and I woke at 4 and we headed out at 4:40ish to eat the motel breakfast which was good. We loaded up on food and juice. Drank lot's of water yesterday and today. (believe me, Julie and I peed like camels all day yesterday).We got to Hardware ranch and went to the porta-potties immediately. After that we cruised to the warming tent to find the one and only Allie! It was sooooo funny. Inside the tent was pitch black and Julie hooks onto my arm so we don't get separated from each other in the crowded room. I'm being silly (in my lower sick chest cold voice) I say out loud : Okay Allie, where are you?" A girl walking in front of us in the dark tent flips around and who do you know? It was Allie!!!! That was the funniest moment of the morning -by far. We talked for a bit and watched the clocks for another bathroom break. After that it was run time! I went to the front of the line with Allie and Julie Esplin. Gun fires and were off! Allie took off, and I just knew, in my mind, that Allie was going to win. I just knew it. I ran with Julie Esplin for the first 15 miles. This was excellent for me. The pacing was perfect. Not to fast, but fast enough not to be passed by any Women. She and I talked a bit off and on,when our lungs allowed. I was a stickler about taking in fuel and grabbing drinks every chance I could, and that made a world of difference. About mile 8, I tossed my gloves. Mile 15 I took my long sleeve shirt off and tossed it on the roadside. I was running nice and cool after that. I normally run to music each day. This race I didn't turn on my headphones until mile 15. About mile 15 I stopped for about 10 seconds for a drink and ate half a banana. That's when I lost Julie Esplin. I wish I would not have stopped now. I think pacing her would have made more difference for me. She got a little further and further away from me from here on. I was a little bummed. But I refocused back to doing my best and keep my output going strong. Mile 17, in a full on run I busted out a snickers bar and pecked at that for extra umph. I passed a huge crowd who I am pretty sure noticed my bar. So I had some fun and screamed: "oh ya people, I'm running and eating a snickers!" Lot's of claps and cheers. :)
Since I kept reloading on the fuel and drink water and gatorade nearly every time it was offered, I felt good....until mile 19. Oh my rod. I thought death was at my doorstep for a few minutes there. So I popped half a no-doz. Mile 20 was the same. Somehow, mile 21 and 22 I felt way better. It was during mile 21 that I got a little crazy and silly an began singing my headphone songs aloud. Aid station 21 I ran past singing and as I pass I scream to a crowd: "oh ya peeps, I sing out loud when I run!!!". This got them going and I was being cheered and cheered. ha ha! I love to have fun! Ummm 23-26 was not easy. Constant turns and inclines, and running on the main St. was kind of awkward.You can feel many many eyes staring at you. The energy was the best at this race. THE BEST. I never really hit a huge wall until that last 3 miles- the death march. It was insane. I thought the finish would never come. But I kept plugging along. As I approached the finish with no female in front of me, and none behind me, I could see my sisters and family screaming for me. Such a pick me up! I looked up at the time-in a blur- and I see the clock closing out 3:08:58 and I booked it to the finish. I was so dilerious but so happy. There was some emotion, yep. I beat my goal time and Boston qualified and was the 11th of over 900 females. I don't think I could have asked for more. So happy. Love running.
Splits!: 6:28 6:31 6:39 6:48 6:49 6:43 6:54 6:34 6:46 6:47 6:45 6:35 6:34 6:37 6:42 6:52 7:04 7:13 7:32 7:56 7:28 7:34 8:29 8:18 8:14
| 