Aubree and I spent almost just as much time trying to figure out what to wear for this race as we did training! The alien costumes just weren't going to happen. Spring marathons are always a gamble. Last year in Boston it was 90 degrees! I guess I was thinking this marathon would be warm also because it is the same weekend as Boston. However, it was the complete opposite! In fact, the night before, there was so much FREEZING RAIN that the course had to be re-routed in and around neighborhoods. I didn't figure that out until mile 5 when I saw a mile marker that said something like 5, 12, 18. What!? Were we swimming laps in a pool?! I had to ask the people around me because I was totally confused. Finally the night before I figured I'd just wear what I've worn all winter during training - Ski socks, long pants, hat, gloves, a tank, long-sleeved t-shirt, and a think outer layer. I did actually put on running shoes instead of snow boots this time. haha The entire race didn't really feel like a race at all. It felt more like a long run to me. About mile 12, all the 10k, & half runners joined the course. It kind of clogged up the roads and I had to play frogger most of the time to get past people. This is where Aubree and I split up and she pulled ahead. I can't remember what I did as far as nutrition. I really like the Honey Stingers. I actually drank Gatorade this time. GU is harder and harder for me to swallow. I spent 2 miles slowly getting one down and then drank water. I packed cough drops to suck on, Advil, and a couple salt tabs. I really wished there was hot chocolate at the aid stations to warm my lungs. Mile 18 - COLD with wind and freezing rain again. This let up a little around mile 20. All the sweat and cold air after the race caused my lips to turn purple and teeth to chatter a little. Aubree and I along with all of the kids crammed in my little Civic at the finish line to stay warm while David and Addy ran the kids 1 mile. I was proud of those guys. They trained hard. Overall, I enjoyed this race. I really was not "racing." I ran at a comfortable pace, took long water breaks and tied my shoes a few times. The only split I saw was my 1/2 at 1:50. Like I've said in the past, I'm a baby and don't like to breath hard or feel a lot of pain. About 2/3rds into the race, a woman next to me asked me what my goal time was and I responded, "I don't know, what's yours." She answered 3:45 and I said that sounds good. It felt good running just for the sake of running with NO PRESSURE. I was pleased with my time. I'm writing this report a little after the fact... My perspective has changed since the recent events in Boston. Running a marathon seemed to lose significance when I thought of all those people in Boston who were affected and whose lives were changed forever. I also thought of Becca, Cheryl, and I standing in that same location last year cheering on finishing runners. I felt so much gratitude that my friends and family were OK, yet heart ache for others. I felt gratitude that I ran this cold/unrecognized marathon in Dearborn this weekend as opposed to Boston. Now I'm feeling like the only way I can fight back insanity like that is to really train hard and get a better time to make sure I can get into Boston next year to support the runners and families who were affected this year. | 