Ran my second marathon on a gravel trail called the Frisco. Started out as a strong race on pace to beat my first marathon time. Felt good and strong and then out of no where I started to feel my body slow down and every movement became forced. Could feel my pulse in my head. My finger tips felt strange. It was only mile ten. Sixteen more miles to go. I thought about quitting, but decided I should at least run thirteen. Felt like it took forever to get to mile thirteen. Got there not feeling any better but decided I am half way, pain is temporary, quitting lasts forever, and I wanted another finishers medal for my collection. I closely watched my watch to make sure I was walking and jogging fast enough to make the seven hour cut off. Every step felt like it was on needles because of blisters that had formed on my feet. I made little goals "I will run to that pole and then walk a little. Ok I'm close enough." A older man (71- I am 28) caught up to me and we visited for about 4 miles. Talked about how we both had planned on being faster today but now was all about just finishing, and he talked about his past marathons he had ran in, this was his 16th marathon. Helped time go by faster and distracted me from the pain in my feet. Then I noticed I wasn't on pace and was feeling a tad better after downing two energy gels and told him I would see him at the finish line. Feet blister pain got worse and worse and finger tips still felt strange. Made my goals, run to there and then walk. Got to the last aid station before the finish line four miles away. Poured water on my head. Four miles seemed so far away. After a mile I finally hit pavement again. I was happy for pavement, was tired of gravel. Once I got to where I could see the water tower I knew I was close. It wasn't getting closer fast enough. Got to a four way stop and these little kids on bikes followed me for a little bit saying "your almost there!" Looked at my watch and figured I was about a mile away from the finish line and had fifteen more minutes before the seven hour cutoff. Was going to make it, barely. I picked up my pace, the pain was horrible but I wanted to be over that finish line, I could see it. Crossed with five minutes to spare. Was hard to stop moving so I could have my timing chip clipped off my shoe. Then received the news that they were out of finisher medals and I could pick one up in about two weeks but they gave me a glass that had the name of the event on it and the date and a train. The school across the parking lot where pizza and drinks was being served for marathon finishers felt so far away. Walking was hard. Got my pizza and walked outside to sit on a curb. I was in so much pain. As I was eating my pizza I got to see the 71 one year old man cross the finish line. He got a 1st place medal for his age group, because he was the only one in his age group. I thought that was awesome. When I am 71 I hope I'm still running marathons. And what I told myself to get to the end is right, pain is temporary, quitting lasts forever, by late afternoon I was feeling better and after about a week the blisters on my feet healed. Next year I'll be more prepared for that Frisco trail. | 