Marathon Rewind

Okay, so my legs hurt! Running 26.2 miles does hurt! I am feeling better than I would have imagined though. Here's a rundown of the race for those who are interested. I promise, I will put up Charlie pictures soon!

So on Saturday, I took Charlie to see Backyardigan's live with Kim and Ethan. It was fun but I was a nervous wreck and just wanted Sunday to be here and over with. Came home, got my stuff together, and took off with my mom and dad to Long Branch New Jersey. We got to the Expo where you pick up you race bib (paper number worn on your body) and chip (little plastic thingy that times you start to finish). The weather was so terrible, I felt like either crying or throwing up. It was crazy windy and bitterly cold...the kind of cold that gets into your bones and you can't shake. It was also raining. I was stressing pretty badly. Went to Lavallette NJ where mom and dad's friends live and where we were staying. Hear from Charlie (friend's husband) that the weather's only supposed to get worse...almost cry again! Went out to eat at a very good restaurant where I drank a ton of water and stressed some more. Back to Pat and Charlie's where I slept so well that I don't think I moved all night! Woke up at 4:55 am and started stressing all over.

Drank coffee, ate cereal bar, and drove to Long Branch. Used the lovely bathroom facilities (porta-potties) and was stretching for the race. Let me mention now that there was no wind, none! There was a heavy fog but no wind! And the temp was about 55 degrees, maybe a little less. It was PERFECT running weather! I was psyched!

The race itself was fine. It took me about 3 minutes to get to the actual start line from where I was lined up (you line up with fastest runners first and slower ones behind. I lined up with the five hour pacers. Miles 1-13 were awesome. I felt great and could run a 1/2 marathon pretty well I think. At the halfway point, I had been running the whole way, no bathroom breaks, and fluid at every other station. At this point, 6,000 runners were done (only signed up for 1/2 marathon) and there were some full marathoners that stopped running at this point. So for the remaining 13 miles, there were less than 2,500 runners. It really felt lonely at points. There wasn't cheering and spectating the whole way so at some points I kind of felt like, what the hell am I doing?!?! I continued to feel good up until mile 19, then I felt my left second toenail started hurting (lost the same one on the right foot after my first 20 mile training run, now I'm losing the one on the left). My feet also felt very tired, and my quads were tight.

Miles 22-24 were terrible. It felt like it took forever, I had nothing left to give, and I was running next to and chatting with this guy who is the male equivalent of "Debbie Downer". I can't even tell you all of the things he complained about but boy did he complain and whine and annoy the crap out of me! He kept asking me what hurt. Okay, can we focus on something positive?! I felt bad leaving him but I had to, he was really getting to me, so I ran ahead and finished the last 2 miles strong, especially the last mile. I had a decent kick left in me which was great. I did not get less than five hours, but I did finish and I do want to do another one sometime. The weather stayed perfect the whole time, slight breeze here and there and the sun came out around mile 20 when I started getting chilled. The temp probably stayed below 65 degrees while I was running...couldn't ask for better weather!

Mom and dad were there at the finish, mom gave me a huge hug despite my nastiness. they were very proud and I felt it! It was so great. I called Alex who was delighted but tired after running his own 10 mile race that morning. He was also planning the surprise get together for me back home. What a sweetie!

So I liked running the marathon. Marathon number 2 will not be nearly as exciting as number 1 I'm sure, but it felt like such a huge achievement. I was surprised at how tired my body felt. I expected/hoped to have more energy throughout the race without dying at mile 22. Wonderfully enough, I did not have any stomach cramps as I usually do after any run longer than 12 miles. I got some advice from my sister-in law's (Kim) brother (Chris) who just ran his ninth marathon...he said rather than focus on what you are or are not eating relating to stomach cramps, focus on your breathing while you run. I did alot of that, and boy did it make a difference! Thanks Chris!

That's it, sorry if I bored anyone, but this has been a lifelong dream of mine and I did it! Thank you Alex for allowing me to do this and take the time away from you and Charlie for all of my running and thank you to all of my friends and family who supported me and sent me words of encouragement and thank you mom and dad for being there and for everything you've ever done to get me to this day! I love you all!