"The best TIME of my life"
Its been a month since the marathon. Boy, how time flies. I have been busy relaxing and recovering and slow running and trying to find the rythym again. I have been doing everything except updating this blog but, alas, I can stall in writing this report no longer.
First of all, thank you to all who have supported me through this process. All of you! If you think you haven't done anything, think again. Even just seeing that some read this blog has been immensely encouraging. And, most others (basically anyone who has spoken with me in the last 3 months) have listened enthusiatically to more than their fair share of marathon talk. You guys are great.
A very special thanks to the friends who came to see us race. It was such a blessing to have you there. You made the experience extra special. And, to the greatest running buddy in the whole wide world, you rock! Can't wait to do it again.
So here it goes.
The Philly Marathon was awesome.
It was a great time, the race was well organized and Philadelphia is a beautiful city to take a 26.2 mile running tour through. I highly recommend it for everyone; first time marathoners to seasoned veterans.
Saturday: The Expo
We arrived at the hotel, dropped off our things, and went almost immediately to the expo. To our great surprise/relief, the train station, hotel and expo were within a block of each other! At the expo it was easy to find the race packet and t-shirt pickup stations and the lines moved quickly. I also had zero trouble moving up my coral to Orange-- I no longer wanted to be in the last (Blue) coral. I wanted to be in a better position to not finish last. It was an easy change to make-- I was given a sticker that said "Orange" to place over the spot on my bib that said "Blue"-- easy and that was good.
The vendors and free stuff left a lot to be desired though. I fully intended to buy a marathon jacket at the expo but by the time we got there they had run out of "normal" sizes of most things. Only small or gigantic were left. Boo. Also, we must have missed the good giveaways because all I noticed was a table giving out pieces of cliff bars. I really like free so this bugged me. I think we lasted an hour before we were so over the expo.
Sunday: Race Day
Race day started early! Our alarms went off at 5. I got up ran down to the Wawa across the street from the hotel to get some bananas, a bagel and a yogurt. I had picked up my customary Vitamin Water Energy the night before. It's what gets me pumped to race! Anyway, breakfast was had at a reasonably easy pace. No need to rush. We'd be pushing hard the rest of the morning into the afternoon.
The hotel was about a mile and a half from the start of the race so we walked. It was about 30 degrees and still dark when we set out. On the way we met a couple of nice guys from Boston; one a first timer. The atmosphere was so energized even as we were all just walking up the street.
It was easy enough to find my coral, though it took a while to get to it way in the back! There were some of the longest porta potty lines I've seen anywhere. I probably waited 20 minutes before it was my turn. The wait wasn't so bad though. I made a nice friend who had just taken up running in the last few years after retirement and was running the race, her first marathon, to celebrate her birthday. Another nice runner helped me shed my layers right before the start. The race organizers collect discarded clothing left along the course to give to charity. I wore two extra t-shirts to get rid of. Runners are cool people.
- - mile 1
By the time it was my turn to set off (about 28 minutes after the start gun went off) I was was so cold and stiff. Yikes! That first mile was uncomfortable. I had a crick in my left foot that worried me a little. I knew I'd be warmed up in a couple miles but it was a strange way to start off the race. I saw the 4:30 pacer and decided to see if I could keep up with that group. Pace groups are offered so that runners can get help pacing themselves through the marathon. The leaders are trained to run to finish within a certain pace and time. Anyone running in the 4:30 group would finish the marathon in net time of 4 hours 30 min. This was ambitious for me, but I was feeling excited!
- - miles 2-5
At about mile 2 I realized that I couldn't keep up with the 4:30 pacer. haha I slowed down and let them pass. Truthfully, my goal was to finish under 5hrs so I knew I had no business with the 4:30's. I was growing tired of the jostling of those committed to following the pacer anyway. Psychos.
I settled into the idea of working up to my own pace. I saw L's parents at 2.5! So fun. It's so good to see friends on the course and it gave me some energy. By mile 5, the party zone in the old part of town, I was warmed up and had found a good pace. The pain in my left foot was gone and I had actually caught up with the 4:30's (something I probably paid for in the end but oh well). I fell in a few paces in front of the pacer himself. Again, the runners behind him were a little obsessive in their following. I was much more comfortable just out in front.
- - miles 6-13
I felt great. Shout out to my friends who were waiting to cheer me on at mile 8.5. Realizing I hadn't eaten anything yet, I took a quick fruit snack break when I saw them. I looked back and the pacer balloon was bobbing far behind. I was probably moving too fast, haha but oh well.
The hill at mile 9 definitely slowed me down some. It was a beast and I took my first real stretching break after, at mile 10. My legs were starting to get stiff.
- - miles 14-17
One of my goals for this marathon was to run through the half marthon without having to stop. Not only did I do that but I felt super good through mile 16. I thought I would feel envy when the half marathoners started to break off toward the finish line but I felt great and pumped to keep going. PTL!
I saw my friends again around 14.5 at the beginning of the long stretch out to Manayunk. I was still feeling good at that point and still ahead of the 4:30's... That is until I stopped for a power bar break around mile 15. The 4:30's past me and I didn't have any steam to catch up. No big deal, I was so excited and distracted at the finishers on the other side of the road. Crazy fast people. It's honestly hard to believe it when they're finishing as you're only half way through. I knew I was using a lot of energy but couldn't help cheering for them.
At mile 17 I had to do some real walking. There's a little tangent that takes you across the river, down a big hill and then back up. Silly hill tangent. I was tired and annoyed and walked back up.
- - miles 18-23
Mile 18-23 was a blur of run/walk, run/walk. I saw L right before the peeps handing out beer. She was kicking butt and taking names! The party in Manayunk lifted my spirits a lot. Thank you super marathon fans in Manayunk. The town center was a gigantic party and as tired as I was I couldn't help run-dancing in the street. Woo! Too bad you basically had to climb your way up to the turn around. That hill was utterly unwelcome.
- - miles 24-26
This was farther than I've ever gone in my life and I felt every bit of it. The cramping started around 23.5 and was intesifying with every walk break. Seriously questioning the wisdom in trying to keep up with the 4:30's. They were long gone at this point. At one point I got a cramp so bad in my left quad that the thought flashed through my mind that I might not finish. A kind older runner came over just as I was pannicking and said, "you just have to keep running" and I said "okay" and started to hobble along. I was a case and a half at that point and I think I worried some volunteers at the mile 25 rest stop.
After that momentary freak out I became determined again. Too close to stop! And, it helped that I knew I still had some wiggle room to come in under 5 hours (even though I was running 12-13 min miles by that point). I pulled myself together enough just before I saw my friends again at mile 25 and was even able to smile for the camera. haha
The last mile was the most annoying thing in the world. The crowds had grown again and everyone kept yelling "you're almost there!", "Go, Cha!". And I was like, almost there where? why can't I get there already. It was nice how many people there were cheering (throngs) but I was ready to be done.
- - last .2
I saw the finish line down the hill, heck yes! I'm pretty sure I didn't even run that part of the race (maybe I did, I don't know) I was so happy to be done. I saw that I was going to hit my goal by 10 minutes and I just remember cheering at the top of my lungs, hands raised, praying that my body wouldn't start convulsing once I stopped moving. The race pictures can attest. I look like I won the thing.
Crossing the finish line was the best thing.
I felt so happy. I was cold and tired and broke-down and happy. It's hard to explain. The foil blanket, the medallion, the warm chicken broth, friends waiting at the end...it was all perfect.
Here's to the marathon.
_
