It all seems like a blur. What a cliche right? But I seriously cannot believe it's all over. Most importantly, I still can't believe I accomplished something that less than 1% of the population has accomplished. So much time, effort, training, lack of sleep, sweat, and pain was poured into this season. The time leading up to the race I was only thinking about everything and anything that could go wrong. I wasn't thinking about what could go right. I can be a doomsdayer.
First off, my pace pleased me though the majority of the race. My 6.8 pace was 10:54. My half pace was 10:48. My 19.7 pace was 10:56. My goal was to stay under 11 (finishing in a 4:45) and at that point, I had still done a great job. Unfortunately, I began to get super fatigued during the last 6 miles and my legs felt like lead, but let's start at the beginning.
Race day came and the weather was great for running. High 30's with no rain. I especially get very hot on runs, so I was really happy about the cooler temperatures. I had a weird sense of calm before I started. It seemed like I just calmed myself down and began to accept whatever at that point. Around 3 miles, my parents and my sisters were waiting in Newport with their kids. It's always exciting to see them, especially since the kids get so excited and are all holding up signs. It's a great way to start the race off and gives me motivation to stay strong.
After that, everything really kept going according to plan. I was running with a friend, but at Gilbert we got separated. I like to charge up hills pretty powerfully and stay in my zone. I just want to get it over with! On the large hill section, I passed some of my extended family and also a family from my school. It was a nice surprise and good to see familiar faces.
At the half marathon split, I still felt great! I wasn't even disappointed to see the halfers leaving, which I thought would be super tough mentally. I ran into another friend from my running group. It was nice to chat with her for a little bit because at this point the crowd had thinned out. It was a little tough thinking nobody else was waiting for me. We got a great downhill, and then I got a text from T.J. saying that he was at mile 15. This was so comforting.
Okay 2 more miles to T.J. and my parents.... I got to see them twice because they were at a turnaround spot and T.J. jumped in and ran with me for a bit just to make conversation, which was nice. After seeing them, I knew my coworker and her 2 boys were waiting at mile 17 so in my mind it was okay... 1 more mile to Kelly. After Kelly was a stretch from hell on Columbia Parkway. It was mostly highway and there was barely any crowd support. This was 18-20 and it was here that the 4:45 pacer passed me and I couldn't keep up. I felt a bit of disappointment and then, I just stopped caring and started thinking about crossing the finish line.
In my head I started thinking about Lindsey waiting for me at mile 20. When I saw Lindsey at mile 20 I was exhausted and thrilled to see her. My stomach had been weird during the run, as in I was worried I was going to poop my pants a few times. I only had eaten 2 of my nutrition packs because I was too nervous about my stomach reacting poorly. My plan was to have had 4 by mile 20. I think maybe I wouldn't have been so exhausted had I been able to stick to my nutrition plan. Anyways, Lindsey kept me going by running with me and telling me things to look out for that I would have been totally oblivious too. I'm glad she pointed them out to me, although I don't know if I can recall them all. My mother in law and father in law were at mile 21 cheering loudly for me. More friendly faces to help me reach my goal. At mile 22 Lori switched off with Lindsey.
One of the best moments of the race happened at mile 22. As exhausted as I was, I really wanted to try a "layup for Lauren." I got the small basketball and totally side armed the ball up there but it went in. I remember celebrating that moment and seeing the sign in the background that said "Never Give Up." Even now as I type that, it brings some tears to my eyes. Thank you Lauren Hill for inspiring me at mile 22. Lori was equally as great as Lindsey. My music stopped and Lori even played music on her phone out loud to keep me pumped up. At this point, 1 mile felt like 10 and every hill felt like Gilbert, but with Lori's encouragement I kept going. Lori and Lindsey are both coworkers and friends by the way, but seriously who else gets coworkers that are that amazing?
I made it to mile 24 and Lori switched off with my friend Tara from my very first running group. I have to admit, that seeing her was a little sweeter because I knew it was my last running buddy and then I would be crossing the finish line. Maggie jumped in with us at 25 and I asked Tara to tell me stories along the way. Having them with me was great because we used to run together all the time and it was my very favorite running group. The "Monstars" helped me develop my passion for running. At this point my breathing was heavy and I was purely exhausted, but I remember them telling me I could cross the finish line. I remember them telling me to keep breathing. I remember them lying to me about "coasting to the finish line" when I really had 2 more hills.
After they jumped out, it was me and the finish line. I passed my friend Liz's mom and sister, who had a very recognizable sign at several places on the course that was such a welcome vision once again. I saw my parents and T.J.'s parents with T.J, holding up signs for me. I saw my friends Mallory, Brian, Tara, and Bessler. I saw my brother with his family and my niece and nephew waving at me. I couldn't help but smile. I was beaten down, I was ready for this to be over, but I felt such pure happiness. I crossed the finish line and felt pure relief. My time-4:55, 10 minutes behind my "ultimate goal" but still under 5 hours, my "secondary goal" and still doing it the whole time without walking, my "third goal."
The point here is truly said best in the words of Lauren Hill, Never Give Up. It was through not giving up on myself and not giving into my negative thoughts, that I completed something that seemed so unreachable at one point. It's so crazy because your mind will only prepare you for what you set out to do. When I set out to do half marathons, I'm tired at the end. At a full marathon, I felt great and alive at mile 13. Put it in your mind to accomplish something and don't let go of the goal until you get there.
I think the next lesson to be learned here is to lean on the support of others. I am truly humbled by all of the kind words I received, and especially by everyone that showed up at some point on the course to cheer for me. This is what got me through. If I was out on that course completely alone, I truly think the result would have been much different. Sometimes you have to use the strength of others to bring you up, and that is what I did on Sunday. The cheers, the smiling faces, the posters, the text messages, all brought me up and kept me putting one foot in front of the other. It really did mean the world to me.
A chapter has closed. The sweat is gone, the hard work is over. All that is left now is the t-shirts, the car magnet, the photographs, the medal, and of course, the sweet memories. As I look back on this marathon I think the most memorable thing will always be the people. To those of you who were there for me in some form during those 5 hours, I thank you very sincerely. No matter what I complete the the future, May 7, 2017 will always hold a uniquely special place in my heart.
To the people who have asked, totally worth it, and I totally would do another one!
