I completed my 2nd full marathon, which should actually be my 3rd, but for the lunatics who blew up innocent people at the Boston Marathon. My finish time was 5hrs, 49 mins and 53 seconds. That may be slow to some, but I started it and I finished it. Yes, I had to talk myself into continuing...I had to kick my ass into gear when people at least 30yrs senior to me were passing me, but I did it! Am I crazy??? The jury is still out on that one...chance are that I am.
I started the race with my husband, who was running his first half marathon. He had to keep slowing down for me, but we were pacing somewhere around 11 mins 20 secs for the first 6 miles and then we split off so he could finish the half and I could continue on the marathon route. Boy, was that a long, lonely road. It was a pretty area full of gorgeous homes and cows in pastures, but it was definitely lonely. I normally run alone, but something about being on an unfamiliar route freaks me out. The locals who were out were super cheerful and one even offered to take my trash along the way. I wouldn't dare drop my used gu packets and biofreeze packets on the pristine streets of Falmouth, Maine.
I cursed myself, I whimpered, I questioned my ability to finish the darn thing. Then something changed, I talked to myself reminding myself that I had been here before and had finished a marathon in harsh conditions and that I had run in the Boston Marathon. Now was not the time to give up. I still don't know where I summoned the strength around mile 20 to kick my 2min run interval into 9 min miles, but I was able to do that for a bit. At the last relay exchange location (this event featured a half marathon, marathon relay and full marathon), I jokingly asked the volunteers if it was too late to sign up for the relay :). I let Keith know that I was heading into my last 2 miles and I was getting texts that I had this in under 6 hrs. I knew I was getting there...I saw Keith who told me to sprint to the finish. My sprint was a little slow, but I reached the finish line and got my medal and mylar blanket. I did it!
Having run races of varying lengths, I have come to realize the difference between pain and soreness. I know that the soreness will go away, but if it is pain, that could be an indication of something of a larger problem. This has really helped me mentally get through the wall. I returned to my desk job on Monday morning and tried to remember to get up more and move more than usual, but it didn't always work. People were surprised I was there, but hey, I am a hearty New Englander...plus I have to save my days for my Disney races ;).
This weekend I have a half marathon on Sunday and a 10k on Monday. Let's see how my body likes me after those. Check back next week!
I started the race with my husband, who was running his first half marathon. He had to keep slowing down for me, but we were pacing somewhere around 11 mins 20 secs for the first 6 miles and then we split off so he could finish the half and I could continue on the marathon route. Boy, was that a long, lonely road. It was a pretty area full of gorgeous homes and cows in pastures, but it was definitely lonely. I normally run alone, but something about being on an unfamiliar route freaks me out. The locals who were out were super cheerful and one even offered to take my trash along the way. I wouldn't dare drop my used gu packets and biofreeze packets on the pristine streets of Falmouth, Maine.
I cursed myself, I whimpered, I questioned my ability to finish the darn thing. Then something changed, I talked to myself reminding myself that I had been here before and had finished a marathon in harsh conditions and that I had run in the Boston Marathon. Now was not the time to give up. I still don't know where I summoned the strength around mile 20 to kick my 2min run interval into 9 min miles, but I was able to do that for a bit. At the last relay exchange location (this event featured a half marathon, marathon relay and full marathon), I jokingly asked the volunteers if it was too late to sign up for the relay :). I let Keith know that I was heading into my last 2 miles and I was getting texts that I had this in under 6 hrs. I knew I was getting there...I saw Keith who told me to sprint to the finish. My sprint was a little slow, but I reached the finish line and got my medal and mylar blanket. I did it!
Having run races of varying lengths, I have come to realize the difference between pain and soreness. I know that the soreness will go away, but if it is pain, that could be an indication of something of a larger problem. This has really helped me mentally get through the wall. I returned to my desk job on Monday morning and tried to remember to get up more and move more than usual, but it didn't always work. People were surprised I was there, but hey, I am a hearty New Englander...plus I have to save my days for my Disney races ;).
This weekend I have a half marathon on Sunday and a 10k on Monday. Let's see how my body likes me after those. Check back next week!
Great post! I always tell people that the marathon is more about the brain than anything else and it looks like you've got that figured out. Once you get that -- you can do anything. I call it "good sore" and "bad sore". I love good sore. Well, maybe not love, but I like the feeling of knowing that I really pushed my body to it's limit.
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