Post by fuckyourcouch on May 18, 2015 12:08:49 GMT -5
Here is my race recap:
- expo was Friday, right after I got off the plane coming back from abq. I didn't see anything I couldn't live without, the nuun tent didn't even have watermelon! Got a few freebies (including a loaf of bread, lol.) and my shirt, and avoided the medal display because I decided to be surprised.
- saturday I didn't do much. Ate a lot of carbs, tried to go to bed early, but I was so antsy. I laid out all my stuff and made an emergency bag for my h to carry, and did my best to get some rest.
- race day: woke up at 4. Got dressed asap and finished gathering all my stuff. My h went to pick up my parents (they live a couple miles away) while I tried to eat half a bagel with pb and a banana. Apparently they were outside with the signs they made when he pulled up lol. They came back and got me a few minutes later and we were off.
Got down to the start area around 5 and tried to find our way around road blocks to drop me off. Ended up getting out about a mile from the start, which was not ideal, but it was really cold so I just used it as an opportunity to try to warm up a little and stretch. There were a ton of port a potties so I didn't have to wait or anything to go. I found my corral and I was getting so nervous! I tried to stay warm and got my music prepped and stuff. We started a few min late because they were clearing all the barricades, and then my wave started about 10 min after the gun. Suddenly we were off! Eek!
for the first 8 miles or so, I was doing great. Staying ahead of the 4:15 pacer and just trying to settle in. Honestly, the weather was perfect. Partly cloudy and 40s at the start. I had tried to not look at any of the elevation info beforehand to not psych myself out, but there was a ton of uphill, more than I was expecting. Pretty much the entire first half was uphill. It's an out and back course, so the return to the finish was mostly downhill (minus one terrible hill), so I just tried to focus on that.
Around mile 8 I slowed a little. I saw the 4:15 pacer pass me but figured I would still be in good shape. My 20 miler took 3:30 almost exactly, so I was expecting 4:30-4:40 for a finish. From this point though, I never could really settle into that sweet spot. I felt like I was fighting every mile and it was just one of those runs. Like I said, the weather was great and I tapered, I just was struggling.
I finally saw my parents and h around mile 9, just before a loop around a lake. I wasn't expecting to see them for a few miles and I was excited to have a little boost. Made my way the 3 miles around the lake and saw them again on the other side. Continued uphill going went from here and the 10 mile race started passing is going the opposite way towards downtown. I knew taratru was racing this event and I don't know how, but I managed to spot her as she went by eventually. We had a quick furious wave and a grin and that was it lol.
Getting to mile 13 and realizing it was only half over was a killer. Also, there was a marathon relay, so every few miles people would disappear and then someone with fresh legs would jump in and fly past you, so that was discouraging every time. I didn't like that aspect much. I was also surprised that the part that was most discouraging or "the wall" for me was around 12-15, even though I've done several halves. That was the only point where I was getting discouraged and upset a little. The 4:30 pacer also passed me at this point and then I was frustrated. I just tried to keep moving with a few walk breaks to try to get my HR to recover a bit.
I I was expecting to see my family again around 17-18 but I didn't, and thought I either missed them or they had already headed towards the finish. I finally saw them at 19 and was really glad, I needed it. My dad jogged with me a few seconds and just tried to be encouraging, and my mom did at the next intersection. I almost cried lol, ugh. I knew I wouldn't see them again until the finish, they had to drive back to that area. The 5:00 pacer passed me and then I just accepted I was just surviving this race, not breakin any records. I should have just accepted that from the beginning, rookie mistake! I continued to struggle to really hit my stride so I just continued with my run/walk breaks. I still passed a few people but those damn relayers were crushing my spirits lol.
Finally i I got to 20 and they had a big "wall" display that you ran through at that point. I never really hit a point like that, which I was glad. At that point I felt like it was almost over and actually picked up the pace a bit. The sun was getting intense at this point, so I was dumping water over my head at every stop lol. Most of 20-22 was fairly flat, and then there is a huge hill at 23.5 (17th and Broadway for the locals) that i power walked up. My phone died at this point. 23-26 is on a long straight stretch past a lot of people eating brunch lol, I was jealous. A lot of them cheered so that was nice. At 26, a house was blasting "the final countdown" on speakers through the windows, and that made me laugh. Right after this, you head back into the park towards the finish. I was running pretty good at this point, passing a lot of zombie walkers. Some people looked like they were really suffering. I saw my dad and he was like, "you're killing it! Almost there!" While he jogged with me a bit. A few seconds later I found my mom, h, and some friends just before the finish chute. They high fived me and cheered and that powered me up the last hill and all the way across the finish line. I got my medal from a fireman and just kept walking. Got a few freebies and then had to find everyone since my phone was dead. My official time was 5:30 and I was sort of embarrassed it took me that long because my training pace and runs never indicated that, but I have accepted it was just not my day as far as settling in and also that I ran a freaking marathon. I survived and my average pace was 12:27, so I guess there's lots of room for improvement. Lol
I didn't feel anywhere near as horrible as I thought I would at the end. My friend who has ran several was like, "dude you look amazing for just finishing your first!" We walked around a bit and I got my free beer. The free meal was bbq which sounded horrible to me, so I didn't eat it. By the time we got to the car and I sat down, the soreness was setting in. We went to eat (pancakes!) and when I got home I sat in a bath for awhile, showered, and tried to nap. My dog wouldn't leave me alone and I was burning up so it didn't work. I foam rolled a lot but I'm pretty sore today. I feel like I have a bad flu, I can still walk and make it up/down stairs, the weirdest thing is my throat/windpipe are really sore too. I have a sports massage scheduled this afternoon which I think will make me cry, but be helpful.
Im glad I did it, but holy shit that was hard. I'm so much more impressed by you ladies with your crazy impressive times. I'm not going to say I won't do it again, but I would pick a very flat one or downhill. My Fitbit said it was 417 flights of stairs! Whew.
If if you read all that you deserve a cookie thanks for all the encouragement and training help!
Post by reginaphalange72 on May 18, 2015 12:18:36 GMT -5
CONGRATULATIONS!!! I was wondering how it went all day! Way to push through an off day. They happen. It's just so frustrating when they happen on race day. You did awesome! Can't wait to run with you at Ragnar in a few weeks!
Way to finish strong on what sounds like a tough course. I love that you got to jog with your parents a little along the way, that part made me tear up a bit. Congrats!
Great, great job! Congratulations on persevering and finishing 26.2!
I do think you'll be set up for a big PR next-time! Seriously though, a flatter course, the experience of having done it already, and starting a little slower can work wonders. In my past few marathons where I have made improvements, it's interesting to see that I have run the first half of each in nearly the same time. The gains have mostly come in the second half of the race because I've learned to start the first miles easier, and I've also learned to hurt more at the end.
Also, none of us have it completely figured out. The marathon is hard, you have some off days, and no matter what you can learn something from each race.
Congratulations again!! Great pics! ETA: Relay runners are hard to handle during a marathon! My first had a big relay contingent, and it got demoralizing. The small race I did this spring is ONLY a marathon, and that gives it a nice dynamic. Everyone is in it for the long haul!
Post by eponinepontmercy on May 18, 2015 12:27:43 GMT -5
Awesome job!
The half I did on mothers day had a relay option, too. (There was a full marathon as well.) I hated those people SO much. By mile 12, I wanted to die and these jerks kept sprinting by on their fresh legs.
It's funny you say that about the relayers - I did a marathon relay last fall and I knew that I wasn't breaking any hearts (I'm slow like a turtle) but our final runner was also our fastest and I'm pretty sure he was passing people his entire leg. With cast on his arm. People probably wanted to throw shit at him.
Post by sassystace on May 18, 2015 12:39:28 GMT -5
Wow! Congratulations Marathoner!! That was quite a recap, I felt like I was there, and your parents sound too cute! Sorry it wasn't what you expected but I definitely felt that way too after my first (and only so far) marathon.
Congrats! You did great! My first was a 5:30 as well, and pretty similar in that it was much slower than my training runs. I far prefer marathons with just the 26.2 distance b/c everyone is in the same boat (no fresh legged relay-ers) and you don't need to worry about the 5k/half finishers taking all the booze and food, lol. Whether you decide to do another full or stick to the half distance, I highly recommend flat coastal SC in January
Considering my first four miles were at 7:10 pace, I'd say yes, miles 6-15 were straight up for you. That's hard. My friend was hurting too - I found him at the 17th street hill. I hate that hill SO much.
You looked great when I saw you! And I'm super stoked for you for gutting it out when it wasn't your day. You're a bad ass!!!
It's funny you say that about the relayers - I did a marathon relay last fall and I knew that I wasn't breaking any hearts (I'm slow like a turtle) but our final runner was also our fastest and I'm pretty sure he was passing people his entire leg. With cast on his arm. People probably wanted to throw shit at him.
I would have considered tripping him or throwing a gu chomp at his head.
Congrats! You did great! My first was a 5:30 as well, and pretty similar in that it was much slower than my training runs. I far prefer marathons with just the 26.2 distance b/c everyone is in the same boat (no fresh legged relay-ers) and you don't need to worry about the 5k/half finishers taking all the booze and food, lol. Whether you decide to do another full or stick to the half distance, I highly recommend flat coastal SC in January
Well this gives me hope lol. One of the first things I said to my h was, "to even qualify for Boston I would have to take 2 hours off that time! That's not even possible!" LOL.
And i hate those fucking relay runners. So much. They should be required to do pushups while they wait in the transition area or something. Maybe jumping jacks.
Congratulations! Holy cow, 417 flights of stairs?!? That sounds like an epically hard course! Congratulations for toughing it out and finishing. So sweet that you got to see your family along the way!
Love of my life baby boy born 11/11. One and done not by choice; 3 years of TTC yielded 4 MMC and 2 CPs, through 4 IUIs and 2 IVFs. Focusing on making the world a better place instead...and running.