Marathon race day finally arrived. 0430 wake time and I was ready. My nerves had calmed immensely from what they were the day prior and I was feeling pretty good. My legs were fresh, I stretched, prayed and tried to focus on all my previous months of training and long runs, which had brought me to this moment. I packed up my bag, drank my required amount of Powerade and lets not forget the Body Glide! I felt confident and felt this was going to be a day I'd never forget. My bag was checked at 0630, more stretching and another round of Body Glide for good measure! The nerves were creeping back in along with the adrenaline I could feel pumping through my body.
Now I'd gone back and forth between where to place myself within the wave start. Of course my first goal initially was to just finish the race, but as my pace picked up in the last 6 weeks I began setting time goals. My first goal was a 4:10 finish (9.30 minute/mile). After a few long runs at a 9.05 minute/mile pace my goal then again changed to possibly a 4hr finish time. The pace team leaders at the Expo of course tried to talk me into the 4hr group, but still I was unsure.
So there I was making my way to the starting line, still unsure of which corral to place myself. Should I run in Corral #6, the 9 to 9.20 min/mile pace runners, or do I start in the front of corral #7, the 9.20 to 9.40 runners and start off slow. It was the difference between the 4hr and the 4:10 finish time. I am caught between the two with 15 mins till start and I see my dad making his way to me! Finally someone to help me make what I thought was such a crucial decision lol. We decided together, for me to start in the front of #7 and be ahead of the traffic, instead of the back of #6 where I would be crowded around ton of people making it harder to pass people, if I needed to do so.
I took my place at the front of the line, retied my shoes, pulled out my lucky chewing gum, and my ipod was set to go with Kings of Leon first in the shuffle! The race began and the corrals were started in 2 minute increments. At about 12 minutes passed 8am the horn sounded and I was off! I set my pace early and stayed ahead of the of the 4:10 pace leader (my initial goal from the start). I didn't want to start off too fast and burn out but I wanted to maintain a goal pace of 9.10 for my first 13 miles.
The miles went by quickly in the beginning. The crowd was great, music, cheering and signs all over. The first few miles were a bit of a blur, just trying to stay on pace and not trip over the person in front and behind me! There were runners everywhere! Even if I had wanted to pass, it was not going to happen at this stage in the game because there was no room to do so! Mile 5 is quickly approaching and the St Jude campus was in site! What an amazing and just awing experience this was. I high fived excited little children, some even patients and it just blew me away! Signs of appreciation and of encouragement to press on were all over the streets, as these precious children cheered and clapped as I ran by. I was choked up to say the least! And I knew at that moment this was not just about finishing a race, but it was about supporting these sweet children, who were fighting for their lives...
What else along the course could top that experience? I would say nothing...except for the finish of course, but I'll get to that. The miles went flew by, one by one and I was feeling great. I stayed focused and even when my feet began to slightly ache by mile 8 I pressed on. I was well ahead of the 4:10 pacer and to my surprise, by mile 9, I see the 4hr sign in clear view. Could it be that I caught up to the front of the corral #6 group? I tried to not get too excited, but instead remained focused and decided to scale back a bit and save my energy for the last 13.
The half and full runners split just at the 12th mile. The crowds thinned significantly but my energy and excitement picked up greatly. By this time I had passed the 4hr pacer and I felt like I could fly! Just past mile 13 I see Matt, my dad and some friends! That just gave me the extra push. Halfway done and let's go! Ironically the next song I hear is Fly by Rhianna and I am getting pumped. The hills are coming more frequently and staying longer and by mile 16 I am a little tired but still staying strong. I planned out my strategy for my last 10 and knew I had it in me to finish this race.
By mile 18, I am slightly behind the 4hr pacer, but still under a projected 4hr finish time since I started in corral #7, putting them 2 full minutes ahead of me at the start. I am keeping hydrated, checking my form, but I am definitely feeling it by mile 19 and 20.
6 more to go I tell myself! That is an easy day run that I do all the time! Anything to keep my eye on the finish. Another Powerade at mile 21 and I am down to 5 miles! What could go wrong, right? Ha! My mind should have communicated a bit more with the stomach, because apparently he didn't get the memo, like the rest of my body that I was about to finish my marathon in under 4 hours and it was time to focus here!
Mile 22 I knew something was not quite right. Now, for the sake of my full embarrassment and just to spare you some not so pleasant details, we will just say that halfway into mile 22 an unforeseen bowel problem occurred, which forced me to pull over at the next porta-potty for 14 entire minutes! And let me add that the poor girl (and let's not forget the only girl working the water station!) that helped me in my time of need is probably scarred for life and for that I feel terrible! Time was ticking (literally) and I realized the awesome pace I had maintained throughout the race was crushed and I was not going to make the 4hr mark. Now some have told me they would have quit, giving the circumstances. But that was not an option for me! 4 months of training, time, energy, injury, money and my hope of running a marathon meant too much to just say forget it. I was going to finish this race, no matter what!
I take care of business, drink a cup of Powerade and press on! At this point, I have no idea what pace I am at and where the 4:10 group is, but who cares I have got to get to work. I just keep running, keep moving. My mind is hurting but my heart is making me keep going. I keep telling myself, I've got this. I can finish, I will finish. One more drink at mile 24 and here we go. No sign of hitting a wall, but my legs are getting heavy. I make my way back through downtown and all I can see is my sweet baby girls face pictured in my mind (and Matt too lol, but I really wanted to see Maddy!). It was almost over, the pain would be worth it. And as I make my way to mile 26 my heart sores and I know I have got this! My heart is pounding, my aching legs are crying out but I know, they know what is coming. I turn in to enter the stadium and my dad is waiting right before I enter the last leg! We high five and it was over for my emotions! I fought back tears as I made my way to the finish and as I come to the last few strides I see my brother and other family with signs cheering for me and with the greatest feeling of joy I crossed that finish line! I did it!
I finished in 4hr 9min and even beat the 4:10 pace group I started with in corral #7!
I made my way through the crowd and met up with the very people who made that finishing moment possible. They got me through the rough times and even in what could have been a very devastating turn of events at mile 23, seeing their faces that very moment in my mind allowed me to continue on and finish the race. Many pictures and hugs later, I was elated and just taking it all in. That day will forever be one of the greatest of my life.
