3:44:17, 4th in weight division, and 333rd women. I can be proud of that. It wasn't a PR, but it was an awesome experience which I am glad I had, but never want to repeat!!
Well, what do I say about this marathon? It was awesome, crazy, AND scary!! Awesome to finish being in so much pain that I need help running the last .2! At the finish, with my legs cramping worse than ever, I just kept thinking this is so awesome!! (And thinking about that is what Jeremy's talkin about...) Then about 20 minutes later while I was still in the medical area, I was scared!! It was getting so chaotic with so many runners and not enough volunteers. I thought this is completly insane! I was thinking to myself, if I die, I guess I'm happy...If I don't, 15 marathons are it for me....I like 5k's....no more than 1/2 marathon...my husband probably thinks I am crazy....I am so dang thirsty for water...water..water...!
Hanging out at the startline with my Runamok 3:35 pacing group, I could not believe how thirsty for water I was before the marathon started. I hydrated all week A LOT and hydrated more! The one thing I did differently was giving up coffee for a week leading up and then I had about 12 oz. when I got up Saturday morning. I thought the caffeine at that point would give me a boost along with the 2x gu's I would take along the course. Now, I'm thinking the coffee Saturday morning just dehydrated me more..
Marie, Phaedra, Cindy, Jason and I started together for a couple miles and then Marie, Jason and I til Marie dropped back around mile 5. Jason and I continued on and kept a good pace as we hit veyo, then the boatramp and our 1/2 marathon time was 1:47, which was about a minute faster than my goal. Jason's watch was beeping at him and driving him crazy so he finally turned it off, stuck it in his pocket and then off he went around mile 15. I could see him in my sight for a couple miles and then he was gone. I though I heard him singing "I'm free!!" as he just took off!! During the boatramp I was pretty much on pace. I did not start to feel the effects of "the wall" til about mile 18-19, but I just pushed through it and started to feel better by mile 21. At mile 20, the time was 2:45ish and thought of Craig, Mark, and Jeremy and hoping they were finished!
I took my last gu just prior to the 21 water stop and did realize the gu was leaving some weird dryness and yuk in my mouth before I got water at the station. Prior to that, it had been no problem. I guess that was the indication that I needed to hydrate a lot to finish this race, but no I was planning on no more fluids after this stop. I think I did take a water though at 23, but not much...
Before mile 23, Maggie and Price were on the sidelines and Maggie ran with me for a bit. I asked if Ed was up ahead and she said yes! Ed was right at 23 and he barely caught me. I knew he would have ice bags and yes! That was a saver. I threw it in my bra and that was heaven!! The heat at this point was not even really bothering me and I guess the ice helped cover it up and at the mile 24 waterstop passed Jason as he was walking through it. I wasn't sure if he was a "walking wounded" though because he turned me down when I told him to come along. Instead of drinking at mile 24, I threw the water on my head and I skipped mile 25 water. I just never take anything that late in the race cause it doesn't do me any good. I really did not realize how hot it was. My head was up and I was focused and running strong and then for some reason my legs just started to hurt. I ran some more and then just had to stop and walk. I could not believe my legs and how heavy they felt and I just started to fall apart. I picked up and started jogging, and then stopped again and picked it up again. I thought the 2nd to the last turn was the last turn to the finish and it wasn't. That mentally just killed me! Finally made it to the last turn with folks on the side trying to cheer and motivate me. They could see I was having a rough time. I finally thought I was going to make it but at mile 26 stopped. My legs wouldn't go. My upper body wanted to but there was no way the legs would! I had to sit on the ground and then I remember a lady helping me and asking if I was ok. I remember saying "Yes, and I think I can get up with help to finish". She and a Nat. Guard helped me up and literally stayed with me through the last .2 and the finish. I could not believe that they would run with me like that to finish!!
After spending about 45 minutes in the medical area and finally getting out of the runners area I made it to the Runamok awning. My husband said that he was at the sidelines of mile 26 and saw my "ghost" face and head bobbing and legs quavering and he yelled out "She's going down!" The Nat. guard broke my fall and I passed out completely for about 4 minutes! I did not believe that I had passed out, I thought I remembered everything...I knew I would finish in a 3:40 cause that was what my watch said because I had slowed down at the end. I thought I had made my "back-up" time of 3:40. My finishing time was 4 minutes longer because my Garmin was on "auto" and turned off while I was passed out!
Splits were...
1-8:54, 2-8:34, 3-8:14, 4-7:58, 5-7:58, 6-7:39, 7-7:37, 8-8:57, 9-8:22, 10-8:23, 11-8:41, 12-8:12, 13-8:00, 14-8:07, 15-7:45, 16-7:35, 17-7:58, 18-7:51, 19-8:59, 20-8:39, 21-8:04, 22-8:41, 23-8:25, 24-8:22, 25-10:09, 26-15:12, .2-.49 | 