A marathon is 26.2 Miles...
I didn't know this when I joined the team: A marathon is 26.2 miles.
I trained for 6 months, running during the week, and long runs each Saturday morning. We started with 6 miles, then, 7, 8, 9, then on to 12, 13, on up to 20 miles. They got easier each time.
The day of the marathon was the coldest of the year. The days before had temperatures in the 70s and 80s, and here on marathon morning it was in the 20's and wasn't expected to go over freezing all day. We met up at 5:30 a.m. to drive to the course, a drive of about 10 miles that took over an hour, due to traffic and ice patches. What the heck were we thinking?
We jumped out of cars and walked to the course leaving the line of traffic and allowing our wonderful friends who agreed to drive us there to head home and get ready to cheer us on. Outside it was teeth chattering cold, misty rain and ice patches in the parking lot. Runners are a crazy bunch, thousands and thousands of them showed up anyway.
We learned they delayed the start time by half an hour due to traffic delays and weather. So, team TexFX ambled around in the cold waiting for the start, saying our "good lucks" and hugging each other and Kat/Nevie and I, in our black pants, black hats, and white Tyvek cheapo rain jackets from the Expo pretended we were an urban street gang. (more than one spectator said Nevie and I looked like the Johnny Cash team thanks to our groovy running clothes.)
It was cold, we were eager to run. When the gun finally went off, we started at a nice easy pace, warmed up and by mile 6 were feeling great. I ran with teammates, Nevie, Kat and Kristina and we kept a great steady pace together.
Annalise and Steve met me at Mile 7 with a full water bottle. I gave my jacket and gloves to Steve as I was all warmed up, but I was soon wishing I had them back as the temperatures dropped and the wind picked up. I picked up a discarded glove and wore that until I saw them again and Ace gave me the gloves she was now wearing at mile 12. At each mile, we had spectators cheering us on, it helped immensely, but not as much as seeing my daughter holding a sign that said, "Go Mom!"
Miles 13-15 were a bit of a blur, as we ran past the train tracks and through a business park. Things got interesting again at mile 17 as I ran past the road to Annalise's school and through the Hyde Park neighborhood. We had a big crew of cheerers at Quacks bakery near mile 18. They cheered us on and again, Steve and Annalise and now Leslie, were there with fresh water and gel packs. Teammate Kristina slowed at this point, Nevie and I forged on ahead to Mile 19 which went quickly, unlike Mile 20, which seemed to go on forever. We knew that up ahead was the hill up to the state capital at Mile 21.
When we hit the hill, we ran up it, did a jog around the capital and came out at Mile 22, at the top of Congress Avenue. We had more supporters here and they and the spectators reminded us that we only had 5 miles to go. We ran down the capital and Steve and Annalise ran toward me with another fresh bottle of water, much needed and appreciated. (There were water stations along the route, but I tend to toss more water on my face when I use the little water cups, I haven't mastered the water cup, yet.)
At Mile 23, with three miles to go, I was getting tired. I saw my cousin Mason step out of the crowd and he ran with me a few feet, encouraging me and cheering me on. The joy of seeing Mile 23 and the pep talk from Mason was needed, as the path to Mile 24, was uphill and it seemed like I'd never reach Mile 24. But, I did, and it was a good thing, cause from then on it was 2 miles, mostly downhill with a series of spectators who cheered me on at every moment. I started tearing up when I saw the marker for Mile 25, only 1.2 miles to go!
I was close, and I was tired, so I started meditating on the mantra I borrowed from Robin, my cousin in law, "stay strong". That got my pace steady again and I knew I wouldn't stop or slow for anything. Mason was waiting for me again, as Mile 23 - 25 were on different sides of the same stretch of road. He told me all kinds of encouraging things, and I tossed my water belt at him and told me to meet me at the finish line. He said he'd see me there.
One last turn and Mile 26 was in sight. I was just about to break down in sobs, especially when I saw a group of friends near the mile marker, yelling me on. I passed Mile 26 and saw the finish line ahead. As I ran the last 2/10 mile, all the people along the way were offering their hands out to me and telling me how great all this was and I started crying for real. Then I saw the faces of Steve and Annalise and my coach, Gary and I was in full sob.
Someone put a medal on my neck and someone else took off my timer chip and then Steve appeared across the fence with a bouquet of pink roses. (He brought roses for Kat, Nevie, Kristina and I.) I saw Kat and Nevie waiting for me and we all hugged and cried.
I finished in just over 5 hours, start time, not sure what my chip time finish will be. My body started complaining as soon as I crossed the line, and now after food, a massage and a hot bath, I think the fish soup Steve is cooking up will have me in good shape very soon.
Our team raised over $8,000 for the children's shelter. Thanks to all of you who contributed to that effort. We'll get to go and take pictures with the kids next week.
I'm still not sure what compelled me to take this on, I guess I just wanted to see if my 40 year old, damaged body could do it or not. It could, somehow, it just could.
Will I do it again? I don't know.
Am I glad I did it? Absolutely.
Stay Strong.
file under: running
I trained for 6 months, running during the week, and long runs each Saturday morning. We started with 6 miles, then, 7, 8, 9, then on to 12, 13, on up to 20 miles. They got easier each time.
The day of the marathon was the coldest of the year. The days before had temperatures in the 70s and 80s, and here on marathon morning it was in the 20's and wasn't expected to go over freezing all day. We met up at 5:30 a.m. to drive to the course, a drive of about 10 miles that took over an hour, due to traffic and ice patches. What the heck were we thinking?
We jumped out of cars and walked to the course leaving the line of traffic and allowing our wonderful friends who agreed to drive us there to head home and get ready to cheer us on. Outside it was teeth chattering cold, misty rain and ice patches in the parking lot. Runners are a crazy bunch, thousands and thousands of them showed up anyway.
We learned they delayed the start time by half an hour due to traffic delays and weather. So, team TexFX ambled around in the cold waiting for the start, saying our "good lucks" and hugging each other and Kat/Nevie and I, in our black pants, black hats, and white Tyvek cheapo rain jackets from the Expo pretended we were an urban street gang. (more than one spectator said Nevie and I looked like the Johnny Cash team thanks to our groovy running clothes.)
It was cold, we were eager to run. When the gun finally went off, we started at a nice easy pace, warmed up and by mile 6 were feeling great. I ran with teammates, Nevie, Kat and Kristina and we kept a great steady pace together.
Annalise and Steve met me at Mile 7 with a full water bottle. I gave my jacket and gloves to Steve as I was all warmed up, but I was soon wishing I had them back as the temperatures dropped and the wind picked up. I picked up a discarded glove and wore that until I saw them again and Ace gave me the gloves she was now wearing at mile 12. At each mile, we had spectators cheering us on, it helped immensely, but not as much as seeing my daughter holding a sign that said, "Go Mom!"
Miles 13-15 were a bit of a blur, as we ran past the train tracks and through a business park. Things got interesting again at mile 17 as I ran past the road to Annalise's school and through the Hyde Park neighborhood. We had a big crew of cheerers at Quacks bakery near mile 18. They cheered us on and again, Steve and Annalise and now Leslie, were there with fresh water and gel packs. Teammate Kristina slowed at this point, Nevie and I forged on ahead to Mile 19 which went quickly, unlike Mile 20, which seemed to go on forever. We knew that up ahead was the hill up to the state capital at Mile 21.
When we hit the hill, we ran up it, did a jog around the capital and came out at Mile 22, at the top of Congress Avenue. We had more supporters here and they and the spectators reminded us that we only had 5 miles to go. We ran down the capital and Steve and Annalise ran toward me with another fresh bottle of water, much needed and appreciated. (There were water stations along the route, but I tend to toss more water on my face when I use the little water cups, I haven't mastered the water cup, yet.)
At Mile 23, with three miles to go, I was getting tired. I saw my cousin Mason step out of the crowd and he ran with me a few feet, encouraging me and cheering me on. The joy of seeing Mile 23 and the pep talk from Mason was needed, as the path to Mile 24, was uphill and it seemed like I'd never reach Mile 24. But, I did, and it was a good thing, cause from then on it was 2 miles, mostly downhill with a series of spectators who cheered me on at every moment. I started tearing up when I saw the marker for Mile 25, only 1.2 miles to go!
I was close, and I was tired, so I started meditating on the mantra I borrowed from Robin, my cousin in law, "stay strong". That got my pace steady again and I knew I wouldn't stop or slow for anything. Mason was waiting for me again, as Mile 23 - 25 were on different sides of the same stretch of road. He told me all kinds of encouraging things, and I tossed my water belt at him and told me to meet me at the finish line. He said he'd see me there.
One last turn and Mile 26 was in sight. I was just about to break down in sobs, especially when I saw a group of friends near the mile marker, yelling me on. I passed Mile 26 and saw the finish line ahead. As I ran the last 2/10 mile, all the people along the way were offering their hands out to me and telling me how great all this was and I started crying for real. Then I saw the faces of Steve and Annalise and my coach, Gary and I was in full sob.
Someone put a medal on my neck and someone else took off my timer chip and then Steve appeared across the fence with a bouquet of pink roses. (He brought roses for Kat, Nevie, Kristina and I.) I saw Kat and Nevie waiting for me and we all hugged and cried.
I finished in just over 5 hours, start time, not sure what my chip time finish will be. My body started complaining as soon as I crossed the line, and now after food, a massage and a hot bath, I think the fish soup Steve is cooking up will have me in good shape very soon.
Our team raised over $8,000 for the children's shelter. Thanks to all of you who contributed to that effort. We'll get to go and take pictures with the kids next week.
I'm still not sure what compelled me to take this on, I guess I just wanted to see if my 40 year old, damaged body could do it or not. It could, somehow, it just could.
Will I do it again? I don't know.
Am I glad I did it? Absolutely.
Stay Strong.
file under: running
Labels: running
2 Comments:
what an amazing story of your marathon day. you did it! i'm just so proud of you and kat. wow.
Huzzzah!
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