I Am A Marathoner!!!

This adventure started in a bar (where most important decisions are made) in February 2010. A couple of things had happened just prior to that night… I had started the Couch-to-5k program that I had been considering for a while. I had also found a friend from my childhood (thank you Facebook) that was an avid runner, more so than I knew at that point. So I mention to Brenda that I was doing the C25k program and she asked which 5k I was going to do. What? Actually do an event? Like with people? A beer or two later I had agreed to a 5k in Seattle in September. We had such a fun trip that when a Half Marathon in Portland in May was suggested, I was in! Silly me, I signed up for my second half before tackling my first. I recall commenting that I was doing things out of order – none of my friends tried to talk sense into me. Perhaps I should have talked things out with my non-runner friends :) I suffered a mental and emotional set back in my training for my third and I ended up sitting out that race. I swore I would never, ever pay a race fee and not finish the race again! So my actual third turned out to be in Seattle, the same day Brenda was doing her first full. Oh my, it was pouring rain the entire time! I was so excited to finish and shower and be back at the finish line for her I ran my heart out! I missed my PR by less than a minute, but considering all the hills in Seattle vs. no hills in Portland, I was ecstatic about my finish time!

Then came the decision to run my own first marathon! The fun and excitement of training with Brenda for hers was just too enticing! We discussed it for the entire month of December, agreeing that we would make the commitment right before midnight on New Year’s Eve. Armed with a strong beverage, I hit “submit” and I was going to be a Marathoner!

So the Friday before the marathon I was on cloud 9! I was excited and getting all my errands run and set out my race gear and fixed the lawn tractor and used the lawn tractor and and and… I realized I was overly excited when a friend told me meth was bad for me! Too funny! I went out with some friends to celebrate a birthday, with a glass of water, or four and was home in bed at a reasonable hour.

Saturday was not so fun. I woke under a very black cloud after having a reoccurring nightmare that was more vivid than ever. I was really bummed and laid back down and woke up again 2 minutes before I was supposed to meet some friends for a swim. I was even more bummed and now two hours behind to get everything done. I had to miss my friends and the pool in lieu of making a play list for the marathon, which of course took longer than planned. I had an appointment at noon, then went to packet pick up, and finally the park for Sophie’s birthday party. As the party wrapped up, anxiety set in. I had completed everything except sleeping and running. I had nothing else to think about. I just wanted to hurry up and go to bed already! Just as I crawled in bed (you know at the super late hour of 8pm) I got a text from a friend that she was at the hospital with her daughter and her first grandbaby was on the way! I went to sleep filled with excitement, and nerves, and excitement!

I woke at 12:17 am in a complete panic! I was certain they were going to name that baby Ezmerelda! It took over an hour and a half to fall back to sleep. I thought about every single thing on the planet, it seemed! Then came the crazy dream… I was an hour and a half late for the race, my cell phone was dead so I couldn’t tell Brenda, I forgot Body Glide and was desperately searching for some, and it turned out to be more of an adventure race than a marathon. I remember trying to climb a hill, on my stomach, actually scurrying along a rope on dirt, holding a hose in my left hand while my team mates were pouring water down it from the top of the hill… When the alarm clock went off I could not wait to get up and end that dream!

About a week before the marathon I had a complete and total meltdown and decided to switch to the early start with the walkers. This way I knew I would have enough time to complete the marathon without having to panic. With the early start, I wasn’t eligible to place (you know take 1^st or 2^nd) and I wouldn’t qualify for Boston. Gee – I think I can handle those penalties!

Up and at’em at 4:30 in the morning. Dress. Apply Body Glide. Eat yogart. Text Brenda about my crazy dream. She too had crazy dreams. We had a good laugh. I looked at the clock, 5:15, holy crap! Why am I still in my kitchen when I start in 15 minutes? I head out the door in a panic. Realistically I live like 2 minutes from the start line, so I was being quite silly. Brenda and Fenway came down to cheer me on! So sweet! I couldn’t remember the name I had thought they were going to name the baby. About mile 4 it came to me and I texted Brenda just the name. She laughed knowing exactly what it meant! I had fully intended to dedicate miles to people and I did to an extent, but things got fuzzy and some people got extra miles and some people shared miles and the like. It all worked out in the end. Mile 1 was for Mom and Dad because without them I could have never started this journey. Three was for Sophie, because she is almost 3. Michelle was 4 and Emily 5. Heidi claimed 9 and Nicola 14. I chose 16 for Cindy and 19 was for Heidi’s “lil bean.” Sneaky lil Ada picked 21 and Brenda chose 23 (because 34 wasn’t an option – sorry darling, not running 8 more just to dedicate your number to you!) 26 was mine. All mine!

So I am running and speed walking (yes, silly looking speed walking) and running and walking. I had a number on the Garmin that I did not want to see, so if I got that slow I made myself run. I felt great! I was beyond ecstatic with my time for the first 15 miles. I was 2-3 minutes faster than my training pace and delighted. My friend Kevin was at the top of Bennett Hill cheering on the girls he had been training! He cheered for me too! Brenda started at the normal time and I had tried to do the math on when she would pass me. Her pace vs mine. Plus the head start. All the numbers made me dizzy so I started guessing. I finally got to see her right around mile 16. I had already hit the turnaround at Higgins Point and was making my way back towards town. She had made a big deal about texting each other every 5 miles. Said it was a mental thing for her on her first marathon to break it up into 5 mile increments. So I just went along with it and sent her a picture of each sign as I passed. I knew her boyfriend was going to be cheering for us at 20 miles. I was ready to see another familiar face! Then, at 19ish, I look up and there is the cutest little pregnant friend alongside the course. I haven’t seen her in years, but well, we Facebook. She cheered when she saw me! It was awesome! Then I saw the 20 mile sign and looked down the hill and saw Dan. Right where he said he’d be. Cheering! Yay! I turned the corner and there was my lil pregnant friend again. This time she walked out onto the course to high-five me! I loved it!

On I go. My left IT band started to ache. My pace had slowed. I was going about a minute per mile slower than I did the first 15. I wanted to go faster, but I was okay with this pace too. Making my way back down to Sanders beach and I turn the corner and see the biggest bright pink sign that has my name on it! At first I thought it was cool someone else in the race shared my name. Then I realized that sign was for me!! My darling friend Ada, who I also have not seen in years (but we Facebook), had come out to cheer me on! Her darling little girl was waving to me and little Asher Man, well he was hanging out in the stroller. I wanted to cry. Okay, I did. Then I was mad at myself for not taking a picture. I was too in shock! I almost turned around to go back for a picture. I kept going. Brenda finally passed me just a few minutes later. I asked if she saw the sign for me on the corner. “Oh, Ada, yeah I called her when you passed mile 15.” Yes, I cried again. They were in cahoots! Soooo this is why I had to check in every 5 miles. This is why Ada chose mile 21. My friends rock!

I continued on and around mile 23 my IT band was really hurting. I wanted to cry. Like I hadn’t done that already this race. My breathing was labored. I stopped at the city park to refill my water bottle and stretch my IT. I kept going. I wasn’t really enjoying this anymore. A marathon should only be 23 miles. I’m gonna start a petition! Then I started trying to talk myself down from this ledge of frustration. While I was awake in the night I had told myself that no matter how hard things got, I wasn’t allowed to hate any part of this race and so far I had done a really great job following my own rule. I had to point out to myself that while I hurt badly, my body was far from giving out on me. My labored breathing was just ridiculous. It was just some pain. I was really blowing things out of proportion. This kinda worked for me. I had slowed down quite a bit thought. Mile 24 went better. Mile 25 was my favorite. Sort of. See my Garmin told me I had hit each mile marker 4/10’s of a mile before I reached the official race sign. So the first time I reached 25 I was excited because I knew I was done. Even if I had to 911 my friends to carry me to the finish line, they would! Then I got to “their” 25 sign and was frustrated. When my Garmin hit 26.2 I wanted to sit on the pavement in protest. I’m done! Dammit, I can’t have my medal if I do that!

As I approached the last turn I see Michelle standing there with a sign “Run like you stole it.” I laughed! I got thru the finish line. Garmin said 26.65. There was Brenda! Big hug! I hadn’t even gotten my medal yet! I love you girl, but let me have my medal! Hehehe! My sister was right behind her. And Brenda’s Mom and her dog Sparky. And Dan of course. Then there was Nicola and Matt and Emily and Sophie. I immediately forgot all pains! I downed a bunch of water and in true celebratory style, we hit the beer garden! Home for the ice bath. It was colder than I remember. Then there were gifts! Michelle is getting me a race photo. If I don’t like any of me, she said I could pick one of anyone in the race. Hahaha! My sister got me the coolest medal hanger…

And Brenda had this made for me…

Okay, we’ve agreed the yellow is a bit much, but that was the bib color so I love it! She got a hold of the race director and they scanned a bib and sent it to her for the plaque. She went and picked up the medal in advance too. Totally ruined the surprise for her. She loves herself a medal. It’s part of the fun for her to see what they chose for the design. She ran 26.2 miles and didn’t get her surprise. I was in shock. I really love it!

I spent the afternoon with my sister and friends and just enjoyed every second of it. That evening I sat in Nicola’s back yard and watched her girls run around the back yard and cheered for them! It was the perfect day!

Today I am sore. I’m still smiling. I am so happy to have achieved this goal!

Will I do it again someday?