IMMD Run: Maryland Victory

Welcome to Part Three of my Ironman Maryland story.  If you missed the swim you can catch up here and you can find the bike here - I'll wait if you need to catch up!

Run
I am a runner, running is what I do....time to get to it.  My plan was to run until I couldn't and then run from aide station to aide station, walking through the stations when I came to them.  I was so happy to see Baha within the first couple of miles, he said "keep this up and you will be an Ironman today." That was a super exciting thought, but I had a long way to go before I could dwell on that too much.  I ran the first three miles before my brain got the better of me and I started mixing in walk breaks.  I didn't comprehend that it was hot, but it must have been as both my pace and my spirits improved when the sun started to go down.

Fresh out of T2

The run course is two and a half loops with one end of the loop being pretty desolate and miserable and the other end being super fun since it goes to downtown Cambridge.  I saw Mr K for the first time on the run back in the desolate end of the loop, around my 4th mile.  We waved and he looked like he was moving well and it made me feel very happy to see his face and know that he was doing okay.  I made that turn around and headed back to the other end of the loop, on the way I saw Baha again and I felt for sure that he would lap me at some point, but my brain must have miscalculated just how far that side of the loop was because I didn't see him again until the beginning of my second loop.

I met up with Mr K again on my way towards downtown and he was still looking good, heading towards the end of his first loop. Then I saw Erin and Karen at the turn around in downtown, they called out "how are you feeling?" and I shrugged.  How else do you answer when you still have about 15 miles to run? As I made the turn around I gave them the thumbs up because I didn't want them to worry and I really wasn't feeling that bad.  I found a run pace that I could just kind of cruise at and then I walked through the aide stations, by doing this I settled into a pace in the mid 11:00s per mile.

Several years ago, while running the Chicago Marathon far from home and with no one there to cheer for me, I began to see the timing mats as a little boost of energy from home.  I knew that my friends and family would be tracking me and every time I crossed a timing mat I thought about them and how much they support me and I touched my heart and sent them a message in return. Those happy moments carried me throughout the day.

I've always struggled with the middle miles of a marathon.  I typically don't have the "wall" that many people have at mile 20, but miles 13 to about 18 just kill me mentally.  It is too far from the excitement of the start and also too far from the excitement of the end...no man's land.  And as luck would have it, many of these miles came the second time through that desolate loop.  If I had a mental low point, it might have been in this section.  I walked much of that turn around loop even though I didn't need too.  I saw Mr K again in this little loop and he said I was going to catch him, I honestly did not see how because I felt like I was moving so slowly.

With Super Sherpa Erin

I perked up a little bit as I left that area and realized just how many people were behind me.  I could totally do this! It was also a mental boost to know that I wouldn't have to come out to that part of the course again. I went back to my running/walking pattern as I headed back towards the other end of the loop.  I could see Mr K ahead of me by maybe a half a mile and I tried to keep him in my sights. Somewhere near mile 18 he pulled up with a big cramp, I stopped and offered to help (not sure what I could have done, but I wanted to try) and he sent me on my way. 

As I came back towards downtown suddenly Erin was running next to me.  I was not expecting to see her and just talking to her a minute or two gave me a big boost.  As I made the loop in downtown I saw another familiar face, our friend Jeff was there cheering on a friend.  He gave me some encouraging words and sent me out for that last half loop.  I saw the finishers chute as I headed back out and I knew that after passing it two times the next time would be my time to run towards the finish line.

It was dark by now and parts of the course were well lit and others were completely in the dark.  It was a bit of a relief not to be able to see just how far I had to run, but it also made me nervous because tripping or turning an ankle this late in the game would be awful.  There were a few spectators in their yards and one guy had a megaphone and was telling bad jokes into the darkness (What does a nosey pepper do? Gets jalapeno your business).  When I saw the marker for mile 22 I knew that I only had a Lake Grapevine Friday 4 miler left, I could do this!  Then at the half loop turn around we were at mile 23 - just a 5K left.   It gave me a shot of confidence when spectators would comment that I had a steady pace and that I was moving well because so many people were walking at this point. Wouldn't you know, I negative split those last 3 miles - like a horse to the barn, y'all!

Erin popped in to run with me one more time and I remember telling her "I'm going to do this!" It was starting to sink in that my journey was almost complete. I got a big hug and a hearty congrats from Jeff right before I ran towards the finishers chute.  This was the moment I had been waiting for so long for and I wanted to remember every bit of it - the lights, the music, the red carpet, the spectators - it was really happening! As much as I tried to remember, I'm afraid that so much of it is still a blur.  Isn't that how it goes with most big moments in life?

MICHELLE.
YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!

The volunteer helping me at the finish line was the same volunteer who helped me with my contact in T2.  When I mentioned that my husband would be coming along soon, she asked if I would like to medal him.  Of course I would, what an honor!  She was so sweet, waiting with me until Mr K came across the line.  I was so proud to give him his medal and a hug and a kiss.  He did it! Team K did it - we are Ironmen.

Official time: 5:07:32
Total time: 13:24:33

There is something magic about the first time you finish a big race distance.  October 7 will live on in my memories as the day I proved to myself that I am stronger and more capable that I ever dreamed. I loved everything about Ironman. I loved the training and I loved the race and I feel like I thrived during all of it.  One of my favorite quotes is "If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you." I feel like I was both challenged and changed and I'm walking away from this a better person than I was at the beginning of training.  On race morning, I wrote the words "make it count" on my hand with a Sharpie.  During this training process, I had been given a couple of very clear reminders that there are no guarantees in life.  Every finish line should be a celebration because you just can't take them for granted, while you assume that you will be healthy and strong and ready to race for years to come you just never know.  You only get one shot at a first Ironman on a gorgeous day and I did my very best to make it count.