Ironman Wisconsin Finale - The Run

If you are just picking up the story of my Ironman Wisconsin here, you can read about my swim here and about my bike here.  Now for the finale....the run.

I had my eye out for Karen as I ran into the ballroom to get to my stuff in Transition, I had no idea if she would be there but I thought that there was a chance since we all had to come by that spot when we finished the bike.  I spotted her at about the same time I spotted Mr. K, but my heart sank when I saw him because he was on the sidelines and it appeared that he was not racing.  He told me that he dropped after the first bike loop - he had been battling bronchitis for the last month and it had been super hard on him.  I was so disappointed for him that he would not be able to finish the race.  As I'm still processing this news, Karen points out that Baha is standing next to her.  After some very confused words came from my mouth, they yelled at me "JUST GO!" so I hurried into transition to switch into my run gear.  I was rambling on and on about the news I'd just gotten and the sweet volunteer tried to follow my story but she seemed confused.  I knew that my chances of a PR were out the window with that slow bike split, but I still wanted to work on making my transition quicker and I knew that I had a chance at a solid run.  At a decent 5:34 it was nearly 4 minutes faster than my T2 at Chattanooga last year - a small victory in a day filled with big challenges!

As I emerged from the ballroom and out onto the run course, I immediately noticed the cool temperature.  With temperatures in the upper 50s, I felt so much lighter than when I usually ran after a long bike ride at well over 90 degrees by that time of the day at home.  My plan was to find an "all day" pace and hold onto it as long as I could. Two more loops and my journey to my third Ironman would be done. I saw the runners who were on the course already and I knew that the next time I was back at this point I would only have a loop to go. I felt a little like it was my duty to do the guys proud, like I was representing my little team on this run.

I always find the first loop to be kind of like an adventure - finding out where the course is going and what I'm going to see along the way.  It is never quite as fun the second time around, but knowing the landmarks does help beak it down a bit. I saw Deb on State Street, in the first mile or so of the run.  It was great to get a word of encouragement from her and I yelled out to her how much that bike course kicked my tail!  I soon learned that State Street (there were two separate sections) would be my favorite part of the run course.  The crowds there were great, they really made me feel like a rock star.

I settled in and focused on keeping things nice and steady.  I wasn't quite ready to walk the aide stations just yet, but that was my plan eventually.  Not having the heat beating down on me helped me to extend this time a little bit. I was having a blast too, the Ironman Wisconsin run course is my favorite of all the races I've done so far.  As a huge sports fan, running into Camp Randall Stadium where University of Wisconsin plays was such a cool moment.  I remember that it was eerily quiet in there, way quieter than you would expect a football stadium to be - but there were no crowds of crazed football fans in there, only a couple of volunteers making sure we stayed on course. A guy behind me yelled "O-H" and "Go Bucks" and it just bounced around the empty seats.  I'm sure Badger fans everywhere were cringing and they didn't know why.

After that we headed back into the streets and towards a park by the lake, turns out that it was Lake Mendota, which is the lake that our house was on. There were some really cute dogs in the park with their people and one was wearing a sign that said "I'm proud of you." Suddenly I missed my dogs and just wanted to hug them more than anything. I ran these first five miles at a 10:30 pace - I was so excited to feel this strong starting the run.  It was such a big change from my run last year at Ironman Chattanooga where I over-biked and paid for it with a terrible run on a difficult course.

After the course exited the park it put us on campus for a little bit.  I would not describe this as a hilly run overall, but the section through campus had a couple of hills. They are not anything bigger than what we find at home so they didn't bother me too much (no Chattanooga or Waco flashbacks here).  I decided to walk them though, in order to conserve energy for the rest of the run.  Once through campus, I was back on State Street again - the other end this time - and the party atmosphere returned.  I smiled real big and felt like a champ!  There was a turn around after a few blocks and we got to head back down this street again.  We took a slightly different route to get back to the park this time and ran on a trail by the lake. This part seemed to go on for a really long time and I was starting to walk the aide stations by now.  At first I walked every other one, but eventually it turned into a walk at almost all of them.

Finally....finally I got to the turn around at the end of this lake path.  This is where I encountered my least favorite race sign ever - it said "only 11 miles to go!" Seriously, who does that? This is not an encouraging thought at this point - I was far enough in for the "yay! I'm running" excitement to have worn off, but too far from the end for the "yay! I'm almost done" excitement to kick in.  Not cool, random spectator. Not. Cool.

At this point the course takes us back to the beginning to start loop 2.  I was averaging 10:50 through 10 miles, which is my best pace through 10 miles for an IM run. I saw Greg for the first time somewhere in this section, he was looking very strong and I was so excited for him - he was well into his second loop.  I finally stopped for a restroom break in here somewhere and I nibbled on some of the candy corn that I had stuffed in the back of my sports bra.  I got some of the best comments from fellow athletes about my candy corn, most of them were jealous and thought that it was an awesome idea.

I wasn't sure where my people would be, but I had a good idea that they would be with the crowds on State Street.  I saw Deb again first and got a great cheer from her.  Not longer after that I spotted Mr K, Karen, Baha, and Jerry (Greg's dad).  Seeing them made me so happy and gave me such energy.  I tried to look strong and peppy so that they would know I was having a good run and I wished that I could take them with me for the upcoming second loop. I'm telling you, those high 5s from them were packed with energy.

The energy near the turn around was so high, the Ironman volunteers are just the best and they must be exhausted when they are finished working because they give it their all out there. Thirteen miles done. One more loop, MK. You got this.

My watch died between mile 14 and 15, so who knows what my pace was after that, but I averaged 11:07 for the first 14 miles - still on pace for a faster IM run.  Spoiler alert, my pace was already starting to drop off by the beginning of the second loop. I wasn't sure how much longer I could hold on to that because my quads were really feeling all of the climbing from the bike course.

Time to do it all again - State Street - where I saw my people again, Camp Randall, the path towards the lake.  I saw Greg heading in and I told him to go get that finish line.  He yelled something hilarious, in typical Greg fashion, and went on to have a very strong finish in his first Ironman.  By the time I got to the lake, the sweet pups were gone and it was starting to get dark.  This is where I remembered that I should pack a headlamp in my transition bag.  It is also where I laugh because it never fails that the dark comes on the most isolated part of the run course.  It started to rain in here too, I remember looking out and seeing the rain falling on the dark lake.

I walked the hills on campus again and I noticed that there were tons of people in the library.  It is funny how you forget that regular people are doing regular life things while you are out swimming, biking, and running for an entire day.  This side of State Street gave me some pep in my step again, but the fatigue was starting to take over.  That stretch along the lake path seemed even longer this time in the dark and the rain and I felt bad thinking that my team were standing around in the rain waiting for me.  They are the best and never even complained...but dang - hurry up, MK!

As I made the turn around in the park for the last time, I looked up and saw the State Capitol.  It was all lit up and glowing and looked so beautiful....and so far away.  It was a bit daunting to think that I had to run back there, but this was it - mile 22ish and I was officially heading towards the finish line. I was walking more and running less by this point because my legs just felt spent and my feet simply hurt. Some notes for next time - girl, you gotta eat something on the run course. I've gotten pretty good at bike nutrition, but I pretty much stopped eating when I got to the run.  A few orange slices, sips of chicken broth, and a nibble of candy corn just isn't enough.  Always something to work on and this could make a huge difference.

By the later miles of an Ironman I find that I'm pretty desperate to talk to someone to help pass the time until the finish.  In the final couple of miles I met a gal named Kate from Boston. She was so nice and we chatted all the way until the finish.  I was so thankful for her because otherwise the last few miles would have felt like a hundred years.

As you know, my watch died around mile 14 so I had no idea what my race time was looking like.  I knew that I ran the first 14 miles stronger than I had run my other Ironman runs, but I also knew that I slowed down quite a bit in the second half.  I knew that my swim and transition times were better than my previous Ironman races, but that bike split was my slowest yet by quite a bit.  I knew that any chances of a PR were out the window after the bike and I knew that this was going to be my slowest Ironman time so far. But I felt okay with that because I fought harder for this one than I had the others.  I thought back to the end of last year, when I couldn't run a mile without terrible pain from plantar fasciitis, just getting to the start line healthy was a goal during the winter months. This race felt like a battle from the time I put my face in the water until that moment as I wrapped up the final miles. This race threw many challenges at me, and I fought back each time.

Finally, I was in the glow of the Wisconsin State Capitol. It was such a beautiful sight.  I could hear Mike Reilly calling out the names and I knew that it would be my turn soon.  I told Kate to go ahead and enjoy her finish and then I gathered myself to enter the finishers chute.  It is the best finish line in all of racing - the red carpet, the lights, the music, the energy, "you. are. an. Ironman."  I always try to take in every single bit of it, to slow down time, and to capture all of the details in my mind but it always passes by too quickly. There are no guarantees in life, no promise of "next time," no finish line is ever promised, you have to make them count.

Finish Time: 14:38:17

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.

California International Marathon: On Angel's Wings

It has become tradition for us to pick out one marathon a year to train for and race.  We tend to pick races that are out of state because I figure if I'm going to run 26.2 miles I want to see something new along the way.  Also, Texas weather is infamously unpredictable and I just couldn't bear the thought of training for so many weeks only to get caught in an unseasonable heatwave.  My first marathon and only marathon in Texas was here in Dallas, but I have travelled ever since. The last two years have found us marathoning in the Midwest both in Chicago and Milwaukee.  This year we decided to head west to the California International Marathon on December 7 in Sacramento.  I had heard so many great things about this race and it was a point-to-point with a net downhill (my favorite - see Milwaukee and the 3M Half in Austin) and was well organized and supported by the local communities.  Being in early December, it often falls on the same weekend as the Dallas Marathon, but this year it did not and I jumped at the opportunity to run.

Both Chicago and Milwaukee were in early October and that had us training through the heat of the summer with our biggest miles coming in August.  This year's early December race date provided a most wonderful shift from that training cycle.  The training was not "easy," but it was "different" as our last 20 miler was with temperatures in the 40s and a strong wind.  I think that we might have set a record for temperature extremes during a training cycle with temperatures in the 80s during the early runs and then 24 degrees for one of the last track workouts.  As with any training, there are good days and bad days - remember, I was diagnosed with shingles the day that training officially began!  I felt physically strong at times, but I don't know my mental game was as strong as in years past.  By the time you get to your 4th marathon, you remember how hard they are and how much they can hurt by the end.

We were heading into "race week" when I received the sudden and shocking news that we had lost my grandmother (Granny Faye) the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  She was my role model of strength, smarts, and humor and I was just devastated to know that she was gone.  Granny Faye was a true matriarch, the center of our family, and I was not sure what we were going to do without her.  It was a roller coaster week with my family - so much laughter and so many tears.  Running was the one thing that felt "normal" in a week when everything else was just "off."  Soon enough it was time for Mr K and me to head to California.  We landed on Friday afternoon and enjoyed an evening wandering around Old Sacramento.  Such a cute town!  On Saturday we walked down to the race expo and spent some time on the Capitol grounds before spending the afternoon hanging out at the hotel.  The race ends at the Capitol so it was super exciting to get a peek as the race staff was setting up all the finish line and all the other "stuff" that goes with it.

I love me some symmetry 

Race day came early and at 5:00 am we loaded the big yellow buses that would take us to the start line in Folsom.  Mr K and I had kept ourselves mostly on Texas time, going to bed super early and waking up super early on Saturday.  Our plan worked brilliantly as the early alarm did not feel all that early. As promised, the start line area was well organized and there really was a line of porta potties a quarter mile long!  We were treated to a stirring rendition of The Star Spangled Banner with the best bluegrass twinge, I love it when that happens!  I found myself to be a little teary at the start, I think that I was just filled to the top with all kinds of emotions from the week.  There was not a pace group that really fit my needs, so both Mr K and I lined up behind the 4:00 group.  This race is such a known Boston Qualifier that the pacers were identifying who was attempting to qualify and giving them special instructions for getting in just ahead of their cut off time.  Pretty cool!

Obligatory Pre-Race Hotel Room Picture

Miles 1-6.2
I decided to run mostly by feel, since there was no pace group and the 4:00 group took off a little too fast for my comfort.  In these early miles I watched the mile markers and tried to get to the next one with a consistent time.  There were rolling hills in the first half of the race, so some of the miles were faster than others.  The scenery was beautiful in these early miles - mostly rural with the occasional resident coming to the end of their drive to cheer.  One of the best parts of the race was how much of the road we had to ourselves - the whole road during the early miles and then the entire right lane for the duration of the race.  This might have been the first marathon I've ever run where this is the case and I really appreciated it.  Mr K slipped away from me in the very early miles and I thought of him occasionally, hoping that he was having a good race.  I started to look forward to the 10K (6.2 mile) mark because I assumed that there would be a timing mat there.  I knew that my friends and family were tracking my progress at home and I always get a boost from them.  Sure enough, there was a mat and I crossed 10K in 57:08 with 9:12 average pace - feeling good!

Miles 6.2-13.1
I didn't stop at any aide stations until after mile 7 when my handheld needed a refill.  I was focused on getting to the halfway mark.  I wasn't looking at my watch too often in this section, just keeping an eye on time so that I would know when to eat a gel.  I tried to keep the pace relaxed and consistent while taking in the scenery and the spectators.  The terrain became a little less rural and started to look more suburban and there were some good hills too, but each uphill was rewarded with a nice downhill.  Some of my favorite spectators were during these miles, including a guy on a bike with a James Earl Jones type voice telling us all how good we looked and to be proud of how far we had come.  I saw a few llamas too, right up on the sidelines with the spectators. How cool is that?  I crossed the mat at 13.1 in 2:01:41 with 9:18 average pace.  I was right where I wanted to be at this point in the race - and I had high hopes for the second half.

Miles 13.1-20
I stopped at the aide station after the 13.1 mark to top off my handheld again.  Then I saw Mr K ahead of me soon after the halfway mark and I ran behind him for a while before catching him around mile 15.  We leap frogged for a mile or so and he asked how I was feeling - the fatigue was starting to catch me a bit by this point and I said "I'm tired!"  My plan was to not stop again until around mile 20, but I found that I needed a few more breaks in this section.  Everyone talks about how hard mile 20 of a marathon is, but I find that I consistently struggle in the miles between 16-20.  I think that I am like a horse to the barn after 20 with the end in sight, but 16 is far enough to be tired but still too far from the end.  I rarely run with music, but I turned it on after mile 13 and really tried to use that as a distractor as the miles began to pass more slowly in during this section.  I felt pretty gross as I came into the aide station around mile 18 - shaky, winded, and thirsty.  I took my time there and made sure to get some electrolytes. According to my watch that mile was 10:50 and was by far the slowest of the race.  Thankfully I rallied for a few good miles after that.  I crossed the mile 20 mat in 3:09:06 with 9:28 average pace - slowing down a bit, but still moving forward!

Miles 20-26.2
We are on the home stretch now!! I heard someone cheering for the 4:10 pace group and a backwards glance told me that they were not too far behind me - and gaining ground quickly!  I felt tired by now, but was able to hold a steady pace in the mid to upper 9s.  We crossed the American River around mile 22 and when I paused at an aide station around mile 23.5 the 4:10 group passed me.  My mind for details gets foggy by this point in a run, but I do remember doing the YMCA somewhere in here - and it brought sweet relief to move my arms differently! We nearing downtown Sacramento and we passed some neat looking neighborhoods during the closing miles.  I thought about Granny frequently during this race, but I really felt like she carried me during those last few miles.  I could feel myself getting emotional towards the end, but I had to choke it back a bit as it made breathing harder.  One foot in front of the other, getting closer now!  The crowds in the last couple of miles were much bigger and loud and that made me smile so much.  It was a huge relief to round the corner from 8th Street onto the Capitol Mall - the finish line was within my sights now!  I don't remember much about the finish itself except I crossed the line and immediately burst into tears, so much emotion packed into a single week.  I accepted my beautiful finisher's medal from a sweet-faced kiddo and staggered over to the curb.  I checked my phone and saw my official time - 4:11:12.

I found Mr K and we recovered a little bit, talked to some fellow finishers, took some pictures, and enjoyed the energy that a marathon finish line brings.  It is always a fun to share battle stories with other complete strangers who ran the race - like we have a common brotherhood at least for that day. We passed by that intersection of 8th Street on our way out and decided to stop a bit a cheer for other runners as they rounded that bend.  Seeing their expressions as they caught sight of the finish line for the first time was something that I will never forget.  The best part of a marathon is not the elite finishers, but the final few.  Their smiles filled my heart to the very top - I love running because of moments like this.  We stayed until the last person finished and then we headed for our hotel a few blocks away.

My second "race medal in front of a state capitol" picture

I've thought about my race a great deal in these days following it - the good, the not so good, and the reality of it all.  Three years ago I ran my first marathon on a miserably cold and rainy day. I did it in 4:42:49 and I assumed that I would be faster in my second one, but also that I would be a solid 4:30 marathoner.  I was really happy with that thought too...then I ran Chicago in 4:10.  I was beyond thrilled, but also worried that it might be a fluke. Then I ran Milwaukee Lakefront in 4:06:28...and I knew that it was not a fluke.  I was hoping for a new PR, as I do with each marathon attempt, but it was not meant to be.  I will never take running a marathon for granted and I'm very happy to see another solid time that I can be proud of.  I discovered this quote when I was contemplating my first marathon:  You should run your first marathon for the right reasons, because you'll never be the same person again....Bill Wenmark.  I still believe this to be true, except remove the word first - every marathon will change you.   If you listen carefully, the marathon will teach you a great deal about yourself. I'm thankful that I can keep learning and keep growing with each attempt. Where will next year take me? That is yet to be discovered!

Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon: Strong. Happy.

If you told me that I would be marathoning in Milwaukee 364 days after a hugely successful 2nd marathon in Chicago, I probably would have thought that you were mistaken.  I had my heart set on the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC as my 2013 marathon.  Race registration opened in late March and I had the day (and hour) circled on my calendar.  It was not meant to be, however, try as I might I got caught up in the crashy system issues and the race sold out in just a couple of hours.  By the end of the day I was already searching for my "Plan B" race.  I asked for suggestions for October marathons from my friends and social media and two races really stood out: Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon and the Twin Cities Marathon.  Lakefront was due to sell out by mid April so a decision had to be made rather quickly.  After talking more with friends who had run one or both of them Lakefront became our clear winner.  It is smaller, as marathons go, with 3,100 runners and seemed like a nice change of pace after the 45,000 runner Chicago Marathon that Mr K and I ran in 2012.  Other positive points for Lakefront: a gorgeous point-to-point course with a sweet net downhill, and it was produced by the Badgerland Striders "by runners, for runners."

I set about training in the Texas heat on the same plan that I had used for Chicago, it was like deja vu at times with some of the workouts falling on the same days.  I do love my routines, I suppose.  I was a little concerned at the beginning of training as I was not quite "feeling it." Looking back, I suspect that was some lingering fatigue from a heavy early summer cycling schedule.  If I had been running MCM, as planned, the high mileage cycling would not have overlapped any with marathon training.  Eventually I found my groove and my heat acclimation and got to work.  I adopted a "no excuses" plan when it came to the heat, knowing that it would work to my advantage on a cool Wisconsin morning. I worked hard on my mental game too as I have learned that it is just as important as the physical game in running.  The words "strong. happy." became my mantra when the long runs got tough.  Staying "in the moment" was the focus and I feel like I made some huge gains in this area.

 As it has become an annual tradition, I ran this marathon for the American Music Therapy Association and was overwhelmed by the support I received.  I was able to raise $1,100 and when combined with last year's fundraising brings my total to $2800.  I am sending a huge shout out and thank you to all of you who supported me and this cause that is the nearest to my heart.

Mr K and I both survived the taper crazies and were very excited when it was finally time to head off to Milwaukee.  Excited to visit Milwaukee?  I know.  The humor of it was not lost on us either--most people vacation on beaches or retreat to the splendor of the mountains--not Mr K and me, we run marathons in random Midwest cities.  We arrived on Friday evening and got oriented to the neighborhood around our hotel.  The race expo was on Saturday and there was a continuous shuttle running from our hotel and back.  The walk would not have been that far, but the shuttle was appreciated as I was making an effort to stay off of my feet as much as possible.  It was just one of the nice little touches offered by this marathon.

The traditional hotel room shot

The Lakefront marathon is a point-to-point race, meaning that the start line was 26 miles north in the town of Grafton, Wisconsin.  A yellow school bus picked us up at the hotel and drove us to Grafton where we had full access to Grafton High School.  Although it wasn't super cold, it was nice to be able to prepare for the race in a warm building with plenty of restrooms.  I was so remarkably calm from the moment we landed in Milwaukee.  Yes, I understood that I was about to run a marathon, but I thought of it as nothing more than "another long run." I knew that I was coming to the start line as well trained, both physically and mentally, as I possibly could be. 

The weather was just about perfect at 52 degrees and cloudy.  It had been raining off and on during Friday and Saturday, but thankfully the rain was forecast to move out in time for the race -- and it did.  Mr K and I made our way to the start area and found the 4:00 hour pacer, a very energetic runner named Jacque.  I made it my goal to hang with Jacque as long as I possibly could as my dream goal for the day was to break 4:00. The race announcers were very funny and had us all fired up talking about what a fast course it was and how the weather promised some record times.  After a moment of silence for Boston and the Star Spangled Banner the starting gun sounded and we were off.

Miles 1-7
Mr K went out ahead of me and I settled in with the pace group.  There were a couple of first time marathoners amongst us and I felt so excited for them.  There is nothing like a first marathon!  I didn't look at my watch during the first 10-15 miles, I let the pacer do her work and I just tried to keep her within my sights.  The first 7 miles led us out of Grafton and through some rural areas.  I was excited to see the famous accordion player just before mile 4 as everyone who has run this race mentions him.  I could tell that my pace felt a little bit "pushed" but nothing that I couldn't handle.  Mile 7 was a treat as we passed through Concordia University -- lots of spectators here and they even had the pep band out to play for us.  The sound of a live band always puts a pep in my step - once a band nerd, always a band nerd.  We also passed over our first timing mat during mile 7 and that made my marathoning heart happy.  We were so far from home and had no friends there to cheer for us...but I knew that I had lots of friends and family "watching" the race back in Texas.  Each time I crossed a timing mat I thought about them and all that I have learned from them over the years.  I crossed that mat in 1:03:38 (9:05 average pace) -- right on track and feeling good!

Miles 7-13.1
I still had the pace group within my sights during this section, but I also knew that I needed to listen to my body and run my own race.  The course was simply beautiful and the spectators were really energetic.  I love it when a race prints your name on your bib because it is great to hear your name along the course.  One of my favorite signs said something to the effect of  "Hey we need you! Can you return punts for the Packers?"  During this section our pacer told us that her plan was to get us across the line at 3:59:30.  I got a bit of a chill when she said this...I focused on holding on to her pace as long as I possibly could.  There was a bit of traffic on the road with us during a mile or so in this section and some of the running lanes were narrow, but nothing that caused me to lose focus on my task at hand.  I crossed the halfway mark in 1:59:27 (9:07 average pace) -- and thought of all of my friends back at home again.  Halfway done and holding steady!

A beautiful day on the shores of Lake Michigan

Miles 13.1-20
If memory serves me correctly, and it might not as I tend to have "race amnesia" we turned back onto Lakeshore Drive somewhere around mile 15.  I was starting to feel the pace slipping away a bit and this is about the point where I started to walk through the water stops.  I was excited and relieved to see Mr K somewhere around mile 15 or 16 and told him that we could still keep the 4:00 pace group within our sights.  I thought that he was behind me, but I didn't see him again until after the race.  If I had to pinpoint a time when the race started to feel hard, it would be somewhere around mile 16 or 17.  I knew that sub-4:00 was likely not in the cards, but I knew that if I kept pushing I could get myself a nice PR.  My running pace was still fairly consistent, but I was relying on the water stops to provide me with short walk breaks.  When I was at the mile 18 water stop, I heard them announce that the first race walker was coming through. She passed me and I never saw here again -- amazing! The scenery in this neighborhood section was simply beautiful.  The sun had come out, the trees were starting to show some Fall colors, and occasionally I caught a glimpse of Lake Michigan between the stately homes of Whitefish Bay.  I was smiling as I hit the timing mat at mile 20 in 3:05:30 (9:16 average pace).  Yes, my pace had slipped a bit, but I still had high hopes for that rocking PR. 

Miles 20-25.5
This is when I was able to draw upon the mental training that I worked so hard on all summer. My buddy Drum had given me some great advice the night before "it hurts just as much to run slow as it does to run fast."  I knew that she was right and also knew that walking was not an option, time to put my head down and do the work.  We approached the park around mile 23 and I was eagerly anticipating the big downhill that was promised between mile 23 and 24 -- wheeee!!  So close, but so far at this point.  I tried to run it in without another water stop, but needed a tiny break around mile 24.  Everything hurt at this point and I felt desperate to see a glimpse of the finish line...just a little peek would have helped so much!  The crowds were picking up again and I was admiring a runner ahead of me who had a goal of 4:15 on her bib...she was about to crush her goal...I was so excited for her!  There was a marker for mile 25.5...I only had to hang on for .7 more miles...less than many of the track intervals that I had trained on all summer long.  I. Could. Do. This. 

Miles 25.5-Finish
I was not totally aware of my time at this point, apparently my brain does not comprehend numbers well at this point in a marathon.  I kept telling myself that I had the PR...now how big did I want it to be.  Finally we rounded a corner and the finish line was within my sights.  I could hear the announcer saying everyone's name and where they were from and I was excited to realize that he was going to be saying mine soon.  No matter what the distance, I love to give that last little "kick" in the home stretch of a race.  I saw some runners just ahead of me and made it my goal to pass them so that I would have the finish line to myself.  Again, my mind for details are fuzzy by this point, but the race video shows that I did manage to get that finish line all to myself.



Traditional post race selfie

I collected myself for a brief moment and checked my watch...4:06:28 was good enough for a 3:33 PR. I can't even begin to express all of the different emotions that I was feeling at that moment.  I was reminded, once again, just how hard marathons really are and I was incredibly proud of myself for fighting for my goal.   I checked my phone and saw that my friends and family had indeed been cheering for me the whole time. 

I found Mr K and we made our way to the post race festivities --there was mac and cheese and beer! And you wonder why I run?  We enjoyed sharing stories with other marathoners and soaked up some of the beautiful sunshine on the shores of Lake Michigan.  What a day!  Everything I heard about this race is true and then some: a fast and beautiful course, friendly and supportive crowds, awesome pacers, a beautiful medal, well organized from top to bottom.  I can't recommend it enough, definitely worth the trip to Wisconsin.

I have run three marathons now and I have learned so many lessons from each of them.  Each race is so different and I love them all for very different reasons.  White Rock was a rainy and cold mess, but it was my first and my friends were there cheering me every step of the way.  Chicago was simply magic...my first marathon to really run hard and finishing in 4:10 was more that I ever imagined possible.  This one was special too...proof that Chicago was not a "fluke" and that my dream of a sub-4:00 marathon is getting closer with each attempt.  I do not know where or when we will be marathoning in 2014, but I know the goal and I know what it takes to get there...time to get to work.

Chicago Marathon: Dreams Come True

Dreams come true.  I couldn’t think of just the right eye catching, snappy title for this entry until I tweeted those very words to someone else.  Dreams come true.  I have always believed it for others, and I have watched many of my friends demonstrate it in the past year—these folks blow my mind with their accomplishments.  I never quite thought of it for myself, preferring to assume the unassuming “I’m just your average runner/person/music therapist over here doing the best I can…” role.  That all changed on the morning of Oct 7, 2012. 

Training for the Chicago Marathon started back in mid-June and I attacked it with all of the strength and energy that I had to give.  My first marathon was a great experience, and I approached it with a “finish the distance” goal.  However, those days are gone and I was going for it this time—nothing less than an aggressive training plan and a lofty time goal for me.  I trained and I trained hard, during the heat of the Texas summer, none the less.  I would read the speed workouts in the training plan and think “no way, I can’t do that—but I will try my best” and most of the time I would hit the goal for the workout.  There was no talk of how hot it was, no excuses for me….just a goal to go out and do the work.  I made a few sacrifices along the way, missing some long bike rides, social runs, and races because I needed the recovery time for my running.  Focus was the name of the game and I had it.  I didn’t realize that I had my own “dream” in progress; I just knew that I was working hard for something that I was deeply invested in. 

Summer turned to fall and I could see myself growing and improving as a runner.  I have never done such focused speed work and I was really enjoying the experience—it can be so humbling and so rewarding (and sometimes all at once).  I completed my last 20 miler of the plan on a cool (for September) and rainy morning at White Rock Lake.  It made for the perfect backdrop to reflect upon where my journey had taken me thus far.  The lake was calm and still and I felt much the same way on the inside.  A few days later I had an awesome tempo run at Arbor Hills—the kind of run that reminds you why you love running.  It was dark by the time we finished and I felt as if I was flying up and down the hills and around the bends on the narrow path—like a roller coaster ride.

Mr K's Fortune Friday Night in Chicago

The stage was so perfectly set for a huge day at the Chicago Marathon.  My allergies hit me HARD the day before we left, and I tried my best not to panic.  It had to get better once I left the awful North Texas pollens behind, that was my plan anyway.  I tried every known remedy at dinner in Chicago that Friday (ginger tea, chicken soup, drugs, lots of water…you name it) and I came out feeling okay for race day.  Not my best, but certainly not as bad as it could have been.  Mr. K and I had flown out Friday morning and enjoyed the afternoon in Chicago—what a beautiful and bustling city!  On Saturday we walked from our hotel to the race start and Millennium Park and tried to stay off our feet, although we probably could have done a little better.  It is hard to be still when you want to explore a new city.  It was a beautiful day in Chicago—sunny, cold, and runners EVERYWHERE.  I loved the energy! 

Meatballs anyone?

A delicious pasta dinner was consumed (including the largest meatballs in the city!), race gear was prepared, and an early bedtime was set.  I slept fairly well, minus waking up around 1:00 to worry about how I was feeling.  Soon enough it was time to meet That Pink Girl and make our way to Grant Park to prepare for the start of the race.  I gotta admit, TPG and I looked pretty ridiculous in our throw away clothes—the ruffles on my skirt made my hips look super-wide under my ugly baby blue pants.  We were setting some fashion don’ts right there, people.

Fashion DON'T...thanks for the pic, TPG

The race weather gods smiled upon us and gave us some of the most perfect running weather ever.  There aren’t any running conditions much better than 38 degrees, partial sun, and a light breeze.  As we stood in the starting corrals I knew that this had to be a “no excuses” race.  When else do you get to run one of the top 5 marathons in the world, on a perfect day, with solid training under your belt?  It may never be any better than this, and I was aware of and grateful for that.  Chicago Marathon does a great job organizing the start line and even though 45,000 people ran the race—it took me only 11 minutes to reach the start.  I can think of some other races who could learn a thing or two from the folks in Chicago (not to name any names….).

Hanging in Corral K...must have been a sign!

It was so exciting to get moving and I tried to settle into my planned race pace.  Mr. K and I usually run with a plan to stay near each other…until we weren’t…and that plan worked well for us again.  He surged ahead of me early on and then I caught up with him around mile 6 and we ran together for a while.  The crowds, buildings, and a tunnel threw my Garmin for a loop so I started watching for the mile markers on the course and timing my mile splits with them.  Thankfully my goal pace was an easy number that made the addition very simple.  I saw music therapy frunner Becky at mile 3 where she was volunteering at the water stop, but other than that I didn’t have any friendly faces to look for along the course.  This was never a huge issue as an estimated 1.5 million people came out to cheer for the marathoners.  There were people everywhere!!  And they were loud and raucous and I can honestly say that I drew on their energy at times. I later learned that Elsa Maria was on the course and caught a glimpse of me in my “visible from space” yellow calf sleeves.

I was faintly aware that my pace did not feel quite as easy as I would like and soon became aware that I was having trouble drawing a deep breath.  My typically dormant asthma had been triggered by that allergy issue I had before leaving home.  However, this is a no excuses day and there was nothing left to do but carry on.  I crossed the half way mark around 2 hours, which still had me perfectly on target to meet my goal.  Sometime after this point I lost sight of Mr. K—he had been slightly ahead of me since mile 7—and I never saw him again.  Allow me a brag….he went on to run a beautiful 3:57 complete with a perfect negative split.  So proud! 

Visible from space

I keep on going, making it a goal to reach each mile marker in my targeted amount of time. I told myself it was my job to get to the next marker—that it was all I had to do in the moment…focused like never before.   I held on to the low 9:00s as long as I could before having to compromise and move back to a 9:15.  Somewhere before 17 couldn’t wait any longer….had to make a restroom stop.  I was hoping that there would not be lines at this point in the race, but I still had to wait and likely lost a couple of minutes.  I remember feeling so thirsty and was walking through most of the water stops so that I could get a good drink.  Looking back on it, the dry air must have caused some of that thirst…remember, I was coming from a humid and moist training climate.

Somewhere near mile 20 (the race is all a blur to me) I heard another runner call my name.  TPG!  She was my marathon angel from above, I swear, because I really needed a familiar face at the time.  We might have said 3 words to each other before running on, but just the sight of her gave me some necessary strength.  I had no idea that she was fighting her own battles at that moment.   The race was getting harder by the second and I could feel my pace fall off a bit, but I was determined to hang on and finish what I started.  No excuses, remember?

I should note that I don’t remember much about the scenery around me, those mile markers were my focus and my job that day!  I do remember the Gangnam dancers in China Town, the rifle twirlers in Boys Town, seeing White Sox Stadium up on the right, and running under a human tunnel in the Nike Zone just to name a few.  I also remember a volunteer at mile 22 looking me in the eye and saying “mile 22, you’ve got this!”  I looked so forward to the timing mats, odd right?  Not really, see I knew that my close friends and family were tracking my progress at home.  Each time I crossed a mat I sent a message their way and I let their (long distance) energy give me a boost.  It was a pretty amazing feeling and I realize that I am a ridiculously fortunate person to have such incredible support—so great I could feel it all the way in Chicago.

Those later mile markers seemed so far apart, but I kept my focus and tried to keep my pace up as well.  I had been thinking of my main mantras for most of the race—smart/consistent/smart/consistent, dig deep, and you are stronger than you think….but the later miles is when one of my new favorites really came into play.  I owe Mark L a huge debt of gratitude for sharing with me his favorite “Show me how great you are” The later miles were so challenging, but I didn’t sweat through all that Texas heat training for nothing.  Now was the time to draw upon the mental toughness I had worked hard to strengthen.  I knew that I was not going to make my “oh my gosh best race ever…wow” goal, but I knew that my “oh my gosh, I can’t believe I did THAT goal” was very much in reach.  The end of the race was drawing near, all I had to do was dig in and get it done. 

I had been warned of the slightest hill in the last 400 meters or so of the race—and it was there, just as promised.  It was a glorious sight, not that I was looking forward to running up it…but it told me that the end was very near.  I had no concept of my time at this point; I just dug in and tried to run strong to the finish line.  I crossed the finish line and stopped my watch and stared in disbelief….4:10….32 minutes faster than my first marathon attempt.  I always assumed that I would be a fairly average 4:30 marathoner, and I was quite satisfied with the thought.  When I set my time goal for the race (as close to 4:00 as I can get) I don’t think that I really, truly believed that it would happen.  It really was a dream…one of those “that would be amazing and I will work hard to get there, but I don’t know if it will ever be possible” types of dreams. But now…now I am sold….dreams do come true.

 

I collected my medal and by heat sheet and began to look ahead for Mr. K, not sure how far ahead of me he finished.  Soon enough his smiling face emerged from the crowd and he delivered his good news to me.  I was a pathetic mix of crying and laughing all while lurching forward as my whole body HURT in that moment.  After getting our free beer, we walked with stiff bodies over to the bag drop and wondered how we would make the mile walk back to our hotel.  I took a minute to read my text messages and was overwhelmed from the responses.  I had been cheered on the entire way by my friends who were tracking at home.  I could not stop the tears from flowing (me, yes! The non-crier!) as I felt like the most fortunate person who had ever laced up a pair of running shoes. While I ran most of the race alone, I was never really alone. An amazing thing happened, the famous Frunner Bubble of Love had made it all the way to Chicago.  Those friends and family who were supporting me were in my heart and in my mind the entire way.  See….I’m the luckiest…there is no doubting it.

 Mr. K and I headed back to the hotel, feeling relieved that our bodies began to loosen with each step of our walk.  We spent the rest of the afternoon talking to family, answering supportive Facebook/Twitter messages, recapping our excitement, and enjoying a celebratory drink with TPG.  Later we enjoyed a very fine dinner as we shared our race tales with the rest of our running group from North Texas.  The city was quiet and peaceful as we made the short walk back to our hotel.  The calm waters of the river provided a fitting backdrop to end quite an exceptional day.

Beautiful Chicago By Night

I ran across this quote as I was contemplating my first marathon…You should run your first marathon for the right reasons, because you'll never be the same person again. You must want to do it, not do it because your boss did it or your spouse did it. ~~Bill Wenmark, running coach

I believe the first sentence of this quote to be true, minus one word….first….because I believe that any marathon you run is going to change you.  In fact, I believe that my second marathon changed me even more than my first.  I learned so many things about myself during the training and especially on race day.  My eyes and mind have been opened to endless possibilities…dreams, if you will….that go far beyond race day and running.

Dreams come true.

 

White Rock Marathon: Beautiful Day

Wow…where to begin?! My experience at the White Rock Marathon was nothing short of amazing. I learned so much about myself and my incredible support system that day. I have run the half marathon at White Rock three times and I have always said that White Rock equals MAGIC and that held true again this year. There was the one year that I was exhausted from a weekend of playing concerts at the Winspear Opera House and woke up just hoping to finish the race….and I broke two hours for the first time, and then last year when I was dealing with some very frustrating hip pain…and ran my third fastest time ever. See? Magic! And it looks like White Rock brought magic again this year. When I work up that morning it was in the upper thirties and raining and I had no reason to truly believe that I would have FUN while running. Yep, you heard me…I had FUN.

The whole week before the race was filled with words of love, support, and encouragement from my friends and family. I remembered thinking that I should run a marathon EVERY week because I have not felt that much positive energy in a long time. I was very calm the whole week leading up to the race; I don’t think that I ever really experienced that “taper madness” that people speak of. I had no doubts that I would finish the race and I had no doubts that I would have a positive experience. I really did trust my training and I knew that I was prepared. The only thing that caused me slight concern was the forecast of rain, but Erik and my runner friends were so positive telling me that the rain was not really a factor and what a great day it would be for running. I really owe them a thank you because they had me believing that a little rain was nothing to freak out about.


Lunch at Taco Joint

The Saturday before the race was filled with friends and food. Several of us met for lunch at Taco Joint before heading to the race expo. It was a big moment when I got to go to the “full marathon” side to pick up my race bib. I have gone to the “half marathon” side so many times and I didn’t really think that I would EVER run a full marathon. The race expo was a blur—I didn’t get to shop very much because we ran into so many running friends (frunners) and had to stop and chat each time. I remember that I felt incredibly lucky to have made so many friends from running—what a great “problem” to have, right? We met some more running folks for a carb-filled dinner at Bucca di Beppo and then it was off to the house to prepare all of my stuff for the race.


The Full Marathon Line...it is for REAL

I was torn over what to wear as I tend to warm up pretty quickly while running, but I also knew that the rain would be a factor. I ended up selecting a long sleeve shirt and running tights over my compression sleeves with a beanie and some gloves. I went back and forth over wearing a jacket, but I have never run in one before and didn’t want to try it on this day. I tucked an 89 cent rain poncho from Academy in my shirt pocket before heading out the door. That 89 cent poncho ended up saving my tail.

I have to mention that SiriusXM radio has a great sense of humor—I heard “No Rain” and “Run To The Water” during my drive to Fair Park and the race starting line. It is things like this that make me laugh at the whole situation. I arrived a little bit later than I planned to and missed the group meet up, but was able to find Gretchen (my marathon race buddy) without too much trouble and we headed to our starting corral. I was thrilled because I saw Mark L, Felix, and Cairo go by on their way to the start. It was great to get a hug and encouragement right before the starting gun fired.

One of the things that I love about White Rock Marathon is how it is just ELECTRIC at the start—fireworks, music, EXCITEMENT! While many of the same effects were still there, it was a bit muted by the rain. Gretchen and I had to wait about twenty minutes to cross the starting line and while we were standing there it started to rain again. The timing of that rain saved my tail…it was then that I decided to get that poncho out of my pocket and put it on…and I didn’t take it off until I was finished and had the medal around my neck.


Meanwhile While I Was Running...

We got off to a good start, the corral system seemed to work well and we didn’t have to get around many slower runners. The rain got heavier a few miles into the race and I knew that it was just going to be something that we would have to deal with all day. I tried really hard to dodge puddles because I wanted my feet to stay dry for as long as possible. I tend to be blister prone and even though I had covered my feet in both Body Glide and Vaseline, I was still worried.

In my last blog entry, I asked for words of advice from experienced marathoners to a rookie. I really drew upon those words during the race and they even carried me at times. So if you were one of those people who shared your wisdom with me…THANKS…you don’t know how much I relied on it during the challenging moments. A common theme was “take it all in” and “smile, have fun” and that is what I did. If a band was playing, I sang the words out loud at the top of my lungs. I tried to look at all of the spectators and take in their faces, signs, and cheers. I knew that standing still in the cold rain was much harder than running. It meant a lot to have them there on a day like that.

Gretchen and I knew that our friends Corina, Marci, and Cassie would be cheering for us at certain points along the course and we really looked forward to seeing their faces along the way. They were dressed in bright yellow tutus (covered by rain ponchos) and were making lots of noise with egg shakers and a tambourine (think that they are friends with a music therapist?) and they called themselves “Operation Sunshine”. They will never know how much their presence helped me along that day. We also knew that Erik would be waiting at the Dolly Pardon Hills (mile 21) with the other Dollys and would be running in with us. The race course really showcases some of the best parts of Dallas and I love running through the Arts District and in front of the stately homes on Beverly Drive. Fall comes a little bit later here in Texas and the trees were beautiful shades of orange and yellow against the backdrop of Christmas decorations.


Operation Sunshine

Gretchen was an amazing race buddy. Early in the race she asked me what words she could say to me if and when I started to struggle. She wanted me to say “suck it up, buttercup” to her and I chose “you are stronger than you think”. We never had to use those phrases on each other, but I know that I thought about mine several times. She also had the race divided by her “9, 9, 9” plan (9 miles, 9 miles, and a little less than 9 at the end) and that really seemed to help. It really began to seem real when we got to the half marathon split…oh how many times had I taken that shorter route…but not today…today I was taking the long way. (Incidentally Dixie Chicks song “Taking The Long Way” came up on my ipod as I got ready to leave for the race). Around mile 11.5 we passed the RAW (Grapevine Runners) aide station and I saw so many frunner faces there. They were all so helpful and welcoming, again another bright spot on the road. Staci (Tini) was super helpful getting water and Gatoraide for Gretchen and me as we passed through. We passed Operation Sunshine again somewhere around mile 12 and I was still taking it all in, smiling, and having an awesome time.

Mile 12 is where we hit White Rock Lake and that is where the challenge really began. Remember those words of advice that I drew from? Cat had a gem for me—don’t ditch your gloves before you get to the lake…remember that the “other” side is often cold and windy. She is pretty brilliant because the wind hit right on cue. My gloves were soaking wet by then and I wondered if it would be better to take them off, but I trusted Cat’s wise words and I’m glad that I did. Mile 12 is also where I started to have an unusual pain that moved from my hip to my hamstring to my knee and back….it was frustrating because I had NEVER experienced this pain before (and I haven’t since). Looking back it was probably caused from running on wet surfaces, jumping puddles, and wearing soaked, heavy shoes. The good news is that as long as I took time at the aide stations to stretch then the pain was very manageable. The bad news is that it added about a minute per mile from 13 until the end (frustrating), but I wasn’t about to let that get me down.


Somewhere Around Mile 12

White Rock Lake was the hardest part of the whole marathon. Erik and I have been coming to White Rock every weekend for our long runs for several years now—so I feel like I know every inch of the path. I knew where it would be windy and I knew just how far it was from one point to the next. It was during this section of the marathon I felt like Gretchen was dragging me and I worked really hard to not hold her back too much. Remember those words of advice—I kept drawing on them and “smile” was in my mind quite often during this stretch. Again, I looked at the volunteers and knew that they were having a much harder time that I was. Winfrey Point is a tough part of the lake for me and a constant thorn in my side. It is a half mile around that point and it is often the most extreme section of the lake (hottest in the summer, windiest in the spring, coldest in the winter, etc). Like clockwork, we approach Winfrey Point and the wind picks up and the rain comes down harder….and my ipod begins playing “Beautiful Day” Seriously? How could I NOT laugh at that!? Awesome Bono, just awesome.

We came off the lake around mile 20 and I stopped for a short restroom break. This was the first time I took off my gloves and I had trouble moving my fingers! I didn’t realize just how cold my hands had gotten. I was working hard to get to mile 21 because those are the Dolly Pardon Hills and that is where Erik would be waiting to run in with me. I also knew that Operation Sunshine would be there with dry gloves and clementines for me. I remember looking at Gretchen and saying “we have just run 20 miles girl!” In some way it seemed as if it had gone by so fast. I heard a spectator say “you are going to make it!” and I started to get excited about getting to that finish line…this was really going to happen!


At The Dolly Pardons-Mile 21

I was so relieved to climb that hill and see Erik, Operation Sunshine, and the Dollys waiting for me. I remember running up and saying “who wants to rub my butt” hoping that someone would be able to work that little ache/cramp out of my muscles. Erik was on it but it didn’t seem to help too much. Marci poked clementines in my mouth, shoved dry gloves on my hands (with hand warmers inside!) and we posed for a few pictures. Poor Erik was shivering and was ready to start running so that he could warm up. We lost Gretchen in the shuffle—she started to get cold when she stopped so she kept on moving. I could see her bright pink calf sleeves just ahead of us for the last few miles of the race.


Erik goes to work...

I never hit “the wall” during this race and I think that Erik was a huge part of that. Having him with me for those last five miles was just what I needed to lift my spirits, he knew just what to say and was so supportive. Frunners Liza and Vi were also nearby and it was great to see some familiar faces. I was still taking stretch breaks at each water stop, but my legs were feeling better as we went. The mind is a funny thing, isn’t it? I should note that I had not been watching my watch any during this race. Gretchen and I just ran a comfortable pace the entire time and we actually stayed fairly consistent. I spare you the long list of splits, miles 1-13 averaged just under 10:00 min miles and 14-26 were in the 11:15 minute range for an average of 10:39 for the whole race and a finish time of 4:42:49

The last five miles are a bit of a blur to me. I remember the beautiful houses along Swiss Avenue, the spectators, and the bands (one was playing Brown Eyed Girl) and focusing on Erik who was running just ahead of me. Soon enough I could see the buildings at Fair Park and I knew that the end was very near. Again, drawing from the advice given to me, I tried to take everything in and really savor the moment. I was about to be a MARATHONER! It was all pretty overwhelming and I started to get a quiver chin as we rounded the bend and entered Fair Park.


A Toast With Gretchen!

Erik peeled away and I went on to cross the finish line…I had done it. I will never forget that feeling as I let the tears come freely. Wow. “Do your best” my dad had said…and I did. The advice that I had heard the most during my training was “don’t set any time goals for yourself on your first marathon” and “finishing should be your only goal” and “run your first one for a good time, not a fast time.” I really tried to draw on that advice and quiet my inner perfectionist. Am I pleased with my time? Not exactly, but I did the best that I could on the day that I was given. That is something running twenty-nine half marathons has taught me. Do I know that I can do better? Heck yes! And I can’t wait to try again…and soon. But for now I will be proud of the fact that I ran a marathon, and I ran it as strongly as I could, and I have recovered well. I ran a marathon on a day when many people chose not to leave their houses because it was so cold and rainy.

I am a marathoner.

(Thanks again to Corina and Gretchen for the pictures!)