So this year I decided it was the year I wanted to accomplish a full Marathon. I new just getting out of the house and putting the stress out there on the road was going to be a nice stress reliever for me. I don't know what got into me for I have never had a desire to run 26.2 miles. I always said only insane people run that far. I guess I now have to put myself into the insane category.
I had a lot of fun training for this race, but in the same breath got really burned out in running. If it wasn't for having my Sister-in-law to train with I don't know if I would have completed it. I really enjoyed our time out on the road together. I feel that our relationship grew leaps and bounds during this time. Not only with her, but with my brother as well. There is something to be said about having a training partner and now I know why.
Training was coming along very well I had joined up with Coach Kenna and was taking her Track class. In this class she has you doing sprint intervals around the track to help you improve your speed. Then Michelle and I would meet up at the crack of dawn which was anywhere between 4-5am to start our runs. Thing were going great and I was exceeding my expectations on my speed. then about 3 weeks before the race we decided to head down to St. George and do our last long run on the course. We were scheduled to run 22 miles that day. We were right on course with our pace which we wanted to stay between an 8 1/2 minute mile to an 8:45 minute mile. I was feeling really good energy was great and then mile 9 came and my knee starts having a little pain I kept on pushing thinking it would go away. Mile 11 comes and I am in a lot of pain at this point. I told Michelle to go a head for I was going to baby it in I did not want to cause a major injury. Lets just say the remainder of the miles were pure HELL. My brother Damon was out on his training bike ride and came up along side me and could tell I was hurting. Nothing felt good running or walking it was just extreme pain. He went a head and caught up to Michelle telling her to go get the car and come find me. I was so frustrated knowing how hard I had been working towards this race and just scared that I wouldn't be able to run it. Michelle found me at mile 20 and I was so glad to see her. The rest of the weekend I wasn't able to walk very well. As soon as I got home I got right into Muscle works which is a Massage center for athletes. Lets just say I wasn't very excited to go, but knew if I had any chance of running this race I had to see them. My IT band was extremely tight and they told me they could work it out so I could run, but I have to just go for finish and not push for time. I was relieved to hear this, but knew I was going to be going through torture in the treatments.
So let the race begin!
We started out to the buses at 4:30 that morning. I thought I would be extremely nervous due to it being my first one. The morning was really nice and warm which I was a little concerned that the temperatures would rise quickly. We choose to just chill in the Port a potty lines and wait. About a half an hour before the race began we drank our energy drink went to drop off our cloths in the drop trailer and then one last potty break. To our surprise the race started 15 minutes early. So needless to say no last potty break. We hurried up to the start line and began our journey down the road for 26.2 miles. I was a little hesitant in the beginning not wanting to over push my knee and be miserable the remainder of the time. I passed the 9 mile mark where my knee started hurting last time and so far so good. By mile 10 my energy drink had caught up to me an I needed a stop. I never stop during races, but this time it was so painful I had to. I was worried about stopping that my knee would tighten up on me. So far so good I was back on the road and still in good shape. About mile 20 my knee started to tighten up and I kind of started to panic. Mile 23 comes and all I can think is you can do anything for a 5k. I believe this was the longest 5k I have ever done. The good thing was it was in town so you had large crowds cheering you on. By mile 24 it has started to get warm and the sun was beating down on you. I felt a tap on my arm and I look to my side and see my Brother Damon. He had met up with his wife Michelle at mile 13 and helped pace her in. Once he left her he came back to check on me. At this point my leg did not want to move I was really concentrating on getting it to move he said I looked good, but I felt like I was dragging my right leg. It was sure nice to see someone to help coach me in. He grabbed extra cold towels and squeezed them over my head and around my neck to help cool me off. We turned the last corner and you could see the finish line. I tell you that last .2 really is not that far, but after already going 26 it felt like it was forever long. I was really hoping to come in around 4hrs with my knee or a little under, but my official time was
Time: 4:06:42
Overall Place: 2330/5700
Female age division 30-34 162/783
Time: 4:06:42
Overall Place: 2330/5700
Female age division 30-34 162/783
The kids were so excited watching and patiently waiting they had made some cute signs for me and it was extremely emotional to see them at the finish line.
It was really nice having my brother by my side coming in.
I have to say thank you to my amazing family on letting me take the time to train for this. I know it may not have been easy with mom being so tired and physical drained.
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