Well, as you can tell, I spared you the training details for this marathon. In a nutshell, I ran more than I have ever run and chafed in places I did not know were humanly possible to chafe. So there. That's my training recap.
Yesterday was the big race and this is the first time I have sort of relived the event. I arrived in DC on Wednesday and spent the week in meetings for work. I didn't want to drive up there and then drive home to turn around and drive right back. I also didn't want to drive myself since I knew I wasn't going to be physically able to drive home. Here is how I managed: Ride up on Wednesday with co-workers, Have co-workers drop me off at a friend's after the conference, Get picked up by running partner's husband/our coach for race activities, Ride back with running partner with her hubs driving. It was a bit complicated but I managed...mostly.
Since my conference was over early Friday, I made my way to visit college buddy Stephanie Culberson Strand. Of course, she was at work until late. Luckily, my buddy from kindergarten (Yes, you read that correctly. Don't you love Facebook?) was off for the day and he now lives there. So he scooped me up for lunch and the meal turned into an entire afternoon of visiting. It was great to catch up with Matt and see what is new in his world. We have been friends for so many years and even when I moved to VA, we managed to keep up via email. I love hearing his stories about his very cool job. I hooked back up with Steph and spent an evening catching up with her. I really need to go North more often. That's a new goal.
Saturday morning, the Robinsons scooped me up from Steph's and we headed to the Expo to pick up our stuff. Riding into the city got me really excited for the race. I couldn't wait to run by everything and see the sites on foot. Since this is "The People's Marathon" there are a million people that run it. Well, a million is a bit of an exaggeration but about 30-40k do it. You can imagine the crowd at the Expo. Our wait wasn't as long as others since we were there shortly after they opened. Nonetheless, LOTS of people. I managed to do some damage in the retail therapy portion of the Expo and spent the rest of the day relaxing and eating. These are two things I am VERY good at. However, in the afternoon it began to snow. At first it was just a little and then it really started to come down...and stick. I just knew then I wouldn't be prepared. I didn't have snow gear for running! Of course, my concern led me to over dress.
The next morning we were out the door at 5:30am Metro bound and eventually getting off at Pentagon station. It was pretty cool to walk around there and it was a forever walk to the starting festivities. We waited at the port-o-potty for that last minute empty and then got to the start just in time. I was so excited when our corral crossed the start. The road was lined with soldiers holding flags from all over the world. I have a tendency to start off fast and Karen has to slow me down, but no problem this time. So many people and several hills kept me in check.
The first quarter seemed to be regular driving roads with LOTS of hills. That stupid elevation map is a bit deceiving. I did not prepare for all of that. Then we went into a park which didn't have much crowd support and then we were back in the city. It was really cool to run through Georgetown and very tempting to make a few shopping stops. Fortunately, no one was open yet. The very best was running through the mall and passing all of the museums and seeing different monuments along the way. I was thankful Karen had spent some years in DC so she could give me the local's tour. I felt good and we were ahead of our goal. I was certain I could beat last marathon's time.
Around mile 11, I discovered a very sharp pain in the back of my right knee. That made me nervous since we weren't even halfway. It was very bizarre because I didn't feel it when I ran, only when I walked. So, it was motivation to keep running. Plus, you look around and see all of these military men running with 50 pound packs on their back and you think, "What am I whining about? I'm not carrying a thing!" It went away by the time we "Beat the Bridge."
The bridge at mile 20 is when the 5 hour group passed me. Karen was already struggling with some stomach issues and I figured I could catch the pace group. I was within viewing distance for about 2 miles and then it happened. The moment you hear about but I had never experienced: The Wall. I switched up my "eating" schedule at the race and I'm extremely upset with myself over that. I was mentally done at mile 22 and I wasn't sure my legs could keep going. If someone I knew had driven by and offered me a ride, I would have taken it. In fact, I was secretly praying it would happen. I pushed through for about 2 miles and grabbed a Dunkin' Donuts munchkin at mile 24. I felt better, had a little talk with myself, and decided I could make it 2 more miles. I was good for another mile and a half and then I started to struggle again. Being that close and struggling was such a disappointment. When I saw the hill to Iwo Jima, the finish line, I wanted to just scream. All I could think was "DAMN MARINES! Always have to prove something." I struggled up the hill and stumbled over the finish. I looked at my watch to discover a 5:08 finish.
Talk about disappointment. That pitiful finish ruined my entire race experience. I mean, I realize it shouldn't. I finished and that was really the most important thing but for me I wanted to do this better than I did before. I thought I had prepared myself to shave time but found myself performing worse than I expected. I'm not on the high I was on for Shamrock and other than the fact that I can't sit on the toilet without bracing myself on the sink and I'm walking extremely slow and calculated, I don't feel like I ran a marathon. I'm trying to snap out of it and remember the fun first 22 miles of the race, but it is amazing how the last 4 can taint the whole thing.
Before the race, I said it would be awhile if/when I do this again. Now I am bound and determined to do it again and perform better. I will not go out with such a poor time. I plan to go back to the basics starting with 5ks. I'm going to do a few of those and work on my speed until a 9:30 pace is a normal Saturday morning long run. Then I'll work up until I'm ready for 26.2 again. Couldn't tell you when that will be or what city it will be in, but I'm not done. Right now, I just wish I could be proud of finishing this one.
