This past weekend...I GOT ENGAGED!
But I still haven't posted about the marathon, so I feel like I need to talk about that first before talking about that other thing. Needless to say, it's been a big few weeks---well technically one, since I ran a marathon last Saturday and got engaged(!!!) this Saturday. AHHHHHHHH.
This year's marathon (my second) was almost nothing like last years. It was cold and difficult and a bit lonely at times. This marathon might actually have been the hardest thing I've ever mentally and physically chosen to live through; absolutely not a repeat of last year's jolly jaunt through Richmond!
5:30AM - My alarm went off. I was already half-awake (had been from probably the entire night), so I bolted up immediately. Thanks to prepping the night before, there was zero thought that goes into getting ready. Coffee, dress, braid, Body Glide...
6:15AM - Kristen arrives (one of my friends I'm driving). I finish foam-rolling, inhale my cereal + half a banana, and take the rest with me for 30 minutes out. We pick up Carter (another carpooler) along the way and we're off!
6:45AM - We walk into the Downtown Omni to meet up with the rest of the SEAL Team PT training group. This was actually super relaxing and a fun way to spend the last few minutes before the start line. The energy was high and everyone was more than excited to get our races over with!
7:15AM - Got in line for the bathroom...by the time we're done it's 7:40AM and we have to speed walk the few blocks to the start line. The average temperature for the morning was 30 degrees and sunny. There wasn't much of a breeze at the beginning, so it was kind of comfortable given the temperature. I wore a sweatshirt, hat, ear-warmer headband and two pairs of gloves to the start line. I stripped off the sweatshirt and hat just before the we started, and kept on both pairs of gloves until mile 7---then I just reserved one in case I needed them on the bridge at mile 14-15.
7:50AM - Jog over the start line and it's HAPPENING!!!
MILES 1-8
I was extra careful to make the first mile a slow one; it ends up being right where I want it at 9:20 pace. At this point, I focus on just taking it all in---the crowds, other runners, how my body feels---and letting it sink in that here I am running a marathon again. Once we take our first turn of the course, off of Broad Street, my next mental landmark is crossing the James River into south side. I start eating my bites just before mile 4 and continue every two miles, just before the water stop and wash them down with two cups of water. For the most part, I speed walk or jog through the stops so I can sip but keep moving. Miles 6-7 are a big downhill towards the river on both sides of the Huguenot Bridge, so I try to ride it out. I finish mile 7 in 8:22...maybe a little too fast ;)
MILES 9-14
Once south of the river, I focus making it to the the halfway mark. But first: Running along the James River, I remind myself again to take in my surroundings. This is easily the most peaceful and breath-taking part of the course. Orange and golden leaves floated through the air, the rushing of the water beside us...after re-centering myself, we're greeted with one of the few "hills" of the course. Then I'm back to focusing on getting to the halfway mark in 2 hours or a little less. At this point, I catch up to a member of our training team. I feel rude saying it, but this ends up being a curse rather than a blessing---my pace quickens to match hers (she quite possibly speeds up), while she practically interviews me on life. Soon I'm out of breath and my heart is beating harder than I want it to me. At the next water stop, I grab my two cups but keep moving and successfully break loose. I hit the halfway point 1:57 into the race, see a few SEAL Team PT instructors and start to feel better. It's about time to head back to the other side of the river, over the mile-long Lee Bridge. Last year, I really liked this part of the race; it's a great view and we'd run a lot of tempos across it during training. I try to hold onto that thought as I made the left turn towards it.
MILES 15-20
All of mile 15 is spent on a bridge back into the city. WIND WIND WIND. SO MUCH COLD WIND! And there was no way to draft against someone. I keep pushing forward and passing people, but my pace struggles with the push-back. In hindsight, I absolutely wasted too much energy to try and counteract the wind. Argh. After the bridge, I switch from eating my homemade bites to Honey Stinger waffles as a reward and "change of pace". My next mental point is getting to mile 18, where Garland (MY FIANCE!!!) and our friend Craig are waiting to jump in with me. I think I'm recovering from the bridge, but really everything is getting worse. The backs and sides of my thighs are tired and burning, and I can feel my energy level sinking. There aren't as many crowds on Main Street (probably because of the cold) and no smell of bacon I remember from last year.
Garland and Craig is all I have look forward to, besides passing another SEAL Team PT runner or cheerer along the course. Once I find them, I try to give them a very honest inventory of my body; that I feel good, but tired and am not sure what will happen next. I'm happy to have them and to pass the SEAL Team PT water stop at mile 20...but after that?
Oh, baby. This is where things go terribly downhill and not in a good way, just yet. At some point, I become too uncomfortable and afraid to keep my head straight to look in front of me. It's as if knowing how much farther I have will cause me to all-together stop or throw a hissy fit. So, literally, I stare at Craig's shoes for the last 5 miles. Garland stays besides me and tries his best to motivate me. He tells me not to waste any energy talking or responding to the crowd. He tries to get me to maintain speed, since at this point there's no way I can physically/mentally go faster (my Garmin tells me he did a very good job of this!). I'm still passing so people, but that's just a minuscule comfort.
I feel every emotion possible the last three miles: fear, sorrow, anger. (I yelled at Garland at one point. Whoops!) I feel like I'm going to pass out one minute, puke the next. Mostly, though, I feel like crying. I tell the heavens I will never do one again, I don't even care what time I finish anymore, just let it be over!
THE LAST 1.2
Eventually...I begin to feel a little bit of excitement. All I want is to not trip and finish as quickly as possible, so that I can cry/scream/eat pizza/nap/never run again. And taking a great finish line pick was nowhere on the list.
I hit "stop" on my watch and, since my body was too dehydrated for tears, I force myself to read the summary as a distraction from the pain of stopping: 3:57:11. My throat closes a little tighter, still no tears. I actually broke four hours! But the shock of the last hour made me unsure whether the endured pain was worth it.
Duhhhhhhh. Of course it was! I was so excited to be normal: speak unrestrained words, walk, SMILE maybe? I find Garland and Craig, along with the rest of the SEAL Team PT finishers on Brown's Island. As more time passes, the more happy and relieved I feel. Two pizza slices and one wardrobe change later, the rest of our teammates have crossed the finish and it's time to go home.
Maybe I'll do another one, maybe I won't. But I certainly DO NOT want to think about racing to beat my time anytime soon! Improving by 11 minutes and breaking four hours seems like a great stopping point. For now. All in all, what's most important and memorable to me about this marathon is: I made it to the finish line injury free. I came back from my stress fracture better than I could've have dreamed!
Eleven months ago, I could barely walk.
Nine months ago, I was in a boot.
Six months ago, I was barely running half an hour.
But two weeks ago, I ran a marathon!!!
Congratulations on your amazing finish, Valerie. I know it was a painful experience towards the end but you kept going and that means so much!
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