Here we go with the good ol' race report. This might be long so I apology's ahead of time and I'll try not to bore you :-)
I road down to Va Beach with the best group of girls! Teaka and her friend, had fun riding down, traffic was a bear but all I had to do was break out the chocolate :-) and we were all in a good mood again!! We settled in to our rooms and went to dinner. Saturday was awesome as well, I got to sleep in, we went to packet pick up at about noon, enjoyed some of the great weather and get to bed early that night.
Sunday morning I got up at 4am and it must be said that I've never gotten up at 4am with so much easy in my life. I was feeling great, well rested and ready to run!! I met Wanda down at her room for some breakfast and we all road down to the race start. The walk was a little bit long but not to bad, a nice warm up. I got settled and ready in the Team Z tent, tried to just relax and chill out a bit.
Time go get to the race start. I met up with Wanda again and we met up with Jason, and Mark and a few other Zer's. After chatting it up for a few, it's time to start running as the group of people start moving forward.
My first 10 to 13 miles ROCKED, I was on time, running strong, enjoying the view, the best part of the first half was running on the board walk. That part wasn't long, it was a short part of the run but absolutely beautiful!!! I love the beach!!! I kept looking for the Team Z tent at the half way point but didn't find it. It was getting warm out, but I took in plenty of fluid, and nutrition (GU's and Bee's chews), but I wasn't used to running in warm, beautiful weather. Between mile 15-17 I hit the wall hard!! At about mile 18 or 19 Linda Rumsey came behind me gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek and help me by chatting with me (thank you so much guys!!!), I forget who else was with her (I'm sorry) but they were helpful and nice to see as well. It was such a huge surprise to see her and so inspiring!!! My legs were starting to cramp like I've never felt before, my hips hurt, my groin muscle was starting to get tight and it was starting to get boring. Then at the very moment I hear some noise of a crowd, even through the music that was was in my ears, I turned the corner (still running at this point) and BAM!!! A sea of yummy-ness, men in there military uniforms cheering everyone on :-) that helped!!! I gotta say though, that military base was so hard and so boring, no crowds (except for the yummy-ness that one time), nothing interesting to look at (refer to previous yummy-ness comment), I could wait for this to be over. At the end of the Military base (mile 22) there was another water stop and by that time I was stopping every so often to stretch out my pained, hot and tired legs trying to keep it together. A nice very helpful, pretty cute banana (guy in a banana costume) came and walked with me and help me stretch out. If I wasn't in so much pain I would've had to flirt with him ;-), he was very helpful too. So was the cute Gecko. So out of the base I go, walking as fast as I could go, trying so hard to run but it wasn't there, I could not longer run so I thought that I'd walk until that last mile so I'd have some energy to run into the finish. At mile 23 I was losing my emotions again, and a lady was there cheering and telling us that we're almost there and I cried, she walked with me for a second as she said that it was going to be ok, asked if I was ok, I think I had her crying by the time she left me. I was in so much pain and just wanted to get to that finish line, I was thinking of everyone at the finish, everyone at home that I wish was there, I was thinking about my crossfit training, ANYTHING to help me get to that finish line in one piece. I felt like I had to stop every 20 steps to stretch at this point, it felt ridiculous and it was pissing me off. Finally I was at mile 25, I stopped, I stretched again, I took my headphone out and shut my Ipod off and I started to run, I dug deep and kept on going, turn to the left and then turn to the right and I was on the board walk!! Run, run, run!!! I see Teaka and her friend running to me with such great words to me and ran part way to the finish with me as I lose all emotion I cross the finish line!!!!! In tears and pain I bent over put my hands to my knees and just thanked God that I was done in tears and took my medal. The volunteers told me nicely to keep walking, so with Teaka and her friend's help I walked through the finishers shoot (I guess that's what its called), they picked up my finishers T-shirt and food and stuff. Then I heard Coach Ed call my name and came over...the whole finish was such an emotional process this time. I also ended up at the med tent because I could barely walk, I pulled my groin muscle and I think that i was just exhausted. I spent about 15 minutes maybe, in the med tent, came out and it was so cold (the clouds come in at about mile 23), Teaka and friends have gotten my stuff from the team tent and we went back to the hotel, I got a quick shower and we were on the road home after we stopped for food :-). The rest is history :-) Thanks for driving us all home DJ!!!!!
What did I learn from this marathon? 1) Flatter is NOT always better. 2) Weather has a lot to do with cramps and race conditions. 3) Music from my Ipod helps! 4) Even if you feel awesome at the beginning and you feel like you can crush your last marathon time, it can change in an instant. You can be doing everything right, everything to your plan, but sometimes your plan doesnt work and you have to resort to speed walking, stretching every 20 steps, ANYTHING to get to that finish line. I still finished 2 minutes behind my Marine Corps marathon time. Weather can put a wrench in your plan, and you may have to adjust your plan as the miles pass. Your thoughts, friends, coach's and training can pull you through when you need it. Don't stop thinking of the good things, keep positive and you'll make it to the finish line!!! Cry if you need to...it feels good!
Finish time; 6:33
No comments:
Post a Comment