SLC Marathon 2009
(Longest post ever. . . This is mostly for my purposes- I wanted to record all my thoughts while the experience is still fresh in my mind.)
3:55:03
(8:53 average mile pace)
Training: My training was long and full of frustrating injuries! I started logging miles in July with the intent to run the SLC marathon. I also consistently lifted weights until 4 weeks before the marathon. I suffered an SI joint injury in September that put me out for 4 weeks. I suffered a second SI joint injury in December. I was only out about a week from that injury. Then, 5-6 weeks before the marathon, I injured my hip. The doctor said it was piriformis syndrome and that it was affecting my sciatic nerve. I was never sold on that diagnosis, I just know it hurt like heck when I tried to walk, run, cross my legs, etc.
The last injury was probably the most devastating because it came at a crucial point in my training. Because of the timing of the injury, I was never able to run more that 14 miles before the marathon. I got injured while I was building up to 20 miles. After the piriformis issue, I was out for almost 2 weeks before something popped back in right and I could run with some pain (not debilitating pain). However, after 2 weeks of not being able to run, my muscles decided they were done and I wrestled with muscle soreness and tiredness even on very short runs. This continued right up until the day of the marathon and I had a very real concern that I would not be able to finish the race.Events leading up to the race: Wow! I was so nervous about the marathon that I cried when I picked up my chip, shirt, and bib the night before. We stayed the night up in Sandy (30 min from starting line). As tired as I was, I could hardly sleep the night before the big race. When I did fall asleep, I dreamed about waking up late and missing the race! I’m sure this is a common nightmare! I got out of bed at 5am, ate a powerbar, ran a mile warm up, and stretched. We left for the race at about 5:55am.
Here is where I made a few silly mistakes. I figured it would be easy to find our way from Sandy to the start of the race. We made tons of wrong turns and I totally panicked. By the time we got to the start line, I had to go to the bathroom so bad that I wanted to cry. I ran out of the car and within 30 yards, I realized I had left my race bib and my watch in the car. Paul’s cell phone was off, and I couldn’t call him, so I panicked more!
I was able to get a new race bib and chip to match. I still had to go to the bathroom, so I got in line behind 30 other people. In line I was re-lacing my shoe with the new chip, taking off my throw-a-way sweats, and drinking Gatorade. Five minutes before the gun went off, I was 15 people back in the potty line and still panicking! I could not imagine trying to start the race before I went to the bathroom! I heard the gun go off for my first marathon from the port-a-potty line. I was freaking out partially because I didn’t realize that my time started when my chip crossed the start line, not when the gun went off. If I could do it over again, I would be much calmer. To all the seasoned marathoners, I probably looked like an idiot. Finally, after going to the bathroom and checking my gear back, I sprinted to the start line (5 min after the gun).
The Race!: Wow! After training all alone for months, I can’t imagine a more electric and awesome moment than I had as I joined the pack of thousands of runners and crossed the start line! I had never seen so many runners! It was exhilarating! The pack of people at the start, even 5 min after the gun, was so thick that we could barely walk. Some space cleared out about 250 meters into the race.
There were spectators taking pictures, a choir singing, runners cheering- it was great. First-time marathoners were asking seasoned runners advice for the race. All of the experienced runners said to slow down and walk through the water stations, especially in the beginning. I think this advice was one of the things that saved me! I also overheard one lady say “Watchout for mile 21. That’s where you hit the wall!” From then-on, the rest of the race, I feared mile 21!
I tried to stay slow the first several miles, but it seemed that I was passing lots of runners whenever I could. The first 3 miles or so we were going downhill and it was easy to run. I realized immediately that my legs weren’t as tired as they had been in training and I sincerely thanked the Lord for strength!
I would have to say that the first 6 miles were probably the best because the marathoners and the half marathoners were still together and there were tons of people along the streets and it was just fun. At around mile 6 we split and went our separate ways. The port-a-potty lines were much shorter after that! I was thankful because I frequented them throughout the race!
I was surprised how fast the first 10 miles went by. I took a power gel at about mile 11. (p.s. Word to the wise- take your power gel at a water station. Those things are hard to swallow and they make your mouth dry!)
I talked to a few people as I ran. One 60-year-old man was running with 3 other friends. He was awesome. He called me “tiger.” I ran near him for much of the race. He had run 21 marathons and he said he had one the next week! How amazing is that? Another man, who was about to graduate law school, said that he had run 2 marathons a year while in school! I talked to a mother of 3 on her 5th marathon! What a crazy culture! I think my favorite part of the marathon were the people. They were just awesome.
The first half of the marathon went by quickly. I crossed halfway at about 1:55 on the clock. Crossing the 13.1 mile mark spurred many, many, many jokes about where the half marathon finish line was (as mentioned before, we split around mile 6).
By the way, random note- I thought that it was cool that there was a huge marker for every mile with a clock. Also, there were water stations at most miles. And there were lots of bands along the streets- everything from rock bands and steel drums to string quartets and barbershop quartets. There were a few mile markers with people handing out orange slices. Also, also, many of the spectators handed out their own (super, super too cold) water. One little kid had a table of Swedish fish out for the runners. How funny is that? For the next 2 miles after that I saw random discarded Swedish fish on the road. Hahahahah!
Even when there were very few spectators, there were homemade signs saying “Run hard, Greg!” and “Run like you stole something!,” etc.
At mile 14, I saw my husband and son. I wasn’t sure I’d see them at all, so it totally made my race. Little Paul was so happy to see me and was being so darn cute! There were times that the idea of him being at the finish line kept me running.
So, miles 1-14 were pretty good, fairly easy. Miles 14-19 were about what I expected. They were a little tough and I had a big blister on my toe that was bothering me. I took another power gel at about mile 18. Water and Gatorade weren’t quite as appetizing any more, but I tried to have a few sips and splash my face a bit with the water. After mile 18, I really think the miles were actually getting longer. Maybe it was a conspiracy by the organizers of the race- they get you started and you think you’re going fast, then they make the miles longer. . . not really, but it seemed that way!
Miles 20-26 were way tough; perhaps tougher than I expected. My legs hurt with every step, my feet hurt, my arms hurt, my back hurt, my knees hurt. It was tough. There was one downhill stretch that was just cracking me up- I looked at it and I could see it was downhill. However, I’ve run downhill and that did not feel like downhill, it felt like trying to hike a mountain! It was just so bizarre- I guess after 20 miles of running, nothing feels like downhill! I think you have to experience it to understand!
I found out at mile 21 that the experienced marathoner from the beginning of the race wasn’t kidding! Woooh! That was tough. I saw a lot of runners slowing down and walking a bit. Funny things creep into your head when you’re tired. I thought, “Maybe I should walk a half mile and rest. Then it will be so much easier to run the rest of the race.” Oh beware of those crazy thoughts! They are dreadful lies coming from a tired body and mind. I finally gave into the thoughts at about mile 23. For the rest of the race I was tempted to stop and walk, and, unfortunately, I gave in a few times. Knowing that I “could” walk, made running so much harder! I kept thinking that the motivation of being 3 miles or 2 miles or 1 mile from the finish line would make me run faster. It did not. In fact, about 200 meters from the finish line some one mistakenly told me that the finish line was another half mile out! I almost cried- even though half a mile was nothing- it felt impossible at the time!
Also, at around mile 22.5 some one played a funny, but mean, mean trick on the runners. A large group of people were gathered around soft, plush chairs. They were partying and relaxing and they called their yard the “Temptation Station.” There were signs like “If this were the finish line, you’d be done!” The partiers beckoned runners to sit, relax, and have a cold drink. It might seem strange that the “Temptation Station” was actually tempting with only 3.5 miles to go in my life-long goal of finishing a marathon. If you knew how my body felt, you’d understand! I’m proud to say that I did not stop there- I’m sure that if I had, those spectators would have actually cheered me to keep going instead of stopping- nevertheless, I frequently thought of the “Temptation Station” during the final miles of the race.
Back to the last part of the race- again, may I say that people who run marathons are awesome. The 60 year old marathon veteran was awesome. I’m pretty sure that he knew something of what most of us were experiencing at mile 21. He was zipping form runner to runner cheering people up. What a champ! At mile 24 I wasn’t sure how I could make the rest of the race. I had no idea how to get 2 more miles out of my legs. I stopped to walk for a few seconds and another champ of a seasoned marathon runner encouraged me. Most of the rest of the race I ran near him and he encouraged me to keep going.
The finish line was amazing. It was bit hidden- there were only a few spectators and then all of the sudden I turned the corner and hundreds of people were lining up to cheer the runners! I crossed the finish line in under 4 hours! Woo hoooo!!! Some one handed me a water bottle and the weight of it almost took me to the ground. I thought “What is this, lead water?” I had not expected my arms to be so tired!
After the finish line I had to keep walking for what seemed like forever. All I wanted to do was sit down. We walked through a parking lot “isle” full of vendors giving me bananas, cases of yogurt, chocolate milk, energy drinks, etc. I could barely carry a water bottle- let alone a 24 pack case of yogurt! The chocolate milk tasted amazing. I think it was the best chocolate milk ever!
Also, there were massages at the end of the race. There was a long line for them, but I needed one!
So, that is the story of my marathon. It was hard, but worth it. Yay! I ran a marathon! Now I am sore. . . very, very, sore! Stairs are a beast! Also, I am always hungry, but I can’t workout! I’ll probably gain all the weight I lost training within a week! Oh well, it was worth it!
Advice to 1st timers:
(Not that I’m a pro, but these are a few things I wish I knew before the race!)
1. Know how to get to the start of the race.
2. Go to the bathroom before you get to the start of the race.
3. Don’t forget your race bib in the car.
4. Don’t freak out if you don’t start with the gun.
5. Take the first several miles easier than you want to.
6. Wear comfortable clothes that you've run in before. (I saw some guy in jean shorts! Ouch!)
7. Figure out how to carry your gels, etc. prior to the night before the race and try it out on some of your longer runs.
8. Pack gels, pain killers, and icy hot on you! (I did not take icy hot and I really, really wanted it!)
9. Don’t walk at mile 23!! It’s way too hard to start running again and the temptation to walk only gets stronger after you do it once!
10. Have fun! Enjoy the experience!
11. Make sure you pack extra batteries in the camera!!
