Sunday, October 21, 2012

Waddell and Reed Full

Yesterday I tackled some hills, some personal obstacles, and the pain.  I am going to start by saying when I finished running yesterday I swore I would never ever again run another marathon but looking back on the day I would do it again in a heartbeat.

The day started out at 4:45am.  I got up and got dressed.  Brandon and I left his mom's house at 5:15.  Enough time to get through traffic and get a parking spot before the 7:05 start time.  We got to Crowne Center a little before 6.  I sat in the car stressing.....debating on whether or not to run.  Finally I sucked it up got out of the car and headed to Union Station.  We got inside I stretched for awhile.  At 6:40 we headed over to the starting line.  We found the 4:40 pace group I planned on running with. I found Bryan and met our pacing team. 

I will give you a little back story on Bryan, this was his 9th marathon.  I "met" him last year during the Pilgrim Pacer.  He was running the full, I ran the half.  He is running a 50k next weekend, a marathon on November 10th and another 50k on November 17th. 

The race started and we took off.  The first few miles flew by.  I almost forgot I was running a marathon.  I met some amazing people while running.  I know that I have said it before but the camaraderie in the running community is impossible to describe.  It is so amazing that people that you have never met or may never see again cheer you on.  At mile 10 I was cruising, feeling great.  Brandon was there at mile 10 to cheer us on.  I handed Brandon my long sleeve shirt and kept on trucking.   At the half way point I was feeling good.  My knee was beginning to bother me a bit but I knew that it was mind over matter.  Mile 15 the pain radiated from my left hip to my left knee.

Our pace group pacing was all over the place.  At one point we were a minute behind pace and then 2 miles later we were a minute ahead of pace.  We were running a 9:30 for a couple of miles and I knew that there was no way I could continue at that pace.   

Mile 16 I wanted to stop.  I hit the infamous wall.  I lost my pace group but knew that I had to continue.  Brandon was at the top of the hill on 75th st. cheering me on.  At this point Bryan was somewhere behind me.  I guess Brandon could tell something was wrong because at mile 19 he was there.  Even though we had agreed to meet at 10, 15, and 22.

Thank God he was at 19.  I was ready to throw in the towel.  The pain was unbearable, I felt like I was running on nails.  My feet hurt, my toenails hurt, my calves hurt, hell I'm sure everything hurt!!  I asked Brandon to please just take me home.  He walked with me, I cried, he said he believed in me and that I could do it.  A couple of runners told me to kept going, I was almost there.  I asked him at mile 22 to have a pack of shot blocks with him.  I had already eaten all of the ones I had with me.  Bryan came up from behind and told me he had some tummy problems.  Let me tell you tummy problems SUCK while running, and anyone who can continue with tummy problems is AMAZING!!  I told Bryan that the pain sucked and I wanted to quit.  He told me that I could do it.  I started to walk and he continued running.

I met some other people and we all started talking.  There was a man who was 54 running his first marathon.  He, one day 4 months ago decided to quit smoking and start running.  He finished right behind me!  I met a couple who were running it together.  We walked and ran together.  At mile 22 Brandon was there with my shot blocks.  I had broken down the wall and didn't need them.  Brandon said I was looking better and that Bryan wasn't too far ahead of me.  I saw Bryan in distance and knew that I could catch up to him.

It was so amazing to catch up to him.  I knew that we only had a 5k left.  The 5 hour pacers passed us.  I won't lie I was a bit crushed that I wouldn't finish in under 5 hours but I knew that I was going to finish and that was amazing!  We kept plugging along, running and walking.  Pushing each other to finish.  At a little over a half mile I knew that there was no way I wasn't going to finish.  The pain was excruciating.  Every time I put one foot in front of the other I wanted to scream.

When we turned the corner and I saw the finish line the pain subsided or the adrenaline kicked in and I ran like there was no tomorrow to the finish line.  I crossed the finish line in 5:06:12.  I started crying the second the guy announced my name and that I had just ran 26.2.  When I heard them call Bryan's name I went over to him and gave him the biggest hug ever!  If it weren't for him I may have called it quits at mile 19.

It was an absolutely beautiful course.  Running through KC you get to see it for it's true beauty.  The colors were beautiful, the city is gorgeous.  It was a tad hilly but as a friend said "It's all down hill after this."

All in all it was amazing!!  Knowing that I had accomplished what was once just a dream.  There is nothing that can stand in my way!  I called my dad right after I crossed the finish line and he asked if we were going to run a marathon in the spring.  I told him it sucked so bad I would never do it again!!  After thinking about it I'm going to register for the Garmin full in April.

Waiting
Bryan and I at the start
Mile 10
Bryan and I at mile 25.5

FINISHED!!  Crying tears of joy and pain
Bryan and I!  Marathon Finishers!

I am officially a Marathoner! 

 Thank you all for all the kind words and words of encouragement.  It really means the world to me!  And to Bryan I know that I have said it a million times already but THANK YOU!!  If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't have finished.  You are one of the most amazing people I know!  

Watching mommy run a marathon wears them out





3 comments:

  1. You are a tough person, I appreciate all of the praise you are giving me, but you would have finished with or without me. Neither you nor your great husband would have allowed you to drop. I'm sure it was helpful to have someone with you that has been there before, but you need to give yourself more credit. YOU finished the marathon; YOU are a marathoner!! You inspire me so much & I love that you will be here for the Garmin Marathon. It is a great event, I know you'll love your second experience. Keep dreaming big, your feet can carry you further than you've ever dreamed if you just get your mind out of their way.

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  2. Thanks Bryan!! I know that I would've finished with or without you, but having you there to nudge me really helped!

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  3. WAY TO GO!!!!!! This was a tough course and you did amazing! I have ran the Garmin 1/2 course...totally flat! First part isn't that great, you run through empty parking lots, but I heard the second half where the marathoners break off is much nicer. But again...NO HILLS. ;) So proud of you....way to go!!!!

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