RnR DC Marathon - Pacing Dawn

MAJOR NOTE - I did NOT run the full marathon.

I had the awesome opportunity to pace my friend Dawn for her first marathon!!!

After the NOLA marathon, I got in one 3 mile run and had some serious problems with my toes. They were NOT happy and did NOT want to go in shoes. Everything else was fine, but I took some time off to let my toes heal.

13 days AFTER my marathon, I get on the metro on Saturday morning to go to DC to find Dawn. THANKFULLY, when I got off the metro I could SEE people running, so I went towards them. Once I found the course, my goal was to get as close to the split (around mile 12.3) as I could so Dawn wouldn't have to run too far on her own.

Luckily she spotted me RIGHT where I meant to meet her, only I didn't think she'd be this far already. THAT was close, but it was obviously meant to be! So, I jump on the course next to her and she's looking GOOD. She kept talking about how much she was slowing down, but I was impressed at how fast she was still going!

She does walk/run intervals, and MAN - It was almost hard to keep up with her when she was running! I wasn't actually mentally prepared to start running when she saw me, so I really liked the walk breaks.

The course was surprisingly difficult. I don't know why I didn't realize DC had so many hills. I guess it's because all of the other races I've done in DC were mostly in flatter areas.

We saw Dawn's husband and daughter around mile 14, and then some more of her friends right before mile 15. We turned into a industrial looking section, and I could see across the field that we'd be running over there shortly. Dawn noticed it a couple minutes later and asked me (kinda panicky) if we were running over THERE! I was suddenly VERY interested in the machinery on the OTHER side of the road and asked her if she knew what it was. She laughed when she figured out I was trying to distract her.

Right around the corner she spotted another friend and stopped for a hug and photo op :)

We're keep walk/running and she's still doing well. We get to the point she was looking at and it's not that scary at all. We make it to the turn around and pass the military base/post/something. We took a running selfie in here somewhere, and then she sees Blue girl. Blue girl was struggling, so Dawn gave her a little pep talk and it seemed to perk blue girl up a little bit.

Then we met Tyler. Tyler isn't super fond of the marathon, he likes the 50 milers better - they are easier... OK, Tyler, I'll take your word for it!). Tyler stuck with us for awhile. He liked the run/walk idea. About 5 minutes after we picked up Tyler, we saw the paddy wagon and Dawn LOST IT! She was so excited to see that it was SO FAR behind us and that she was NOT going to get picked up. :)

Um... duh... I could have told you that :) I know it's a mental thing, and WHATEVER it takes to help you get though, latch on and GO with it!! That was a fun mile :)

AND THEN, there came a bridge. Dawn decided to walk it (good idea) and then we realized it went up farther than we thought (glad we were walking!) UNTIL there was no longer concrete, but a metal grating spanning the entire width of the bridge. *I* am NOT ok with stuff like that, and APPARENTLY, neither is Dawn. We started running to get OFF that part and I was telling her that CARS and TRUCKS and TANKS cross that grating. We were NOT going to fall.

Obviously, we made it off the bridge and the solid ground was blissful! Somewhere in here I was telling drama stories and that made mile 17-18 FLY by. Tyler was still hanging with us and loved the drama.

We met up with another group of Team Dawn shortly before mile 19. Dawn got some hugs and Gatorade and we got moving again, plus 1. Dawn's friend, who had already run a 1:50 something half marathon, came out to run a few more miles with her <3

Mile 20-21 was a biiiiiiiig loop around a park/grassy area/something. I don't remember exactly. My hips started hurting around this time and I was trying really hard to keep my mouth shut about it. I didn't want to distract Dawn, or have her feel bad. Luckily, her friend was with us and kept her distracted.

Not too much farther on, we were in a neighborhood and the friend started looking around trying to find out who was stalking us. Apparently Dawn's husband was using the IPhone tracking app and posting where we were. Creepy... but cool :)

About 2 blocks later the first Team in Training coach found us and joined our group. Every time someone from Team Dawn joined us or was waiting on the course for a hug, or holding a Gatorade or sign, my heart felt so big. I LOOOOOVED seeing her have so much support. I know it can be long and tedious to be a supporter - ESPECIALLY at a marathon - so it was really awesome that she had SO much support :) <3

For some reason, the race coordinators thought it would be a FANTASTIC idea to put a whole bunch of hills in at the end of the course. We kept on with the run/walking. Dawn kept on being awesome. She never hit the wall. She never talked about stopping. She never really complained... at all....

I have to apologize to SO many people after I run a long time b/c of the things I say (LOL), but Dawn was positive the whole time. It was so much fun.

Ok, so around mile 23 (I think) she ran out of water and panicked a little bit. We stopped and put some water in her pack. I ate a handful of oreos someone handed me (they were delicious) and we kept trucking on. The course finally flattened out again at mile 25. Dawn was getting a calf cramp, so we were walking more, but still moving at a good pace. She looked at me and said, "I'm good, right? I'm not going to get picked up?"

I look back and (don't have my glasses on, so things far away are fuzzy) see a vehicle slowly approaching with flashing lights. I told Dawn of COURSE she wasn't going to get picked up and of COURSE I didn't see the paddy wagon... but in my HEAD I was FREAKING OUT! OMG!!! It's a half mile behind us. they CAN'T pick us up THIS close to the end! Every time I looked back they seemed to be getting closer... and then I realized they were driving too fast to be the paddy wagon. It wound up being a medical vehicle. I cannot even express the relief I felt when I realized it was NOT the paddy wagon.

At this point, we're a 1/2 mile from the finish. We are distracted by the dirty mounds of snow that are STILL in the parking lot. The TnT coaches bailed out w/ 1/4 of a mile to go.

We saw Paxton and Sarah right before mile 26, and then again (there was a little out and back). When we could see the 26 mile marker, I asked Dawn, "What does that sign say?" and she said "Mile 26!!!" with the biggest smile. And I said, "Well, what are YOU doing here? YOU aren't a marathoner!!!" (smiling, btw). I hope someone got a picture of her face right then.

I jumped off the course at the 26 mile marker and ran up the side to the finish line with Sarah and Amy and Dawn ran in with Paxton.

It was the COOLEST experience. I LOOOOVE the emotion that happens at the finish line. I was SO happy and SO excited FOR Dawn. She got her medal and jacket and beer.

I am SO glad I did this with her. It was hard NOT to cross the finish line, but helping a friend KNOW that feeling, is almost as good as crossing myself <3 <3

Marathon #6 - Rock N Roll New Orleans - 2/28/16

After completing my last marathon (NCR Trail, MD), I had the brilliant idea that I was going to run a 50 miler in April, and the NOLA marathon would fit PERFECTLY  into that training plan.

My training went the way it normally does. Some weeks I do a pretty good job of getting my runs in, some weeks I didn't get ANY runs in. Somewhere in January I decided to scrap the idea of doing a 50 miler. I wasn't getting enough good training runs in and there were some things going on in my life that made things harder (EMT Class, multiple colds, Pat getting sick and going down hill), so I needed to simplify.

What DID keep me motivated for this race was doing it with Team Challenge. I joined this season as a mentor again, and the participants were mostly alumni. As far as mentoring duties, I didn't have a whole lot to do. I sent out my weekly emails, and checked in occasionally, but everyone knew what to do.

It was a little harder joining the team for long runs on Saturdays. They were training for a 1/2 (normal people) and there were 3 of us training for the full.

A month before the race I'm still feeling ok. I got the bulk of my long runs in. I started having problems with my left Achilles tendon. That went on for about 2 weeks, and then suddenly, completely went away... BUT, it came back in my right Achilles tendon even worse. I kept trying to figure out if it was an actual problem, or my pre race brain trying to tell me I was crazy for doing another full. I found that if I taped it up and slowed my pace down, I was mostly ok. I ordered new shoes, as mine had 50 more miles that I usually swap out at.

The week before the marathon was terrible. I did a really bad job coping at life, and had to focus on existing long enough to start feeling better mentally. On Friday morning I wasn't sure I wanted to go to NOLA. But, once again, I remembered WHY I was running this race (CCFA... 1.6 Million people living with Crohn's or Ulcerative Colitis) and put my big girl pants on. My new shoes showed up on the Thursday before the race, so on Friday after work, I strapped them on and went for a 3.1 mile run to see how they'd feel... TERRIBLE! I decided I'd wear my OLD shoes to run the race in, as I didn't have the new shoes broken in/lacing figured out yet.

Ari took me to the airport on Saturday morning, and I joined a whole group of my TC teammates. This was SO much better than flying to my destination on my own and joining up with people later (Napa). I sat with Beth and Darren on the plane and we had wine and chatted the whole time.

When we got to NOLA, 4 of us hopped in a van, and the rest took another van to the hotel (too many of us for one vehicle :) Our driver gave us beads and got in on our first selfie :)

We checked in at the hotel and I left a note for my roommate (A girl from the Fairfield West team) and went to lunch with Beth, Darren and Eric. We got back to the hotel and changed to go to the Team Meeting, which was fun and then we went to the Pasta party. I LOVE the pasta party. We had 2 amazing speeches this year and it always brings it home - why we put in the miles and why we raise the money. <3 <3 <3

We went back and I got my  race outfit together. I found out my roomie wasn't staying with me, so I put everything on the other bed. I woke up right on time on Sunday morning, got my outfit together and went downstairs. It was nuts, as usual. I skipped the team picture and got in line at Starbucks for my pre-race sandwich instead.

We used the bathrooms and then stood around for a little bit. I decided I didn't need my sweatshirt in my drop bag, so I ran that back upstairs. Once I got back downstairs, I decided I didn't WANT to check a bag, so I ran the rest of the bag back upstairs. I also ditched my glasses, which landed SOMEWHERE in the room.

When I got back downstairs, I was so frazzled. I started to cry and Beth W hugged me and I started to cry some more. I sucked it up and we all left to go to the start line. everyone seemed so relaxed and then there was me. We were kind of all standing in a circle, and I remembered the laughing yoga from the Potomac River Run Marathon and how silly it was. I got all of our TC people in a circle and told them we were going to do laughing yoga. Basically we raised our arms up in the air, and said AAAAAHH HAHAHAHAHAHAHA on the way down. It was so silly, and I don't know if other people liked it or not, but it made me feel better :)

We finally split up to go to our race corrals. I had Beth and Katie W stick with me in corral 14 - right around the 4:45 pace group.

RACE

Start - I was right behind the 4:45 pace group. My goal was to stick with them for as long as possible. Within the first mile, they kept dropping behind me, but I was still right on my pace of 10:30. I stopped worrying about them and just ran what felt comfortable while trying not to run faster than 10:30

Mile 1-9 - The road crown was REALLY bad. It made my left knee hurt so I experimented with where to run on the road, it must have been obnoxious to people around me, but I was weaving in and out and passing people pretty steadily anyway

Mile 2.5 - Pink wig lady ran over to take a picture of me :) This was the stretch with all of the old oaks(?) with the Mardigras beads. Pretty cool

Mile 3 - Burke found me. He asked how I was doing and I told him I was fine, 3 miles in... I think I'm good for now. I told him to save his energy for others in our group

Mile 4 - First turnaround of the day

Mile 5 - Saw Beth W at a water stop. I knew she'd been behind me doing her interval thing, but I didn't know we were still so close!! It was awesome getting to see her

Mile 5.5 - saw a penny on the ground. I'm sure it was from Dad or Pat :)

Mile 6 - Guy giving out random ass slaps. GOT my random ass slap :)  I passed a guy in a crawdad outfit; Saw some TC people on the other side of the street!!

Mile 2-10 - every few minutes, I've have a twinge in my left AT. I had only taped the right one, so this made me a little nervous

Mile 7ish?? - Mimosas on the left! I had JUST gotten over to the right (not sure why) and missed it. Dang it!

Mile 8 - took my second walk break. I didn't feel like I needed it, but I did it anyway. I didn't want to burn out at the end like I did at the NCR.

Mile 9 - Passed over Canal street and I looked for Darren, but didn't see him :(

Mile 10 - running down Decatur street was very cool. I laughed to myself when I passed the place where Beth tripped the day before. Then, I was trying to enjoy the journey and I was looking up at one point and the road dipped. Didn't hurt myself, but it scared me. That's what I get for laughing at Beth!

Mile 11 - Grabbed some Vaseline from an aid station.... ooooh, sweet anti chafing Vaseline - my best friend. I also started thinking about how I didn't want to do the full. I COULD just go right at the split and finish the half. My time wouldn't be very good, but I'd be done.

Mile 12 water stop - All of the volunteers were in red dresses. The guy at the end had a red tank top and a red sheer tutu and a red thong... and he bent over to get a cup RIGHT as I came up behind him. TERRIBLE view - had me laughing for awhile.

Mile 12.3 - Marathon/Half Split - I go left on autopilot and WOULD have cussed myself EXCEPT - JELLO SHOTS!! I considered it and then grabbed one. It was terrible and sticky and wonderful.

Mile 13.1 - It took FOREVER to get here. I crossed the mat at 2:20. That meant I had to do the next half in 2:25... yea, doubt it'll happen. OK, moving on.

Mile 13.5 - Went around another turn around and mentally kicked myself b/c I meant to get a salt packet at the aid station.

Mile 14 - MINI MARTINIS!!! I took one. And then I took a mini beer. and then I took some water. It was all delicious!

Mile 14.5 - Now going back around the park where the finish line was. It was a little discouraging to hear the party at the finish line, but not be there.

Mile 15 - before now, I'd had to slow myself down to keep a 10:30 pace. Now it's getting a little harder to keep it there. Marathon mind games - we have to pass the busses that take us home. I could hear the finish line celebration. I thought it was rude to have the full run so close by to where we COULD have been finished. Somewhere in here I also realized that I still have 45 marathons to go before I reach 50 states! WTH am I THINKING!!

Mile 15.5 - Guy on the left offering beer, donuts and Gatorade. I took the beer and Gatorade. I skipped the donut, but wished I had taken one.

Mile 16 - The wheels fell off. I was tired, we were going along a tree lined road... which was nice, but I wasn't going to make my goal time (4:45). I had a mini panic attack, and then got back to it. I walked more than I wanted, but by mile 17 I was back to running what I could.

Mile 14-17 - spandex butt girl - we kept leap frogging, especially after 16 when I started walking more. I finally passed her for good going around the last corner of the park.

Mile 17-21 A couple of hills. Not too bad by Vollmerhausen standards (the road I live on). This part went by Lake Ponchetrain which was BEAUTIFUL!

Mile 19 - I saw Max! We gave each other a hug and that boosted me.

Mile 20.25 - the Turnaround!!! Aaaaaaah yes

Mile 20.5 ish - I saw the 4:45 pace group on the other side - realized they were going to catch me sometime soon. I was ok with that.

Mile 20.75ish - Caught up to Christina's friend - dreadlock guy. I checked on him and suggested he get a salt packet for his cramping.

Mile 20 - I had 67 minutes until 4:45 of running.... OH.MY.GOD! I might be able to hit my goal.

Mile 21 - still working on figuring out the math - math is hard after all this time, but I think I can do it. I cranked out a 10:30 mile, but still walked through the water stop.

Mile 22 - getting ready to leave the neighborhood. I'm still excited thinking I'm going to make my goal of 4:45.

Mile 23 - I'm passing a ton of people. I'm really the only one still running. BUT, I'm getting tired. I should be able to keep up a 11 minute pace and finish 4:45

Mile 23.3 CRAP, I forgot about the .2. I'm NOT going to hit my goal. I'm going to finish in 4:47.

Mile 23.5 I'm TOTALLY OK finishing in 4:47 - it's still 4 minutes faster than my PR.

Mile 24 - Ok, turning into the park. I passed a Team Challenge coach on the corner and they didn't even look in my direction... um... k

Mile 25 - One mile left! Internal cheering. Walked through a water stop, and a girl came up behind me and said, "Let's go". So I went. I promptly left her in the dust (sorry). I turned a slight corner and we're on a popular path (apparently).

Mile 25.5 -  going around another corner, under a bridge and up a little hill. I'd been trying to catch another TC coach. I wanted someone to run with me for a little bit. I NEEDED someone. As I was catching him, he stopped to talk to another TC person and neither of them acknowledged my existence. Fantastic. Thanks guys...

Mile 26 - OH MY GOD. My watch synced up perfectly with the mile marker! It had been off by .12 the last 23 miles! OH MY GOD! I CAN DO IT! I CAN HIT MY GOAL! OH MY GOD! GO, LEGS, GO! I started running as fast as I could (which was hilariously slow in my minds eye). I passed some guy and took a left onto the last bit of the course. The sides were still lined with people. I have no idea if there was anyone from Team Challenge, or if anyone was cheering for me. My goal was the finish line and I had absolute tunnel vision. I crossed the line and looked down to stop my watch. 4:45:30!! OH MY GOOOOOOOOOODDDDDDDDDDDD! I did it!

I promptly burst into tears. There was a Team Challenge coach waiting at the finish line and she grabbed me, put my medal on me, stuck a water in my hand and told me to drink. Then she dragged me over to the Gatorade table and got my Gatorade situated for me (surprisingly difficult). I hugged her and expressed my undying love to her and she sent me on my way.

I saw Christina's fiancée as soon as I left the exit chute. she was still doing well. He did well. I needed to check in at the TC tent, so I stated hobbling that way. I saw Meghan and hugged her and kept going. I made it to the TC area (as FAR as humanly possible from the finish line) and saw Beth and Sheri and Beth S and others. Beth W. gave me her sandals (love) and Max showed up. I got us some hamburgers and gigundo cookies. I started talking to the guy next to me in a marathon finishers jacket about how he did. THEN I realized he was the top fundraiser and got all girly stupid :) We are now friends on FB :) After a little more chatting with people, Beth S, Max and I went to get our beer and my finishers jacket --- oooooh yea baby!! WILL.RUN.FOR.BLING!

Then we hit the finishers coral to watch Ginger and Christina come in. I LOVE being at the finish line. Cheering people in is SO much fun. You see SO much emotion. Kids ran their moms in, couples held hands, oh, it was great <3

Ginger finished spectacularly right next to the juggling basketball bouncer guy (obnoxiously awesome!) and Christina came in awhile later with Sheri and Kate and Maddy and someone else from TC. I was SO happy for her!! This was her first full marathon and she did great!

I think NOLA was a great race. Very good course support, I LOVED the beers and drinks and beads and silliness of the French Quarter area. I loved the quietness of the Lakeside area. I have too many races to get through to think about doing this one again, but I highly recommend it :)

 

Marathon #5 - NCR trail marathon race report - 11/28/15

I knew I wanted to do a fall marathon this year, but I wasn't sure which one. I started my training schedule planning to do the Freedom's run again, to "redeem" myself... but thinking on it now, I did pretty darn good on that course! It was hard and had some killer hills, and I still did about as well as I'm doing now.

So, Linda mentioned there's a marathon relay for the NCR trail... AND it's in MD (I haven't done a marathon in MD yet), AND it's flat, AND it's close. OK, I can do this one. And it was helpful that it was a little later in the year, so I got to start the training plan OVER again, which meant shorter mileage for a few weeks.

I completed about 60% of my training plan, which is not wonderful, but it was better than when I trained for the April marathons - I did about 45% of the training plan.

So, most of the runs went fine. The first 17 mile run was AMAZING! I wore new shoes, and was so excited to stay on pace until about mile 13. My shoes felt like they were cutting into the tops of my feet. Loosening didn't help much at this point, but I tried anyway. I made it to mile 15.5 before the major pain set it. My left foot (top) and the outer side of my right knee were in BAD shape. I didn't think I'd be able to finish the run, but I kept going... a little more walking, and made it to the bridge area of the Patuxent trail. I managed to get my 17 miles in.. I have no idea how, but I did.

And again on my 19 miler, I'd had a severe cold/flu the week before and felt like crap, but I figured if I was in bad shape and could still do the training run, then whatever happened on race day - I should be ready for it. I made it through that training run without too many problems.

When I did the 20 miler - a few days late, with substandard sleep the night before, and NO prerun hydration or fueling - I did ok. No, I didn't. It was terrible. I got about 2 miles in before I realized I forgot to do all of the necessary pre steps. I didn't WANT to do that run. I was tired. I made it to mile 11 and my right knee locked up. I couldn't run at all, but I was still able to keep up a 16 minuteish pace. I walked the last 9 miles to the car. I wound up with a REALLY sore right knee (IT band) and a knot behind my left knee.

I skipped the rest of my runs that week (long run of 8 miles) and did a 3 mile run on the Tuesday before the big day. My left IT band was tight, and painful to touch around my mid-thigh. I got a 'Stick' and used that, I tried to foam roll, but that hurt too much. The stick helped the pain, but 'moved' it up to my hip. It felt like the muscle in my hip was burning... so THAT was really concerning to me.

I was really nervous about doing the marathon if my IT band was in this bad of shape. I didn't want to seriously injure myself, so I decided I would just do what I could, for as long as I could and hope to finish within the 6 hour time limit.

As usual, I didn't get excited until Saturday morning. When I took my stuff out to the car and realized it wasn't freezing cold, I was SO excited! Earlier in the week the weather report said the high was going to be 46*, which is not bad, but when I left the house it was 51*. PERFECT weather for a marathon!

There was a BEAUTIFUL sunrise on the way to the race. I found the parking lot and was assessing my gear, trying to figure out what I wanted to take with me. I had planned on using my hydration pack, but bagged that idea. It was a nice cool day, and I should be fine with the on course hydration.

I got on the bus and was still excited. It was full, so I had a seat partner and I chatted her ear off for the couple mile ride to the starting line, which was at an elementary school. I went in and got my bib and tshirt, and checked that. I had about 30 minutes before the start of the race and I felt SUPER awkward. Everyone seemed to have groups of friends and I had NO idea where to stand... should I stay inside and keep warm, should I go outside and start stretching, should I eat my gu now?

I wound up standing off to the side and people watching and trying to get my brain ready for what was going to happen. I went outside a little bit ahead of the main group of people so I'd have some room to stretch out.

I was so excited and didn't have anyone to talk to, so of course, I started talking to random people around me. I found a newish runner doing the first leg of the relay. Then I found someone who did the Freedom's run and we complained about how HORRIBLE the hills were. Then I found someone with AWESOME shorts - they were so awesome I took a picture of them to remember them... but I don't know what was so awesome about them anymore. I think it had something to do with pockets....

There were lots of high fives and good lucks and we got started!! I was so excited! I wound up running next to a woman named Freedom for the first couple of miles. I'd driven the road part of the course a few weeks before, and I was really nervous about the hill around the end of the first mile. ESPECIALLY when I realized we were running downhill for a LOOOOONG time during that first mile. I was trying to keep an eye on my watch and pace, but it was too easy to just relax and go.

The hill was NOTHING like I thought it was going to be. It seemed so much worse going up it in a car... but it wasn't too bad. Suddenly,  it was over and we were crossing the bridge (openwork steel... NOT my favorite) and onto the trail. I was still nervous about my knees, but the trail felt good. When I ran it with Beth a few weeks before, it felt like going out was ACTUALLY uphill... but it seemed ok during the marathon. I don't know if it was more people around, or what, but  went with it.

Everything was pretty steady for the longest time. I didn't walk the full .25 miles like I had done in training. I'd budgeted a 12 minute mile every fourth mile, but kept my pace pretty steady for the first 19 miles at 10:30 - which is A LOT farther than I thought I'd get.

I'd come up behind someone who I thought was holding a decent pace, and draft them for awhile. Then they'd walk, or stop for a potty break, and I'd move on to the next person. I ran with a 70+ year old guy and his nephew for awhile. I think they were both Indian. The older guy was AWESOME, and crazy! He'd be yelling or cheering or just be LOUD about something. It was fun and encouraging, but I can't remember a single thing he was being loud about now. I *DO* know he had 11 kids, and his great niece is a neurosurgeon at John's Hopkins. He dropped off pace around mile 10 and his nephew and I played leap frog for the rest of the race.

I had an AMAZING surprise at mile 11!!!! Several ladies from my Team Challenge group came to cheer me on! They had signs and everything! I was so shocked and excited and happy and SHOCKED! I was trying to run, while smiling like CRAZY and trying not to cry!!! Oh my gosh, if I'd been feeling tired AT all it was GONE! In fact, when I looked at my watch a mile later I was running at a 9:24 pace... instead of a 10:30 pace. WOOPS!

So, I slowed down and passed the point where I turned around on my 20 mile training run. It really did seem like the trail got steeper after that... and by steeper it might have been a SLIIIIIIGHT upgrade. LOTS of people were going the other way now, and I was hoping and wishing and praying for the stinking turn around! I knew it was somewhere slightly past the half way mark. As I was coming up to the half way point, there were cones separating the relayers waiting on their partners. The dude in front of me decided to walk/dance/I have no idea what through this tight area. I JUST.WANTED.TO.GET.THROUGH.... so I may have been less than pleasant, but not quite mean.

The turn around was GLORIOUS! The half way point was nice, and it was a 4 minute PR for me, but the turn around did wonders for my psyche... it's all downhill from  here - until mile 24, and who cares about that right now?! And there were OREOS! I know you're not supposed to try anything new on race day, but dude... Oreos! They were delicious! AND I was going downhill, AND I would see my friends again in a couple miles!!!

So on I go. la la la la la. The runners are getting more and more spread out. There are still people passing me in the other direction, so I felt like I was in a decent spot in "the pack". I called Meghan at mile 15 to see if they were still there. I told her I was planning my walk break, thinking they might walk with me for a  minute, but that didn't happen. It was SO cool to have my friends there. I still can't get over how awesome that was!

After that... it was more of the same. I started playing leap frog with some guy in track pants and a bandana. He'd pass me and I'd run for awhile, and then he'd pass me again, and it would happen again, and again. I was SO confused! Apparently his race strategy was to take complete breaks at the water stops. I guess I was too intent on getting my water and Gatorade that I didn't really notice who else was around me... THAT'S a comforting thought! I already forgot his name, but he's from Silver Spring and avoiding me like the plague after the race... so either I smelled bad (I'm sure I did) or he didn't want the chick with him to think he was hitting on me.

At the 3 hour mark (I have NO idea what mile it was now) I realized I had 3 hours to finish the race, and if I had to or WANTED to, I could actually walk the rest and finish in time!

Anyway - at 21.75 (Very specific, I know) the wheels fell off. We were all really spread out. I was tired. Nothing really hurt drastically, but I didn't want to do it anymore. Marathons are overrated. I kept thinking about how long it would take me to finish if I walked the rest. I figured I could finish at around 5:15... not too bad. I walked until mile 22, and then sucked it up and started running again.

My goal in life was to make it to mile 24 so I could walk up the hill I knew was coming. Who on earth dreams of coming to a hill at mile 24 in a marathon??!! I was still tired though, and at a road crossing around mile 23 the course marshall/crossing guard person stopped a car for me so I could pass. I thanked him, but asked him to let the car run me over in the future. He laughed. I cried. I kept going :) Ok... I DID ask him to let the car run me over, and he DID laugh, but I DIDN'T cry... not enough energy :)

amazingly - mile 24 HAPPENED! I was finally back on asphalt (note to self - GET TRAIL SHOES!) and cruising a long. And by "cruising along" I mean deliriously moving in a forward fashion. not amazingly - there was a lot of road where I expected there to be a HILL. WHERE.IS.MY.HILL?! Also, the road crown was pretty steep to the right, which is the first time I felt a pain. my right knee was doing a poppy-clicky-yucky thing that I was NOT excited about. I told my knee (out loud) to KNOCK.IT.OFF! I guess it was scared, because it straightened out and was fine. THEN I thought to look around to see if anyone was observing me have a conversation with my knee.... I was fairly alone - good news :)

Then comes the hill. My beloved hill. my new best friend. what a GREAT hill. Ok... it was a hill. It wasn't NEARLY as nasty as the first one at Freedom's, but it did go up for awhile. I didn't really care because I got to walk it, and that was the most fantastic thing of my life at the moment.

It crested, I started running again with renewed sprits. Life was GREAT. I made it to the hill. I will probably finish within 5 hours. Good stuff. AND THEN IT GOT BETTER!!!

Some people with an crazy huge house set up a beer stand at the end of their driveway!!! Mile 25 and beer?! hell yea!! I drank my beer and immediately after that drank some Gatorade. and then regretted life... but there was another hill, so I caught up to someone in front of me, made it to  whatever cone was my goal point, and walked. I burped and IMMEDIATELY felt like superwoman. I knew the rest of the course was mostly uphill, but I also knew that if I got my butt back in gear, I could have a pretty awesome PR. AND that's what I did.

I didn't go crazy, but I felt good mentally and physically. I kept a steady pace and just did it. I didn't see my friends at the finish line, but someone who must have been near them cheering saw me and cheered for me with about .2 to go. THAT was awesome!

I turned the last corner and kicked it into gear and FINISHED MY 5TH MARATHON!

It was awesome. Someone put my medal on me. Someone handed me the finishers blanket (best blanket ever, btw!) and I moved somewhere to the side to watch people come in. I kind of stumbled around for a little bit trying to figure out what to do with my life. stand over here and stretch? nah. Stand over there and stretch? ok... no... nah. Go down to the school? yea...  oh wait, watch people come in. Oh... ok.... nah.

I  stumbled down the hill to the school, it wasn't TOO far away, but not really close either. Maybe a city block... but it felt really far. I saw the jogging pants and bandana guy, and he saw me (I'm hard to miss in a tutu), but looked away quickly - ok... fine... I'm NOT going to go congratulate him. I congratulated myself instead  :)

I went into the cafeteria and got some soup and pretzels and some chips and an apple and some fruit snacks and found a table to put all that down. Then I went back for a soda and a water. I still hadn't stretched and I was concerned about that, but I didn't really care either. I'd just hurt more later. right now, I wanted the soup! It was delicious.

I wound up hanging out for about 15 minutes and made my way out to the bus. The guy in the seat across from me told me I should be a stand up comedian at the pre race pasta parties. I guess I was extra funny b/c I was tired :) The ladies in front of me told me they were doing the Dopey Challenge... right AFTER I told someone else how HORRIBLE that had been! WOOOPS! I did tell her I thought it was an amazing experience, but still needed some time to get over the trauma :D

When I got home, I saw something bright and strange on my neighbors door. I was trying to figure out and park and talk to Ari on the phone when I realized that they were the posters my friends were holding and they were on my front door!!!!

I ran in and showered quickly, and then went to Heather's for a dip in the hot tub. My legs were surprisingly ok. My knees and hips didn't hurt AT ALL. I had ONE chafed spot from my capris in the center of my back - but if that's the worst problem I had after 26.2 miles, I vote it's NOT TOO SHABBY!!!

New Orleans, here I come!