MCM, XXXV

MCM Race Report

October 31, 2010

My First Marathon

Butterflies fluttery in my stomach, I’d been hydrating all week and headed to DC on Friday night with Karen, Katie, and Dave. We got off to a late start but checked into our hotel okay and were just 2 blocks from the expo. We got our packets and trekked about a bit. Then finding dinner on a crowded Saturday night in the city turned into our next obstacle. Eventually, we found ourselves some big bowls of pasta and went back to the hotel to continue hydrating, pack-up for Sunday morning, and sleep as best we could.

Sunday morning, the alarm got us up at 5:15- a very reasonable hour. We dressed, ate, and headed out to catch the Metro. We made it to the Metro stop for the beginning of the race and walked the mile to the start. By the time I got to the port-a-potty, I thought I was going to die. I somehow managed to successfully keep my bladder together long enough to avoid wetting myself pre-race. This was the most miserable I was all day. By the time we were done there, we went straight to the start where the gun had already gone off. We waited our turn to cross and we were off.

The first few miles were chilly, and we were stiff. By the time I shed my throw-away sweatshirt, I was feeling warmed up and ready to go. The first ten miles passed really quickly. Then, they incrementally began to feel longer from there. I had some achiness in my leg, which was unusual for me. Nothing I couldn’t run through. It felt great to get past 13.1, 16, 18, and eventually 20. Every step after that was the furthest I had ever run, so I ran with pride. We made it to the bridge in plenty of time and finally saw one of my co-workers… it felt really good to know a face in the crowd.

The bridge was only mild torture, and around this time I lost my partner and took off on my own. I went from running a 5:1 interval to running straight through. I was passing lots of people, and is somehow really motivating… I knew I wouldn’t make my 5 hour goal, but I was determined to be as close as possible. I started moving a bit a faster, grateful for every step I could take at that point. Finished the bridge and forced movement through Crystal City. I was singing to myself, breathing slow and steady, and taking it one step at a time. Lois was in my head all day- reminding me that this run was a gift and I unwrapped it slowly.

I was close to tears of overwhelming emotion throughout the day, but no more so than the last couple of miles. When I got to 26, the tears overflowed and I pushed it up the hill feeling strong at the finish. I just felt joyful then, and ready to take my shoes off. I felt silly crying as the marine hung my medal around my neck, but I earned the medal and the tears. Getting home was a long expedition, and a hot bath and meal never felt so good. I have never been so proud. And adding in a 6 minute port-a-pot stop, 5:04:25 is pretty darn close to my goal.

I am truly grateful for friends, motivation, and my healthy body. I am also grateful for GU, twizzlers, spectators (especially the ones who cheered for me by name), witty signs, Halloween costumes, and mile markers. Thanks to CMS too- and Katie- for the motivation to tackle these goals and achieve.

Distance	MAR
Clock Time	5:21:27
Chip Time	5:04:25
Overall Place	14663 / 21855
Gender Place	5076 / 8659
Division Place	950 / 1536
Age Grade	44.6%
Ctz	USA
5K	35:52
10K	1:10:48
15K	1:45:48
20K	2:20:14
Half	2:28:17
25K	3:00:43
30K	3:37:01
35K	4:12:20
40K	4:48:39
Divt	1541
Sext	8675
Pace	11:38

Race Report:

Make-A-Wish Olympic at Bethany Beach

I slept pretty well but woke up about 3:30- ready to go. I packed up and drank a protein smoothie on my way. Arrival and parking were easy, the volunteers were super, and I was happy to chat with a few other girls (we were all racked together which was kind of fun) who were also doing their first Olympic and/or first ocean swim. I also met up with a 68-year-old who had run this race 15 times. We walked together to the start, which may have been the hardest part of the day- full of anxiety, pacing out the exact distance that we would swim as we walked down the sand. One mile south, so we swam back one mile north.

The current was with us, and I was feeling pretty confident since I was able to wear a wetsuit. Trouble was, the moment that my face hit the water, my goggles were full and I swam the 1.5 K with salt water in my eyes (they still sting.) It was blinding, and I am already bad at siting my route. I was swimming way out to sea every time I finally could see a buoy. And then I would spend some time making it back. I am not sure how much it slowed me down, but I am sure it impacted me. I finished the swim in about 32 minutes, 14^th out of 18 in my class. I felt okay, but really saved my legs by using my arms almost exclusively, and that was certainly another reason I was so slow. I was 340^th out of 400.

The transition run is a long one as you make your way up the beach. I felt good and set off on the bike. The 41k was pretty uneventful. There was definitely a head wind in the first half and I was slow as I pushed through that. My knee hurt and my quads were angry and I was afraid to push it. Fortunately, we had a tail wind in the latter part of the ride, which helped me speed up and kept me motivated. My finish time was about 1:32. That placed me 335^th. My average speed was only 16.4.

A quicker transition led to the run. My shins were almost debilitating in the first mile, so I decided I’d walk through water stops. A gu helped, too, and I loosened up. I was feeling tight and tired and began a mental mantra. My rhythm became: I.worked.hard.for.this.I.trained.hard.for.this.I.can.do.this, as I paced my steps. The turn around came and my spirits lifted, just to be on the home stretch. There were also signs along the way declaring the “wishes” of the kids we were running for: “I want to go to the Grand Canyon, I want to meet Cinderella, I want a man cave” and something like that keeps everything in perspective. I began to pass people and that was amazingly motivating. I increased my stride after the final water stop and finished strong in about 1 hour, 1 minute (230th). My pace averaged at 9:51.

Overall, I had hoped to finish in 3:00, and my final time was 3:12. I hadn’t added in transitions when I calculated my goal time, so once I subtract those 7 minutes, I was pretty close to where I wanted to be. I am not sure that I’ll ever be satisfied with my time unless I’m in the top 50%, and today I was well below that. I was 81^st out of 122 women. I was 10^th out of 13 in my division- BUT that means there were 5 DNF’s- so at least I am among the finishers. I’m better prepared for another one- and mentally more prepared for the Eagleman next year. It’s all about building confidence.

Step One

there are two goals that i am working towards right now.


the first
my new year's resolution
is to make my new town
my new hub of activity.
to reach out.
meet people.
be active.
here.
now.

step one:
join the local Y
check.

so now i just have to commit
to being there
then.

step two:
attend a meeting tuesday night
for the local multisport club.
be brave.
meet new people.

not always easy for me
but i'm trying.

the other goal i am working towards is my next
half marathon.
i did my first in september
and now just registered for one in april.
my only goal is to be faster than last time.

so cheers to speed.
and when i say speed,
its all relative.