California International Marathon - RunMarathon

Chatted with new BFF for first 7 or 8 miles, kept 4:15 pacers in sight. Passed them to try and get a head start because I had to use porta. Thought if I could get ahead then I might be able to catch up with them. Line for the 3 portas and I'd passed up several stations. Needed to stop. Took about 5 minutes. Ran like the devil and got the 4:15 in my sights again, then slowed up some and realized the Garmin had died.

The left knee started feeling a little tweak around 7 or 8, but then it went away. I could feel my quads tightening and my hip flexors shorten, at 13.1 I realized 1/2 way and I had to keep up the pace that this was going to be a bit uncomfortable at times. Saw DH at mile 14. Lots of spectators along the way helped to keep the energy going. At 16 I had to stop and take some tylenol. I never take it, but realized it would help the pain that might be to come later on. I still had my gloves on and my fingers were still cold and not working so I couldn't get the Tylenol out of the foil in my fuel belt pouch. The guy at the water table helped me get them and I took 2. He told me to take the other one at 22, but I never needed it.

First 8 miles were nice and easy, in the 9:30-40 pace. Second 8 got a bit tougher and I think I stopped around 9 mile marker to potty. I grabbed a water or ultima at most of the stations, even if just a sip. Turned on the ipod after going potty because my new BFF had gone on. I'd strike up conversations with people and "met" many ultra runners. This is a runner's run, so I was among "real" runners. Some looked so smooth and really steady.Others, esp. around mile 21 or 22 were walking or limping. I tried to offer support "hang in there" or "keep at it." I chatted with some people who had run boo-koo marathons (17) and still said they weren't real runners. WTF? This is my first 26.2 and I'm claiming runnership. Anyway, at mile 20 they had a big blow up wall stretching across the course and people dressed like the grim reaper. I trotted through, no problem. Around 21 or so I started slowing and realized I wasn't going to catch the 4:15 people so I stopped to potty again. I really didn't want to be in the yellow sock brigade. When I got out of the potty, my new BFF was waiting for me. She'd come out as I went in and waited for me. What a sweetie. She and I ran for a while, but then I really felt good and picked up my pace and waved for her to come along, but she was fading. She called my name and said, here Lynn take this at mile 23 it will give you a boost. It was a peppermint. I kept it in my vest pocket and finally shed my top pullover around mile 22 or so (they all kind of blend together) throwing it to a national guardsman and said, "here you want a nice jacket." He just smiled. It took that long for me to get too warm for it.

There were wind gusts of about 15 mph off and on. The colored leaves would swirl and I'd try to find a group or a bigger person to draft behind. This one woman was using me that way for a while. My brain wasn't working so great. I really don't remember what happened at what mile. I do know my DH and son were at 21 like I had asked him to be and handed me a gel. It was good so I didn't have to dig one out of my pocket. I took a gel around mile 9 and ate cliff bloks (usually 2 at a time) every few miles. I did finish my carbo pro/cytomax mixture in one flask but never did finish the other one. So, back to mile 22ish, I was hurting but I knew back at 18 I would finish and hopefully finish healthy and running. Mile 22 to 23-24 were really hard. My legs felt like cement blocks. I tried to release everything down and drop my center of gravity and lean. I kept thinking just keep one foot in front of the other, keep arms pumping and keep forward motion. Billy Idol, the Black Eyed Peas (I've got a feeling...) and ZZ Top, Gnarls Barkley, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Judas Priest, Leona Lewis and Podrunner.com...to them I owe some debt of gratitude. Their songs kept me going. There were a few bands and DJ's along the way, mostly in the last 10K. I remember one really great blues band and an awesome singer. I gave her a thumbs up and wished they'd have been able to ride along behind me. Also, a DJ playing Salt and Pepa's push it and another with a Lynard Skynard What's Your Name. I was singing, yes out-loud, and didn't care. One shortish stocky guy would pass by or I'd pass him and he'd be singing.

I had some woo-hoos along the way and when we hit the bridge that crosses the American River, it was fantastic. The slight rise helped relieve my quads and the river was nice and calm. The changing color of the leaves and the houses of old Sacramento on the way down to the capitol were really beautiful. More people were lining the streets again, some cheering, many just looking for their friends or loved ones. When I saw mile 24 I thought, just keep going, you'll get there. I think each step felt like an hour. I totally went inside myself and just focused, couldn't really look at any one else. Then at 25 ish people kept saying, it's just around the corner. You're almost there. You're going to make it. And, I knew it wouldn't probably get any harder. I saw the 26 sign and OMG, felt a real sense of relief. I picked up my pace and had one girl glide by me, trying to kick it in. Once I saw the last corner leading toward the capital, I kicked as best I could. Legs still felt like lead. I heard someone cheer and didn't think it was for me, but pretended it was and kicked harder and heard the announcer saying something about someone running it in harder, not sure if he meant me, but it didn't matter. I finished, looked at the clock and clock time was 4:28. I did it. I finished the marathon. At times during the run I wondered why I was doing this. What made me sign up for it and at what moment I decided to do that. I couldn't remember. I just knew I had now finished a marathon.

Not have to go to the bathroom or have a catheter. ;)

After getting across the finish and grabbing a water bottle I got my chip clipped off and realized I hadn't gotten my medal. I went up to someone who had them, but they were for the relay people. I definitely wasn't going to take a relay medal after that longest run of my life. So I meandered around looking for the black medal I was told I would get. I started crying. Just all this emotion came up and there was no one around to hug. One guy passed me and said congratulations because he realized I was crying. I got my medal and then realized my new BFF would be crossing the finish soon, so I waited for her and gave her a big hug afterwards. She was also running her first marathon and I found out almost 20 years younger than me. I thought she was even younger. Very sweet and getting married next October.
After I said goodbye to her, I got in line to have a photo taken and was looking for family. As it turns out, at the end down the chute, it was my DH and son who were cheering me on. I didn't know it was them and they thought I'd seen them. Finally found them after having my photo. Went through the food line but didn't want the pancakes and other stuff. I did have some chocolate soy milk that tasted fantastic and a cliff protein ball of some kind and wrapped in my space blanket (mylar) felt like a super star. I've always wanted one of those blankets. Always thought the athletes looked cool. Funny the things we notice. I also had a 1/2 of a chocolate chip cookie. The best chocolate chip cookie and probably the first one I've had in years and years. Just walked around around, put on the warm clothes DH had for me and got my gear bag. It was good that he was parked about 3/4 of a mile away, it got me walking. I didn't want to stop anyway and felt a little light-headed.


My quads being so tight and my potty breaks.


My first marathon so I don't have much to compare it to, other than triathlons or 5 and 10K's, but I thought it was very well organized and lots of community support and volunteer support. Only complaint was I had to find my medal.
I will want to run another marathon and I do think I can BQ. I know what the pain/discomfort will be like. I didn't allow the pain-fear cycle to start. I realized I was in discomfort and that it could lead to fear, just as they coach in childbirth. I wasn't going to allow the fear to enter into the equation. I remembered to listen to my breath and think of my form and take in the sights of as many of the aspects of this, my first marathon, as I could. I'm trying to give myself some support and know that I did something only 1% or thereabouts of the population will do.