Seattle Marathon - RunMarathon

The morning started out pretty nice. It must have been close to 50 and overcast. I had talked my cousin into running (it was his first marathon as well) so it was extremely nice to have a buddy to hang out with throughout the process. He had been training with me on and off and in my opinion he did a great job.

We hit the porta-pottys where I proceeded to-how to I put this nicely? Let's just say I think my nerves took hold and things were not solid...anyway, yeah, not a great start.

I had never been this nervous before. Did I mention this was my first marathon?

Anyway, we headed to the starting coral and I spotted a friend from high school! We BSed until about 5 min to start and I really think it helped calm my nerves. My cousin and I walked up to line up with the 3:40 pacer. "2 minutes to start" said the announcer and the nerves hit again. Then it started to rain. Awesome...

So the gun fires and we were off! I had headphones in so running down 5th ave felt kind of surreal. Some friends of mine yelled my name about a mile in. That was a really nice surprise as I wasn't expecting friends and family until mile 8ish.

I felt like my pace was a little up and down and then I finally settled in...with the 3:20 pacer. WTF? The pace just felt right but I could not help but feel like I was going out too fast. I knew it was a classic rookie mistake but I just couldn't help but to go with it. Even now I look back and I am not sure if I would have changed that. The thing about the Seattle course is that the first 20 isn't too bad, you might even say fast, but the last 6.2 is hilly as shit so negative splits seem a little challenging if not impossible.

I saw my cousin mid-span on I90 and was able to get in a little wave.

I was still with my the 3:20 group when I went past my cheering squad at mile 8. They were awesome! Cow bells, signs, vodka, cheering, vodka, smiles, vodka, yelling! It was amazing. Honestly they propped me up. I COULD NOT have done this without them.

I lost the 3:20 somewhere before the half-mary point. 1:42:51. "Hmmmmmmm..." I thought. My pace band said I should be at 1:46 (I think) so I am looking good. I could not help but think of Mary Keitany in the NY marathon. Time in the bank clearly does not work. But what was done was done so I kept on. The citrus Gatorade they were hanging out tasted like shit by the way. No, it tasted like vomit, actually. At one point I thought I had thrown up or was going to throw up but it was just the nasty stuff. I could hardly hold in down.

I passed the cheer squad again at mile 18 and once again my spirits were lifted. At this point I was holding steady just in front of the 3:30. I heard the pacer say they were running too fast which gave me another "ahhh crap" moment.

Mile 20, good LORD mile 20! Everything they say is true about mile 20 being the start of the race. "I'm screwed. Period. I am screwed." I thought. My legs felt like I had like 6 sets of ankle weights (circa 1990-something) on and was also dragging a parachute behind me. It was just POURING at this point. I literally watched my pace band melt off of my arm and onto the ground. I just figured that I had given it my all and that was the best I could do. I just needed to keep moving because it turns out the fastest way home is to run.

This is where the hills were just awful. They were endless it seemed and every step was starting to get a little painful. These miles seemed to drag on for DAYS. I kid you not. Once I got out of the most hilly section I was slammed with a headwind. I think I would have preferred the hills! 23 miles....ok you got this....just a 5K. Just a 5K after you got hit by a speeding icecream truck. No biggie, right?

24 miles, more hell, 25 miles! The volunteer shouted, "TIME: 3:23-something" This was the only time post mile 20 I thought I might make it. Holy crap, I might make it! I could run a 12 minute mile!! Ahh shit, I think I am running a 12 minute mile!!!! So I just ran. It took EVERYTHING. I was talking to myself, spewing profanity...everything.

I made it into the stadium and saw the clock 3:33...3:34 ahhhhhhhh so I kicked it and sprinted. Made it clock time 3:34:40-something (turned out later to be chip 3:34:01)

Holy mother of GOD I QUALIFIED FOR BOSTON!

Not that I am not happy with my performance but I will probably try to log more weekly mileage for my next marathon.

Wobble-walking around to gather my friends and family


Rain, wind, hills, first marathon