Richmond Marathon - Run

My plan was to do 10 minutes run to 1 minute walk from the start. Somehow I missed my first walk interval and didn't begin them until 20 minutes. Not a huge deal, I was keeping a slow pace but it was all my legs were going to give me.
Hit a porta potty around mile 3 --great no paper already! Grrrr. Got up to Monument Ave and some of the women near me were asking about the statues. First one we see is Stonewall Jackson sitting on his horse. Guess they were from out of town--didn't realize that almost all the statues were Confederate heroes…..Yeah, as a transplanted northerner I have a hard time celebrating the history of the Confederacy--but I knew who was who on the course at least! Pass the statue of Arthur Ashe (ONLY non confederate statue on the road and evidently a big ruckus when they decided to put him there but he is a local hero to many people)….Some guy named Maury….keep the 10:1 going. Finally turned onto Grove Avenue and passed St Catherine's School--managed the first part of the hill fine on Grove then that last incline before the turn to River was no fun.
Finally through the first 10K and heading down the hill near 3Sports. The river was so pretty as I crossed the bridge. Around mile 8 I made a stretch stop for a few minutes. Stopped to take a few pictures along Pony Pasture because I had honestly never been there in all our years living here.
Mile 10 and I needed to hit the port potty. Waited up waiting a good 4 minutes to use that one….
Made it up to Forest Hill finally…and my knees started to complain. I had to walk a lot more than the 1 minute intervals, but was still mostly running. There was a man dressed in a Santa suit around mile 14, he made my day. I had my picture taken with Santa--first time in my life I have ever had a photo taken with Santa. A junk food stop!! YUMMY tootsie roll and piece of dark chocolate :)
The party stop was blaring the YMCA song there and I was dancing the motions in the street. Some man in a big fuzzy coat came out in the street ant spun me in a circle to hug me.
By the time I crossed the Lee bridge my knee was really pissed off. I tried stretching it out more but it was NOT having it. I got on Main and was in tears from the pain. It felt like someone was stabbing the inside of my knee and it was just radiating down. I was limping to walk but could still bear weight--running was out of the question. I tried, I really did, but the pain was ridiculous and my bigger goal was to finish without an injury so walking became my mode of motion.
I thought I would see my husband at some point, kept looking for him. Got to mile 19 party zone and was quite vocal saying I needed a hug. The volunteer laid down her camera and gave me a big hug. Grabbed some twirlers and a piece of orange.
Limped through the next few miles trying to get motrin from ANYONE but no one had it. Got to mile 23 where the Endorphin Fitness team had a tent up. Guy tells me I looked like I was hurting. Asked if I needed anything. Motrin? Please?? He had Aleve. Oh, thank you sweet baby Jesus. He sprayed some icy hot on the knee and I hobbled off.
Got into the neighborhood by Bryan Park and one of the men in the neighborhood walked with me a bit to encourage me. Texted my husband to let him know I was walking and what mile I had passed, hit the port potty (AGAIN) I guess I was well hydrated.. Saw a woman in a Wonder Woman costume--asked her if she had kids wearing "MY MOM IS WONDER WOMAN" tee shirts--yes, we walked together for the rest. Hit the last turn and tried like anything to run the final 0.2, but it was a steep down hill and about 3/4 of the way down that knee gave me a big F off.

I had my prayer cards to mentally take my mind off the pain……every mile was a prayer for someone else. It was a good way to make use of my time and keep my mind occupied with something other than "this hurts" I never let go of them. Kept the lists in a baggie and just flipped the card when that one was done….If you were on my list (and a few who weren't) I prayed.

NOT SIGN UP FOR A MARATHON AGAIN….seriously, my run was soooo good when I sign up for this race. Now it will take me months to recover and rebuild.

Walked through the finishers area and the volunteers barely acknowledged me to give me the finisher's medal and blanket. Found my husband, got a slice of pizza. Headed to medical to get an ice pack


Cranky legs, cranky knees


America's Friendliest Marathon--yes, it was. Plenty of volunteers and people in the neighborhoods setting out tables with snacks & water….