BI-LO Myrtle Beach Marathon - RunMarathon

Run started off well really after we hit the start mat, people spread out pretty quickly, it wasn't as bunched up as I thought it might be. About 2 minutes after we started, I saw a girl I knew from the gym (but I had no idea she was a runner). She was doing the half marathon and said she ran about a 11 minute mile pace so I decided to stick with her for awhile. It was soooo nice to have someone to run with - we chatted at times and then just ran at times. My plan (and all my training) was at a run/walk so looking back, it probably wasn't the best idea to run the first 5 miles with her instead of doing the run walk, but it was just nice to have someone to run with. We did about 11 1/2 minute miles. I finally told her that I had better walk for a bit to stick with the plan and we said fairwell. I did a run/walk after that - although still more run than walk. Our hotel was on mile 6 of the course, so I saw my husband then, that was cool. I felt absolutely fantastic for the first 13 miles. I ran and smiled and enjoyed the race. It was a little bit of a mental hit to watch the half marathon people peel off - after that there didn't seem to be too many people left on the course! Plus as I headed out to the second half of the course, I saw the fast marathon people already finishing too - that was a little de-motivating too! Mile 13 and 14 I still physically felt ok, I was just dealing with the mental issue. After that I felt ok for a few more miles. Starting to get a little achey, slowed down a bit, walked a lot more, but not too bad. I think it was around mile 21 that I just really hit that wall. I walked pretty much all of miles 21 - 25 1/2. I just really couldn't get my legs to run. I kept up a decent walk pace and made the best of it. A few times I got a whiney thought of maybe I should just quit cause I don't know if I am going to be able to finish, but I got the whiney out of my head pretty quickly. My husband was standing at about mile 25 1/2 waiting for me and that was absolutely awesome. It was so great to see him standing there. I started running (sort of) when I saw him - it was more of a shuffle and I am positive it was slower than my walking but it was all I could do at the time. He ran along with me (which is really awesome because he is not a runner AT ALL, he thinks it is all insane), he ran along for the last little bit until I had to go down the finishing chute then he met me at the other side of it. It felt absolutely awesome to finish my first marathon.

Nutrition plan seemed to work out ok. I took powerade at every aid station and a couple of the aid stations I either took an extra cup of power aid or a cup of water. I had 6 packs of beans total and ate a handful about every 20 minutes. Towards the end of the race, I just felt like I needed a little more so I grabbed a chocolate gel off the course and that worked ok with the tummy too.

Train more, stick with the plan.

Got my medal, took off chip, drank a powerade, walked with the hubby to the car - it was probably 1/2 mile or so away. Already 5 minutes after I was done with the race, I could barely walk - knees wouldn't bend, etc. so we strolled slowly to the car :)


I'm not sure. The first half was awesome, the second half less awesome. It could have been lack of training, it could have been not sticking with the plan, it could have been nutrition - but I am leaning more towards one of the first two things because it didn't feel like I had a problem with the nutrition. I guess I'll have to try it again to figure it out :)