Marine Corps Marathon - RunMarathon

I wanted to try to stay with Team Chippy because I knew Aaron would keep my pace steady. After a few of the larger hills, my HR was pegged and I knew I couldn't hold that pace thru the hills. I'm not sure where I dropped off from them, but I found a decent pace for me and held a 7/3. I felt good, although I felt thirsty the entire day. I took 2 powerades and a water at every stop, but still wasn't enough. I was using clif shot bloks every couple of miles, along with a halloween punkin and gel every now and again.

Around mile 13 I had what appeared to be an asthma attack. Completely out of the blue, I couldn't breathe and thought I was gonna die right there. I tried to keep walking and making forward progress, while trying to get air into my lungs. It scared the crap out of me, because I've never had anything like that before. About 5 seconds later Renee caught up to me and smacked me on the butt. Started to cry, because I was scared I wouldn't finish, and die. Tried really hard to dry it up and keep running without throwing a full blown princess fit.

Lane called and promised me a diet coke at mile 22, so I had that goal to shoot for. I tried to continue to run/walk, but my left knee was REALLY hurting. Maybe ITB, maybe something else, but it hurt and was swollen. I had 2 biofreeze tubes in my pocket, so I put both on and hoped for the best. My hamstrings and calves cramped when I ran, my quads cramped when I would walk. It was quite a balancing act to manage the muscle groups!!

The wind was crazy across the bridge, and tucked in behind Rick and drafted him the entire way!! It's all about Nascar, baby!!

The turn into Arlington was relief to KNOW for certain that I was gonna finish this race. It was purely mental after about mile 17, and I was SO glad that Rick hung with me with pace/push/pull me across the finish. It was my second marathon, and I beat last year's time by 23 minutes, so a PR, but certainly not my goal time.

Train harder?

Got food, picture, blanket. Met up with the group to make plans for later. Walked a bazillion miles back to the metro and then the hotel. Thanked Rick a gabazillion times for helping me thru this race. I know it certainly wasn't easy!!


Not sure. I feel like I gave everything I had. I certainly didn't have anything left in the tank when I finished, so not sure I could have pushed harder.

I needed more fluids to prevent the cramps, and the knee pain came out of no where. Don't know where the breathing issue came in either. I felt like I went into this race healthy and ready to kick a 5 hour.


This was a freaking awesome race!! The course is hilly and challenging, but beautiful!! The Marines and Army folks were awesome volunteers and cheerleaders!!