Wellstone's Dallas White Rock Marathon - RunMarathon

This race was not meant to be fast. I decided to run with my big sister, Angela to help her through her first marathon. A little back story to this: a few years ago when I did my first marathon, she trained with me all the way up to a month before White Rock, and then backed out. For good reason, she was pregnant with my super pimp little nephew (who at a little over 2 years now has done his first 1k!!!). So I ended up doing my first marathon solo. So this run with my sister was 3 years in the making as I see it. And knowing how difficult those last few miles could be I knew she could use some company.

At the start, we line up with the 5hr cliff bar pace group and take off at a nice easy pace that was comfortable for her. The first several miles we ran with her group from lukes locker. We all stuck together until about 7 miles in when everyone was nice and warmed up and started to run their own race. As for my sister and I, we kept it nice and easy throughout the first half and were right on pace for a 5hr at the halfway mark. Along the way to that, I saw John (jcagg), Laurie (tri_it_cajun_style)cheering for us aruond the 6 mile mark or so (cant remember for sure)...I almost did not hear them cheering my name until my sister pointed it out to me! Thanks for being out there guys. We also saw my Dad, Mom, Unlce, Alberto (my sisters boyfriend) and Nicolas (super pimp nephew!) out on the course at miles 6, 12, 18, and the finish...I think more than that too, my uncle lives in Dallas and can navigate that city like nobody else.

By the time we were about 16 miles in it was just my sister and I, and occasionally her friend Connie who would catch up with us, pass us up, fall behind, and then catch up again (eventually around 19 miles she just joined us to the end). This is where Angela started to hit a low point and her pace fell off a little. She put on her headphones and did her thing while I quietly ran beside her and would talk to her about everything and nothing and crack jokes when she wanted to talk and left her alone when she didn't (if you know my sister...this was the safest thing to do!).

Then the rain started. I can't remember when it started exactly, but it got progressively worse as we went along the course. The dolly parton hills were a killer for her, we ended up walking up them so she could conserve energy. She started to feel a little better and get some energy back after the hills around mile 22 or so. From there her energy was up and down, and I know that the rain and miserable weather did not help at all. She also slowed down more as the rain came down harder becasue she was really cold and was also worried about slipping on the slick wet roads.

I could tell that Angela (and her friend Connie) were hurting a lot near the end so I did whatever I could to help motivate them to finish and distract them for a few moments from the task at hand. Then when we got to the 26 mile mark I told her she was now alowed to cry if she wanted and I wouldnt make fun of her...she said she would but was out of liquid to make tears! We pulled into downtown to the finish line to hear them announce our names and that it was her first marathon fninish in 5:35:16. This is when she made the "I would cry but dont have the energy to do it face", always a favorite to see at marathons. We took our finisher photos, went and got some food, and then headed home to eat some burgers!

Something funny after the race, my sister had worn waterproof mascera (probably spelled wrong...like I wear makeup) and it has smudged a good bit under her eyes making her look like the victim of some physical abuse (which is basically what a marathon is). And since everyone pretty much looks like total crap after their first marathon I neglected to say anything about it. Well, since I was walking just fine and she was shufflng along, I went to find the exit to the car alone and left her walking around the AA center alone. So there is my sister, wrapped in foil, hunched over from the cold with a look of misery on her face (and smeared mascera) walking around the AA center. In the car she mentioned that people kept asking her "sweetie, are you ok" "are you waiting for a ride" and she couldnt understand why. Then she flipped the visor in the car down and opened the mirror and I hear "OH MY GOD...I look like shit, no wonder everyone kept asking me if I was ok!"

On a personal note, I set three PR's at this race:

1 My slowest marathon EVER!
2) Most beers I have ever consumed in one marathon...5...YUMMY!
3) Shortest relationship ever...there was a woman holding up a sign at about mile 10 that said "I'm Sinlgle!" surrounded by people drinking in the yard, and when I saw that I ran off the course into the yard right for her and said "HELLO BABY" with my arms wide open, at which point I realized that I had scared the crap out of her, and her friends all laughed their asses off at her expense while I chased her around the yard for a few seconds. Needles to say, it didn't work out! And I really thought she was the one!

Absolutely nothing, this was one of the best times I have ever had at a marathon. Back of the pack is not such a bad place to be...there are a lot of good people having lots of fun in the back!

Walked around the AA center for a little bit, got some food, found my Uncle but the family was lost in the mass chaos outside so we met up with the rest of them a little later.


Uhh...well...I was pacing my sister so the goal was not to go fast...mission accomplished.


After the race there was some confusion among the event staff as to where the finisher shirts were. Since we came into the finish in the rain they were supposed to be moved inside...but no one inside knew where they were. My sis was bummed because she wants to wear her finisher shirt at all times since its her first. We emailed marcus (one of the race directors) and it is being taken care of, so I can't complain too much about that. It seems that every year at this event the food is lacking at the finish. I must say that I have been to 5ks that provide more food for finishers. Maybe there was more for those that came in at a faster time, but for us all that was left were bananas(as always), some frozen smoothies, and light n fit dannon. Being that it was freezing ass cold, frozen smoothies and cold yogurt were not the best food choices in my opinon. However, the massive bacon cheesburger I inhaled post race was a much better decision!