SunTrust Richmond Marathon - RunMarathon

Clothing: Capri pants, short sleeve dry fit, long sleeve with mock turtle neck dry fit, and a polar fleece face mask which covered my entire face except my eyes. Pictures as soon as I get them from race :) People were calling me ninja girl out on the course..I looked intimidating. hehe.
Mile 1-6: I spent the first few miles trying to get my pace. I wanted to run 8:20's but I was running a little faster..so I would try and compensate but it didn't really work. So I just ran at what felt like a comfortable race pace. I tried to find someone to "run with" but I would end up passing them and not want to slow down. I was so nervous about staying on pace and I am really bad at deciphering what pace I'm actually running.
Mile 7-14: This is where I saw Kate and the Stalcup-Burris clan..my cheering section! Mile 7 was a huge cheering/party zone and lead into my favorite part of the course. From mile 7 to 11 we ran along the James River but back in the country so we were surrounded by trees with amazing color and the river had big rocks and drops. It was beautiful. Even out there people were out cheering and playing music for the runners. We ended up winding back up through neighborhoods and making our way towards the city. At this point I was feeling good..and was on pace. (1:46:xx) In this section I was definitely beginning to feel the race but I was holding up well and still felt strong.
Mile 15-20: Well this was my least favorite part, mainly because it was the mile from hell. Mile 15 was a LONg bridge taking us back over the river. Pretty but windy, cold, and a false flat. This took mental strength to keep going and get to the other side..somewhere in the middle I heard "coke" so I knew I would get a treat once across :) After crossing and getting back where the wind was a little less damaging I picked my pace back up and moved forward. Around mile 18 I really started feeling the effects of the day. I started telling myself I went out too fast and I would let myself have the next 2 miles to "recover". I slowed to about a 9:00 min pace thinking I would get back down to an 8:xx at mile 20. Boy, was I wrong. At mile 19 I saw my cheering crew again. Kate ran with me at about mile 20 for a couple mintues. She had so much energy and I was totally out at that point. I wish I could have pulled in her energy. It was at this moment..or moments after she left me..I had a panic attack which triggered an asthma attack. Oh fun. I had to stop and take my inhaler. I gave myself a few seconds to regroup before I started running again. The damage was done. It was hard to keep my breathing under control. I would try to pick up my pace but I would have to slow because I couldn't get my breath.
Mile 21-26: This is where I could have used a friend/stranger/myself to convince me that I would be fine and to KEEP GOING. I stopped to walk at each mile until mile 24. I would only walk for about 30 seconds or so but this hurt me mentally more than anything else. At this moment I was mentally defeated. I brought a non race issue into the race and allowed it to beat me. For this I am dissapointed. Anyway, I get to mile 24 and decide this is it..I can run for 2 miles. So I did. I just kept telling myself with each step I get closer to the finish. I'm not one to walk in a race and I needed to finish without that crutch. Making the final turn on Cary St. was awesome and seeing the clock I knew I would still beat 3:50 and all I could be was happy.

I will say my clothing choice was perfect. I was warm the entire race and had no issue with the cold due to my ninja like mask.
Leaving all worries/concerns/life except for the race..at the starting line. In all honesty though I would have never thought I would have a panic attack in the middle of a race due to a non race issue. That was a total coincidence that lead to something which I have little control. My asthma is stress induced: i.e exercise, anxiety, panic..ect. I feel pretty stupid for letting something like that creep in but life happens wether it's convenient or not.

Walked down to the gear truck to get warm clothes. Waited for Hannah banana to finish and then walked back to hotel. A lot of walking.


My mental game was not as good as it could have been..other than that nothing.


The course was great with lots of volunteers and stops. I would definitely do this race again.