Thunder Road Marathon - RunMarathon

Started out this race feeling really good. Got bunched up real bad at the first because people do not know how to line up for a race. However, that always happens.
I was 1 minute behind the clock the whole time. Here are my clock time splits:
10k - 54:11
1/2 - 1:55.31
16.2 - 2:24.57
20 - 3:02.16
I felt good the whole 1st half. My scream team met me at mile 11 as I was starting up MoreHell....uhhhh, I mean Morehead. This is after they went and ate breakfast....while I ran the 1st 11 miles.
At mile 13, I saw Ron. He is my "coach". He trained me for my first marathon, then ran it with me. He has run 75+ marathons and some ultras. I hold him responsible for this obsession.
At mile 14, however, I started feeling like I was going to throw up. My hips were really sore. They felt like they were going to fall out of their sockets. This was a new sensation for me. I have to admit, I was a bit confused about why I was already feeling like I was going to hit the wall. I tried to suck it up and run. At mile 16ish, my scream team met me the 2nd time. This really gave me a boost.
I also saw my dad around mile 18...I think. We were down town (going UP hill). He yelled, "Doing Good"!
As I passed mile 20, I knew I was still in the "running" to go sub 4. But did not know if I could pull it out. I started walking at the water stops so my hips would not rebell and stop working. I saw my buddy Bree right before hitting mile 21. She yelled at me and this started me up and running strong again.
My scream team met me right before mile 22. At this point, I could not fake trying to be strong. Matt, my wonderful husband asked if I needed anything. I did stop and threw my water belt, gloves, and hat down and said that I needed a propel. He gave me more G2 and I told him the propel was in the other bottle. He got the right one and gave it to me. He encouraged me that he thought I was going to make sub 4. I ran on.
At mile 23, someone yelled that I only had a 5k to go. This normally does not help me, but this time it did.
At mile 24, I saw my buddy Amy and her family. They surprised me and met me on Central Ave.
I hit mile 25. I looked up and saw my time. Then I saw the skyline of Charlotte. I knew I would not go sub 4, but I would PR. At this point, I did something I had never done b/4. I started crying....like a baby. Not sure why. I think it was all the hard work I had put into the race, all my friends who I love that had come out to support me, and the ability to run this far and not die. Thank you God.
At mile 26 (uphill) my IM buddy Jeff met me. He was on his bike. He rode with me to the finishing shute. I told him I felt like a "star" with an escort.
I finished strong with a grand PR of 4:05.17. I am going back and forth from being excited about my PR to being disappointed for not being able to pull out a sub 4.

Looking back I am not sure of what I coould have done differently....except find a course that is not as hilly. LOL!
I was thirsty the whole race. However, I went into the race well hydrated. I also carried G2 with me and drank it. And at every drink station, I got H2O to take my Hammer Gel with. I sipped on Hammer Gel at every other mile starting at mile 4.

Took a ton of pictures and walked back to the car. Then went to eat!


Hills maybe. My hips?!?! Not sure what was up with that. I felt like after the 1/2 mary point, my body was not absorbing the nutrition and liquid I was giving it.


Good race, Tough course.