Sunessa Schettler - Marathon | Bib 6448 | Cambridge, MA - USA | Female | Age 33
Start 10K Half 30K Finish
6:26:55 AM 01:05:03 02:17:38 03:19:36 04:45:07
Time Chip Time: 04:45:07 Clock Time: 4:56:19 Pace: 10:52

Place Overall: 1768 Gender: 515 Division: ?

I really liked the running over bridges and out onto causeways. I loved seeing South Beach and blowing past our hotel area in Miles 5-6. Incredibly into late night entertainment, the Miami folks we saw on the course appeared to have been up all night, some doing the 'walk of shame'. Some ladies were still in miniskirts, ducking their way through the thick crowd of runners! "Hey ladies!"

Fewer than 1/3 of the total starting runners were signed up for the full; most ran just the half-marathon, but bless them for keeping me entertained and on my toes for all of those miles 1-13. Matthew was right there with me the whole way. We played A-Z word games to keep our mind off the miles and thought of A-Z things that were related to running, vacation destinations, and means of locomotion. Had to dip into models of cars and bikes to complete that one. :) Eventually, we were at mile 11 and running across the Washington Street bridge. A fire-fighting boat was spinning in the harbor and shooting 3 water cannons into the air...awesome.

At mile 12.5 we prepared to part ways, and I got really choked up. I didn't want to leave my sweetie!! I worried it'd be hours and hours before I saw Matthew again. Volunteers issued me down to the right while he bore off to the left, and I felt so clenched up I could barely breathe. It was a little scary actually. I just kept moving and saw other racers continuing on the long, long road with me.

Memorable people along the way:
*Triathlete from FL who recognized my 'head sweats' visor as a USAT issued item from my Wheelworks Multisport club back in Cambridge/Somerville. He told me he was going full-iron this year. I said "Good luck, I only do halves. I like Timberman a lot, but you'll be psyched to do the Great Floridian. Consider this a training run!"
*Two couples, one with a camera, and the other with tandem-set iPods. The camera couple seemed to be chatting and enjoying themselves more than the other couple, but both kept my pace through miles 15-22.
*The brazilian capoiera (sp?) martial arts group fighting/dancing in Coconut Grove for visual enjoyment and the HS Drum Corps doing serious drum-and-bass combos for audio enjoyment.
*The family with an older aunt or grandma playing the guitar and singing The Eagles from her driveway "Take it Easy" lyrics: "Well, I'm runnin' down the road tryin' to loosen my load; got seven women on my mind..."
*The priest in white robe with a green stoll who stood in front of St. Peter's parish with his Holy Water and little blessing wand, sprinkling water on the runners and saying "blessings for your journey"
*The folks who gave out dixie cups of gummi bears at 18 and the free beer (miller lite) somewhere before mile 19.

So finally, at Mile 22 the course got misty//rainy and I saw Matthew again. Elation!! The course takes a 2-mile U-loop along a four lane road out to a peninsula park. The U at 23 could not have come soon enough; Matthew waited for me to return to mile 24. I took a few short walking breaks because I knew he'd be ready to run me in, no walking if possible. Just a little pressure at this point was really good but I was getting really tired. I also developed a high/hip-lower/ab left side stitch. Ouch! I kept breathing into it and running with Matthew anyway. He didn't let me walk any more than really needed.

And finally at mile 25.5 or thereabouts, we had the coolest experience of meeting a 50-yo guy from CT who was running his 50th marathon on his 50th b-day. Awesome!! He was so strong and happy and had his "announcement" all over his hand-made shirt.

Lastly, we heard some great bands going into the city center and were told "only 2 blocks left!" Well, they were long blocks, but there were also Miami kids ages 8-10 or so running alongside us. They were finishing their last mile of a running program that had built them up to a total of 25 miles so that they could finish their last mile, mile 26, with the marathoners. So cool!

With that inspiration, I lengthened my stride and let Matthew fall a few feet behind me, looked up and smiled and went for the finish line. WOW, finally done! So relieved, so happy. :)

Lots went my way with luck on the cool weather, overcast skies, but in the future I'd like to:
1. get a proper running singlet or race in my tri top, regardless of the race
2. not carry extra socks pinned to the inside of my shorts (no need)
3. run a few more times past 20 and get used to the final push for toughness

I'm going to want an ice bath, beer, and advil...in about that order, I think.

Instead, I drank water, laid down in the sun, and felt kinda sick at the smell of grilling food that was wafting over the finishers' area from a local vendor. So I didn't eat, staggered back to the hotel, showered, put on my swimsuit and fell asleep. The chilly pool water will feel good if I can just make my way downstairs. Why didn't I bring ADVIL? Dagnabbit.


First time running past 22 miles...
First time running with a side stitch in a race at mile 24-25...
First time period, I guess


I love MIAMI!