I started out pretty well. My pace was strong, and I cardio-wise I felt great. I had dressed as warmly as I could, with a sleevless tech top under a long-sleeve tech top, and a long-sleeve Race for the Cure shirt on top, figuring I would ditch it along the way (which I did around mile 6). Unfortunately, I hadn't planned on needed anything other than shorts, so I didn't pack tights. At the second aid station, I discovered a flaw in my nutrition plan. Aid stations were spaced about every 1.5-1.8 miles apart along the course, with Acceleraid at every other aid station. I opted to stick with water and Hammergels, taking a gel at about every other aid station. I had decided to use 2 gel flasks, with holsters that attached to my number belt. But because of the cold temps, and because they were not in a pocket next to my body, the gel got very cold and very thick--very difficult to get out of the flasks. Think trying to suck gummy bears through a straw. I was using both hands to squeeze the flasks and sucking hard, and hoped I was getting enough. I made sure to use see-through flasks, but the flasks were staying "squeezed-in" after each serving, making it difficult to get a read on how much I was really taking in. I did what I could and hoped for the best.

I felt strong through mile 10, and was cruisin'. Mile 11 my hamstrings started to tighten up. I stopped, stretched, and kept going. I knew that around mile 12, the course would flatten out a bit, and thought maybe the change in grade might help. No such luck. It felt like the cold was just freezing up my hamstrings, and then my left calf decided to get in on the act. I stretched periodically, and walked the aid stations, and the change of pace seemed to help a bit for a little while. But shortly after I resumed running each time, the legs would tighten up again. This was getting pretty frustrating, as I felt fine cardio and energy-wise. I just couldn't get my legs to turn over that fast anymore, and I saw my pace slip.

First, I saw 10-something miles, and thought, OK, if that's what I can do, lets just try to keep it there. I was sub 10's for the 1st half, if I can do the second half at 10-somethings, it should average out to about 10's for the whole race. Then came the 11-somethings. OK, not great, but not bad. When I registered for this race, I was expecting to average 12:30s, so 11's wouldn't be so bad. This was around mile 17, and I started telling myself "just 3 5Ks--that's all that's left. Starting ticking them off." When I saw 12-somethings, I was getting frustrated, but I reminded myself that 18 months ago, I was working up to running 30 minutes consecutively, so no matter my time, this was an accomplishment. When I saw 13-something, I got mad. Now that just wasn't right. I really wanted to make it to the finish in time to head over to the half-mary finish to watch Mom come in. 13-somethings were not going to get it done. At this point, I was at about mile 23. Just a 5K to go, and that I could do. I started picking up the pace bit by bit.

Around mile 25, I saw a woman who was slowing down. I told her "We're almost there! Strong finish!" She picked it up and started keeping pace with me. By the time I hit the last aid station (around mile 25.5), I just wanted to get across that finish line, so I blew past the water and kept on trucking. I lost my temporary running partner at that point. Right around mile marker 26, I ran past a band playing "The Joker," which really pumped me up a bit. I was singing and throwing fists in the air, revving the crowd up, and FINALLY hitting a runner's high. I never experienced the runners high in training, and it was great to get a taste of it in the race. Guess I have to run 26 miles more often??

I came around a corner, and there it was. The finish line, the archway, the timing matt. The finish was right in front of me. I tried for yet another push, and finished with my hands in the air.

Pack running tights, use packets kept in my shirt pocket if the weather is cold.

Lots of standing around in line. As soon as I crossed the finish, I was in line to get my medal. Then I was in line to get my space blanket. Then there was the line to get my timing chip clipped off. Next came the line for finishers photos, then the line for slippers (:) ). After that, the line for food--this was a very long line. I picked up one of everything they were handing out. Then I went to the family reunion area to look for Mom. I didn't think I had made it in in enough time to watch her finish. Turns out the half started late, and it took 45 minutes after the gun went off for them to start her corral. I could have made it after all!

Once I found Mom, we made our way to the checked-bag area to get our things, then shuffled through the parking lot to the car. It was while I was pulling on my warm-up pants that I first noticed the bump on the side of my right foot. Through my sock, it looked like I had a bunion (which I typically don't). I figured it was a blister (although I hadn't really noticed too much in the way of blister pain during the race), and decided to wait and look at it once we got back to the hotel. Turns out, it was a massive blood blister--pretty much looked like I had a plum stuck to the side of my foot.


The cold and nutrition issues were probably what caused my legs to cramp. It may also have been a lack of muscular endurance. I severely sprained (and possibly broke) my foot the day after I registered for this marathon in October, so for the first few weeks, my training was limited to aquajogging. Otherwise, I felt fine throughout the race.


I may be a bit spoiled by triathlons, and I'm willing to admit that. ;) The aid stations seemed very spread out, and I was suprised that they only had gu available at one spot (mile 19 for the marathon), but I understand that this is common for marathons & half-marathons. Evidently though, they ran out of gu on the half-marathon course by the time my mom made it to the gu station.

It would seem that several of the bands and most of the cheer squads that were supposed to be on the course were put off by the cold on race morning. I was expecting more in the way of music and cheering, not that music is essential to a good marathon. The post-race area was a bit too spread out, and I never found the post-race massage tables (apparently they were there, I just didn't see them).

All-in-all, though, given the sheer size of this event, I have to think the organizers did a pretty darn good job. With nearly 40,000 participants, keeping these races on track had to be quite a challenge!

Thank you to Julia, her sister Ann, Adam, and Mom for helping make this a great weekend! It was fantastic to share my first marathon experience with each of you!