1.) I'm not really a "newbie" anymore. I have a few races under my belt and now it's not just about finishing. It's about time. It's about the training. It's about pushing myself.
2.) Since it's sponsored by the Children's Hospital, it has something called Patient Miles. Each mile of the race is "owned" by a different patient of the hospital. Some are very sick. Some come out and cheer the marathon anyway.
3.) Stacey's sick again. I found out recently and have felt so helpless. I decided to take her on as motivation to do my very best.
Despite these heavier points, today's race was an absolute blast.
The waiting around in the starting corrals felt just about arctic. I had MANY layers on ready to discard and was still chilly.
Out of the blue, my friend Sarah happened to be in my same start wave and also happened to be standing right next to me!! It helped to have a friend to chat out the nerves. Also, it helped to have a friend to ask, "You think I should take my sweatshirt off yet? How about now??"
We started in the third wave. I hope the feeling of going up the hill on a roller coaster at race starting lines never goes away cuz it is becoming my favorite! There were fireworks for each wave of starts. The most nerves came while waiting in our corral and hearing the first set of fireworks go off. Oh man. It's time!
The first mile came and went and I don't think I stopped smiling. It's here! The Columbus Marathon!
There is also a slight chance that my smile was just stuck that way because of the frigid temps. Who can tell.
The course was beautiful. We ran 3 miles east - right into the sunrise.
By mile 4, I was still smiling, but felt a little tired. I MAY have (meaning: DID) started too fast. But I really didn't care today. I was so happy race day was here. My main goal was to get to the tracker marker so everyone would see how fast I could run 10k. :) I know that's not a very good race plan. But it kept me running.
By the time I crossed the 10k tracking point, I was feeling alright! Crossing made me think of everyone who would see that alert. It made me smile thinking of everyone. (Smiling is the theme?) I felt completely supported and cheered for by my friends. It didn't hurt that the entire course was LINED with spectators. Packed! Anytime I needed a pick-me-up, I'd turn the volume down on my headphones and listen to the cheers. They were constant.
At mile 7, I saw Jim.
A large group gathered around him and people were patting him on the back, shaking his hand, cheering for him. How exhausting and exhilarating to run a marathon with everyone doing that! But I did it to him too.
Jim!! It's YOU!! Congratulations!! <3
He was more than gracious.
At mile 8, I saw MyTeamTriumph - the teams of angels who push a disabled athlete in their wheelchair. I had considered doing this with them next year. After seeing the team of runners, I will most definitely do this with them next year.
Captain Lucas ran with a group of about 7 or 8 angels. One came from behind and tapped me on the shoulder and said, "We got a wheelchair on your right."
I stepped to the side and saw Lucas. So excited for him.
"Lucas, you're doing it buddy!!!!" He turned his head and smiled at me. Highlight of the race.
At mile 9, I saw my sis!
Now, I don't know if it was the cold, if I was having some sort of breakdown, or if I was just simply enjoying the moment - but I had no words. I saw her off to the side, ran up and hugged her, and took off. No words. From me? Another highlight of the race.
At mile 10, I was starting to struggle. I knew I had friends at Schiller Park. If I could get to Schiller Park and show them how good I felt, I'd be alright. It took forever to get to Schiller Park. And I swear every house along the way was cooking breakfast. I could smell it. I'm hungry. Was that toast???
At nearly mile 11, I saw Sarah and Amy. Thank goodness.
I couldn't wait to see their sign.
It did not disappoint.
By the end of mile 11, I was struggling again. Really struggling. The alert in my ear that tells me my average pace was getting slower and slower each time. I knew now that I would not make my goal of 2 hours and 30 minutes. If I sped up just a little, I would. But I just couldn't speed up. In fact, maybe I should walk? This is when Stacey Smith kicked in. I thought about her. I thought about her family. I thought about the fact that she will not quit. She CANNOT quit. I tried to adopt some of her spirit. The mantra for mile 11 and some of mile 12 became: If Stacey can't quit, then neither can I. Over and over. I did not walk.
Mile 12 was the Angel Mile. Good lord. My friends who had run this race warned me about this mile, but it still blindsided me. This mile, instead of a patient mile, is supported by families who have lost children. At first, I thought, oh angels. That's nice.
Oh.
I immediately made my way to the side of the road where the families were cheering. Most offered high fives while holding pictures and posters of their loved angel. I made eye contact with a lot of them. They were so eager to cheer for us. Another highlight.
Suddenly, there was less than a mile to go! Wait, how is this race almost over? I'm having too much fun. This thought had NEVER gone through my head in ANY race, let alone any RUN before.
The enormous construction sign flashed 1/2 marathoners turn here <-----. Holy cow. This is it! The turn off!!!
For the next 500 feet were walls and bleachers of people. Arches and arches of balloons. And it was downhill.
The finish chute.
Besides mistaking each balloon arch for the finish line, this was THE highlight of the race.
Everyone cheering, the music was loud, and I was smiling!
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Despite not making my goal, I still shaved 18 minutes off my last half marathon time.
I am not mad at it.
A year ago this week, I decided to try to add running to my morning walks. It wasn't pretty. Just to that hydrant. Now to that stop light.
Today I ran my second half marathon in 5 months.
I feel like a different person because of running.
The only reason I completed the race today is due to a wild imagination, a moderately stubborn streak, and SUPER supportive friends.
This quote by Eleanor Roosevelt struck a nerve with me this past week.
“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”
