Day 2 - The Run

Eeeek! I'm running a marathon this morning! Well, that would have been my typical thought the morning of a marathon - and I would've been a bundle of nerves, but I gotta tell ya...this really seemed like a normal day, another training run, etc. I wasn't nervous for me. I know I can run a marathon, and I know it typically doesn't feel very good, but I can do it, and I will do it. I feel a little emotional this morning too - not for myself, but for the other 6 people out here with me today. I'm also a bit under-rested, which tends to make one weepy, right?

I woke up at 4:15 - yes, that's A.M. - and just couldn't go back to sleep. I layed in bed for a while and then ended up just jumping in the shower. Why not start the day clean, since I'll be a disgusting mess after running 26.2 miles, right? :-)
Lonnie and Kristine also got up, and the three of us started getting ready for the day ahead. I was pretty excited for all these gals - Lonnie, Kristine, Dixie, Johnette, and Donna (my mother!) - they're all setting out to walk the 1/2 marathon today, having never done anything of the sort. I know they're nervous and maybe a little worried that they won't be able to finish it, but I think they're gonna do great!
I'm also thinking about Troy - it's his first marathon! I'm very excited for him. There's no question that he can do it, but will he feel ok, and will he meet the expectations he's set for himself? I'm remembering my first marathon, and the bundle of nerves I was - I hope he is ok. Of course he'll be ok...he'll do great!


My mom came to our room, all decked out in her race gear. So, we all start taking some pictures. I'm hoping the other gals got better shots than I did, 'cause the color is off and they're fuzzy. Oh well, it's something! What a great feeling, taking a pre-race photo, with my mother next to me...also wearing a race bib! I know she's nervous, but she under-estimates herself. She'll surprise herself today, I just know it!

With pictures done, and everyone a bundle of nerves, we head to the hotel lobby. There we see Johnette and Dixie, looking all cute in their race garb. I try to take note of what everyone is wearing, so I can potentially spot them later in the day. We all hug and my mom and her friends head towards the start line. It's several blocks away, which the girls thought was unfair and they should've been able to count it as part of their race! ha ha
I called Troy, who seemed to be having a rough morning. All I got (through clenched teeth and low tone) from him was, "I'm not able to speak freely..." Say no more - he's at the mercy of others being transported to the start, and it sounds like they're running a bit late. So, Lonnie, Kristine and I also start our walk toward the starting line. It was chilly, that's for certain, and there were lots and lots of people walking the same direction. You could hear plenty of nervous chatter. It's marathon day! When we got to the start, I wished Lonnie and Kristine well, and we parted ways. I made my way through the various pace groups, and stopped at the 9:30 group. I figured that was ambitious, but that's where I would start. I still hadn't heard from Troy again, so I was hoping he was somewhere in the crowd, rather than still in a car!
I must say, the starting line was pretty cool - they had an enormous American Flag hoisted up between two firetrucks, hanging over the street. As the flag blew in the wind, you could see the St. Louis Arch right behind it...it was neat. I took a picture with my phone - it's not the greatest quality, but you can kinda tell what I'm talking about. It's always amusing at the start of a marathon, 'cause when the race starts (except for the elite), you're not really off and running for several more minutes. It's more of a shuffle to the mats, as you wait for the crowd to thin out. It seems funny to me that folks are in such a hurry to get started on something that's going to take such a long time to complete. :-) Again, we're not talking about the elite here. Anyway, I cross the mat and hear the buzzing of timing chips galore being activated. The marathon is underway.
Still no sight of Troy. My legs are feeling pretty normal, considering yesterday's ride. I feel fine. I'm running.

Did I mention that I'm testing the fuel belt on this run? Well, I am. I've never worn a fuel belt in other races, so this is new. Aid stations are every 2 miles, so I'll fuel then, when I can get water. I was supposed to do the run 9 min/walk 1 min, but I didn't have my watch. That's an issue. So, I would run to the aid station, walk through them, run again. This method worked pretty well most of the time, actually. The way the course looped back, I got to see folks in front of and behind me, but I never did spot Troy. Around mile 4 or so, I spotted Lonnie and Kristine - it sure was fun seeing them for just a moment. A few minutes later, I heard my mom yelling my name. I'm not sure how I missed her, but I did. So, that's was neat seeing her too. She and her friends had already split up...I yelled to Johnette a few minutes after that. She was looking good too.

At most of the mile markers, there was a race clock, so I was able to kinda keep an eye on my pace. The goal of the day was not to break any records, rather, run for a long time...tired. In fact, Steve had told us that we really just needed to do 20 miles today. Well, I seemed to be keeping a 9 min mile pace. That was good, 'cause I didn't feel like it was a tremendous effort. Things were going well until I was just past the 1/2 way point. All of the sudden I thought, uh, I'm only 1/2 way done...I still have 13 miles to go...I'm tired...my hip flexors hurt...where is everyone else...did I mention that I'm tired..." This was my mental state for the better part of mile 14. I got out my phone and saw that I missed a call from Troy. I tried to call him. Bummer - no answer. I left a message. I then listened to his message - he had called just a few minutes after the start, and sounded fine on the message. Good deal.
So, this is what's funny about running a marathon (at least for me...maybe I'm the only one that gets a little nutty) - you can be totally spent, crabby, sad, weepy, mad - any or all of the above and within like 10 seconds your running, happy as a lark once again. It's bizarre! So, after the mile 14 semi-meltdown, I was perfectly fine, chugging along. My pace had slowed a bit, but I felt good. When I hit mile 16, the thought occured to me - only 10 miles left. Isn't that nuts, to think *only* 10 more miles? Yes, you lose a bit of perspective with all the distance training.
I felt pretty good till about mile 23. I had just passed the mile marker and my phone rang. It was Troy. "Are you done?", I asked. Yep, he sure was. Great job! I would find out later how great he really did! I told him I was at mile 23 and he gave me some much needed words of encouragement. I must say, I was pretty slow in these final miles. Lots of people were walking - I really didn't want to walk too much, 'cause it sure was hard to get moving again. Troy called again - I think when I was at mile 25..."You can DO it..." he says. You really don't realize how encouraging words and cheers can be during an event like this. Never underestimate showing up at a race and cheering for your friends - or perfect strangers for that matter. So, I'm trudging up the hill - you can see the huge flag again, and I knew the finish was about 500 yards or so away. Again, my ol' training pal, Troy, yells from the sideline..."come on, Dawn!" It was nice to finally see a face I knew in the crowd.
As I'm running up the hill, there's a very fit looking, tan fella to my left in an orange shirt (you may see finish line pics of us crossing together), and he's walking. I say to him, "come on, man...you're almost there...run with me..." He tells me how bad his legs hurt. I'm fairly merciless and respond with something like - yeah, you've just run 25 miles...I know your legs hurt...let's go! He starts running with me. He wants to stop and I won't let him. I tell him he can't let me - a girl - cross the line before him. That seems to work. He continues running. I said something like, "you may hate me now, but you'll thank me later." He responds, "oh, I DO HATE you!" I laugh and we continue to run. The finish is just around the corner. We cross the line and he thanks me for my prodding.
Wow! I just finished my 5th marathon. Not my best time, but certainly not my worst either -
I was a tad out of it, but my mom was right there, snapping a picture. Wait a minute, this means SHE DID IT! She finished her race too...and with good time! Then I see Lonnie, Kristine, Dixie and Johnette off to the side. They're all done - yea! Poor Lonnie's feet are really hurting her. I get a quick re-cap of the times they finished in, but I can't stop...I need to find some beverage and food.
The volunteers cut off my timing chip, give me a foil blanket, my medal, and I grab some fluids. I'm looking around for Troy and spot him walking outside the fenced area. I walk over and give him a big ole, sweaty hug. He has salt all over his face...a salt mustache, actually! I'm so excited for him finishing his first marathon!
We walk over to the group of gals and I introduce him to our friends. It's only then that I find out exactly how well Troy did on this - his very first marathon - the day following a pretty hard bike ride...Troy crossed the finish line in 3:58! He's said all along that he would like to run it in under 4 hours and HE DID IT! That is pretty cool. Congratulations Troy for getting your sub-4 marathon time!
All the girls want to walk back to the hotel, so they leave. Troy and I go find some food and sit down for a few minutes. It's always fun to talk about the experience and how things went. Troy found the folks he rode down with (which, by the way, this is his friend's (Mike) wife, and their girls team won their relay!) and we chatted with them for a bit. I was getting chilly and wanted to head back to the hotel, so I said goodbye and started the walk back. I didn't feel too bad - just really wanted a shower and clean clothes!
The marathon was a success for all - congratulations to Lonnie, Kristine, Donna and Dixie for walking farther than they ever have before, and finishing their first HALF MARATHON!!! Congratulations to Johnette for walking six times farther than she's ever been - you gals are very impressive and should feel quite pleased with your effort today!
(More photos coming soon)