St. Jude Marathon: Take Two

Ready for a long story? I hope so... Here's the long-winded version.

Saturday morning I ran my second marathon--the 2012 St. Jude Marathon.

On one hand, I was super optimistic about this year...my pace has improved, I've worked REALLY hard this year and just feel overall in much better running shape. On the other hand, I was really nervous. I had to miss two long runs while training because of having a stomach virus...twice... and instead of a 22-miler, I only got in a 20-miler this year.

Well, here's what happened:

Before the race, I met up with my Fleet Feet family. They are such an awesome group of friends and athletes!

Then, I met up with Kristy and my friend Clark at the start line with the 4:10 pace group. Kristy and I planned to run together for the full and Clark was running the same pace for the half. 

The first few miles were smooth sailing. The crowd seemed bigger and more energetic this year, plus I was able to see the husband at about mile 1, and he said he saw me again at mile 3 (I missed him, but he got a pic!). We were actually a little ahead of the 4:10 group, running about 10 second/mile faster than they were.

Running pictures are just terrible.

Then came time to run through St. Jude which always brings me to tears. All the kids and the cheering and the signs...it really is the reason I love the St. Jude race so much. At that point, we were right on pace, actually a little ahead of pace, to run a 4:10 marathon. We continued down North Parkway and made our way to the zoo and Overton Park.

I was trying to stay hydrated (and had been hydrating like crazy for two weeks) because I had been sick twice recently and knew I needed all the fluids I could get. So, Kristy and I refilled our handhelds at about mile 9 in Overton Park, and then jumped right back in. Miles 10-13 are down Poplar/Union which have a few rolling hills, but nothing terrible. I have to say, I'm really thankful that I've met so many people in the Memphis running community because it seemed I saw someone I knew cheering my name every mile during the first half, and it made the time/hills/miles go by more quickly!

Another terrible race pic.

"No pictures, please!"

At the half, we were at 2:03:32...perfection! Clark split off, and PR'ed big time (congrats!) and Kristy and I began the second half of our journey. I was feeling great except for the fact that it was getting WARM. And I don't do warm. I'm very warm-natured, and I sweat profusely, so heat just isn't my friend. It can be 34 degrees outside, and I'll run in shorts and a tank top. Seriously. Anyway, we saw the husband at mile 13 and again about mile 14, where Kristy and I stopped for a bathroom break (see pic below. Thanks a lot, husband), and I refilled my water bottle yet again. Can you tell that I was determined to stay hydrated despite being sick and the heat?

Kristy and I jumped right back in and kept on going.

Lo and behold, by 14.5, the heat was really getting the best of me. We were maintaining a 9:20 pace, which was great, but pushing it that hard in 70 degree temps just wasn't going over well with my body. I veered off to the side of the road and puked Gu and my breakfast in the most unladylike way. Totally embarrassing. I didn't even say anything to Kristy because I didn't want her to worry or stop or mess up her pace, so I just let her keep trucking (sorry if you were worried! But I'm glad you had a great race!).

I got back on the course and was doing a little better, but by 15.5...I was blowing chunks again. Well, not really chunks at that point...mainly just Gu and water. Not pretty. I knew at that point I had so slow it down and take it easy or I was going to overheat and get sick again. Or not be able to finish. 

Honestly, I contemplated quitting at that point. But I remember a story that friend and author Amy Marxkors told me (which you should all go read her book the Lola Papers right now): "Think about your concession speech to your friends and family. What will you say? I was tired? My legs were dead? It was hot?" And that's all that was going through my mind. I knew my family was waiting at the finish line, and I thought how super lame it would sound if I didn't finish and told them it was because it was too hot. Not good enough reason in my book. So I kept going.

Somewhere around mile 16, I got an ice cold towel from a volunteer and wrapped it around my neck, which helped. I kept it there for a few miles until it didn't feel so cold anymore. Miles 16-20 were pretty good. Hamstrings were tight and not too happy, but legs felt good, and I had slowed down quite a bit to keep from overheating. I felt like I was moving at a turtle pace, but hey...I was moving. 

Not going to lie, miles 20-25 weren't any easier the second time than the first. It had warmed up even a bit more (or maybe it was just my body temp from being out there for so long), and I was literally roasting. Plus my stomach was not happy after getting sick, and the thought of eating anything made me want to vomit again. So I didn't have any calories from mile 14 through the end of the race. I usually take a Gu every 45 minutes, so I knew I was lacking energy on top of everything else going on.

I was going uber slow just to try to keep from getting too warm...I'm talking like 11:30 minute/miles. I walked through a few aid stations where numerous other people were suffering from the heat. A couple of guys next to me (who looked super fit and like they were veteran marathoners) started talking to me and commenting how the heat was just killing them. I had to agree. I ran with them for a few miles and we were discussing how amazing an ice bath was going to feel when we were finished.

I hit mile 24, and my personal mantra has always been, "You can do anything for two miles" so I got my butt in gear and tried to finish strong. There's an off ramp you have to climb at mile 25, and I saw Kevin, a guy I know from the running community here, and I pummeled up that hill giving it everything I had. Then as soon as I turned the corner, I saw my friend Andy who was cheering and urging me to finish strong. I'm so glad I saw two people I knew in the last little bit. It definitely help me finish stronger.

Once you hit mile 26, you round the corner and enter AutoZone park where the finish line is. Let me say that running into AutoZone park and knowing you're .1 miles away from the finish line of a marathon is no less emotional the second time than the first. I was a bawling baby (and I am right now as I'm writing this)!

I gave everything I had and came flying through the park, crying with my hands in the air-- I later found out after hooking up my Garmin to my computer that my last .2 was done at a...wait for it...7:56 pace! Ha!

 I'm pretty sure I heard my family yelling for me, unless some nice strangers just saw my name was Christin and were cheering. And I crossed that finish line. Again.

Not only was I marathoner yet again, but despite the heat and the vomit stops and the slowing down, I beat last year's time by 8 minutes!

Official: 4:35:47
Age group: 76/182

Female: 411/1226

Overall: 1149/2627
Average pace: 10:32

Super. Stoked.

My family and my sweet friend Krista were all there to see me finish. I'm so thankful they all came out!

Krista even brought me flowers. Love her.

I believe every run has a purpose. Some give you a confidence boost. Some are meant to humble you. Some are meant to remind you why you fell in love with running in the first place. And some are there to build character. I believe yesterday's marathon was a character building run. Not going to lie, my ego took a hit yesterday. I know I can run much better and faster than I did yesterday, and once I saw my goal time was out of reach, it really took a lot in me to keep going. But everyone has their days, and yesterday just wasn't mine. Running a marathon is about giving the race all you have and leaving everything you have to give out on the pavement. It's doing whatever you have to do to put one foot in front of the other for 26.2 miles to cross the finish line. And that's what I did yesterday. I know I'll run another marathon and get closer to a 4:00 or 4:10 pace, but it wasn't meant to be yesterday, and that's okay.

This video is pretty blurry, but mom got a video of my crossing the finish line...and looking super fast! :)

Thanks for all the encouragement and following along.