That was quite the adventure! Thanks for all the well-wishes. I'm going to be candid with my little race report.
The race went great. It really is a journey of a thing: mentally, physically, and definitely spiritually. Whew. I started with 2 friends from the running club. Both were shooting for about 8:40-50 pace and I felt like that might be too lofty for me today, but I was going to just start with them to see how it went.
Busses shuttled us to the start (it starts higher elevation and we run to Sacramento). With 6000 runners to transport busses got us there with VERY little time to spare so we squatted in the bushes and threw our race bags in the truck just as the start happened. It was a very amazing feeling passing over the mat into MARATHON! I almost cried as I looked around at people's reaction to making it "this far". The energy was congageous. There is so much put into something like this and everyone is there for different reasons. Its just such an amazing goal to accomplish.
Anyway, we were fine with that pace for a while, even through the rollers, and even had energy to chat and joke. We started picking up hitchikers along the way who seemed to like our enthusiasm (and garmins!). They were all really nice and everyone in our newly-formed clique was encouraging and positive. At mile 12 I broke away a little and felt really strong. The group was slowing a bit and I had more to give. We had been hitting everywhere from 8:33-8:47 and my half time was 1:54. I knew past that point the road flattened out a little more.
I had 2 gu's total and a few banana chunks which seemed to really help. I found myself STARVING, like tummy grumbling starving at about 8 miles. I even ate a good breakfast. I walked through every aid station and alternated water and cytomax (which I've decided I can't tolerate well). I had a crampy tummy starting about mile 16 but I forced it to calm and wasn't about to stand in line for the port-a-potties. At about mile 19 I realized I was running behind someone who looked familiar...it was my other running buddy from all these training weeks. Funny. We had not really planned on running together because she was going to hold 9:15's but she put herself at the front of the pack and started a few minutes before us. So I hung with her until about mile 22.
I honestly felt really great and was holding 8:45's until about mile 22. I knew from training that things can shift dramatically and FAST and they did. I hit the wall at 22 and pulled every resource I knew of to get back to pace, but I just couldn't hang with it. I think I did 9:30 min miles or worse after that. I had to walk a LOT between then and the end (here's where FF gets to say 'I told you so'). I was even walking in the last mile. It was pathetic. I felt SO pukey and cramping. Man, the last mile was THE HARDEST and LONGEST mile of my life. Things got better after I grabbed some pretzals someone was offering. Maybe it was a salt issue. I ended up with 3:58 pace, which I'm happy with.
I could go into all the "coulda, shoulda, woulda's" but in the end I'm pretty proud of this first go-around. I really did only have a goal "to finish" but in the back of my mind was that 4 hour marker that I prefered to be under-I accomplished both goals
I went to Carl's Jr after that which was the dumbest thing in the world (but SOOO good!) and I've made at least a dozen bathroom trips since then! I'm having a ton of trouble walking, which happened as soon as I finished. I'm going to be so sore tomorrow. The day was absolutely FREEZING and it took a lot of energy just to stay somewhat warm, especially afterwards, but what an amazing morning! Thanks everyone!
Oh and here are 2 pics. I got a lot of comments on the little verse I printed on the back of my shirt, which was neat and the second is really the only injury I had of the day (besides a sore body) I kept kicking my ankle as I got tired! lol. pretty lame. Didn't bring my cam with me to the race.
