I eyeballed this race several times before actually signing up for it. I began looking at it back in January thinking it would be nice to run a race in Virginia when it was not too terribly hot. The final decision came in when I competed in the Columbia Half Marathon in March and was unable to complete it due to a stomach virus...I knew that if I wanted to achieve my goal of 6 half marathons in 2011, I was going to have to find another spring half. With that in mind, I signed up for it.
After the wonderment of the Palmetto Half Marathon in April, I decided to try and take my training a bit more seriously and asked my dear friend and trainer, Tripp, to help me out. So, we have been training for the past two weeks and working towards getting me ready. I knew it was not enough time to challenge myself to reach for a PR, but I also knew it would be better than my last half where I ran/walked it with a broken pinky toe and twisted ankle. So, my goal was truly to come in at least 10 minutes under my time for that half.
The weather for this race was really questionable. I seriously thought it was going to pour down raining. So, I planned for it by wrapping my iPod in plastic prior to the race. There was no way I was doing this without my music and my special mp3s that Tripp recorded for me. And those mp3s were so worth it!!!
We got to the start/finish line early Sunday morning. I wanted to make sure that my dear friend, Ann, who accompanied me was going to have a good spot to stay where we would not have to worry too much about me finding her at the end of the race. They allowed us to park in the start area since Ann had a broken foot. It was a good spot because she was right at the finish line and able to wander among the few vendors at the end and the VIP tent.
At 6:30, the opening ceremony began. Drew Carey was running his first ever half marathon and spoke at the beginning. I believe he also may have started the race by shooting the gun at 7 a.m. A couple others spoke and the race was under way. This was much larger than the races I have been in lately...close to 6000 people were competing. It took me about 5 minutes to actually cross the start line. The miles were very clearly numbered and there were tons of Marines, cops and volunteers along the course. There were no issues with traffic or concerns about cars or anything. They had plenty of water and gatorade along the course. And there were lots of Marines and spectators out and about to cheer you on. It was also a pretty run.
It ended up not raining and the sun came out and made for a much warmer run than I expected. I was focused though on my run. I purposely avoided making friends and kept my eyes on the prize...the finish line. This was a hilly course. I didn't mind the downhills but the hill around mile 11 that led into mile12 was painful!!! After two weeks of serious training, I knew that I could not expect miracles or perfection, so my goal was simple...enjoy the run and finish the race.
At just the right times in the race, inspirational messages from Tripp popped up on my iPod or songs that remind me of my running buddies or just the right song to push me along. But about mile 10, I experienced some of the most severe pain I have ever felt. I cannot tell you how much I wanted to stop moving altogether. I tried everything I could to stop focusing on the cramping that started at the bottom of my left calf. I kept moving...much slower at this point, but I kept going forward.
Then, the cramping became spasms in my calf. At one point, the spasms went up and down my left leg and I began dragging the left side of my body along. It was so painful. About then, I happened to notice another runner also having some difficulty. I actually asked her where we were on the course (closing in on mile 11) and if I had to stop at that point, was there a way to get back to the finish line. Somewhere along there we were passing the ER and I debated on making a pit stop there too. My new friend, though, was a former Marine, who was running this with her husband (former Marine also). She was not new to the marathoning world and she was experiencing similar issues. She told me that I was way too far along to give up and that she was going to get me across the line. There was no way I was not going to finish.
I soldiered on but the pain continued to get worse and worse. At one point, I was seriously scared about just how much pain I was experiencing. And then, the spasming decided to spread to the right leg as well. I wish I could tell you my friend's name, but my poor brain was not functioning on very high levels. I can tell you that had it not been for her and her husband, I might not have made those last 3 miles. They kept me focused and kept me going. Along with my special encouragements from Tripp, I was able to get closer to the finish line.
The hardest part for me was the last hill which was uphill right before mile 12!!! And boy was it a hill! I wasn't sure I was going to make it to the top. But, my new drill sergeants would not give up on me! And I knew that I had come too far to stop now, no matter what. With the finish line in sight, I knew I had to do my best to finish strong. So, I sucked up the pain, remembered the goal and ran to the finish line!! And my drill sergeants were right, the feeling at the finish line was so much better than the pain!
It was an honor to have my medal placed around my neck by a Marine and to be congratulated by one of our country's warriors. I thanked every service person I saw. After being awarded two bottles of water, I decided to use one to help cool me down and poured one directly overhead as I was heading to find some fruit and my friend, Ann.
Ann met me near the end of the finish line and told me she found Drew Carey and got some pictures for me and she took me over to where he was. I was able to get about a five minute conversation in with him. We discussed our weight loss and we discussed how we had new goals like being fit and looking good without a shirt! It was awesome. And perhaps it was marathon brain, but I was not starstruck or nervous, I just said, "I'm a huge fan. Can I trouble you for a picture?" And I asked how much weight he had lost (80 pounds) and told him about my journey. It was just awesome!! Here's my pic...
So, it was an awesome experience. It was perhaps one of the best run races I have done and I think I would like to do it again in the future. (Definitely training better next time!) I beat the goal Tripp and I set out for me...which was awesome since I had no idea I was going to experience the calf spasms! But as my Marine friends told me on those last 3 miles, no race is ever the same...no matter if you are competing in one you have done before, trained exactly the same, they are all different and there is always something new and challenging.
However, I am re-focused and recommitted to my training. Tripp is going to keep working with me and I am hoping to see some new and improved numbers in the fall! But I will not lie, I am psyched to get back in the game and start seriously training. Next race is in September! I am going to be so much more than ready!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment