Birthing my Marathon Baby

As I sit here icing my knee I am contemplating the journey I've been on the past 4 years or so, where it has taken me and what I have learned. Bear with me as I record the details.


After Haily was born I was motivated to lose some weight and 2 of my friends, Amy and Angie, were too so we decided to train for a 10K. I had never really run much before and when I did I hated it, so needless to say I was reluctant! But they assured me that it was a surefire way to drop the pounds, so off we went.


I did the 10K in June of 2004. I discovered the sense of accomplishment that came with finishing a race that I worked hard to train for. I also enjoyed the running community, being a part of something bigger than myself. It was then the seed was planted that maybe someday I would train for and run a marathon...
Fast forward 4 years to a few months ago. I was running pretty consistently 4-6 miles a couple times a week. Some of my neighbors were doing the Wasatch Back Relay and needed one more runner to take a spot on the team. I was excited to do it! It sounded like fun and also a great way to get to know the neighbors a little better since we hadn't been here very long. I began to run with my neighbor Michelle. We had a great time doing the relay (look at the post in June) and decided to continue to train for a half-marathon in August.


This would be the farthest I'd ever run and was really excited and nervous about it. The race went great and was a lot of fun. (see the post in August!) After accomplishing that one, Michelle decided it would be a good idea to continue our training for one more month and do the full marathon. I was really intimidated but she had some convincing arguments. I was already trained this far, it would only be one more month of my life dedicated to training, if I didn't do it now when would I? If I waited, I'd have to start training from scratch. I knew if I didn't do it I would regret it so I committed to doing the 16 mile training run and decide after that.


The 16 miler... oh my my. We did it just 5 days after the half marathon in the evening, which is usually my favorite time to run. We mapped out a course on mapmyrun.com and planned to be done right as it got dark. Well, no. That did not happen. It took us about an hour longer than planned and we ended up hobbling home on a busy road, with no shoulder, in the dark! The pain I felt in my hamstrings and then radiating up my back and down my calves was like nothing else I had experienced. When we finally made it to the car, we both just fell face first onto the seat and rested there until we could muster the strength to get into the car. I got home and sat down on the cold tile floor in my bathroom because it felt good on the back of my legs. I felt nauseous but knew I should eat some carbs so I unwrapped a baked potato and began gnawing on it. I loaded up on some ibuprofen and went to bed. I was certain I would NOT be running the marathon. But Michelle said "let's not decide now. We are not in a rational state of mind. Let's see how we feel tomorrow." Well the next day, miraculously, I felt great!


The next big run was a 20 miler. We got up early on a Saturday morning. And when I say early, it was still dark out. We drove forever (seriously 1 hour) and looked out across the valley toward our neighborhood and tried not to be discouraged by how far from home we were. Somehow, that run went much better. It wore me down to the very last ounce of energy I could muster but the pain was manageable.


That was it! I got on line and registered. I was officially committed to running a marathon.





Here is a picture of some of my cheering section waiting for me at mile 21. My brother Dave, Noah, Paige, Charlie, Nelson, Owen, and Haily.

Some highlights:

* Using a port-a-potty in the dark at the starting line. Actually this was a low point. Pretty eeky to realize you can't see and neither could anyone else before you. Ew.

* Running into old friends! Kenia Ann, a college roommate, and Jaima, a friend from high school!

* The man who fell right after the start line, cracking open his head and breaking his nose! I assumed he would not finish but saw him around mile 22 with his head and face wrapped like a mummy and blood all over his face! WOW! I heard through the grapevine that he held a record for most consecutively run marathons, so he had more on the line.

* The first 10 miles or so through a canyon enjoying the gorgeous fall scenery. I was amazed at how fast each mile seemed to pass.

* My awesome husband and kids and brother and his kids who were at mile 21. This, I learned is a critical point in the race. I had totally hit a wall and was fighting the panic wondering how I would finish. When I saw our car I burst into tears! They came and ran along side me for a bit. You'll see it on the video clip coming up. All the sniffling I'm doing is from my bawling!

* When I finally turned the last corner and the finish line was in sight! At this point I was a complete and total emotional wreck! I was doing my ugly and loud cry as I ran! My girls came out and crossed the line with me. OHHH the RELIEF!! The joy! Wow, I had done it! I had run a MARATHON!

* The Supersonic Breakfast Burrito and Cranberry Limeade I ate on the drive home. YUM!

Here I am approaching the finish line.

Me and my wonderful kids!

The whole family.

They had some GOOD post race snacks. Fat Boys, Goldfish, cheese sticks, Gatorade. Here we are enjoying it all. My amazing sister Annie came up to watch too.

This is the video clip taken right after mile 21.

This is about mile 22.

Here I am crossing the finish line with my girls.

Some of my favorite signs I saw along the way:

1. Pain is weakness leaving the body

2. YOU CAN (A spectator held up this huge sign in several places along the course and it SO helped!)

3. I'll never know how far I can go unless I try.

4. I am bigger than this.

A couple analogies:

1. BIRTHING MY MARATHON BABY. I think distance runs are a lot like pregnancies. It's a rough start as your body tries to adjust to the new condition it is in. Some nausea. The daunting feeling that you have so far to go and knowing there is no way out now. Then in the middle you've adjusted. You feel good, in fact you enjoy it even. Then you hit the final stretch. Time seems to last at least 10 times as long. Your body hurts. You just want it to be over. You might even get a bit grumpy. Then you finish! Overwhelming emotions!

2. THE ROAD OF LIFE. The beginning of the race is like pre-mortal life. We are all together excited and nervous about the journey we about about to embark upon. We finally are on our way. So many people of all ages, shapes, sizes, you name it! Everyone has their own story to tell. Even though we are all on the same road, we all have very different experiences and face very different challenges. Different pain, discouragement, small victories and let-downs. However, in the race, your primary concern in getting yourself across that finish line as quickly as possible. Whereas in life, our primary concern should be doing all we can to help make sure we ALL cross the finish line no matter how long it takes. In fact, that is the very thing that will get us there. It was inspiring to see a man who had already finished the race come and grab his wife's hand around mile 23 and say "come on baby, let's go!". Together they pulled out the last 3 miles hand in hand. What an angel! And the reunion with your loved ones at the end is so joyful!

3. THE IMPORTANCE OF A CHEERING SECTION. It means so much to have people there who appreciate what you are going through, who care about your well-being, who want for your success. Even if it is the stranger along the way who asked "how are you feeling?" "are you holding up OK?" "Relax, you got this" "I am proud of you!" The phone calls of well-wishes and asking how things went.

Thanks a million to my cheering section in the race, and in life! I love you! This accomplishment is as much yours as it is mine!