Two days ago I ran my first full marathon, after two attempts in 2016 (melanoma side-railed training that time) and 2020 (a trail fiasco to keep it short, lol).
Our local Andrew Jackson Marathon lived up to its challenging reputation of being very hilly (see the elevation in the below image 🤣😱😳. I actually like hills. But whew.). The race was not crowded, but it was routed through residential and commercial neighborhoods we frequent often. I loved seeing so many people I knew in the race and on the sidelines. It was soooooo pleasant to be running "alone" but to not feel isolated.
Training went well for the most part, but three weekends before the race my left IT band threw it’s not-unusual fits about all the running I was doing. I was devastated at first, but my husband told me I’d worked too hard to give up. I got a pass to swim at a local gym, and I was told about a physical therapist who could help me with dry needling therapy. I love swimming from a year on a high school team; and then this physical therapist is athletic and confident, which helps me so much more than timid or doubtful pt’s who make me feel like once I am broken, it’s never gonna be the same. So yay for experience and confidence! One of the reasons I like running is to combat negative and stifling misconceptions we all have about so many things in our world, especially what we believe about ourselves and other people with false shame or grandiosity. It pounds out reality on the pavement, with a lot of courage and pain and triumph or disappointment along the way.
The first half of the marathon went great. Runners for the half did one loop, and full-marathoners did two loops. A friend had warned me it would be very hard to pass through that first loop, with some being finished at 13.1, and realize I had to do it all again. And she was right; that was probably the hardest emotional moment for me. And then to see half-marathoners not yet finished as I made it along my second loop made me realize just how hard this is. And that was hard mentally too.
Mile 16-18 is where I realized that gravity all of a sudden felt 5,000 times more powerful against my exhausted leg muscles. My lungs could have gone all day, but my legs were shot. It was liberating to walk up some hills at the end. I knew that I could run again if I recovered a bit. And that’s true. It’s not constant degradation; it’s a cycle of fatigue and recovery at that point. I believe if my last three weeks of training had gone as planned, with runs and strength exercises, that would not have been as hard on my muscles. But I guess I’ll have to test that out next time (which I am already fantasizing about).
So many dear friends and family encouraged me. Wow.
My mom and stepdad drove to several places and were tireless PR agents to keep me smiling and feeling loved.
My sister’s house was on my loops four times, so my adorable nieces and nephews pumped me up.
My husband had my boys at the start, middle, near the finish, and then at the finish.
My close friend came from her home a few hours away and slept in our guest room and drove me to the pre-dawn start line so Justin didn’t have to drag our boys out too early. She knew how much I wanted this first 26.2 to finally work out! (And she and I are flying to Canada in less than 11 weeks to hike and explore and for me to run a half marathon in Glacier National Park in Montana. We are EXCITED BEYOND BELIEF! Thanks to our hubbies!!!)
A friend who works at the running store that runs this event gave me so much encouragement and support the whole training session and was running the half course that morning. So I also saw her family that is so dear and encouraging to me.
Another new friend who used to coach cross-country and is an experienced marathoner had been helpfully advising me throughout training, and she and I unexpectedly ran a lot of the first half together. She did the half this time, and I was right behind her to get her high-five after she finished her race that day.
We’re part of a new small group, and my friend, Jill, drove to find me a few times and cheered me on. She was so unexpected and encouraging, and she has an amazing marathon success through injury, so she knew what I needed.
A generic icy hot patch on the sorest place where my quad attaches to my IT band at the hip mostly numbed that issue for the event. As soon as I removed it afterward, my IT band let me know it was still angry at me.
When the race was finished, I wasn’t sure if I loved it or hated it. It hurt more than I could imagine. Before I got injured I really think I had a chance of qualifying for Boston (3:35 or less), but the hills made that iffy. After I got injured, I really just hoped to keep it under four hours. I missed that by a few minutes, which would normally disappoint me. But I am just so amazed and thankful I got to do this! A full marathon is HARD! And I am now a marathoner!!!!!! And I want to do it again. Lol.
I got second place of the only two females in my age group, and the trophy ceremony was hilarious. Every runner was doing the “limp of glory” to get their bling. The woman in my age group ahead of me passed me as soon as the second half began. She did awesome at negative splitting (running the second half faster than the first. “Don’t be a fool in the first half and don’t be a wimp in the second half.”). With my injury, I wanted to make the most of every step I had, and I think I did it wisely under these circumstances. But “on paper” I crashed.
I could barely walk at church yesterday, but it was such a fabulous souvenir to remind me that I really DID just become a marathoner. And Justin and the boys were sooo great to encourage my resting. I did walk slowly as much as I could around the yard and played a light game of Pickleball with Justin. Keep the blood flowing gently to recover.
I wrote this fast while I waited for my eye exam appointment. I ain’t got time to be as wordy as normal, and y’all don’t have time to read it all. Lol. But thanks for making it this far!
For future racing, just a reminder to myself that my pre-night supper of salmon and sweet potatoes still works great. And my banana and peanut butter breakfast are fab too. And when I avoid my fav stove-popped corn and chia seeds for several days, my tummy is happier.
Still not a big fan of any gummies. Blahhh. I did make one potty stop at mile 18, and it really wasn’t too bad. But if I’d been trying to qualify for Boston, it would have made me angry. Ha. I do prefer wearing my water bladder than stopping at tables along the route for cups.
A dear friend reminded me of this as I uncertainly approached the start line with an injury. I am weak; He is strong. Whatever I do may or may not be fun for me, may or may not have any significance; but it is for Him regardless. Whew. 2 Corinthians 12:9 “‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
