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| Here is a quick outline of what it felt like to run my marathon.
16 thousand people gathered at the starting line. Can't see the starting line-too many people in front of me. I know it's there, and my race will begin when I cross the line, the excitement all around is contagious. All the runners seem to act like we are all a "team" -cheering ourselves on
Mile 1 Mark was hurting at mile one and said he may not finish.
Mile 10 we lost the other two from our party-they were way back- but we kept going.
Also on Mile 10 I was starting to hurt in right knee and left tendon-changed up my running style- I may have looked goofy. I ran on my toes on one foot and flat on the other. I also could tell that we were running fast miles at that point. I think at one point Mark and I were running a mile at 10 minutes pace.
Mile 13- saw the Lobleys and Johnsons. Didn't know we could exit the "course" to say hello with hugs. Apparently Nicole- Christine's sister-came out to hug everyone and I later got scolded for not doing so. I got scolded plenty of times by course "refs" to stay inside the cones. Hard to pass people when you are crowded. We also passed the group that run in a "pace set" of 5 hours. Yeah!!
Mile 17 Mark couldn't take the pain anymore and exited the course
Mile 20 I was in major pain in legs but kept going, also stomach cramps and had to go to the bathroom -but refused until I finished. Many people walking at this point
Mile 24 Pain increased and I pushed through. Most people walking. No walking for this marathon momma, not once! (except for two potty stops and grabbing water and Gatorade. At those stops everyone slows to a walk b/c it gets so congested, but it lasts 10 seconds.
Mile 25- one more mile to go, pushed it a little faster-just a few still running
Mile 25.7 half a mile to go! Dug down deep and found some energy who knows where! And sprinted and I mean SPRINTED the last half mile (Jeff is laughing at me with this comment-so I will add as much as ANYONE can sprint after 25 miles!. Passed TONS of runners. Heard the crowd of people at the finish, can see the bleachers ahead. Heard someone say "MOOOVE" just like Dad used to say when I ran cross country-where in the world did that come from?
Suddenly I spot Jeff with a camera. No time to stop for pictures- finish line is in sight!
Cross the finish line at 4 hours 51 minutes and get my medal around my neck
Sat down in parking /waiting area. Saw Jeff and ...DAD?! Mom is here too, Jeff says.
See little Walter and show him the medal-can hardly walk at this point.
Never walked it-with the exception of a bathroom stop and a 10 second slow down for water and powerade
Tendon/leg swelled up so bad at ankle afterwards you couldn't even see the ankle bone
Had Xrays taken today on right knee and left tendon/foot and MRIs later this week and orthopedist apt. I almost ruptured my tendon, I guess. |
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