This one is about running - it's a long one

The Wright Pat Air Force Base marathon was yesterday.

Why I thought I would run well:

1. I trained as well as I could. I did the long runs and semi long runs every week.
2. I trained at about an 8:30 min/mi pace.
3. I stayed well nourished and well hydrated.
4. I timed myself including water and bathroom stops and my times were all on target for a sub four hour marathon. Pushing myself I wanted a 3:40.
5. I stayed (relatively) injury free.
6. I ran 18 miles twice and 20 miles twice. All those runs felt pretty decent at the end and was able to even pick up my pace at the end of a couple of them.
7. Race day was gorgeous and perfect.



Why I was still nervous:

1. I have never done this before.
2. Other than the long and semi long runs, I skipped the other runs or subtituted them for the treadmill. I figured out by the end of my 12 weeks of training I had missed out on over 150 miles of runs.
3. My last two tapering long runs were 9 and 6 miles. Both of those runs were awful. I had a very slow pace and every time I tried to pick it up I would get a deep ache/cramp in my right high hamstring/piriformis. I stretched a lot.



The results:

1. I started out with a pace team for a 3:50 pace (8:47 min/mi pace).
2. I started out fine, but not feeling great. I thought maybe it would just take a couple miles to hit my stride.
3. I never hit my stride.
4. My half marathon time was 1:55 so I knew that I wouldn't achieve my ultimate goal of 3:40 and I thought I would settle for a 4 hour.
5. Mile 18 hit me like a truck. I was so disappointed. I assumed because I ran 20 twice that I would be able to cruise to 20 and then gut it out the last 6.2.
6. Mile 21 and I knew my new goal was to cross the finish line sometime that day.
7. By mile 23 I was mostly walking. I was in so much pain in my right hamstring and both quads were cramping (unable to be stretched because my hamstrings would cramp if I tried). Even though I was drinking gatorade and/or water at every station and taking gu about every 4 miles, I felt nauseated, weak and I had a headache.
8. I pretty much walked until mile 26 where I knew I could run the last .2
9. Finish time.... 4:15



All in all, with how horrible I felt my time wasn't that bad. However, I am still disappointed in the results. All runners know that some runs are good and some are bad. It just really stinks when a bad one is on race day.


I always admired marathoners (I do not consider myself a marathoner), but now even more so. I completely underestimated the physical and mental toll it would take.


So here are the pictures to document the horrors of the day:




This is mile 25. I saw Matt holding the camera and my family cheering me on and I was able to fake run a few steps and even fake smile a bit.





At least we got to finish down a runway of the air force base, which was pretty cool. We also were treated to flyovers by F16s, a B 52 and the Wright Brothers plane throughout the race.







Look, I actually finished running. I did get emotional too. I didn't cry but just got a little choked up, just because I had finally finished!!





My brother Wade and his wife Alison made signs for us! Wade is carrying Olivia in the front carrier which was hilarious, and pretty cute. Apparently he got lots of comments from women who wanted to pinch Olivia's cheeks (who doesn't?). One woman said to him "Awww, how cute." Wade said, "What, me or the sign?"
Wade was very concerned about Wes' chafing.




Part of the sweet group of people that cheered me on. My mom and dad came too.

This is how Wes and I officially feel about marathons. This wasn't Wes' best race either.