Inside the mind of a neurotic runner who is still not sure, when she wakes up on race morning, if she plans to try and PR or not.
Getting ready
Since I PR’d in a 10K last month and I hope to do so next month, I might as well have some coffee this morning. I’ve had coffee before running but never before racing. Now’s a good a time as any to see how this goes.
Time to film my first webcam video for work, the “Before” of a “Before & After” for our new BB Cream. Have to do this well, I only have time to do it once. Hm, this pink running shirt won’t look good on camera, I’ll change to a blue one.
Damn. I forgot to point out my dark circles and dry skin. Oh well, I think the video came out pretty good.
I wish I didn’t put my watch on until after this video.
Oh! How do I get my iPod Nano off shuffle? Quick Google Bing (hi Matt).
Commute
Other 10K runners at the PATH station! It makes sense, since Jersey City is full of runners but for some reason I didn’t expect to see others here.
Playlist! I never made a playlist. How does this on-the-go playlist functionality work? Oh, this is easy. A little short, but good playlist.
Oh look, another runner sitting across from me on the second train. I like that.
Central Park before race
No lines on the Porta Potties!
It’s actually warm for 7:15 am. I can stand in this sunny patch of grass until the race starts.
Wow, this porta potty hasn’t been used yet today! The toilet paper is still wrapped in paper. This is SO COOL. Who else can say they were the first in a porta potty?
I can’t get this brand new toilet paper started! Why do I just keep ripping off small pieces. Where is the end??
I love when porta potties have anti-bacterial.
This corner behind the fence is a perfect place to store my fleece during the race. Maybe it will still be there after. Otherwise, I won’t miss it.
“Hello? Melissa, hi, I’m in the bathroom, I’ll be right out.”
Corral
I’m just going to run how I feel comfortable. I’ll decide then if I think I can PR.
I’m in a slightly slower corral than my own but I’m at the front of it, so once they collapse it will all be the same.
This weather is perfect! Sunny, beautiful, warm but not hot.
WHY are there walkers ahead of me? Were they checking bibs at the corrals?
Argh! If you’re going to just stop, MOVE OVER TO THE SIDE. I’ve had to stop during a race before. I went to the side. If you stop in the middle, I MIGHT RUN OVER YOU.
Omg. Too crowded. This is frustrating. NYRR really needs to cap these races lower. I thought this at the Scotland Run but this is much worse.
Melissa Z is running fast! I wonder if she will PR if we stay together the whole time.
I better follow Z along the outside of the pack, this is just way too crowded and I want to RUN.
Ah, break free. Floor it.
I’m right ahead of Z and oh look! A race photog! ARMS UP HELLOOOOOOOOO!!!
Where’s Z? Oops. Lost her.
Hmm 9:30 pace? OK, I am definitely not PRing today. That’s OK.
Where is Z? I can’t stop looking around for her.
Mile 1 over already! That was quick.
Mile 2
I can’t believe the crowds aren’t getting any better.
WALKER IN FRONT OF ME. Must get out of way now. Where is an opening between all these runners? Why is everyone running so slowly? I AM GOING TO SLAM INTO THIS PERSON I CANNOT SLOW DOWN IN TIME HELP.
Phew. Dodged that person. Why is no one moving over to the side? Why weren’t the corrals checked? The corrals are there for safety!
Running on the outskirts is good, at least I can move over here.
DAMN IT. There’s the water station all the way on the right and I missed it! When I PR’d at the Scotland Run, I stopped at every single water station and now I believe that is the key to race success and I MISSED THIS ONE. GRRRRR.
I forgot to discuss the water stops at the Scotland Run in my recap. I’ll have to mention it when I write this one.
I feel like I am pushing so hard but my pace seems slow for my effort. I guess today is just not my day. That’s OK.
Wow, this uphill is tough. Much tougher than when I ran the Scotland Run. Why does this feel so hard? Slooooow down.
Harlem Hills DOWNHILL time! THIS is where I love to run fast.
Wait, why aren’t the people around me speeding up? Are they . . . slowing DOWN? Why? This is a down hill!
Too much weaving for a down hill. Ugh. What is wrong with EVERYONE today?
Ah, there’s some relief. Yay for fast downhill running!
Mile 2 is over. Maybe the road will clear up now.
Mile 3
OK this is hard.
Keeping a 9:30 pace feels impossible. Maybe I shouldn’t have gone to Refine last night. But I went the day before the Scotland Run and that went well. Next time I rest the day before a race.
A water station! Yes!
Ah, much better. But I still can’t seem to maintain an OK pace. Too difficult.
Maybe I’ll still run into Z, she started off so fast. Where is she?
What will I eat for breakfast? Andy brought home a pretzel croissant, we can split that. But that won’t be enough.
Oh! I can put eggs on my half! I never thought to do that before. How will it taste? Will it be good? Or will eggs ruin the amazingness that is the pretzel croissant?
Why am I pushing so hard? I know I’m not PRing today. Maybe I should just slow down now and enjoy the rest of the run.
No. When I run on my own, I can’t tolerate any discomfort so I never push hard. Whenever I have a really fast run with splits in the 8s, it’s because it feels natural. I never push myself to run fast.
The only time I can tolerate any discomfort while running is during a race. This is why I love racing! I’d never know what I am capable of otherwise.
I need to sign up for more races. I need to show up for more races that I’ve signed up for. Races ARE my speed training.
I could slow down now since I’m not going to PR, but then I’ll waste my opportunity to push myself. I commuted all the way here at 6:30 am, I might as well do my best.
Mile 4
OH! My GPS isn’t on!
And this mileage is way behind where I am in the race. So . . . is my pace not what the watch says? This foot pod is not accurate. Why didn’t my GPS kick in? It always kicks in in Jersey City. With all the problems I had with my Garmin, the one place is always got GPS was Central Park. What the hell?
I can’t believe I can run so much faster than I used to without any knee pain. I remember when every single run, even 3 mile runs, caused terrible pain in my knee.
At my first 10K ever, my knee started hurting around this time. It killed me for the rest of the race! What a difference now.
When did my knee get better? Let’s see . . . my last run with pain in my knee was the Divas Half Marathon. That was October, 2010. I started taking Refine in December 2010 and haven’t had knee pain during a run since — not even my marathon or fastest half marathon.
I think Refine is the reason my knees got better. And the reason I got faster.
Brynn always corrects me by pushing my body slightly more forward than I naturally stand. When I remember to make that correction while I’m running, I definitely can speed up because my body weight isn’t holding me back as much.
What would I do without Refine? Thank G-d they opened a downtown location because I don’t know what I would have done otherwise now that I moved.
This is a nice breeze.
This race is too hard. At least the miles are flying by. I remember how it seemed to take forever at the Women’s Mini 10K because I was pushing so hard. I’m glad it doesn’t feel like it’s taking forever today. I’ll be done soon.
I HATE this little uphill that comes before we get to go down Cat Hill. Push through. Why am I slowing down so much on every up hill? I’m usually OK during hills.
I have no idea what my pace is. How fast am I going? I’ll check how much time has elapsed. I love how easy it is to switch through the stats with the Nike watch.
Water station. Yum.
Hey race photographer! Look at me! Why are you fiddling with your camera? HERE I AM!
OW. Sudden stomach spasm. Ugh.
I want to hear Press It Up. Oh wait. That’s the song that just ended. Oops.
Mile 5
One mile left. I can do this!
My body automatically pushes harder and runs faster towards the end of a race. This is not even a conscious decision.
WHOA nausea. Omg. I am going to vomit.
I suspect the coffee + a faster speed than I should be running. I am not having coffee before a race anymore. I think that contributed to this entire race being so hard. Glad I tried but never again.
The choice is between running fast and possibly throwing up, or slowing down and finishing feeling good. I already know I’m not PRing so I might as well slow down.
Ahhh. That’s better. I still feel sick but I don’t think I will vomit before the finish line.
I do like this down hill.
I wish I knew my real pace.
This last mile always takes forever.
Uphill, grr. Push through.
The course narrowed. Why is everyone going so slow? I’m sick of weaving but I need to finish this so I can be done.
Hey! My fleece isn’t in the spot where I left it. I wonder if NYRR volunteers threw it away. If you see something, say something.
800 meters to go. OK.
Mile 6 – 6.2
Why does the last .2 always feel so long?
400 meters to go. The finish line is so far away. And up a hill.
I don’t have enough in me for a final push. Just keep moving.
I can’t even smile for this race photog. I have nothing left.
200 meters to go.
Ooh La La is playing. I normally love running to this. I wish I could appreciate it. I just can’t.
Look at watch. The mileage is all wrong, but the time says 55:00 and something. What?
The finish line is close. Still too far. Still up hill.
Half-assed attempt at a smile for this finish line photog.
DONE
Look at watch. I didn’t PR but what does this my time mean? I will deal with this when I get home and see my official time.
Cover hand with mouth to try and hold back vomit.
Make my way to the water.
Take a cinnamon raisin bagel.
Need to get out of park. Sneak out of the race under a barrier. Get yelled at by NYRR volunteer.
Nibble small piece of bagel. Feel much better.
I am so glad that is over. That was so hard.
Commute
Alone in the subway car.
Guy second train who also ran race chats with me about my watch.
Crazy guy on second train calls out from across the train to ask if I ran a marathon.
Crazy guy does not stop talking. Smile politely and keep reading.
I’m a little cold with the AC on but I’m fine without my fleece.
Back home
First thing’s first – record “After” of my “Before & After” video for work. Took three takes but I’m happy with the end result. Still forgot to mention my dry skin and dark circles. At least I mentioned my age this time.
Make scrambled eggs on pretzel croissant. Yes, delicious.
WHAT! Wow. Not a PR, but faster than my previous PR before last month’s. My second fastest 10K race ever!
The first time I ran the Healthy Kidney 10K in 2010, I PRd with 1:00:37, although that PR only lasted a month.
I wish my GPS worked so I had accurate splits. I want to analyze the hell out of this! At least I can see which miles were quicker relatively. Although they all seemed to be around the same pace.
Let me check my watch. OH! The GPS was switched to “Off.” How did that happen? I didn’t touch the settings.
F*cking lemons.
I wonder if I’ll have any race pictures. I wonder if I’ll look like I’m dying.
When can I run a 10K race at an average pace of 8:58 and call it a bad run, that is a very good sign.
When you wait a month to write your race recap,the race becomes a lot less exciting.
When all the life changes happen in between the race and the day of the recap, the race becomes a lot less exciting.
When you remember your PR, the excitement returns.
I signed up for the Scotland Run 10K on a bit of a whim. I just started running again March after taking a break. I only ran one time after the Richmond Marathon, a difficult 8-miler a couple of weeks later, and then it got cold and as Andy told you all, I don’t do cold well.
The weather got warmer in March, so back to the running grind I went. Only this time, something was different.
I was much faster.
Like, MUCH faster. I was always a 10 minute mile runner on average. I’d be happy with a run if I finished in anything under 10 minute miles. A few times, I was able to push myself faster – like the Women’s Mini 10K in June 2010 and the 4 Mile Race to Deliver that November. Both those runs were extreme situations. During the first, I was pissed off and during the second, I was gunning for a PR. During both, I felt like death.
But now, I can run sub-9 minute miles and feel great the entire time.
I’m not entirely sure why this is.
My guess is that my newfound speed (relative, of course – I’m still not an actually FAST runner) comes from a combination of factors – the countless sprints and heart rate bursts at Refine Method, all the miles I logged during marathon training and the nice long rest I gave myself.
I signed up for a few 10ks – one in April, one in May, one in June and I plan to sign up for one in July when registration opens. My goal was to work up to a PR in the June 10K – the Women’s Mini 10k, exactly two years after my last PR in that race.
Once I realized I was naturally faster, I thought maybe I should try to PR in the Scotland Run. The thing is, I didn’t run very often and I didn’t do any type of training or speedwork. But I also knew, based on my recent runs, that I had it in me.
The night before the race, I was debating if I’d even go or not. I realized it started at 62nd street on the west side. I was at Andy’s old apartment on 95th and 3rd, the complete opposite corner of the park. The thought of spending money on a cab, dealing with coat check, getting back home after didn’t seem appealing. I went to bed not sure if I’d do the race. I made a playlist just in case though.
I woke up still not sure if I’d go, but once I got out of bed it was clear I was racing. I got ready, applied my company’s brand new BB Cream for the first time (I sound like an ad, but I really wanted to test this out at a time I needed SPF but wouldn’t wear real makeup) and headed out. A guy who was clearly also going to the race got on the elevator at a lower floor, and I asked him if he wanted to share a cab with me. Then I banged him.
Just kidding.
We did share the cab though, which made my stress about paying to go to the race disappear. I checked my coat and made it to the start with time to spare. It was a gorgeous, sunny, cool day and once I was around all the other excited runners, I was really happy I made the trek to this race. I felt really, really good.
And we were off.
I completed the first mile in exactly 9:00. That was my slowest mile of the race.
I’m sure you can see where this is going. Especially since I already gave it away in the title.
I seriously felt amazing the entire time. The first mile flew by which is always a good sign, and when I feel good I run faster. Central Park’s hills were rough as always but I pushed through. My iPod Nano got into Shuffle mode a few weeks ago and I forgot to try and fix this before the race. It took me a few songs to realize they were out of order, and once I did I was a little upset because Jesse from Flywheel introduced me to a really fun, fast song during his spin class that I wanted to hear – Press It Up by Sean Paul. I never did get to hear it during this race. But the music was still awesome.
It was around mile 5 that things got tough and I was ready for the race to end, which is funny because that was my fastest full mile of the race. As soon as the last mile started, I got nauseous. Very nauseous. I was pushing my body hard and it was time to be done. But I always finish a race strong, and this one was no exception. As much as I wanted to really sprint at the end, I did what I could knowing I had my PR.
Official NYRR time: 53:55
Official average pace: 8:42
To put this in perspective, I finished my first 10K in December 2009 in 1:03:22. And my 10K PR before this was 56:05. And I had just taken months off from running and didn’t train. I was beyond elated to finish this race and get my PR! I even walked back home after just to extend my happiness outside.
I also snapped this photo when I got back home to see how my BB Cream held up and also because I was very happy. The cream held up well during the race! I have chronic acne on my chin and you’d never know.
Back on topic.
This race made me crave a half marathon. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find a convenient half anytime soon. They changed my beloved Queens Half Marathon (another surprise PR – I think I’m capable of more than I realize) to a 10K. I’m registered for the Newport Liberty Half Marathon in September (right by my new apartment and directly in front of my office) and the Richmond Half Marathon in November (I loved racing there so much last year, I can’t wait to get back) – and I WILL PR in one of those. If not both.
I just hope this newfound speediness doesn’t disappear as suddenly as it arrived.
I’m glad to be back in the racing game. I’ve said it before – I like racing more than I like running. Although now that I’m consistently getting splits in the 8s, I’m beginning to like running a whole lot more. Seeing improvement is the greatest form of motivation there is.
. . . continued from last week after I DNF’d the ING NYC Marathon.
Once I made it to 95th street, mile 18 of the NYC Marathon, I stood there with my boyfriend and friends a few minutes, crying but not leaving, but also not making any real effort to continue. I just wanted to lie down. That is all I had wanted since I entered Manhattan. I thought about pushing through and walking the rest of the race, but not only was I in too much pain to do even that, the thought of getting out of Central Park and having to make my way all the way to Andy’s AFTER I finished was too much to bear. If I finished the race, there would have been too much time between the present moment and getting to lie down. I had to do it now.
[Approximately 5 minutes before things got really, really bad]
We walked the short distance home and said goodbye to my friends.
We got home and I climbed right into bed. I laid there and cried for a few moments. I thought about all the training I did over the last four months, how much I gave up to get to this point. Not finishing the marathon is one thing, but having done so much work with nothing to show for it? THAT is what I could not handle. I said to Andy, “Can you give me the iPad? I want to look for another marathon.“
I thought Andy would tell me I was crazy or acting stupid or irrationally. Instead, he told me that is a great idea and we started researching upcoming marathons. We found the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. The following weekend, on Saturday, November 12.
I was trained. I was not injured. I did not want to spend another week training. Richmond is a six hour car ride. The race got incredible reviews. I registered.
I told no one.
OK that is a little bit of a lie. I told my family, my close friends and my coworkers. But I did not announce it on Facebook or Twitter. I did not tell most people. I did not mention it here even though by the time I wrote last week’s post I was already registered.
Making such a big deal out of NYCM made DNFing that much harder. People were tracking me, tweeting about me, reading my automatic updates on Facebook. They saw me slow down. They knew when my tracking stopped. They wondered what had happened.
I didn’t want people wondering or knowing or feeling invested in any way. I just wanted to run the marathon I trained for. Of course, there was the fear I’d have to go back and publicly admit, yet again, that I failed. But if no one knew, I wouldn’t worry about what other people thought.
And so it was that Andy and I took off work on Friday and drove down to Virginia in a rental car. It’s funny how easy it was to get a spot in this race. I just paid the entry fee and I was in. Drastically different from NYCM where I had to run nine qualifying races and volunteer at one event just to earn my place. The expo was small and overwhelmingly crowded, but I got what I needed, including a brand new headband.
After all, I needed this race to be somewhat different.
The night before the Richmond Marathon, I slept much better than I did the night before NYCM and the days leading up to that. A good sign, because of the many things that went wrong in NYC, I think my overall anxiety about the race was one of the biggest contributing factors to the pain. Anxiety and the stomach have a strong connection.
But to be sure, I did take my acid reflux medicine this time. I also took a swig of Pepto.
[Also different? I wore a skirt.]
Like the weekend before in NYC, the weather started out cold. The race began at 8 am and I was surprised to see frost on the car when we went outside.
Despite the chill, I felt more comfortable than I did in NYC. There is something that just seems so easy about simply driving to a parking lot near the start of the race and walking over to the corral. I guess that something is the fact that it is easy. No worrying about which transportation time to take, no worrying about how many hours you’ll spend outside in the cold. You just drive to the race and then you are there. I wore my throwaway clothes but I didn’t have a long wait until the start, and I was not cold for long.
[$12 Grinch pajama pants. Was sad to see them go.]
My nerves were considerably less than the week before, evidenced by the fact that I only peed twice at the porta potties. For a nervous peeer like myself, that is a big deal. As for the claim that Richmond is America’s Friendliest Marathon (as emphasized on their website, race shirt and medal), people already started chatting with me like we were old friends.
I said bye to Andy and entered the corral. There were four corrals, but no one was monitoring them and it was easy for me to accidentally walk into the wrong one at first. I realized my error and moved back to Corral 4, for people with an expected finish time of 4:30 and above. I did not want to start with fast runners!
I didn’t hear any national anthem (which I found strange for a place like Richmond, Virginia, although it is entirely possible I just didn’t notice it) or gun shot, but I used my deductive reasoning skills and determined that the the race began because everyone started running.
And then I crossed a marathon start line for the second time in one week.
“This marathon starts and finishes in charming historic downtown Richmond, once the capital of the south. The scenic, fast loop course takes in all of the city’s old neighborhoods, traveling up Monument Avenue, past statues of Confederate soldiers and Richmond native and tennis star Arthur Ashe, through the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University, then alongside the James River. Along with the typical water and sports drink stops, this is probably the only race in the country that offers junk food stops, at miles 16 and 22, stocked with Gummy Bears, cookies, and soda. There are also two wet-washcloth stations, at miles 17 and 23, perfect for cleaning up for your finish-line photo. Three party zones set up along the way with free food, prize giveaways, and noisemakers for spectators and family means lots of enthusiastic, cheering support. The last mile features a fast downhill to the finish in the trendy Shockoe Slip area, where there are plenty of postrace goodies, including bagels, fruit, and pizza, and a band to celebrate your finish.” – Runners World, 2005
The first couple of miles ran through downtown Richmond, with shops surrounding us. I was more into sizing up the other runners around me than noticing my surroundings. It was interesting listening to everyone’s conversation. I guess I was eavesdropping. The difference is that I knew that if I wanted to interject at any time, I would have been welcomed. Which ended up happening a little later on.
We turned off the main road and there I saw my first Brightroom photographer along the course (I saw a couple at the start). I am really excited to get these photos and I’ll probably bore you all with a post of just those photos next week. Anyway, we turned again onto a beautiful street called Monument Row. The houses were huge and gorgeous, the street was quiet and lined with trees.
This video gives a great overview of the course:
I started chatting with some women. I told them about my NYCM experience and they talked to me about their own training. I saw that I was running just under a 10:30 mile and worried I was too fast. I felt great but worried about burning out too early or injuring myself. Every now and then I would hold myself back from these women because I didn’t want to run at their pace just because I was talking to them.
Around mile 4, a girl in a cute running skirtcame up to me and said, “I just read your blog for the first time last week and I think it is amazing that you are out here today.”
I got recognized. By my blog. During a marathon I told no one I was running. WHAT!
This girl who happened to read my post about DNFing in NYC — who informed that she also ran NYC — noticed my pink arm and leg sleeves, and confirmed it by seeing my name on my shirt. I couldn’t believe it. I was shocked, but imagine how surprised she must have been to have read a random blog for the first time and then see the blogger in a race that she didn’t say she was doing!
Another nice burst of energy from that encounter!
After I broke away from Katye, I found myself catching up with those women again; the ones I thought were maybe a little fast for me. It just felt right. So when I saw the 4:45 pace group right in front of me, I excitedly told the woman I was talking to that I’d like to try and keep them in sight for as long as possible. I knew they would be way too fast for me, but figured I could test myself for awhile and see if I could stick with them.
As I ran on their heels, I actually felt like I was walking. It felt slow. Uncomfortably slow. I looked at my watch and it was just over 11:00. Even though that is the pace I hoped to maintain for the entire marathon, it didn’t feel right.
I broke away from the women I was talking to and I broke away from the 4:45 pace group.
I needed to feel comfortable if I was going to do this marathon right, and on this day, running an 11:00 pace did not feel comfortable. That mile with the 4:45 pace group ended up being my slowest mile of the race, and the only mile that hit the 11 on my watch at all.
Non-NYRR races often get blasted for their poor organization efforts but the Richmond Marathon was extremely well organized. As long as you started in the right corral you didn’t need to weave. There were water/Powerade stations every two miles, and every mile after 20. When the stations are every mile, I stop every mile. I liked this spacing because I could maintain a pace and still stay hydrated.
The volunteers were incredible. Later into the race there were two wet washcloth stations and two junk food stations which also served cola.
While the entire course was lined with spectators, the best thing for us out of towners was the step-by-step directions the race provided for spectatorsto get from the start to each Party Zone at miles 7, 13, 19 and the finish.
Because of this, I knew exactly where I would see Andy.
These party zones were as much for the spectators as they were for the runners. With live bands playing (and many more along the course) , there was food and coffee available for the spectators. How nice is that!
And Andy got to meet local celebrity Ros Runner, Richmond’s NBC12 Meteorologist. Fancy!
Because this race was relatively small (3,500 runners compared to NYC’s 47,000) it was easy to see Andy. At mile 7 I stopped to give him a kiss, shout “I am loving this!” and request that he bring my Vaseline to the next party zone. You guys swear by your Body Glide but sorry, it is a hard stick and does not do the trick of my ooey gooey Vaseline. My underarms were chafing and I needed slippery goo.
After I left Andy I ran over some really great downhills and over to the James River. I was looking forward to the river miles ever since spotting this photo on the Richmond Marathon’s website:
[It was even more breathtaking than it looks here.]
I have only run in one other spot as beautiful as this river was, which was in Kirkland, Washington last year. I can’t put into words how amazing it was running along the James River. I felt happier than I have on a run in a very long time.
When I got to the next party zone at mile 13 I was still loving the race. Once again I embraced Andy quickly, smothered Vaseline on and took my next baggie of Shot Bloks from him. I started fueling at mile 5, eating one Shot Blok every 2-3 miles depending on how I felt and when I remembered. I also took both water and Powerade every two miles, walking through the stations and squeezing my cup to create a spout. A really sweet friend who works at New York Road Runners put me in touch with a coach there after my NYC Marathon experience, and she told me runners should never drink from the cup without squeezing it first because that is how air gets swallowed.
Obviously I was extra careful about this. And I’d like to add that in my opinion blue Powerade > yellow Gatorade.
I slowed down for a couple of miles before finding Andy there, but seeing him gave me a burst of energy because when I next looked down at my Garmin, I was under a 10:00 mile. Oops. SLOW DOWN! I said that to myself. Out loud.
I ran my 14th mile in 10:01.
Before this race I heard a lot about the Lee Bridge at the 15th mile being the most difficult part of the race. A mile long and a gradual uphill, they said that many runners struggle through this hardest incline in the race.
A sign placed in the ground just before the bridge: “Make the Lee Bridge your bitch.” I guess I did because I didn’t really find this bridge tough at all. Maybe I am used to the hills of Central Park. Maybe I am used to running back and forth over the Queensboro Bridge — which really is a long, slow, gradual, difficult incline. While the bridge was gradual, it was so gradual that it was never steep. I did put on my music as I approached, for the first time, because it looked like a long road ahead with little crowd support and I thought I’d need a little push. But really, I didn’t find the bridge difficult. I was also fortunate that there was a tailwind that day; usually runners experience a headwind during the marathon. I ran that mile in 10:05.
The Queensboro Bridge is also at mile 15 in NYCM. This felt drastically different and I loved it.
Immediately following the bridge was a short, steep incline that felt more difficult than any step of the Lee Bridge. I guess it’s the steep hills that I mind, but the gradual ones don’t bother me.
I took off my music after that because the crowds were back in full force and also because my music was distracting from my experience. I brought my iPod because I didn’t know if I would need the extra motivation or to zone out, but until mile 15 it never once occurred to me to use it. That’s especially amazing because while training, I relied heavily on my music. I only ever ran without music if I was talking to a friend. This was my first time really running without anything for an extended period of time and I really loved it.
And of course, I did not want to miss anyone shouting my name! Once again there was chanting and I loved it. Also, tons of compliments on my bright pink! Two girls running near me for awhile wore tutus. I thought nothing of it because I see lots of runners in tutus in New York City, so I was surprised to see the crowds go crazy about this! “Tutus! Go tutus! Love the tutus! I used to wear one myself!” That last one came from a guy who was joking. The people loved the tutus. Who knew.
Also wonderful was the bands. Before I got to the river one band was playing The Cranberries’ Zombie. Having learned my lesson the hard way last week, I did not sing along with them. Though it was funny to hear a man singing that. I waved and smiled at every band and I think they liked it, especially the band playing The Beatles. One DJ was cheering for people by number on the microphone, but another called out my name and made a comment about my pink socks. I loved it.
When there wasn’t a band there were often speakers. I even heard some Counting Crows. Rain King. I approved.
At the 18th mile I could not believe the difference in how I felt here compared to the 18th mile one week before. I also could not believe I ran 9 miles in that pain. 18 miles is HARD, even without pain. I knew with certainty that I would finish this marathon. I mean, I knew it earlier too, but I felt comfortable admitting it to myself here. I passed where I was last week. I had this.
I approached the mile 19 Party Zone and couldn’t find Andy among the spectators. I looked carefully and then when the Party Zone was over I felt sad. Either he didn’t make it there for some reason or I somehow missed him. I was planning on handing my iPod to him because I decided I didn’t want it with me when I finished, but after not seeing him I thought I should make the most of the situation and just use it. I don’t think that makes sense in retrospect, but I like justifying things.
Meh. My music was OK because the crowds had thinned, but I didn’t need it and I knew I didn’t need it. I looked up and saw arms waving wildly. It was my sweet Andy!
I ran up to him and said “I thought I missed you!” as you can see in the video here.
I was so happy! He went further down past the Party Zone because of traffic or congestion or something. I didn’t care. I got to see him! I Vaselined up again, this time on the other side too, and took off before realizing I forgot to give him my iPod. I shouted his name and ran back to hand it to him. Yes, I ran the opposite direction during a marathon, but just for a few seconds.
I made sure to speed up after because I felt so great and knew I could maintain my pace. I was no longer worried about hitting a wall or hurting my knee or my hip. I felt amazing. People were on balconies and on the sidewalks cheering. I saw cheerleaders. People called out my name. Some people shouted out compliments or words of encouragement. The race got more difficult but I felt strong.
We turned into a beautiful private community of homes. From mile 21 on, things got much more difficult. Now, I just wanted to be finished. It stopped being about how amazing I felt and started being about pushing through to the finish. I didn’t want to run anymore but I entered into PDR (personal distance record) territory and it was exciting.
When people cheered for me, I did my best to acknowledge them with a tiny smile and little wave. I stopped saying “Thank you” for the most part and stopped the big waves. The race was getting tough and it was all about getting to the end. There were some small but steep uphills. The crowds were incredible, offering orange slices, doughnuts and beer. Beer?!
At one point, someone shouted “It’s all downhill from here!” YES! I got really excited until a few seconds later when there was a challenging uphill. What the hell!
I pushed on. I felt like I was crawling, but looking at my splits, miles 21-24 were actually some of my fastest of the race. I guess my pushing was working, even though it did not feel like it! I did see a few Brightroom photogs though, and seeing them always gives me a burst of energy.
I did slow during mile 24. I don’t remember much from that mile. During 25, someone else shouted “After this turn, it is all downhill!” We were turning into the downtown area and I got excited. I made that turn and . . . MASSIVE UPHILL.
Seriously people — what the hell!
I know the last half mile is a 700 foot drop downhill, but come on!
It is incredible what your body can do at certain times. Despite the fact that I found those last miles extremely difficult, I not only had enough in me to run mile 26 in 9:53, but look at the split for the last .37 (more than .2 because of any weaving and the run back to give Andy the iPod):
Yes. 8:24 pace for the final push. After already running 26 miles. After DNFing a marathon a week before. After being worried I was running too fast throughout most of the race. After doubting I could even finish under 5:00.
During that last half mile, I felt no pain. All the tiredness, soreness, running on autopilot and hoping for the end disappeared. I don’t know where this energy came from, but I felt light and running felt effortless. I glanced down at my watch and saw my pace was in the 8:50/mile range and I briefly wondered why I don’t always run like that. I felt like I was flying as I ran down the final chute, somehow alone, hearing my name shouted by strangers on all sides of me. Of all the times I heard my name during this marathon, this was by far the most exciting. I knew I looked strong. I knew I was running fast. I knew these people were going crazy cheering because I looked so strong and had a huge smile on my face. Andy was one of these people, but I couldn’t pick him out. I just ran.
As I flew through the finish, I heard the announcer call me Doris. Not my name, but funny! What I did not hear at the time was Brown Eyed Girl playing through the speakers; the same song that I chose to sing while running the NYC Marathon. The same song that might have caused me to swallow some extra air. Also, my Bat Mitzvah video montage song. That has to mean something. Or not.
I floated through the finish. Really, I floated through my first full marathon.
In 4:33:29.
About 25 minutes faster than I hoped or expected. My goal was to finish under 5:00, even if it meant 4:59. It is possible that I underestimate myself.
I do believe that things happen for a reason. At least, that is how I justify the good things in my life, the things that work out.
If I never got that freak pain during the NYC Marathon and I finished that race, I would have stayed with my friend for just under 5 hours and not listened to my body’s own cues. I never would have known what I was capable of running a 4:33 marathon. I never would have traveled to Richmond for the first time; never would have experienced a gorgeous new city by running 26.2 miles through it; never would have had the most idealistic, fun, exhilarating run of my life.
[Also easy about Richmond: Andy right on the other side of the barricade after I finished. Also, pizza there? Who wants that!]
I finished a marathon!!! My training was not for nothing and I did so much better than I ever thought I would!
No hip pain, no knee pain. My left knee actually hurt during NYCM when everything fell apart, but I think my legs just had to work much harder since my body was under fueled and in pain. I’m also much less sore this week after 26.2 than last week after 18. And I suppose I am not too pale to run a marathonafter all.
I know NYC is said to be the greatest marathon in the world and that is probably true. But as someone who grew up in Queens and has lived in Manhattan for the last six years, I can tell you that the race is ugly. Aside from breathtaking views of the city while running over the Verrazano Bridge and of course the miles through Central Park, the race is run through city streets. Buildings, concrete. Lots to see in terms of costumes, spectators and bands — but not a lot of scenery.
[Finished!]
By contrast, Richmond was just a beautiful race. We ran past gorgeous stately old homes, monuments, alongside a stunning river, through lots of tree lined streets and past colleges. I didn’t need music because there was so much to take in and the crowd support was phenomenal without being overwhelming.
There were motivating and humorous signs placed throughout the course, which was especially awesome in spots with no spectators, like by the river. I wish I remembered these signs so I could share with you, but I don’t.
It was so thoughtful of the people drove the course sticking these signs along the way. Better than a person cheering in some cases and very much appreciated during the quieter miles without spectators.
Have I mentioned that I loved every single second of this race? I never once felt bored and there was just so much to take in. I highly recommend the Richmond Marathon to those looking for a fall marathon next year.
I bought a finisher’s shirt, which I am wearing above, for $10 in the tent after the finish line. I somehow didn’t get a heat wrap even though everyone else around me did!
And then I ate all the pancakes at Cracker Barrel.
And modeled my medal a bit more.
I am so happy. I can’t stop smiling and this marathon is the only thing I ever want to talk about. But apparently my coworkers would like to discuss other topics, such as work.
I was a wreck last week. Even though I had already signed up for Richmond when I wrote that post, I was in a pretty rough place and your comments helped me more than you can imagine. People that read my blog regularly and people that never read before left incredible comments and sent emails of encouragement and support. I thought I was finished crying last Tuesday, but your comments and emails made me cry some more. Happy tears!
It is hard having a blog and using social media and putting yourself out there this much. I was embarrassed to have to write that post, but because of you, it was worth it. I needed to hear positive things about my experience. I needed to know that I didn’t do anything wrong. I needed to know that DNFs happen to other people. I needed to know that you weren’t judging me. I needed to know that you did not see me as a failure.
Running such a strong marathon has definitely changed my perspective about running. I didn’t do any speedwork while training because I was coming back from an injury. Now I wonder what I have in me if I worked harder. I didn’t do much cross training towards the last couple of months. I wonder about that too. This marathon also showed me that the logistics do not have to be stressful and a huge race like NYCM might not be right for me. I was so stressed before NYCM about being cold outside for a long time, transportation and even the process of getting out of the park after. As I said before, anxiety and the stomach are intertwined. The ease of this marathon was much better suited to my personality.
I know I said I don’t want to devote for months to training ever again. But I am a competitive person and I know how strong I felt at the finish, how much less sore I am right now than I expected. It is hard to think about working so hard for 26.2 knowing that the unexpected can happen and derail me. But maybe one day. Maybe I’ll work harder for my next half marathon and see what I can do there first. I ran my half marathon PR of 2:06without much training. Maybe I should make a new goal for 13.1 and take it from there.
I never loved running as much as I do right now. I am a marathoner.
