Lots to say... I was supposed to head to Arizona on Friday morning, but I was cancelled at work for Thursday so I decided to head out a day early so that I could spend some time with my Aunt and Uncle visiting my Mom for the week. I arrived late Thursday afternoon. What a long drive....5 hours, 45 minutes in the car makes for stiff legs. Got in a 3 miler that afternoon and that would be my last run till Sunday. Was really hoping to hook up with Burt during the weekend, but it just was so hard for us to connect because of my family, the marathon, and the short time there. On Friday, I went to the expo and really enjoyed myself!! It was a runner's heaven. I have never seen so much awesome merchandise and health related info under one roof!!! Walked around for a bit, left to go eat lunch and then came back to see Meb Keflezighi speak. I was really inspired from his story of while he was growing up and all of the hardships that he endured before coming to America. Afterwards, I stood in line briefly and was able to get my Bib number signed by him. It read... "Good luck and Best Wishes! Run to win!" I also got my picture taken with him. It was so awesome to shake his hand and chat with him! I also met an author while there at the expo... his name is Dane Rauschenburg and wrote "See Dane Run: One Man 52 Weekends, 52 Marathons." I told him that I had been sick and how discouraged I was... he was one of the nicest people I have met in a long time and so inspiring as well. Wish I could have heard him speak, but I will be buying his book and Meb's at some point soon.
Ventured to the Pacer area, and found out how the pacing team thing worked and additional info on whom would be running for my two goal times in mind... 3:50 and 4:00 hour. Toyed with these two times in my head and not sure which to choose. I had really felt badly recently and even on my shorter runs, felt so tired although I had kicked the worst part of the virus by now. I returned to my Mom's to spend some time with my family and had a great meal - her famous stuffed peppers!! Lots of carbs!!! Tonight, I made the decision that I would run the full marathon regardless of being ill for the past week and a half. I felt better and said to myself.... WTH!! Saturday rolled around and before I new it, I was heading to my in-laws for lunch and to rest/relax with them. I had planned to stay the night there since it would be closer to the finish area where I planned to drive to early the next morning. Took in a few beers and had pasta for lunch at applebee's. Drank several G2's and hydrated well. My in laws are such great people. I am so lucky to have them. They gave me lots of encouragement that night. Somehow I managed to get a descent amount of sleep despite being so anxious. At 4:45am my alarm on my phone rang and since I had showered the night before, I was ready within 30 minutes, complete with breakfast, and out the door heading to Tempe. Very easy getting in to the finish area, easy to park, lots of porta potties, and the bus shuttle to the start went very smoothly. Wasn't too cold and my superman fleece PJ pants which are "lucky" for me kept me warm. I also wore a pendant made for me by my good friends and running group in Mazatlan. Had my bib signed by Meb... said some prayers as I locked my car. Met a great guy from Dallas named Carlos while waiting for the bus. He is an anesthesiologist and has run 32 marathons. With me being a nurse... we had lots to chat about to pass the 40 minute ride. Once we arrived at the start, we sat together and continued to chat until about 20 minutes before the start where we split up to use restrooms and check our gear. Found the corral 3 and searched for the 3:50 pacer sign time elevated high above the crowd... I also eyed the 4:00 hour one in the next corral. Little did I know that this would be the last time I would care about that 4:00 hour sign. Met our pacer Mark. He was sick so would be handing off the sign around mile 14 to another pacer. We had a large group and there looked to be some strong runners. As the horn blew, I hoped for the best. Miles 1-4 were a blur... no ipod on during this time as the bands were enjoyable and people were everywhere! Very congested start. Our pacer guided us through. Miles 5-8 Felt fine... kept to myself. Observed the group I was running with and listened to people chat around me. Reminded myself that a few weeks ago... I ran faster than this pace for this distance and it was easy for me. Reflecting back on my training would become a very important piece to my success today. Miles 9-14 Questioned holding pace for the distance... when I heard a band playing "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer," I muttered...oh brother to myself... I then turned on my ipod and went into my own little world. Had a few miles in here where I felt pretty good and I kept looking behind me to see where the pacing group was. Mile 14... our new pacer joined us... Monique. I'm over half way done... phew. Mile 14-19... head games with myself... can I do this? Legs were fine, breathing was fine, but my brain was messing with my body telling it that it was tired. My upper back was knotting up... no Burt around to help me with putting a fist in it :-(. I then saw Carlos... he wanted to chat. I had to tell him that I couldn't talk while running. I had to keep focussed. I wished him the best and before I new it, he disappeared. Thought about Burt and I when we ran together a few weeks ago. Running with Burt for my last long run, got me this far at this pace before. I finally was convinced that I could make it at least to mile 20 at this pace, because I had already done it. Mile 20... Monique... our pacer... I am glued to her side... either at her left, her right, or within 20 feet of her, I am there. There is a head-on wind, and I occasionally drift behind another runner to conserve energy. I am venturing into the unknown. Although my body has been here before, it is not a frequent traveler to 20 miles and beyond. I run to each fluid station, take 10-15 seconds to drink... then catch up. This had been my routine through the entire marathon. Somehow, I catch up every time. Monique says, "Dig deep people, I know it hurts... dig deep!" My legs were fine, I'm not winded. My darn back... ouch. My toes are sore too and I can feel one toe on my left foot bursting into flames. I then remember all the runs when I had experienced worse pain than this. I recall my 5 miler the day after my 20 miler with Burt. I have no idea how I completed that run... the pain that I have right now pales in comparison. I have something to prove and have come this far! I am pissed with myself because of my own self doubt and I then channel that into my next 6 miles. Mile 21-23... Still not sure if I am going to make it... head games. Thought about how disappointed I would be in myself if I had given up now. All the training for the past year and a half ... the hard work... the pain... the sacrifice.... all the beer I had given up ;-). I wasn't stopping unless I dropped to the ground and honestly, there was no bonk in my future... I didn't feel it at all. Mile 24-25... Thought to myself... hey!! I think it's really gonna happen today!!! Mile 26-26.2.... I am kicking it in, the crowd is yelling, I see the time and boom... I am there!!! I have qualified for the Boston Marathon!!!! I hug some random chick beyond the finish... I start crying, and then I turn and search for Monique. A few moments later, she crossed the finish line holding that 3:50 sign and she didn't have time to realize what hit her, because I had my arms around her in a heart beat. I thanked her profusely. We both cried. We said our goodbyes... and soon I was walking searching to find my family. I then heard my Uncle Bruce calling my name. I ran to him at the fence, hugged him, cried and then coughed my brains out. LOL!! Once I collected myself, I then collected my beautiful medal... the medal that will now have very special meaning to me always. I met up with the rest of my family... my Mom, Aunt, and brother. They were all smiles and so happy for me. I was just so elated and was still shocked at what I had just done, yet... I found myself saying, aren't I supposed to be totally spent? I could run another 4 miles easy... or I could have run this marathon faster!? Are we ever satisfied with ourselves?? Walked around afterwards for a bit and before I knew it, I was limping. My feet were now killing me. I looked down at my shoes to see blood seeping through onto the mesh of the outer portion of the toe box areas of my sneakers. Off to the medical tent I went. When I took off the shoes and removed my bloody socks, I couldn't believe the terrible mess that I had made of my toes. All black and blue, black and blue nails, blood blisters under 7 of the toe nails which I would later drain at home with a pin. Yikes. They patched me up as well as they could. We decided to leave and go out for a bite to eat... "The Heart Attack Grill" was our destination. Burgers, fries, washed down with a cold beer. I deserved every bit of that sinful meal. I crashed later at my Mom's around 8pm but then tossed and turned most of the night. My darn toes hurt just brushing against the blankets. Went for breakfast the next morning with everyone... said my goodbyes and off to California I went. Another 5 hour, 45 minute drive home. A little sore in the legs and certainly was very stiff standing up after the drive, but did pretty well considering. It's funny. After each marathon, I always say... OMG!! That was the hardest thing I have ever done!!! With this marathon... it wasn't running the marathon that was hard, it was believing enough in myself that I could indeed grasp something that I always envisioned so far from my reach... that darn BQ!!!!! A few pictures... check these links.... http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1613438049127&set=a.1544473845065.2071591.1031575042 http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1610952786997&set=a.1544473845065.2071591.1031575042 http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1610899865674&set=a.1544473845065.2071591.1031575042 http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1613266724844&set=a.1544473845065.2071591.1031575042
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