The marathon itself--sorry to keep you in suspense so long!
No doubt you wonder how the marathon turned out. Or maybe you don't. The short form is that I ran a chip time of 4:57:59 (nicknamed 4:58) and a gun time of 4:59.Here's what I posted to the Dead Runners Society listserve following the race (edited a little for this blog):
Philadelphia Marathon--One Cone at a Time
Well, I won it! ;)
Saw Dave, near the halfway point and told him I just couldn't get any speed going...felt a bit discouraged. But he said don't worry about the time, just finish the race and enjoy it. And with that in mind, I decided initially on a strategy of "run when you can, walk when you need to." Then settled on walking water stops and trying to run as much as possible otherwise. And also ignoring the significance of the times that flashed out at me at each mile. Slow times, but the point was simply to keep going.
I had decided to dedicate the race to my Mom--I'd started into this training program as a way to heal from her loss--and I sure wasn't going to drop out! As some of you know, I had to drop out four years ago at about sixteen miles due to a calf muscle that wouldn't loosen. Thought of that as I rounded the start/finish area at the Art Museum, and how if I could make it past that point, I'd have the confidence to keep going and finish.
After the 15ish water stop, I was closing in on the previous "scene of my undoing." I was met near that point by Mike (Peak Performance coach and leader of the Tues. night workouts) and Jill, a Peak Performance team-mate who was out to cheer people on (and later host a great post-race party). They were so enthusiastic, cheering, and Jill handed me a bottle of water, while Mike snapped a pic. Was soooo good to see them, as they ushered me past the drop-out point and into the rest of the race!
Once I got to mile 17, I knew I'd thrown the monkey off my back! Then at the Falls Bridge, there was my sister Liz with a hug and her camera! What a treat! Energy boost! Then labored on to Manayunk, hitting another hard patch, when I reached a water stop and didn't want to stop walking. Then I had this feeling/sense "just run to the next cone." Once I reached that traffic cone, I told myself, "just another cone." And gradually, one cone after another, I reached Green Lane in Manayunk, the turn-around point. At 20 miles, the time was 3:48. The thought crept in that I might be able at least to break five hours and not have my slowest marathon (my first was 5:07), if I could hold on, keep running, walk ONLY the water stops. I managed to keep doing this...and found my way back to the Falls Bridge by now psyched that I was in the last six miles...and there again was Liz!
Another hug--another energy boost, this time an even stronger one!
Suddenly, I felt I could even pick up my pace a little. I found myself by turns doing the "survival slog" and actually something akin to running. Thought, "hah! Kelly Drive--I run here all the time! I'm almost there!" Thought "finish, please, please finish!" Ignored cramping in left foot. Thought "could I really break five hours?" Saw Dave cheering--that took me through the last stretch that would otherwise have seemed infinite--kept running as hard as my tired legs could stand, and there was the finish line. And the clock--still starting with "4"! Chase time! As I drew closer, it turned over to 4:59, and I was just over 4:59!
Got a bit hypothermic and cramped so. Collapsed onto a bench, and some very nice people got the med folks out to take into the med tent for a while...iv needle. Eventually Neil (my bf) found me. At that point, I was sufficiently recovered to leave--those folks in the med tent deserve a lot of applause--they obviously had a long day! Found Dave, and we all headed to Jill's party. Great food, bloody mary's (oh well, some post-race "rehydration") ;) and a chance to relax. Jill even made her shower available to anyone who wanted to get freshened up. Felt much better after that!
Couple of quick takes (quick?): Five minutes before start time--NEEDED a bathroom stop. Line for portolets stretched at least a half hour long. Panicked--what to do! Ran to Parktown Place Apts. to front entrance. Said to security guard, "I have a marathon in 5 minutes--is there a restroom I can use here?" She directed me to one, and after that, I sprinted to the start, coming face to face with the 5-minute milers, squeezing and "excuse-me'ing" my way back into thecrowd to where I would be less likely to get run over. Not as far back I'm sure as I should have been, but with the start a minute away, I needed a quick stretch. Then we were off!
Wore for much of the race a St.L Cardinals hat--found it on Columbus Blvd. I'd decided not to wear my baseball hat, but then began thinking I should have b/c my bangs had gotten long enough to get in my face, so I thought it would help to have something to hold my hair back. But what could I do--then I saw a hat someone had dropped and made a quick decision to grab it, wondering if it was wise--who knows who might have worn it. But it looked reasonably clean. Put it on, and at many points during the race, I'd hear "Go St. Louis!" and "Come on Cardinals!" I saw at one point a woman with a Red Sox shirt, and called "Go Sox!" which must have been strange w/ my St. Louis hat. But my newly acquired hat went well with the team singlet (blue with red and white trim) and when it got chilly along the river, it was good to have something on my head.
Throughout all this, I have so many people to thank! My coaches and team-mates, my family who thought of me and cheered for me--especially Liz who put in a personal appearance!--the med tent people, and all who were there for me, Neil included, looking for me for almost two hours! Thanks to the angels! Wore an angel pin I'd bought on my birthday. I think the angels approved. Got through the rough spots. Thanks to so many of my online buds here and in Coolrunning, who gave me advice and encouragement through all this. Finished. Was overcome with excitement, shivering, amazed. It was done!
Thanks especially for my Mom for cheering me on in spirit--felt her there in so many ways! Also my Dad's spirit in the med tent when I began to worry that maybe this time I'd done something awful to myself and maybe was in worse shape than I knew...and then sensed/felt "you'll be okay." And then began to feel better.
It was a good experience--not easy but good. And now on to more challenges...more races...more marathons... an ultra? Who knows?
posted by DPMcManus @ 4:40 AM
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