Sixteen weeks ago, I began a training program to run my second marathon. Half way through that training, I wrote about how amazing I felt and how great my training was progressing. Within days of reporting on my progress, I came down with tendinitis in my right ankle. Panic and thoughts of the worst possibilities swirled in my head. I knew that I would have to take care of the ankle. Which meant no running. So for two weeks I nursed the ankle.
With six weeks away from the marathon, I had three weeks of heavy training miles and three weeks of tapering. The first three weeks I could have not gotten through with out the help of a very special group of women... SRM, Strong Running Mamas and mostly Mrs. Tamica Kenyon. I can't thank Tami enough for pushing me through some of the toughest training miles.
For the last three weeks of training, I could breath a little easier. This is where tapering began. I got to cut my training miles back a bit and start recovery for the marathon. So, I decided a few months back that I would register for the Zooma Cape Cod Half Marathon as a training run. Felice, one of the ambassadors to the race and also a SRM, would be running as well. [On a little side note, Felice, whether you know this or not, when I joined your group of SRM, you were my inspiration.] I was thrilled to be running with Felice. Again, this was supposed to be a training run! Not a training race! Right. My inner competitiveness could not be contained. So, I gave it all I had! I came out with a personal best of 1:46:41 and a second place finished in my age group! What a great way to build my confidence for the marathon.
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| Felice and Me |
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| Finishing with a PR |
With two weeks left, I had to recover from the Zooma Half Marathon. So, that meant take it easy! And, I did. I was seasoned and in tune with my body. I have learned how to listen to it. In the mean time, anticipations were building. "I'm going to run my second marathon!!" I'd think to myself.
Without giving it much thought, I decided I would sign up with a pacer on the day of the Expo. The 3:45 pacer! So many thoughts went rushing through me. What was I thinking?! I ran my first marathon in 4:46:13. I felt much faster this year...but over an HOUR faster??? I had so many doubts...
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| Melissa and I Marathon morning |
Marathon morning is here. The weather is perfect for running. My nervous energy and adrenaline are off the charts. They have been since I made the big decision to go with the 3:45 pacer. I literally want to throw up. I need to calm down. But, that won't happen until the race starts. I tell myself, "you can do this". I anticipate the start. Here we go. And the journey begins.
The pacer, Ludo, is great. He starts off pretty easy and picks up the pace, easing the group into an 8:30 to 8:35 minute/mile pace. Ludo is very engaging with the group. He talks to us the whole time.
Keeping the group on pace. This is great! I'm running an 8:30 min/mi and conversing with a group of people. I am comfortable. I am doing it! I'm on pace and I feel great. My breathing is easy. My legs feel fresh. Omg, I'm really doing this.
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| 3:45 Pace Group |
Almost half way through, I pass SRM Melissa Hasan and we give each other a high five. What a boost! It was also nice to see some familiar faces along the way. Like, Melissa's husband and her sweet baby girl, Mia. I remember some of the course from running a 20 miler with Tami. So, I feel very comfortable. We get to the half way point and I'm still with the 3:45 group. The group is still pretty big. About 20 people are running in this group. It was great. Runners were exchanging jokes making the time fly by. What a blast I am having. I'm with a group of about 20 runners. Running a marathon at a 8:35 min/mi pace and I'm half way done with a 26.2 mile race.
I ask myself, "how do you feel?" Breathing, check. Legs, check. No cramping. I'm good. I gel twice by the half way point and I take in some salt and electrolyte caps. I'm still on pace. That's great because here come some of the hardest miles.
We are now almost at 20 miles and I still feel pretty good. We are in familiar territory, Watervliet. Soon we will be back on the bike path. I was told to look down when I got to Watervliet. Aww, how sweet...a little motivation written on the bike path in chalk. It gave me the biggest smile and the drive to keep going. I consumed some more gel. At this point it really doesn't go down very well. I start feeling like I have to throw up. So now I start to plan in my head how am I going to throw up and keep moving? That's right, because there is no way I'm stopping now. I kept the feeling at bay. Now the pacer, Ludo, is breaking the race down one mile at a time. This is going to be the longest six miles of my life. I stay with the group until about mile 24. I see Tami along the way and it puts a smile on my face. I'm two miles away from the finish but my legs are tired now. They feel so heavy. I start to lose pace and the pacer along with the group. I find myself alone. Which is difficult at this point because I want to stop so bad. Now it's time to run with my heart.
I kept repeating it in my head "When your LEGS get tired, RUN with your HEART." "Dig Sheila, and what ever you do DO NOT stop." I knew at this point that I would not hit 3:45 even but I sure as hell was going to try and come in before that clock read 3:46. I near the boat launch and there is my husband and girls. I think I wave but I'm not so sure because as I'm starting to kick it in to the finish, which I can't see but I know is near, and I start to zone out. Now I'm running with my heart! Everything is numb and I keep pushing harder and harder to the finish line. I see it, I see the finish line. One more big dig. At this point everyone and everything is a blur and I push through the finish line. And, into the arms of two EMS personal. They (along with my co-work and boss lady Sgt. Morgan) hold me up and walk me around for a few minutes. My body felt like jello and I almost crumbled to the ground a few time. I was so disoriented. Now I know what it feels like to run with my heart.
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| Near the finish! |
There was a bit of confusion on my part about my time. There were a couple of computers set up nearby under a tent. I gave my bib number to the lady and she plugs it in and it spits out my race time.
3:46:02. Later that night I find out that 3:46:02 was my gun time. My net time was 3:45:45! I did it! And, as I write this the tears start to build up in my eyes because I still can not believe I ran that time. Although, my body is letting me know that I did. I'm still in awe at what my body and heart allowed me to do yesterday.
A finally though,
3:45 was my B plan. My A plan was to run just under 4 hours.
Thank you for letting me share :^)
