As I tracked my journey I often used the hashtags #ICan and #IWill, because my goals started out as my goals, but when I started to share those goals and find people with similar (or the same) goals then I feel they shared a part of my accomplishment.
I Can, I Will, WE DID!
So... what was my actual marathon experience like?!?!
Before the Gun... There were an abundance of things that raced through my mind.
*Am I going to park where I want?
*Am I going to find a bathroom?
*Oh yeah, I need to listen to that pump up song Kathy sent me!
*Do I have enough Vaseline on my feet?
*How much is is going to rain?
*Can I do this?
*What if I cannot find my people?
*This. Is. Happening.
*Am I really ready?
*I've got to make the group photo. Seeing everyone was calming. Here we are, just going out for another long Saturday run.
*Lorri gave me a huge hug and that was comforting.
*Do I have enough fuel?
*What if we start too fast?
*We need to stop at the port-o-pots!
*I really want that medal!
*Run for those who can't.
*Craiger came and found me and it was the absolute sweetest hug. I teared up because he just gave me the "you've got this" pep-talk. He didn't have to do that, but he did and it melted my heart (and brought a tear to my eye).
*Don't forget to turn the tracker app on.
*Text message overload.
*What if I can't do this?
*Make sure your gps connects.
*KELLY!!!! Where is Kelly?!?! Not going to lie, when one of your people are missing you panic inside a bit. We found her.
*Of course there was plenty of time for all of the above, but it felt like time going the speed of lightening and there was no time for any of it.
Mile 1: Here we go.
Mile 2: Still moving.
Mile 3: We've got this.
Mile 4: Alright, alright. A little sprinkle.
Mile 5: First glimpse of the fam!
Mile 6: Trucking along.
Mile 7: Raining a bit more.
Mile 8:
Mile 9: This is when we exited Churchill and followed the "Marathoners to the right!" directions. This was a WOW moment for me.
Miles 10 and 11: I liked these miles. They were the slow and steady incline to Iroquois. I saw my cousin, April, coming back in on the other side and that was super encouraging and fun. (She placed 2nd for the women. Whoop! Whoop!) At this point, I felt like I could run forever. I felt confident in everything we had done. I knew for a fact I could make it to 22. That was our longest training run and it was only a few weeks prior.
Mile 12: Here goes nothing! The crowd going into the park was decent size. It was fun to see how many people stood out in the rain to cheer on their people. I think Iroquois is a little intimidating to most some runners. The loop is the opposite of the Papa John's 10 Miler and I really wanted to make sure I had grasp on what to mentally accept be prepared for. My SIS (and Ryann who slept the whole time) went and walked the loop and then Ruth, Kelly, and I ran it numerous times leading up to race day. This "preparation" really helped getting through the park. I feel like Iroquois is much more difficult to mentally navigate than Cherokee for various reasons. 1. I had only gone around the loop from the left. 2. I had only been there a handful of times. 3. There are not nearly as many visual markers as there are in Cherokee. That's all different now because we took the time to "practice."
Mile 13: I knew at mile 13 there was going to be a downhill with one more hill to go.
Mile 14: This was the front side of the park. There was an awesome little band that was super up-beat and exciting.
Mile 15: Iroquois is over. dunzo. no more hills. you are over half way there. wow. my knee hurts. my hip. Ouch. It's crazy to think of how quickly things can change. Just about 3 miles ago, I was ready to run forever and now I didn't know what to expect. I made the conscious choice to slow down a bit. It was the smart choice.
Mile 16: Coming back in Southern Parkway my cousin, Natalie, was standing there waiting. She told me to keep going and that she was so proud of me. I appreciated hearing that.
Mile 17: I saw my Aunt Judy and Uncle Jerry again somewhere around here. My Aunt definitly lost her voice that day. My cousin, Angel, was running her first marathon too! This is when I also saw Heath and Jennifer and their little girl Lucy. Heath is a friend of my brother's that leads the weekly cross-training class I go to. He is super inspiring and motivating and it was exciting seeing them there.
Mile 18: I mean, my friends are awesome! Giving up so much of their day to wait over and over again.
Mile 19:The Weiterville Express didn't disappoint. In fact, it went above and beyond. There were signs everywhere! My dad played our song, "Free and Easy Down the Road I go!" He had a line of signs that said it too! I was stoked. I'm a pretty emotional person as it is... at this moment, my heart swelled with love. I remember hugging my mom and my dad. I think I told Kathy that I was unsure if I was going to make it. Craig put his arm around me. Bub patted me on the back. I was struggling, I was hurting, but they lifted me up. I left with a bag of oranges and a full heart. I will never forget that feeling. I knew when I saw them, the end was near, but what I didn't realize was that the next 6.2 were going to be the absolute hardest thing I have ever done physically.
Mile 20: I couldn't get my fuel open. The plastic wrapper and my fingers were so wet that they just kept slipping off. Luckily a few people on the side were kind enough to help me out!
This is when Leigh and I met up again! It was like an angel was sent to me.
This is also when I really really started to struggle. My hip was hurting in a way that I have never felt before and it traveled down to the outside of my knee. It was the worst pain I have ever felt in that area. The only thing that I found that would help at this point was is if I took short walk breaks.
From this point on, I didn't think I would see anyone until the finish line. Thank goodness I was wrong.
This is when Leigh and I met up again! It was like an angel was sent to me.
This is also when I really really started to struggle. My hip was hurting in a way that I have never felt before and it traveled down to the outside of my knee. It was the worst pain I have ever felt in that area. The only thing that I found that would help at this point was is if I took short walk breaks.
From this point on, I didn't think I would see anyone until the finish line. Thank goodness I was wrong.
Mile 21: Is that Bub? YES! My brother popped up again! He told me to put one foot in front of the other and that I would get there. I didn't believe him, but he was right.
Mile 22: Holy schnikes!!! That's Alma, Trey, and Barry! This was such an awesome surprise!!!
Mile 23: KATHY AND RYANN again!!! Singing loudly!
Then right up the street my favorite Goulets popped up again!
Then right up the street my favorite Goulets popped up again!
Mile 24: Is that a table with shots of beer on it?!?!?! Why yes it is! I didn't have any, but I saw others take some and it provided a good laugh. This is right where Broadway went downhill and that was a nice feeling.
Mile 25: I looked at Leigh and said, "Does that say 25?" I honestly didn't believe it. I was in so much pain and so over it that tears came to my eyes. Miles 21-25 were definitely the hardest for me. If I didn't have Leigh there, I am not sure I would have made it. She talked my head off and I appreciated that more than she will ever know. I couldn't tell you a darn thing she said, but she having her there meant the world to me.
Mile 26 AND that last .2: Leigh and I saw her friends from New York, my aunt popped up again, and Leigh's husband was right at the turn.
We turned the corner and there was Genna and Michelle on the right hooting and hollering!
Then I looked to the right and Jayne, Lindsay, Nate, and Leo were there. Que ugly cry!
Then I looked ahead and my mom, brother, aunt, and family friend were all waiting right through the finish line.
I threw my hands up and a smile covered my face...this is it!
I hugged them all and then lost it. My left leg hurt so bad, but I had to go get that medal. I hugged the adorable guy that nicely placed it over my neck.
I limped around to the finish area to find Ruth, Kelly, and Leigh! We smiled, we hugged, we took a photo, WE DID IT!
Of course I hit the PR gong, because well, I PRed.
Jim, a Fleet Feet mentor, came over and gave me a high-five! He was there when I started this journey and he popped up at the finish line.
Holy Sh*t! Did that just happen?
XOXO-Kim
XOXO-Kim
