Marathon Recap!

Friday June 8th, Scott and I headed down to Provo to pick up our marathon bags.  I had never been to a place to pick up race packets where it was so crowded before! After we picked up our bags, we went home and made some pasta.  I was feeling so nervous setting everything out for the day of.  I wanted to make sure that we didn't forget anything!  We went to bed about 10:00pm and set the alarm for 3:15am.  I didn't sleep that great and I had to get up at 1:00am to go to the bathroom, but I was ready to go when the alarm went off.

We got ready, had a protein bar for breakfast, made sure we had everything and then off we went.  We drove down to the same place where the race packet pick up was to get on a bus to take us to the starting line.  I really wanted to get a before picture, but we were worried about catching the bus, but believe me when I say that we did not look as tired as we did when we were finished (which you will see soon).

While we were walking over to the bus, there was a huge long line to get on.  I didn't want to go all the way to the end, so we cut in where there was a little gap.  This charter bus then pulled up right next to us and said that they could take 6 runners on their bus.  We jumped on it and found out we were on a Maniac Marathon bus.  Basically, these are people who like to run a lot of marathons.  Scott sat next to someone who was running a marathon in all 50 states.  She had already ran in 13 different states.  I felt a little intimidated being on that bus since this was my first time.  We pretty much rode the whole length of the marathon and I tried hard not to think about how long it was.

The bus finally gets to the starting line and there are a lot of people walking around, music playing, and some bonfires were going to help keep warm.  It actually wasn't too cold, but it was windy which made it colder than it really was.  We had to wait around for about an hour until it was actually time to run.

6:00am came, the gun was shot and off we went!  The first six miles started out really great.  We both were feeling pretty good, but Scott's knee started hurting soon after.  We took advice from my uncle and drank water at every aid station (starting at mile 3 and then every 2 miles after that) and walked the length of the aid station.  It really seemed to help a lot to do that.  I think at mile 11, they had bananas and oranges, which also helped.

When we got to the halfway point (13.1), we had a quick bathroom break and continued on our way.  Scott's knee started to hurt a little more and fell a little bit behind.  I went ahead thinking he'd eventually catch up.  At mile 15, there was an aid station, so I stopped to walk and drink some water.  I didn't see Scott right away, so I started getting worried about how he was doing with his knee.  I decided to stick around until he came by just so I could have the reassurance that he was okay.  He told me to keep going and that he would see me at the finish line.

I wasn't sure about going the last 11 miles by myself, but I couldn't go the slow pace Scott was going, so I went ahead.  I'm glad that I had borrowed my sister's I-pod because the music really helped me forget about how much longer I still had to run.  I was actually doing really well and then I came to a huge blow up sign that said "Conquer the Wall".  This was at 19 miles.  I almost wish it hadn't been there to remind me because I think that it got into my head.  Some negative thoughts started creeping in, but I shoved them out pretty quickly or I knew they would get the best of me.

I started walking a little bit more between miles, but it was really around mile 23 where I could feel the pain in my legs and feet.  I couldn't help but think of how painful it was and how even though I only had 3 miles left, it still seemed like forever away.  At the mile 24 aid station, they were passing out half of an otter pop and it was like manna from heaven!  I wish I had grabbed 5, it tasted so good.  As I was still walking the aid station after I got my otter pop, I reached for some water and the guy who handed it to me said the best thing ever.  "Keep smiling number 6979 (bib number)! Keep smiling!"  For some reason, that helped me out so much.  I smiled and knew that I could finish this marathon!

When it came to the last mile, it was so hard to keep my focus off of the pain.  I could see the finish line in the distance, but it still seemed so far away.  It was the longest mile of my life and there was so much relief once I crossed that finish line!  I got handed my giant, heavy medal and I headed straight for the water table.  I gulped down a cup of water and then looked at the oranges right next to me and scarfed down half an orange.  It was the best orange I'd ever tasted.  I knew that I couldn't sit down right away because of my muscles, but it was so hard to continue walking around.  I saw a table that had chocolate milk and grabbed one of those to drink.  I went and stood underneath a tent next to the oranges and tried hard to stay standing, but my legs have never felt so tired in their 26 years of existence.  I couldn't help it and sat down.  I drank about half the chocolate milk and then just waited for Scott to finish.  During that time, I stood up once to keep my muscles moving and I felt sort of queasy when I stood up.  Some guy asked me a question about where something was and right after he asked me, I threw up in the trash can next to me.  Haha, too much liquid I guess!

Scott finished about 20 minutes after me and I still felt queasy and a little light headed.  We then just walked straight to the car to head home.  I am a little bummed that I felt so awful afterwards.  It was hard to be happy about the fact that I just finished a marathon with the pain being so prominent.  The celebration of finishing just wasn't what I had imagined in my head and that really bummed me out.  I really wanted to take pictures of us at the finish area, but the only way was to walk to the car to get my camera and then walk back.  Walking hurt so bad for both of us that there was no way we were going to do that.  I at least got one picture of each of us afterwards in the car and that's better than nothing, but not what I was hoping for.

Either way, I can now say that I ran a marathon!  I ran/walked 26.2 miles!  I ran for 5 1/2 hours straight!  I ran a marathon with my husband!  I have finally accomplished a goal that I've had for the past few years!  It is done, finished and now only a memory in my head, but a memory I hope to never forget.

Look at those tired eyes!