Race Report!

It's sort of like being at an amusement park as a kid. You look in the distance and see the biggest roller coaster you've ever seen. You reluctantly get in line, part excited, part terrified. You inch your way to the start, all the while wondering what you're in for. In the seat with the bar in place, there's no turning back. The ride starts, and you make it through the first few drops and loops. Phew!  Then it evens out for a bit. But just when you think it's almost over, you're pulled over one last stomach dropping turn. And at that moment, you may question your decision to get on the ride in the first place, but it's too late. You're in it. And just as quick as it started, it's over. And you've survived. As you exit the ride and walk away, you say, "That was awesome!" and run right back in line to do it again.


Flashback to Friday, June 3, 2011:
Welcome to San Diego! We had finally made it. After 4 months of training race weekend had finally arrived. And not just any race, our very-first-marathon race weekend. The excitement was almost palpable. And so was the fear. But we tried to keep that at bay and enjoy our Friday night activities.


We went to the Expo which was very exciting. Our first marathon bib pick up, swag bag, timing chip and official race jacket purchase (which, after some debate, was decided should not be worn until after the race.)  We walked around the expo which was full of running related vendors, everything from sneakers, to nutrition, to apparel to.... wine? PF Chang's was sampling wine and giving away fortune cookies. We decided it was a good idea to skip the wine.


For dinner that night we went to a great Mexican restaurant in the Gaslamp District close to our hotel. The Padres were playing, so there were fans mulling around (much more laid back than a home game at Fenway). After a huge meal and still on east coast time, we called it a night. Not sure how much of us actually slept, though!


Saturday morning: We woke up early and went for a 15 minute jog to get the nerves out. It was already pretty warm at 8:30 in the morning, which was a preview of what race morning would feel like. Following our run, we went out for breakfast, but not just any breakfast. The big feed.  Our last supper (jk!). Looking at the table, you would have thought there were twice as many people sitting down to eat. Eggs, omelets, pancakes, home fries, toast, fruit... you name it. Carb loading at its finest! Pack it in, our coach had told us. Did we ever!


Saturday Night: TNT Inspiration Dinner. As we ascended the escalator of The Hilton where the event was being held, we heard all this yelling and cheering. Where is that noise coming from? As we got off the escalator, every TNT coach and employee at the event were lining the hallway, cheering us on with noisemakers as we walked into the huge ballroom. They were not only getting us pumped for the next day, but also cheering on the fact that we all fundraised for this great charity. I have to say this was one of my favorite parts of race weekend.


John "The Penguin" Bingham was the MC of the Inspiration dinner night. He had us all laughing as he described to the first time marathoners in the crowd what to expect the next morning. He said we'd probably wake up around midnight freaking out that we overslept. When morning came we'd have the emotional stability of a two year old. He told us to look to the left and the right of us, and he guaranteed one of the three of us would do something without thinking race morning, like the runner who thought it would be a good idea to eat prunes, after never having eaten them during training...

In total, TNT participants for the San Diego half and full marathon raised 9 million dollars for LLS!


After dinner, we gathered for a pre-race meeting with our coach, Carolyn. I was nervous, but also calm. I think part of my brain was still harping on the distance, but another part of my brain was saying I'm trained and I can run it. Overall it was a feeling of acceptance. Tomorrow was the big day and no amount of freaking out was going to change that. It was game time. Time to take this head on. I was strangely able to sleep that night which was a welcome surprise.


Sunday, June 5th 2:45am: Alarm goes off. I set right to work getting ready, which was pretty easy since I had laid everything out the night before. I was downstairs by 4am. One of my teammates wrote all of our names on our arms in big black sharpie marker. One last group photo and we were on the bus to the start!


5am: Balboa Park Runners Village. We ate again, hydrated, used the rest rooms, applied sun block. We were finally here, the starting line! When I first started training back in February, many people told me getting to the starting line healthy is half the battle. And here I was!

We made our way to corral 14. Not too much time went by before they announced the start of the race! And about 15 minutes later, our corral was released!


As each mile went by it was inspiring to look at the spectators and their signs, as many of them were patients or survivors. Some of the signs read, "Thank you for 14 years cancer free" or in memory or honor of an individual. Being a Rock and Roll Marathon, there were also many local bands along the course.


People ask me what I was thinking during the race. To tell the truth, I wasn't thinking about much. The best way to describe it is that I was focusing. Not on the heat, or the mile I was at, just focusing on my plan and making sure I stuck to it. Not putting a value judgment on anything (I'm only at mile 3, I still have 23 to go...), because I knew that could sabotage the whole race and get me in a bad place mentally. I looked at whatever what in front of me, and didn't let my mind stray.


The way I broke down the 26.2 miles was 10 and 10, and then I'd figure out the last 6. The first 10 sort of floated by. At that point I envisioned our 20 mile training run where we ran out and back. So at mile 10 I pretended I was running "home", or back. The second 10 were fine as well, also uneventful (this sounds boring, but I guess that is a good thing!). Around mile 13 the back of my leg started bothering me, which radiated up and down my right leg. Luckily I was able to run through it. I just tried to ignore the pain. Again, I stayed focused (not on the pain).


I said to the two others I was running with that after mile 13 it's really going to feel like a marathon. Mile 13 - 15 were ok, and then 15-18 was an out and back, and it seemed like forever until we reached the turnaround! My coach was at mile 18, and it was so good to see her. TNT coaches from all over the country lined the course, providing support and encouragement to runners in purple. My coach yelled to us, "You're doing it!!" which gave us a boost.


At this point, I knew I was two miles from 20, and then from there it was the homestretch. I was still feeling pretty good at this point, besides the annoying pain in my leg, which I just tired to ignore. It was starting to warm up and the sun being out the whole morning was starting to take a toll. We ran in shade at every opportunity (which weren't many).


Mile 19... 20... and welcome to Fiesta Island. The last leg of the marathon. The course took runners onto the island for the last 5 miles. An island sounds nice, doesn't it? Probably any other occasion but a marathon. There were no spectators, no bands, just an island where we pounded out the last 6 miles. Miles 20-22 were mentally tough, but not letting my mind stray was important. I knew I was close and could finish, I just had to get through this patch.


At this point it was one foot in front of the other and ticking off the miles. Miraculously, before I knew it, I was finally at 24, after what seemed like the longest miles ever (where is that next mile marker!?!).


So close! Keep going! I think one of the best moments in my life was seeing mile marker 25, because I knew I was there. At that point, we were coming off the island (finally, off the island!!) and in the distance you could see the finish line. At this point all the pain and weariness in my legs faded, and I sprinted to the finish. It was probably more like normal pace, but after having slowed down the last few miles it felt fast. I was there. I could see the finish and the crowds. I was almost home!!!


Finally off the island and in the final stretch, spectators once again lined the course. I looked around to take in the moment, and I'll never forget people cheering me on those last few minutes. I felt strong and good and kept running. A spectator said "Only about 3 more minutes of running." After four hours and 21 minutes, it was music to my ears.


As I ran those last three minutes, it was a personal feeling of accomplishment unlike any other. I had conquered the marathon. I took on the monster and won!!


At the finish, I waited for my friend to come through. I was surprisingly OK at this point. My legs and feet ached, but I was still mobile as we entered the finishers area. Pretty beat up, and with my friend who could barely walk because of her knee, we slowly made our way to the TNT finishers tent. Being an official "finisher" was also surreal knowing that I just run a whole marathon. Maybe I was just surprised I was still walking and talking!!


So now, two weeks after finishing my first marathon, I am that kid who wants to run back in line and ride the scary ride again. This has been a life changing experience and I am grateful and honored for the opportunity to run as a member of Team in Training. As Jacquie's mother wrote to me, hopefully one day we can all run for fun because there will be a cure. I couldn't agree more.


Thank you to those who have followed my journey and supported me throughout the last 4 months. I couldn't have done it without you!


Sarah