(Prime, shorts, footwear, socks)
Okay, Saturday was particular.
Actually particular.
It has been a really emotional few weeks, and the race had been the very last thing on my mind main as much as it.
By some means, the marathon gods gave me the day I wanted. I had an absolute blast for almost all of the race and felt an amazing quantity of affection alongside the best way.
From seeing Andrew and my youngsters just a few occasions, seeing my brother and his household, the handfuls of occasions I regarded down and noticed Mer’s ring on my finger and felt the largest enhance from her (questioning if she was there cheering me on), chatting with a few of my favourite buddies alongside the best way, cheers from folks there to look at the race, texts/messages/feedback from one of the best people earlier than the race, and implausible race volunteers doing what they do for full strangers like me… I actually felt like I used to be being hugged time and again all through the 26.2.
This was my 18th marathon, however now considered one of my most memorable operating reminiscences as a result of it was like a blanket of peace and luxury that I wanted. I don’t ever wish to neglect how that felt.
I slept amazingly and wakened naturally at 4 a.m. I obtained up at 4:30 and began consuming a Belvita bar (230 energy then after which one other 230 energy of the bars + a banana at 5:30 am). I took a bathe and obtained prepared. We obtained the youngsters prepared, and we had been out the door at 5:20 to drive to the beginning; they let Andrew drive me to the beginning as a result of I get carsick in busses.
I left my cellphone with Andrew and walked over to the begin to discover some buddies. I used to be thrilled to really feel chilly (I introduced a blanket to the beginning!) and to see an enormous tailwind occurring (they at all times have a ton of flags out alongside the beginning line so you’ll be able to see clearly which manner the wind goes).
I sat subsequent to the fires with some buddies and took a Maurten caffeine gel at 6:40 (the race began at 7) earlier than utilizing the restroom and stepping into the corral. I didn’t do any sort of warm-up (oops).
This was the primary yr this marathon did a light-weight present with drones earlier than it began. I want I might have had my digicam. It was darkish out, and the drone lights shaped unbelievable photos within the sky, together with a countdown for the race begin. Everybody’s jaws dropped. Now, I actually need you guys to do that race!
I began with these buddies for the primary 10 miles. It was a lot enjoyable. We chatted, caught up on life, laughed, and constructed one another up.
We now have 19 youngsters between the 4 of us:)
I took a Maurten gel at miles 4 & 8 and obtained my first bottle of liquid IV at mile 7. I really feel like Gatorade doesn’t work nice for me, and the liquid IV was wonderful for getting within the electrolytes I wanted as a result of Maurtens don’t have sufficient in them for a marathon.
At mile 8, we misplaced 2 of my buddies, and at mile 11, my pal Kassi pulled forward. At mile 13, my pal Amy caught up, and we chatted for about 2 miles.
Attending to do one thing arduous with buddies is my favourite high 10 life actions.
Are you able to deal with these views?
As soon as Amy went forward, I turned on my music (it connects to my watch) in a single ear, and I could have sung a bit too…
I saved up with my gels each 4 miles till mile 20ish once I absolutely puked (TMI?) the gel I took as I ran (I made certain nobody was close to me). Perhaps I used to be over-fueled or over-hydrated (I used to be downing my bottles), however I couldn’t get one other calorie. I felt depleted in these final two miles of the marathon. I like to attempt to analyze why issues occur the best way they do in the course of the marathon, however typically, I have to do not forget that I’m asking my physique to do one thing ridiculous (run 26.2 miles), and the potential for it revolting with a particular motive is excessive.
The final two miles had been powerful, however as you flip to the ultimate stretch, I heard my brother’s voice booming. By no means has there been a human that may undertaking extra quantity than him. It was simply what I wanted to complete sturdy.
I really like all of them a lot. Seeing this crew at mile 26 was every little thing.
I hit 13.1 miles at 1:24:15ish and completed at 2:48:11, so the halves had been fairly even splits. Contemplating each halves had been sooner than my half in August made me fairly blissful!
The primary half of St George is rather more difficult with the climbing (miles 7-11), however on a few of the steep downhills within the second half, I felt my hamstring performing up. I took it again a notch on these downhills as a result of I didn’t wish to trigger an damage and miss out on operating the Budapest Marathon with Andrew. However I additionally felt fully performed within the final two miles, so I believe I used to be proper the place my health was for the day.
DOWNHILL course, however some burning uphills happen all through the course at factors, too:
6:14, 6:28, 6:10, 6:09, 6:12, 6:01, 5:59, 7:07, 6:44, 6:31, 6:56, 6:29, 6:16, 6:13, 6:03, 6:04, 6:12, 6:18, 6:49, 6:31, 6:11, 6:36, 6:24, 6:18, 6:37, 6:40, 6:29 tempo for final .2.
1st in my age group and ninth girl general! $275 money prize🤍
Now for manner too many extra ideas:
*I’m studying increasingly that life isn’t nearly outcomes. Certain, outcomes are actually enjoyable, but when I lose the enjoyment operating brings me within the course of, I’m doing issues unsuitable. I thought of this so much on the beginning line. I used to be there to seek out pleasure alongside the 26.2 miles; the rest was simply additional credit score.
*I needed to complete desirous to do it once more, not retire (like how I completed in 2022) and on the bottom. Mission completed.
*I’m so grateful for an additional superior coaching block from my coach!
*One among my favourite marathon suggestions. Run the place you’re–> Not in 10 miles, the following hill, or half-hour… Give attention to operating the place you’re at that very second.
*For the final ceaselessly, I’ve actually thought of my time targets for the marathon. A course PR sounded fabulous going into the race, however I felt strongly this time that I needed to deal with operating by really feel and with buddies as a lot as attainable with out an actual quantity in my head. A time purpose is so enjoyable, however I’ve discovered that my marathoning is dependent upon the day. I needed to present my greatest I had for the day and be happy with that. Throughout Boston, just a few months earlier, it was arduous to look at my time purpose slip farther and farther away all through the race though I used to be doing my greatest… I wish to be happy with my efforts on days like that, not disillusioned that I didn’t hit an actual quantity. These magic marathon days are uncommon and few, so I believed both I might get a type of magical days (hallelujah) or I might focus (and be proud) on doing my very best if it wasn’t my day. Going into the race with zero strain on myself and little or no nerves was SO good. It allowed me to let go of what I couldn’t management and deal with what I might management.
*Andrew. He’s so good to us all.
*I flipped my watch round and didn’t look a lot at it. It was releasing to not be checking it the entire time. My pal informed me earlier than the race to get to the end line as quick as I might with out watching my watch… I really like simplicity, and that made it so enjoyable.
*My different two targets for the day had been to attempt to not really feel and to search for the great. The much less I deal with each little factor that’s hurting or going unsuitable, the higher I run. I discover myself getting caught up in losing vitality fascinated about how my respiratory is feeling or my hamstring or how drained my muscular tissues are, and when these ideas pop up, I informed myself to consider something aside from how I used to be feeling (which type of contradicts my purpose of operating by really feel haha nevertheless it in some way labored).
*In search of the great at all times makes my runs/races go higher. Whether or not it’s a purple mountain alongside the course, the cutest little youngsters cheering on the perimeters who’re so excited to see their mother and father run by, or how grateful I’m to have discovered a gel that makes my abdomen very blissful (more often than not;)… discovering the small (however vital) good alongside the best way makes the largest distinction for me mentally.
*Additionally, wanting OUTWARD helped me a lot. I centered on how good the volunteers had been, how my buddies felt, the right way to cheer on a runner subsequent to me, and many others. It’s at all times wonderful to me how a lot specializing in others helps us when experiencing ache in a race or in life.
*Stuffing ice in my sports activities bra is a straightforward factor that brings a lot pleasure throughout a marathon.
*I used my inhalers earlier than the race and was so grateful for them! My lips had been blue on the finish of the race, however I didn’t have my regular coughing assault, the place I really feel like my airways are closing off. These coughing assaults scare me, and I used to be so grateful to not have one once more.
*I compelled the carb load this yr (I didn’t have a lot urge for food final week resulting from feelings), and I actually can’t consider how a lot of a distinction it makes. An efficient carb load makes probably the most vital distinction on race day.
*I really like the marathon expertise once I really feel like I present up slightly undercooked than even a millimeter overcooked. This was a brief coaching block (9-10 weeks), and I felt so springy for a lot of the race, which is simply how I wish to really feel.
Thanks for studying my novel! Now, onto BUDAPEST!
Who raced over the weekend? Inform me every little thing!
What was considered one of your happiest races?
What’s your favourite sort of electrolyte hydration throughout a protracted race?
Does anybody else get movement illness? Any recommendations on the right way to assist it?
