On October 16th, 2011 I ran and finished my very first 1/2 Marathon. Here are my thoughts...
Eight weeks of training finished.
Not that I love to run. On most days it takes all I've got to talk myself out onto the road. Old negative tapes from days gone by still play in my head. Although they have diminished over the last year.
I signed up and had a goal and an obligation to train.
Before the marathon I had read a couple of posts that said "trust the training" and "enjoy the journey". (boy did that help!!)
My longest training run went very well the week before. Which was 10 miles. (The others...well...good runs were hit or miss)
So with these tools in mind I went into the race with a goal to take it one mile at a time, enjoy looking at the "pretty things". I'm not running to win so I was set on enjoying it. No matter the weather.
Registration went off without a hitch. I signed up to run with a pacer at 11:35 minute miles (challenging enough I hoped).
Driving down and spending the night with two gals running the full Marathon helped ease the pain. We all where jittery and had our "blond" moments Saturday nite.
Up early because no one could sleep...we got our breakfasts. I had Oatmeal and eggs.
Dumped out from our shuttle with 15 minutes to spare, thousands of people already
lined up, said good luck to my marathon friends and headed toward my letter and pacer in
line.
Realizing I was holding my bag to be checked I freaked out,
looking around…where is gear check? They said it would be at the starting line!
(I’m literal)
Asking a couple runners everyone pointed that way or said by
cobo a couple blocks away! I ran a block stopped looked around…no one, nothing.
Dark. Detroit. Upset.
Wondering, am I going to run all 13.1 miles with this bag?!! By
this time running back and forth wondering if Im going to wear myself out before the race … afraid I was going to miss the race.
I ran back to my spot in line…K…gated off, with my bag and
my warm outer clothes still on I looked around and saw next to “us” a resturant
with long tables set up to sell food later on. I looked at the guy and asked
him if he knew where gear check was? He said sorry, I don’t!
By this time, not caring if someone took my stuff.
I took off my sweat pants and sweat shirt, stuffed them in
my bag, asked him if I could store it under his
table....thankfully he said yes!
Big Sigh!
Now how do I get to my pacer guy? The road is all gated
off!!
I make my way down to the end and all the way to “K” parden
me, excuse me, parden me….oh boy what a crowd! I make it to my guy.
HUGH Sigh of relief!!
STRETCH, I didn’t stretch!! OH NO!! Staying calm I find a
place to stretch and then felt so much better.
Sanaty restored! Excitement replacing worry.
