Okay so I've tried to write a race recap post three different times and started over every time. Imagine a trashcan full of crumpled papers right about now. So I'll keep this short and sweet. Okay maybe not so short.
I had two goals for this race. The first was to finish the race without walking. And the second was to see my sister and dad cross that finish line with me. And I achieved both of those goals, so I'm happy with that. My time was 20 minutes slower ((2:32) than my normal pace but running alongside my sister for the first time made it completely worth it.
The first six miles were incredible. I was lost in the joy of the moment, running alongside 30,000 other runners. The course was great, the fans were amazing, and my body felt great. I remember telling my dad that I was going to have no problems finishing, that I was going to pick it up for the last two miles and finish strong. Around mile nine I still felt great. That feeling ended quickly right around mile ten when the temperature hit 80 degrees. The last three miles were the hardest three miles I've ever run in my life- physically and mentally. The average race temperature is between 65-70 degrees, and the high temperatures just seemed to sap the energy out of everyone. I was physically exhausted.
But even more than that, the race was mentally exhausting. I always say that running is mostly mental. Your mind is much more likely to quit before your body actually needs to. We just let ourselves quit. Know why it was so hard? Probably about 90% of the people (and that's not an exaggeration) were walking the last two miles because of the heat. So rather than being able to go on cruise control for the last two miles of the race to finish, I had to manuever around thousands of other people to get to the finish.
If you think running 13.1 miles is hard, try running the last three miles while everyone around you is walking. Try telling yourself that it's not okay to walk when everyone else thinks it is. So I finished sore, sick, and tired. But I finished. We finished.
So that's the race. I can't believe it's over, and I can't believe that I'm already planning the next one. We're thinking the Bay Harbor half in Maine.
Somehow we didn't get any pictures of my dad at the actual race so you'll have to enjoy the sisterly bonding before the race. There is no way you are getting a picture of me after the race :) Oh and please remember that this is at 6 AM before running a half-marathon. You're lucky I even took pictures.
18 comments:
I am soooo proud of you spit!!!! You Rock!! I can only wish to do something so physically amazing!! Good for you!!
whoo hoo!! congrats!!
yayy!!! CONGRATS!!! :)
I'm always amused by the fact that for 2-3 miles at the end I feel like crappppp and wonder why the heck I keep doing this (Racing for 13 miles!).....then I cross the finish line, can't stop smiling, and I'm thinking "hm, where should I race next???" haha, I'm glad you're already planning ahead!
That is so great you you had so fun and w/ your sister too I know being sick is no fun-- your body is asking Do you know what you just did? We are proud of you too are recouped for the trip?
Hey Call me today when you get a moment
Congratulations on such an accomplishment!
You and your sister look so much alike!
Congrats! You have to be so happy!
Congrats! That is awesome that you achieve both of your goals. That would be hard to see everyone else walking and still have to have the motivation to keep running. I think it's great that you have gotten so many people to run with you... when is the Maine one, I might be interested :)
Wow, That is so great! I'm excited for part 2!
way to power through! you're such
a champ. what an accomplishment.
rawkstar, brit!
xoxo
A big congrats and a hug! That is just awesome!!
Way to go!!! :) Thats so awesome briel ran with you too! Maine is SO BEAUTIFUL and would likely be perfect running weather. the breeze there is heaven! :)
Ooh! I might want to come to that one because Maine is one of the few states left that I have not yet visited. Plus it is early in the school year and on a weekend.
congrats! congrats! that's awesome. you are a running rock star :)
Woo hoo! Way to go!
This is Dad. You were awesome this weekend and kept everyone's spirits up. I did feel like we were running in an oven the last few miles (the area, I have subsequently learned, is called "the gulch") and others have commented on how hard that stretch was as well. We're going to have to pick up the pace a little for the next one cause Brennen has expressed some interest and he needs you to keep up with him.
So much congratulations to you... 13.1 finisher :)
congrats! you are pretty amazing.
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