my marathon story
it was awesome!!
sometimes i make the caveat by say, "as much as 26.2 miles can be."
the honest truth is that it really was awesome.
i had a blast.
i woke up around 5 am.... the alarm was not set to go off until 5:30.
my brother was actually awake as well.
we just laid there talking to each other until the alarm.
he showered.....
i prepped: peanut butter sandwich, protein shake, body glide, teeth, socks, hat, clothes.
i had made walnut bran blueberry pancakes (recipe from runner's world) to bring while we were standing around.... packed those in my sweatshirt i planned on tossing when the race started.
we got downstairs around 6 and met dad & lois (our designated documentarian).
we were only a few blocks away from union station to catch the metro.
we were all pretty excited.
we got to the pentagon before the sun was up!
the 10 minute walk to the actual start felt longer than it was partially due to nerves and my need to use the potty!
i ate my pancakes while i waited in line for the bathroom.
time: 7:50
we actually heard the start before we were lined up but we jumped in the queue and crossed the start line 19 minutes into the race.
this picture is pretty representative of the first 8 miles:
we ran through some beautiful areas and then crossed over the potomac at mile 4 and ran through georgetown. there was an area just before mile 9 (i went to the bathroom again) where all the fraternity and sorority folks were out cheering with signs and music. there was a ton of energy! it was an great stretch of encouragement.
mile 13.1 was around a beautiful golf course with the jefferson memorial across the river.
then we passed lincoln, vietnam, and then got a glimpse of the white house:
between 17 and 18 we passed the capitol and got to see lois again:
there are no pictures after mile 18. that is when i really started to struggle.
there is a saying "beat the bridge."
you have to get to the 14th street bridge before a certain time or you are picked up and bused to the finish line.
it is a two mile stretch back across the potomac to arlington cememtary where the finish line is..... it almost beat me. dad was struggling and needed to take some longer walk breaks. i ended up leaving them at mile 22 because i was at the point where i needed to just finish. mile 22 - 26.2 were through crystal city which had lots of spectators and cheering but i was so determined to finish that i could have cared less. it was such a mental battle at that point.... but i finished!!!
5:16:44
it was a marathon PR for me by 40 minutes!
phew!
i feel like i have my legs back and hope to take a short jog saturday morning.
thanks for joining me through this journey.
if you would still like to donate to world vision through me, here is the link.
we raised $340 so far and would love to get to $500.
grace!
sometimes i make the caveat by say, "as much as 26.2 miles can be."
the honest truth is that it really was awesome.
i had a blast.
i woke up around 5 am.... the alarm was not set to go off until 5:30.
my brother was actually awake as well.
we just laid there talking to each other until the alarm.
he showered.....
i prepped: peanut butter sandwich, protein shake, body glide, teeth, socks, hat, clothes.
i had made walnut bran blueberry pancakes (recipe from runner's world) to bring while we were standing around.... packed those in my sweatshirt i planned on tossing when the race started.
we got downstairs around 6 and met dad & lois (our designated documentarian).
we were only a few blocks away from union station to catch the metro.
we were all pretty excited.
we got to the pentagon before the sun was up!
the 10 minute walk to the actual start felt longer than it was partially due to nerves and my need to use the potty!
i ate my pancakes while i waited in line for the bathroom.
time: 7:50
we actually heard the start before we were lined up but we jumped in the queue and crossed the start line 19 minutes into the race.
this picture is pretty representative of the first 8 miles:
we ran through some beautiful areas and then crossed over the potomac at mile 4 and ran through georgetown. there was an area just before mile 9 (i went to the bathroom again) where all the fraternity and sorority folks were out cheering with signs and music. there was a ton of energy! it was an great stretch of encouragement.mile 13.1 was around a beautiful golf course with the jefferson memorial across the river.
then we passed lincoln, vietnam, and then got a glimpse of the white house:
between 17 and 18 we passed the capitol and got to see lois again:
there are no pictures after mile 18. that is when i really started to struggle.
there is a saying "beat the bridge."
you have to get to the 14th street bridge before a certain time or you are picked up and bused to the finish line.
it is a two mile stretch back across the potomac to arlington cememtary where the finish line is..... it almost beat me. dad was struggling and needed to take some longer walk breaks. i ended up leaving them at mile 22 because i was at the point where i needed to just finish. mile 22 - 26.2 were through crystal city which had lots of spectators and cheering but i was so determined to finish that i could have cared less. it was such a mental battle at that point.... but i finished!!!
5:16:44
it was a marathon PR for me by 40 minutes!
phew!
i feel like i have my legs back and hope to take a short jog saturday morning.
thanks for joining me through this journey.
if you would still like to donate to world vision through me, here is the link.
we raised $340 so far and would love to get to $500.
grace!
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