The aftermath of a crazy semester
So, I did run the marathon yesterday, finishing in 5 hours and 37 minutes. I didn't do it well, but I did it, and I guess that's what counts. Still, I can't help but feel a little disappointed. I had really, really wanted to finish in 4:30, and I ran with a pace team from the beginning, but it became too hard to keep up with them for a number of reasons. First, in mile 4, I got jostled in the freaking ENORMOUS crowd of people and tripped on the metal, in-ground tram track that runs along the street that was part of our route. I twisted my ankle, but kept on going, only to find intensifying pain as I reached the later parts of the route. Secondly, with wind gusts of 30 mph, I was literally being blown over at points - I didn't go down, but I did stumble at several points with the force of the wind.
Still, all of that kind of seems like excuses for me. Frankly, I'm a little disappointed in myself, which I know is absurd, given that I did accomplish the rather awesome task of running 26.2 miles at all. It also puts things slightly more in perspective knowing that someone actually died during yesterday's marathon. A 29 year old woman, an experienced runner, simply passed out and died at mile 21. So, yes, this is no mere walk in the park, to be sure. But I will say that I definitely, definitely want to do this again, if only for the mere reason to prove that I'm capable of doing better than 5:37. I'm so ashamed whenever I see that number or have to tell someone that's my time. :(
A few highlights and notes of interest from yesterday's race:
- best aid station: mile 19, where the water and Gatorade was handed out by Hooter's girls
- best song: I'm ashamed to say, but when Christina Aguilera's "Fighter" came on around mile 24, it really got me going. I was pissed off, tired, and limping along at a walk, and then when that song came on, I was like, fuck no...I can do better than this. :)
- thing that kept me going the most: the crowds cheering everyone on. It was SO awesome. I can't believe the number of people that turned out. A lot of them were cheering for other runners, but a lot were also just people who lived in the neighborhoods we were running through. Since everyone's racing bib has their name on it, people would often cheer for us by name. I can't tell you how many times I was dragging ass, and some nice stranger would shout something like, "Come on, Lisa, don't give up!" or "Go Lisa, we're proud of you!" and it would give me a little boost to keep going. If any of you reading this ever have a chance to go watch a marathon, please, please do it to cheer on the runners!
- best moment: at the very end, at the mile 26 marker, the course turned onto Victory Ave for the last .2 miles. Both sides of the road were lined with hundreds of people, all cheering, and I had a great song playing on my iPod ("Welcome to the Black Parade," which I had specifically planned to listen to as I crossed the finish line), and I said to myself, you know what, fuck it...give it all you've got left. Everyone still running at this point was exhausted, myself included, and mostly dragging along at a slow jog, but I tore off in a full-out, give-it-all-you've-got-and-then-some sprint. The crowd went wild, which was a great feeling, and really helped push me those last few meters to the finish line.
So, when I'm able to properly walk again, that is, after my muscles don't ache if I even think about moving, I'll start training for my next challenge. After all, what good is running a marathon other than to set a personal record to beat?