I'm a marathoner!

Well today is two days post my completion of my first ever marathon, Marine Corps 2013. It was one of the hardest and best things I've ever done. The MCM weekend for me started with a very early (6:45am) train down to D.C. The nervousness I had about the event had given away to sheer excitement. I arrived at the DC Armory around 11am Saturday morning to unfortunately find a very long line just to pick up my bib. It took a hour for me to get inside of the tent. Once inside I found out why things were taking so long, they had lost power. The tent was dark except for the lights of the computers used to check our entry. After making sure my bib would be recognized I left to wait in yet another line just to enter the expo. I would have skipped the expo but that was the only way to get my shirt and bag. This line moved faster; only a 20-25 minute wait. They really should not have separated the bib and shirt pick up like that. At this point I didn't want to spend too much more time on my feet so I quickly got my shirt and then went to the Brooks store (to see what merchandise was actually left in my size). I had seen prior posts on facebook about the ridiculous lines for official Brooks MCM gear. I picked a short sleeve and long sleeve shirt and thankfully the line to pay wasn't that bad. I walked around the expo but did not stay long. I had my luggage and it was too crowded. I would have liked to get another item, something that said 26.2 on it but wasn't in the mood. I was hungry and didn't want to end up with a headache by delaying eating. I went to my hotel and had difficulty getting from the metro stop to it (despite it being only 0.4 miles). Once I was finally checked in, I drop off my things and then went to search for food. I ended up at BBQ joint, I was tempted to go for some wings, but knew that would be a bad idea. I had a turkey salad with a side of mashed potatoes. I did get an order of banana pudding to go. I ate a little bit of it later (it was good) and saved the rest for post marathon. I relaxed, layed out my race day outfit,and hydrated. I was in bed around 9:15 and definitely fell asleep before 9:45. I woke up around 12:15 to use the bathroom. I woke up again at around 2 am. I finally got up for 4:30am with my alarm to get ready. I had oatmeal for breakfast and drank a very slight amount of water. I was dressed and ready to go by 5:30. I headed out to the metro (it was very dark, so I walked past it initially). I got on the metro around 5:45-5:50. The train was packed and hot. I got off at the Pentagon stop with all the others and then made the nearly 1 mile walk to Runners Village. I headed straight to bag check out to have to wait around because the UPS workers were not there to open the trucks. Our Marines were there prepared to take out bags but to no avail. Apparently the UPS workers were supposed to be there at 6am. They didn't start showing up till 6:20. I saw some of them carrying Dunkin Donuts boxes (that made me angry). I wanted to quickly drop my bag, use the porta potty (before they became gross) and meet up with BGR for a photo. The worker for my truck got there around 6:30. As soon as I dropped my bag I headed to the potties and thankfully didn't have to wait. Next step was finding my sole sisters. We posed for a couple of pics and then dispered. It was chilly that morning. I had a sweatshirt as my outer layer over my singlet (with tank underneath), arm sleeves and gloves. I was glad I chose to wear my tights rather than shorts with calf sleeves under my camo skirt. I wish I had brought one of my heat sheets from a prior race with me. I headed over the start to wait. One of the most spectaular things about the MCM was the wounded Army and Marine servicemen who parachuted into the start area with American flags attached to them. That was a sight to see. 7:55 came and the howitzer went off. It took nearly 15 minutes for me to cross the start. I already knew that there were significant hills in the first 4 miles so I made sure to hold back. I started off with straight running for the first mile and then started my 3:1 intervals after that first mile. I shedded my sweatshirt around the 2nd mile. Those early hills were difficult and I was glad I took it easy. Of course plenty of people were bobbing and weaving around but I made sure to not do that. Early on I woman taped me on the shoulder and said "I thought we had Michelle Obama running with us".  That made my day but would have really got me going if that was at mile 22.     I saw my morning running buddy and sole sister Shidah a little after mile 8, right after the turn around on Rock Creek parkway. At this stretch there was a little incline and a handcyclist was having some difficulty getting up but everyone was cheering him on. I wasn't running with music; I had planned to carry my ipod and play it throught the speaker if I felt I need a boost in the last few miles but ended up leaving it with my armband in my checked bag. I am glad I don't need music to run. One thing that was upsetting was that people running were so tuned in that they didn't hear the call to keep left or right for the handcyclists. One guy was so tuned out another runner had to tap him on his shoulder. When we got to West Potomac Park and Hains Point, I knew this could be a problem stretch from my prior runs during the Cherry Blossom and Nike Women's Half. There are sections that are very isolated with no crowd support. Similar to Nike there were lots of signs to distract you and also a row of signs showing lost service men and women. It was very serene. There were tons of funny signs throught out the course as well. "You run better than the government." "Run faster, I just farted." "Look at all these people dressed up as sexy runners." "Run like a Jamician. Repeat 422 times." "The Kenyans are already done."  And one of my favorites "Never trust a fart during a race." I was holding a consistent pace until mile 21 when I developed a sharp pain in my right pinky toe. I thought my toenail might have split in two. I never had toe issues during all on my long train runs. I kept going for a bit(extending my walk breaks and shortening my run interval) but a little after mile 22 I had to pull over to the sidewalk and take off my right sock. I didn't even look to see what was the issue I just put my sneaker back on and kept going. In retrospect, I should have just reverted to 1:1.  The fact that I was walking more and running for shorter intervals lead to my quadriceps stiffening and becoming tight. While I didn't hit the dreaded wall, I couldn't stick to 3:1.  I walked alot of last 5+ miles and I wasn't alone. It seemed to take forever to get to that mile 26 sign. I already knew what was waiting, that final hill up to the finish at Iwo Jima. I dug dig and said I would run up that hill no matter what. It is not a particular long hill but after running 26 miles it is hard. After getting up the hill I slowed a bit but then I saw the finish line ahead. I couldn't help it, the tears began to fall and I started sobbing. This was really it, I was about to finish my very first marathon! I crossed the finish and then had a little walk to meet the Marines who were placing the medals around our necks. They saluted us and said great job.  Next was the line to take a finisher photo in front of the memorial.  I proudly posed for my photo after chatting with a fellow first-time in the queue. I then head through the lines to get out post race goodies and finsher jacket. There was still more of a walk to get to baggage check and the finish festival. I got my bag and quickly put on my hoodie as I was started to cool down. I grabbed some delicious free watermelon and posed for another photo at the USAA tent. The finish area was crowded. The lines to get on the metro or get a shuttle back to Crystal City strecthed for blocks. I very happy I paid extra for a hotel in walking distance. It meant walking up a hill but it was worth it. I didn't stop to used the bathroom during my marathon journey but it was the first thing I did upon getting back to my room. Next came some stretching and then the ice bath. I did alot of facebooking while in the ice bath. That is how I first learned that they ran out of medals for some of the later runners (and I myself at 5:36:15 was a back of the packer) I did some time on the floor with leg inversions. Of course the hunger set in and I headed back to BBQ joint to eat. I had some garlic pepper wings with sweet potato fries and two Lynchburg lemonades (alcohol included of course). While eating a runner walked in and I congratulated him. He asked if I had gotten my medal. I told him I did and how I heard what happened. He said he was one of the ones that didn't get one and how devastated he was about it. That really hurt. I can imagine how hurt particularly a first-timer marathoner would feel to have that happen. In the end it is not about the medal the accomplishment is greater, but that is part of the post marathon experience and you can't get that back. Yes Marine Corps will mail those runners their medal asap but it not feel the same. People had to borrow other runners medals to take a finisher photo. Others were so disappointed they walked away without even taking a finisher photo. This is the second race I participated in that this happened. There was a lot of talk in my various running facebook groups about this issue and I really don't know what the answer is. Overall, I am very happy that MCM was my first marathon experience. Yes I would have loved to run NYC as first as I would have been nice to be able to get my family and NYC friends out of the course but there is always 2014. The Marine Corps Marathon is know as the people's marathon as it does not offer price money for the top finishers. It is really a race for people to achieve something that only 1% of the American population has done. I looked at my marathon fotos pictures (which I will of course purchase despite them being so expensive) unfortunately the main one I was hoping to see the photo in front of Iwo Jima seems to have not made it through. I will make a couple of days to see if shows up.   That makes me sad but I luckily have plenty of others to commemorate that very special day. Yes it's official, I'm a marathoner!

2 weeks to go and a race recap

Yesterday I completed my triple crown race at the Rock and Roll Brooklyn 10K.  If you have read my previous post about RnR Philly, you know that my opinion of the Competitor group has soured.  The expo for the race was lackluster.  Philly was a great expo in comparison.  I didn't go into the race with any particular goals.  I got up a zero dark-thirty and walked over to the park to meet up with BGR! There were ladies from all over including South Florida, LA, San Fran, Atlanta,  Philly, D.C, and North Carolina.  The race started without any issues and off I went.  I ended up seeing two med school friends on the course.  I started a little too fast but settled into a rhythm.  Of course the cheer squad was in effect especially on the hill.  By the time I got to 5.5 miles I realized I was within my PR time and I pushed it.  I finished in 1:03:33 slightly faster than my 1:04:10 at the Mini 10 K in June.   MCM is in sight, 14 days away.  I just needed to keep my runs easy and keep myself from going taper crazy.