Part 3

So after Denver street I passed over to the bay. By this time I must say it was HOT! I definitely was starting to drag. I still felt good & wasn't ready to stop mentally, my body was just slowing down. The bay is my turf though, this is where everything started. This is where I use to walk before I started ACTUALLY working out, this was where I ran the day of my brothers funeral, where I did my longest solo run which was 8 miles & I was shocked I did it...it was my turf (pavement).
The bay portion headed to the end by De Anza cove then we turned around & ran along the bay path. As tired as I was I just kept moving. About mile 21 there was Stacy! I was happy to see her BUT she was DONE! I felt bad for her cause I didn't feel the way she did. At Kathy's I had picked up some pretzels but couldn't eat & run but wanted to eat them eventually so I held onto them & offered some to her. I think the only thing she wanted was to be put of the heat & at the finish. I ended up heading on with out her. After the bay was FIESTA ISLAND when we were on a training run we ran around it & I was warned it was gonna SUCK! it pretty much did! It seemed unending! It was blazing hot there was no spectators...it was so close to the finish but not. I still didn't need or want to stop. There was definitely people that I ran by that were miserable. They looked like they had been ready to stop miles ago. I had a few more people encourage me along they route because of my shirt. One lady said to me she saw me at the start line & i had done an incredible job, that my brother was watching me from heaven & so proud! I got choked up for a second & she ran off saying enjoy your big moment! And towards then end there was a lot of Team in Training coaches. I overheard them talking to their team members & took their encouragement as my own. When I hit mile 25 that was a huge point for me...I knew I was done! I took my headphones out ( it was suggested when we were training). I started to just relish this whole process & distance I had covered. One of the TNT coaches told a runner to run point to point. Run to the first tree, then to the trash can, then to the next tree. That worked for me during that last mile! That last 1.2 seemed unending but all along it was tons of people! I even saw marathon maniac Ed in the screaming crowds. The energy was incredible, the anticipation of knowing the finish was moments away! Not just the finish of the race, it's the finish of months of training & commitment. Everything I put into this waiting for the medal to be put around my neck. As soon as I hit the 26 I bolted towards the finish. So many people screaming my name, shouting encouragements, I saw some of the running club peeps that did the 1/2. & then I finished!!! It felt incredible! Everyone said i would cry but I didn't, I felt too good to cry! Elizabeth's dad was at the finish I gave him a hug. Then as I came around the finish my favorite people in the whole world were waiting...my kids & my cousin had come out to see me finish! I stopped to hug and talk to them & then the hobbling started!
I'm sure I I had stopped at any point in the race I would have struggled cause as soon as I stopped at the en everything hurt!! The feeling of elation was the best pain med possible. Even though I hurt I couldn't stop smiling & feeling great!
I keep saying no one is supposed to have such a positive experience like I did doing a marathon...but maybe it's ok if I did. Now I just need to stop convincing myself that I was meant to do this & that is why & convince myself once is enough!!
The end



This was the last .2!









Hitting the finish line!



I'm a marathoner!



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Part 2

Did I quit blogging or what?! I can't believe I abandoned this for so long! It has been a huge part of my training & transformation!
I got out of the habit and I am hoping to get back into it as my next race is quickly approaching!
How lame that I waited so long to finish my story & have risked forgetting details...
So we hit the half way point with an awesome time 2:29! This was way faster a pace I had ever ran this long & had planned to run. We had passed the water station at mile 13 & Stacy did not get water or take her amino vital pack. We discussed how w could get her some water so she could take it. I was starting to lose steam even with the extra boost. I knew coming up at mile 15 I was meeting up with Michelle & was looking forward to that. I actually texted her to see if she had water (she did). Along Friars Rd right by my YMCA was a section of posters that had photos of leukemia fighters. This choked me up & made me miss my brother. Also a reminder of what I was doing!
When we turned onto Napa St there was such a great group of spectators! They had the best signs (I can't remember what they said but I remember I loved them). Pretty soon after we got onto Morena Blvd 2 things happened I slowed down & Michelle was there! So was her hubby & 2 precious daughters. They all ran along with us briefly and then said they would wait for us to make the turn around & come back. Stacy got her water & took the amino vitals...it must o put some pep in her step cause she took off ahead of us. I was happy to slow down at that point. I believe having Michelle for that stretch of the race was a huge part of my success. I was able to ditch my sunglasses that were bugging cause they kept fogging up. She talked with me & was VERY encouraging!! She attempted to offer comedic relief BUT I was not in a joke mood. She also helped me calculate the mileage i had ledt cause my brain on 17 miles couldnt add or subtract 1+1 Along Morena we met Ed, i didnt know he was Ed until much later, but now i know all about him. He had a joke had on. He ran up to me & congratulated me on my first marathon. He said this was his 83rd race this year. He told me to have fun, enjoy the race soak it all in! He said he runs for people like me to encourage & cheer people on. I now know that he is a marathon maniac (its a real club) he has the world record for most marathons & most miles in one year. He ran with us for a bit & chatted then headed on to spread his joy! After we made the turn around she assisted me with getting one of the pain gels I brought on my knees with out stopping. This was tricky! I was still so worried to stop & she was so awesome to help me facilitate this task on the go. She grabbed water bottle for me so I could open the gel, then I bent down & rubbed it on my knees with out stopping. At first I was so stressed cause it didn't seem to be working. My knees were no where near the unbearable pain I experienced during training runs BUT I was worried I was about to! Then the cooling sensation started to wave over my knees. It felt like ice!! It did not completely take my pain away BUT was tremendous relief. Shortly after this Michelle's family met back up with us & ran a little with us. Then we headed down Denver St. I was told there would be a house passing out oranges here & THERE WAS!!! the nice thing about a co-runner is she grabbed a few & i grabbed a few & she helped me eat oranges! Im telling you that it helped so much!!! After that she parted ways with me. That was tough, I really needed her and was afraid to head off alone. I was though headed to my own personal pit stop at mile 19. It was my friend Kathy's house! Pre race I had no clue what I would feel like or what supplies I may need at my pit stop. So I left with her (her house was ON the race course a change of socks, hat, pretzels, extra water bottle, gu's, pain spray, pain gels, sunscreen. BUT when I got there I didn't stop I literally ran through her yard had her pass me a water bottle & pretzels & just kept going! After Kathy's was the house with the beer keg (I heard about this too) but as much as I love a cold beer even that wasn't stopping me. I kept checking in mentally on the race & every time I asked myself how am I? I would realize I felt good! Now like lounging by the pool good but good for having ran the distance I had in the blazing sun. I had no pressure on myself & I know if I had felt the need to stop, slow down, walk, whatever I would have...it's just that I felt fine so there was no reason to! The overwhelming fear of stopping or walking resulting in knee pain WAS a big motivator for sure! After Denver street I passed over the freeway to the bay side. There was still a good 6 miles to go but I really felt like I was in the home stretch!.....to be continued (I promise!!!!)


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