My First Marathon

I finished my first marathon yesterday in 5:37. 

Do you want to know how hardcore I am? I rode my bike to the marathon start and rode it back AFTER the marathon. I refuse to drive 2.5 miles downtown, spend 45 minutes trying to park, then pay for parking. It was fine getting there and surprisingly not too bad riding back. Maybe because you use different muscles? Anyway, that was probably the funnest part of the day. Call it extreme duathlon training.

Day recap:
I met Sugar peeps prior to the race. Well, actually just Philip and Lisa as I did not know any of the others. Most were running the 1/2.

It was kind of lonely at the start. I didn't know anyone, since the 1/2 and full were at different start points. I've been used to doing swim starts with friends I know now. It was not as cold as I anticipated. I dropped my ghetto "gloves" (2 mismatched socks) after mile 1 and my sweatshirt after mile 3. I saw Greyhound probably around mile 2. I wish I could have seen him later when I could have used a mental boost, as I was still fresh and enthusiastic then.

The run was quite crowded with the the 1/2 merging into the race. After a turn around, they split off and the crowd thinned out and it became a little more solitary, more tranquil really.

I suppose one goes through different stages while running. Some miles you feel really good, some miles fly by, some miles you feel like dying. Miles 1-3 were just warmup, miles 3-9 felt really good, and miles 9-13 I was slowing down, wishing the 1/2 way point would get there. Maybe knowing I was halfway there gave me a boost because I ran steadily for a while after that. I saw Paulette, David and Alexis at mile ?15. They made a sign! That really kept me going too! Thanks for braving the cold!

I took some ibuprofen at mile 15.5

The mile markers couldn't come fast enough. They were big wavy nice flags, so easy to see and very nice to see. It was interesting to run through different neighborhoods - the Heights, Montrose, Rice, West U, Galleria, Memorial. I was trying to do the intermittent walk thing, but realized that evertime I stopped to walk, it was harder and more painful to get going, so decided to just run the whole time, albeit slower.

Mile 18 was interesting because it was the longest I had ever run prior to this. At this point, I told myself that this was the true acid test. I felt pretty good. I tried that "reeling in people ahead of you game" and it worked and kept me preoccupied. Of course, it's easy to reel in people when they are walking! However, I could never catch up with one woman. Just another lesson in never judging people on how they look. This was a 50-ish woman who did not look particularly athletic and her name was Delores. Even in her walk breaks, she was going faster than my run! I could never reel her in. Conversely, there was a tall, athletic looking black man who I passed frequently and finally left him in the dust.

I thought I would finish strong. I felt good in miles 18, 19, 20. Mile 20 was a Clif shot blok station. Margarita bloks - gross! Also I choked on them. I'll stick to gus that require no chewing.

At around mile 23, I was in that "I HATE EVERYONE" phase. All the crowds kept saying "almost there, etc" but you know what, at that point, 3-4 miles seem monumental.

At mile 24, the aid station had beer! yes! Bless 'em. They were holding them out in cups like Gatorade, but infinitely more tasty. Some runners, walked while sipping theirs, but I downed my and ran on. The best tasting beer of my life I have to say. It probably made me a little drunk at that point, which I needed!

Mile 25 - 1.2 miles left to go. At this point, every step I took was punctuated by "fuck." Let me give you an example: "fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck..."  It made a pretty good cadence to run to.

Near the end, everyone is saying "only 1 mile left!", "only 3/4 mile left!", "only 1/2 mile left!"  I did see Ann (fellow Ironbabe) near the very end. I also  saw her earlier at mile 17. Sorry, but I wasn't too chipper at that point and I think I just grimaced at her.

The crowds were still very much present at the end and the announcer dude was still energetic. I wish I could have been more smiling and appreciative of them at the time. I really do appreciate the folks that stick around til the end. And believe me, it was near the end. The cut off time for this marathon was 6 hours.

I finished, took a photo, got my medal. I felt a little teary. Not sure why. Some of it was physical pain for sure. I also felt a little lonely. Again, I wish I had done this with more people I knew around me. The ending was a bit anticlimactic. And I envisioned myself as if in a last scene of some teen angst movie full of pathos: me alone, finishing my first marathon, getting my bag, changing my shoes and stretching a bit, not talking to anyone, getting on my bike and riding by myself home, while a Radiohead song plays in the background (maybe No Surprises or Fake Plastic Trees?)

Today, I feel sore of course. Can't walk down the stairs, so had to scoot down on my butt. I ended up with only 1 blister and only a little chafing from where my knee brace was rubbing on my leg.  Physically, I'm okay. 

Emotionally, I'm not sure how I feel. I should feel...happy? elated? proud? I don't know why I'm minimizing such an epic event. When I graduated from college, I didn't even go to graduation because I didn't feel it was a big deal, and I feel the same way about this. I don't know why. Sorry, to be such doom-and-gloom, but there it is.

Wow - this is most goddamn depressing race report evah!

Comments

[Heather]

I don't know if it makes YOU feel any better, but I feel a lot better reading this. This is almost exactly how I've felt after a few races and especially my marathon... very, like, underwhelmed. I guess the stories of how doing a marathon changes your life and blah blah blah just didn't happen for me. Pfft. What a load of hooey. :)

Okay, not total hooey. It did change my life, but in tiny little increments thru the course of training. The event itself was rather anti-climactic in terms of inspring awe in myself. And now I'm mostly just burned out on doing any sort of distance (yet, I have the Austin half in a month. UGH.)

Anyway, just here to say, I feel you. Thanks for articulating it in a way that I never could, but I totally get that whole teen angst thing. That was especially true at the Houston Half (my first half)... it was incredibly lonely after the finish. I sat in the porta potty inside the GRB and cried... because I needed to cry and I needed to SIT. Where are the flipping chairs??? Portland had tons of them.

I also had the "I hate you and you and you and you" mile(s). I hated the people of Portland, I hated their houses, I hated their streets, I hated my fellow racers. Though that was around mile 18-20 for me. The last 6 were just a silent grimace.

Still, 3+ months later, the overwhelming feeling I have from my marathon is utter delight that I never have to do it again. I'm taking up hockey. :)

[Heather]

Oh, but congratulations. :) You did great. And I heard several people at mile 22 say, "You're almost done!" and wanted to punch them in the face on behalf of all the marathoners. I personally believe I am not almost done until I can see the f-ing balloon arch.

[Greyhound]

Aw. I came around to mile 7 but obviously missed you. Sorry I could not stay around to the end. Small consolation, I know, but we'll make an appropriately big fuss over you at the Burns dinner.

[Mike Tarabay]

Anti-climactic or not its still a milestone. Congratulations!!!

I believe the hill was on Allen Parkway when I too set my cadence to "Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck...." I'm feeling it today...

[Jessica, a Houston Runner]

I felt the same way about my first.

congrats though...just imagine how much more fun and rewarding it will be AFTER that longass swim and hundred+ mile bike...

:)

[Kel&Migs]

Ummm...maybe 26.2 isn't climactic b/c you are "just running"? Where is the comradary? No one tells you "good job" when you overtake them or cheers you on when you pass them. There is no MAD DASH for your clothes to see how quickly you can strip or dress yourself?

Where is the skill in running? I don't see it. I suppose the skill is in the training, by finding out which drills work best to achieve the fastest time for certain distances, but I never found too much "skill" in the race.

HOWEVER, there is great skill in swimming in the masses without drowning, making it through the transition area without knocking the entire transition area over, remembering the order of dressing, remembering everything to grab (including helmet and glasses), remembering the pain that incurs EVERYTIME you get off that bike to run and smiling for every photo op!!!

I never found running to be a friendly, group participant sport UNLESS it is after a grueling swim and ride.

Is there a dx for Athletic ADD? I think you may be suffering....with the rest of us adrenaline junkies. ;)

Try spectating a marathon! Now THAT is FUUUUUUUNNNN!!!

GREAT JOB on the 26.2!!! Consider it a benchmark.

Kelly

[Anthony Carpenter]

Good job, now you just have to do that after a 2.4mile swim, and 112 mile bike. Should be fun huh? The soreness will ease in a couple of days, go get a massage. Have a great week.

[Paulette]

Glad we could cheer you on. I know that if I ran a marathon I'd want a sign and some cheering...Can't wait for the Burns night party.

[pinkgurugal]

Jane, great race report. I know, marathons are not like triathlons because it's so big. You should be VERY porud of yourself. A marathon is no easy task. And yes, there is a lot of alone time out there. CONGRATS!!! we'll have to celebrate now!

[Paulie]

I am training for the LA Marathon in March and my training has been sidelined by a seemingly unending chest cold for the last two weeks. Here I am feeling all sorry for myself that I won't be able to be prepaid and that I should just forget about the marathon, and then I read your race report. Sometimes you just have to fucking deal. You kept on going when the going was tough, and it was a great acomplishment. Great race report. You're awesome!

[Tea]

YOU'RE A MARATHONER!! How many people can say THAT??? Congrats!!

[blink140.6]

You biked to and from the race!?! YOU ARE BAD ASS!!!

And beer too? Awsome! Congrats on the race.

[Phoenix]

I don't think its depressing! I think you're amazing!!! It wasn't long ago that you were just trying to tri and you just ran a freakin' marathon! Less than one percent of the population can say they did what you did! You are AWESOME!! There, that's my pep talk. Keep on keepin' on.

[william]

first, what you've done is nothing short of remarkable.

your feelings are not unusual. look at the coach after he wins the super bowl. unless he's a good actor (dick vermeil) usually he's just thinking about winning the next season. some of them (bill parcells, bill belicheck) barely crack a smile. athletes usually say it doesn't sink in until their careers are over. you'll probably feel that way too.

and what is that quote about alexander? when he looked over his empire he wept, for there was no more world to conquer.

sorry you were lonely. i would have flown in.

[DMac]

Sorry I'm a bit late to the party, but GREAT JOB! It is truly a special accomplishment.

[Kathleen]

WAY TO GO!!!

That was way harder than the IM will be - I promise.

As far as anti-climatic, I know what you mean. You kind of expect to be a different person the second you cross the finish line, but it doesn't totally happen that way. Trust me though, the change does come, with time. Every time you look back on it, your fondness for the experience will grow.

My IM finish was 100% anti climatic. I didn't even cry...at all. I just wanted to find some pizza. But now I cry every time I read any bit of my IM report or anyone else's...so ya, it's all weird!