Nike Women's Marathon Recap

I wish SO bad that I was able to blog along the way of my race....it would for sure be more insightful than blogging about it 2 weeks later. I had the RACE OF MY LIFE that day. Even though it comparably wasn't the fastest of marathons...it was perfect for me. So here it goes...

We started the morning by heading down a couple of blocks to Union Square in San Fran..I've done this race before so I knew just how crowded it was going to be. I told Nicholle and Cody where to meet us which is where two years before I met up with Mandy and Brandie...about a block back from the starting line. It was warmer than I had anticipated. I was SO excited for this race to start. My first time around the block I remember being nervous and not knowing what to expect. This time, I already had decided I was going to have a great race and just ENJOY! No worries along the way was my outlook going into this race. I did have a goal of finishing under 4:20...but it wasn't set in stone. I had no idea what was reality for me to do since all of my long runs were on trail and gave me NO indication of what I could really do on a road. I felt very trained based on distance...but unsure of my speed. So the plan was, just go with what feels right.

Kristin, Shaun and I met up with Cody and Nicholle and waited for only about 20 minutes before the race started. I got VERY excited and all pumped up when I heard Joan Benoit come over the loud speaker...she is VERY inspirational to me. For those that don't know, the first year women were allowed to run a marathon in the olympics was 1984...and she brought home the gold for the Americans. A HUGE moment in Olympic history...and she paved the way for women's marathons. Anyway, sorry about the side note...Youtube her olympic finish...you wont be disapointed. She gave some great words of encouragement and it got me even more excited.  The music was pumpin and it was a total party! Then the gun went off...it only took us about 4 minutes to get to the starting line. But then to find out later from Shaun, it took about 30 minutes to get all 25,000 women accross the starting line! SHEEZ!

So this isn't a marathon that lots of FAST people come and do. Dont get me wrong, there are some very fast ladies, but it isn't the majority of the participants. AND the ladies that do this aren't necessarily race savy. Meaning...the slow slow ladies were right at the start of the starting line...so when the gun went off we were weaving our way through masses of people that should have been further back, and yes...there were walkers right at the start of the starting line. REALLY LADIES!?

I was so excited to be at this race with my friends Nicholle and Kristin. It was both of their firsts...Nicholle's first marathon and Kristin's first half. I was just so excited for them to finish this awesome milestone and that I got to be here with them.

As I got going, the miles seemed to be moving along quickly. I was keeping a close eye on my Garmin to make sure that I was staying below my goal time, but not pushing it too hard. I had some great tunes and felt pretty amazing. I was nervous that some pain was going to set in later so I was cautious. I hit the BIG ole hills and ran up every one...no walking was my goal. It's pretty evident that I SUCK up hills, although I was running, I was getting passed and passed and passed up those things! I didn't really care too much because I knew I could pass em all down hill...and I did! Just sayin:)

I decided that I was going to smile and enjoy this race...every step of the way. When it started to feel hard, I would smile and just feed off of the energy of the spectators. It worked better than I had expected. There were big sections of spectators that were cheering along the way, I would have LOVED to see someone I knew there, but knew that Shaun and Cody were most likely going to just be at the finish line. So I decided to pretend they were in the crowd and that made me happy enough. I was so so excited to see them eventually...having someone cheer you on just makes all the difference in the world...well I think at least.
I got to start thinking of how very lucky I was to be able to run and feel this great. I felt SO blessed and got very spiritual and said a few prayers of gratitude. What a feeling! I made a couple of friend along the way, we talked about our outfits and where we got em...and stuff like that. HaHa!

Early on...around mile 5 the 4:05 pacer caught up to me. She had a little crowd with her and was running at my pace so I just decided to hang. I spent nearly the whole race with her in view, either a little ahead or behind. It was seriously messing with my head....I kept thinking...I am NOT a 4:05er! I am a 4:44er! I was so elated beyond all belief that I was actually keeping that pace and feel so great. But I still had about 10 miles left and didnt know how those would be. I got teary eyed even, thinkin, "I am actually doing it! I cant believe I am running with the 4:05 pacer for this long!" I knew that she was a little behind and would be kicking it in gear in the end. The pace that we were running was actually more of 4:11 pace..but still! I was doing it!

I ran out of Golden Gate park and onto the Great Highway, and thats right where I saw Shaun and Cody...YAY! It was like heaven seeing Shaun there! All I could think of saying was telling him what pace I was running and when to expect to see me at the finish. So I yelled...4:15!!! 4:15!!!! He kindof laughed and gave me the keep going motion with his hand...

Immediately I thought...CRAP! Why did I tell him that! Now I have to do it! What if I cant do it! Oh CRAP! I let it bug me for a couple miles...and then I realized that I still was doing it and if anything it pushed me to keep my new goal. Then the run around the dreaded lake...it was never ending I swear. But the chocolate mile with some Ghiradelli chocolate was a nice reward. Once I got back onto the Great Hwy...I knew it was almost over. Only a few more miles...this is where pain started setting in. It was SO hard to keep going those last two miles. I could see the finish line clear down the road and it didnt seem like it was coming any closer.

Finally! I hit 26 miles...just .2 left! I saw Shaun and Cody...gave em a thumbs up and then I ran through the finish line at 4:15:30!!!

Now...this race...the BEST! Once you come through the finish line you are handed your little blue box with your Tiffany's necklace in it...by a handsome San Fran firefighter in a tuxedo...on a red carpet. Then they hand you a bag...a cute bag...then they just start chucking it full of food and drinks and chapstick and your finishers shirt and more treats and bars and water bottle and swag swag swag. For what you pay for this race...you get your money's worth! The support along the way is awesome too! There were sections that just had crowds and crowds of volunteers, the aid stations were awesome and every volunteer treated you like you were amazing! I have never done a race quite like this before...and I have to say it is one of my most favorite races.

After I got loaded up, I went strait to the bathroom...which was my one and only pee stop that morning. I did a marathon with no potty breaks?! Who am I? Not typical for me at all. I loved it! After a stop at the pot, I headed down to meet up with Shaun and Cody to watch Nicholle come in. As we were standing there, I said, "I LOVE marathons. I want to do that again!". Shaun said, You still have some runners high going on:). We were looking for Nicholle, and I thought I saw her a couple of times, but then as the person got closer it was an Asian lady...both times! Which was very ironic and funny considering a previous statement that Nicholle had made the night before.  I finally got it right and spotted her. She looked mad at first, but then when she saw us she got happy.  The first words out of her mouth were, "I want to blow my FREAKING LEGS OFF!" I know that feeling all too well! She did awesome and I am SO proud of her!

We met her at the finish line and SLOWLEY made our way over to get Kristin who was shivering to death at a gastation since she had finished a couple of hours before us. She was all seized up and frozen solid. She did awesome too. It was perfect running weather...a little rainy, misty, and cool...but it was crappy spectator weather. I am so thankful for Shaun...he was a great spectator and supporter that day and actually on the whole trip.


All in all I could not have asked for a better race or felt any better. It was simply awesome! Now...my next goal...Marathon under 4:00. I know I can do it now! I am no longer a 4:44er!