A look back in time...I wrote this post back in June of 2008, just before Grandma's Marathon...

The Triumph of Victory

Pre race moments were fabulous! I went up to Duluth with a friend, Renee, who was running the half with a cousin. We headed to the expo for a few hours and then back to our hotels. I had a great dinner, drank plenty of water, took a hot shower, laid out all my clothes and pack up my race bag. I stayed by myself which gave me some much needed quiet time, time of reflection, and relaxation. After having such a stressful week, this is exactly what I needed. I managed to get into bed by 9:15pm and didn't have any trouble falling asleep.


Wake up call was at 4:45, did my stretching, drank more water, felt too nauseous to eat so I just had some pretzels. Hopped on the bus at 5:45 and headed to the start line in Two Harbors, about a 45 min. ride. I spent time reflecting on the race and trying to keep my nerves in check. My first goal: qualify for Boston with a 3:45:00 time. Second goal (in case I didn't get the first one): sub 4. I felt determined, ready to run, hopeful. My family had been sending me text messages full of warm thoughts, prayers, encouraging words so I had plenty of thoughts to keep me running.
Finally, the bus dropped us off with all the other thousands of runners. It was chilly at the start, about 50 deg. or so. I kept my sweats on while I stretched and waited in the port-a-potty line. I then made my way to the start line near the 3:30 balloons. Finally, we were off at 7:30. The sun was shining, the wind was barely blowing, and the flag was green-a go. I felt pretty good in the beginning! I kept an 8-8:15 min/mi pace for several miles and felt great! I was on pace for 3:45 up until mile 18, then I began to fall apart. I was ok physically, but not so much mentally. I struggled to find good thoughts, felt like quitting, wondered why I was doing this again, thoughts about Twin Cities big flop of a marathon crept in, and the sun was scorching my back. The flag had gone from green to red, temps were now in the 70's and it was getting hot. I kept well hydrated, walking through every water station, and took Gu's every 5 miles. Finally, about mile 21 I got a second wind, a new found energy, a desire to still reach my goal. I felt within myself that I could do this, I would succeed, and I could still attain my second goal of sub 4. My mile splits were better and I felt better. Finally, I could see the finish line and the cheering crowds of people and Renee, and I knew I was going to do it. The announcer was counting down the clock for people to sub 4, so the sprint was on! I did it!!!! I barely squeezed by with a 3:59:08 finish time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's my medal on top of my shoes that carried me all the way through. :) I still couldn't eat after the race but I sure wanted to relax in the grass by the water, so I did. It felt heavenly to feel the victory in my heart, to know I did what I had set out to do, and to think that mentally I stayed strong till the end. Wow, it's amazing. I spent a lot of time on my phone with my dad going over the play by plays of the race, the breakdown, and how it was. My family took turns chatting with me and sharing the excitement with me. It was exhilarating.



The finish line was in Canal Park, in Duluth. Here's the big draw bridge that went up several times while I laid in the grass contemplating what I had just accomplished. I spent some time standing in Lake Superior to cool off my tired muscles, even though the water was only 35 degrees, once you go numb then it's not so bad. :) This was a fabulous victory for me, with all that's been going on, all that I've been stressed out by, and all the years of unsuccessful marathons/training due to injury, this was the icing on the cake. I'm in heaven (well, an earthly heaven.)

Here's the breakdown:
(for those of you who want to know)
mile 1- 8:15, mile 2-8:02, mile 3- 8:09, mile4-8:18, mile5- 8:07, mile6-8:38, mile7-8:14, mile8- 8:29, mile9- 8:36, mile10-8:01, mile11- 8:38, mile12- 9:15, mile13- 9:01, mile 14-9:02, mile 15-9:54, mile 16- 11:28, mile 17-9:16, mile 18-10:24, mile 19-10:03, mile20-9:33, mile 21-9:46, mile22-9:04, mile23-9:45, mile 24-8:59, mile 25-? mile 26-finished at 3:59:08!! It was miles 18-21 that really killed my time. I am soooooo glad, excited, thrilled to finish under 4hrs, barely did it, but very excited about it.

Next comes Twin Cities, so we'll see if I can train hard enough to get that 3:45 that I so desire.