Wow. I am not sure if I yet have the words to describe my emotions and thoughts after finishing 26.2 miles. First things first, since I don’t believe in burying the lead…I only achieved my C goal and finished with a time of 5:27. It was definitely not what I was expecting and I was definitely a little bit disappointed that I didn’t at least finish under 5 hours. But, let’s start from the beginning.
First of all, why didn’t anyone tell me that running a marathon was so emotional?? I burst into tears two times on race day and ALMOST cried about 50. I’m not over exaggerating. I’m not going to recap mile by mile because that would take SO long but I will hit some highlights and lowlights.
Race day morning dawned dark and rainy. I ran a couple blocks down the road to drop my bag at bag drop and unfortunately got soaked. My only real regret of the day was not bringing extra compression socks I could change into. I started the race with the 4:45 pace group. The group was led by two awesome women who kept spirits up and kept a consistent pace. Through the group, I met a few really great runners and the miles seemed to fly by…until mile 14.
At mile 14, the blisters that had started forming around my toes became incredibly painful. Every step just killed me. This was definitely a lowlight. I kept pushing, but saw the 4:45 pacers push past me and just didn’t have it in me to keep step with them. Well, there went my A goal. I got excited though because even though I was hurting, I knew that there was a junk food stop at mile 16 and I’d see my honey at mile 17.
At the junk food stop, I had a sip of coke that was delightful. I couldn’t imagine eating any real food at this point. I kept trucking and sure enough, as I approached mile 17, I saw K. Cue first crying jag. I saw him and immediately burst into tears. I stopped to hug him, he ran with me for awhile and I made a quick pit stop in a 7-11 to use the restroom. I was sad to say bye to him but looking forward to seeing him again post race.
I kinda just trotted (slowly) along soaking it all in until I came upon mile 20. There was an awesome arch we ran under that said “welcome to the wall.” I felt in pain but was still moving okay. As it turns out, my time was 3:53 at mile 20, which is exactly the time it took me to run my 20 mile training run! Unfortunately, the wheels were about to come off…
I just realized this is turning into a super long recap and I’m not quite done yet…so come back tomorrow to read about miles 20-26.2. Which, like they all say, was a totally different race! Check out part two of my recap here.
What was your favorite race experience?
Congratulations on finishing your first marathon!! It’s funny, mile 14 is exactly where my problems started too. What the hell! I’m looking forward to reading part 2!
Dori recently posted…Richmond Marathon Training: Weeks 18 + 19: My Marathon Week Brain
Thanks Dori! Despite the less than ideal finish I had, I’m super proud. AND signing up for next year 🙂 Ahhhh mile 14!
I can’t believe you left me hanging like that! Guess I’ll tune in tomorrow but congrats again Marathoner 🙂
Mar @ Mar on the Run! recently posted…Gone ’til MOVEmber + Weekly Workouts
Thanks girl — you rock. I SO can not wait to cheer you on this spring!!!
Congrats on finishing your first marathon! You make a really great point about running being emotional. I’m training for my first half, and each time I near a new PDR, I get choked up. Its funny how our heart reacts to seeing just how capable our bodies are of pushing it to the max. Can’t wait to read part 2 of your recap!
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…2014 New Balance runDisney Shoes Revealed!
Thanks Kathryn! I just couldn’t believe how I was SO crazy emotional. It was such a great experience even though it HURT! 🙂
Congratulations!!! I wasn’t emotionally prepared for my first marathon either. I thought it would be just like my long training runs, and I sure was wrong. 🙂
Sharon recently posted…Cross-Grip Hairband from MaxFlowSports
LOL – I also thought it’d be just like my training runs. Suffice to say, I was wrong as well! 🙂
Congrats on finishing! I totally agree with you on the emotional aspect of the marathon. Running 26.2 is like %80 mental. For most people, no matter how many long runs you do, you will start to hurt. My first marathon I was absolutely unprepared for the pain. I developed some terrible blisters around mile 12 and just couldn’t get over it. I would let myself walk at the water stops and even stopped to stretch at times. I went into my second marathon with a lot more training and had prepared myself as best for the mental battle. Unfortunately just before the race I started to have IT Band issues which meant that no matter what things were going to be uncomfortable. My second marathon I ran/jogged the whole thing. My legs were killing me and I knew that stopping and stretching would provide some temporary relief. I didn’t do any stopping in my second race because I knew that the only real relief would come after I crossed the finish line. Welcome to the 26.2 club! We are all crazy here!
Yeah, unprepared for the pain is totally how I felt. Thanks for the welcome to the club. I kinda can’t wait to do it again. You know, I once I can walk normally again 🙂
Congratulations! You made it through, that’s amazing! I was there snapping photos all over the place, maybe you will be in one? Ha ha.
Ericka @ The Sweet Life recently posted…Richmond Marathon 2013: The One Where I Couldn’t Run
Thanks Ericka! Sorry you couldn’t run but it sounds like you made the best of it!
Awww, Court! I’m getting teary just reading about it. I’m so proud of you!!! You trained so hard for so long. You should be very proud!
Emily Kate – Capital Style recently posted…What I Wore
Thanks Em! I was a WRECK on race day! Emotionally and physically after mile 20 🙂
So proud of you Courtney – what a major accomplishment!! You’re right about the emotional part – I definitely cried at least twice when I ran mine. The route of my marathon had mile 18 and the finish line right around the same location so as I was running up a hill to start my mile 18 the first finishers were crossing the finish line and I just lost it – all the people cheering (and the prospect that I was sort’ve almost there) was too much. I couldn’t see for the next mile because my eyes wouldn’t stop watering 🙂
Ahhhh — that was actually something I thought about when selecting Richmond. I didn’t want a race where I could see people finish HOURS before I would cross. I know that would’ve just killed me. I suppose I now have to stop pretending I’m not a crazy emotional crier 🙂 I’m just a big baby! Thanks for the props — I’m hoping I’ll be able to walk down stairs by Friday 🙂
Congratulations to you! It really is an accomplishment, you should be proud of yourself!! I have only run one marathon and it was many many years ago, but I didn’t run it the smartest way possible. And I paid for it. I hit a wall at mile 16 but couldn’t bring myself to stop because I only had 10 miles to go. My legs were like chopping blocks and I could barely walk for days. I’d like to run another someday though…
Michelle recently posted…Creating Custom Cards with Cardstore.com
I am 95% sure I’m signing up for Richmond again plus MAYBE a spring marathon? I LOVED Richmond so much even though it hurt (and still hurts LOL) SO much 🙂 You should do another one!
Awwww congrats MARATHONER! This was sweet to read. I’ve been emotional at the starting line of marathons (maybe from sheer terror) but I think I’m too dehydrated to cry at the finish. Haha!
Marcia recently posted…Windy Weekend Rewind
Thank you so much! I don’t know how I had the fluids for those tears but they were there! 🙂
You can’t just stop there! LOL! Congrats on your first marathon 🙂
Michelle @ Running with Attitude recently posted…Fun stuff going on
LOL – I know! Part II is a doozy as well — but no cliffhangers tomorrow, I promise 🙂
Way to leave us hanging!! lol Can’t wait to hear about the rest and congrats on your finish. Just think of it this way, you have lots of room for a PR later
Betsy recently posted…365/317: 30 Days of Thanks Day 14
Girl — I have SO MUCH room to PR!! I love that way of thinking 🙂
Ugh! I hate when a story is to be continued! I will definitely tune in tomorrow. 🙂
Coco recently posted…New USTAF 12K World Record
I have been reading your blog because me and my husband also signed up for the Richmond Marathon. When we took the elevator down from the fifth floor of our hotel to go to the start line, we met/smiled at a really friendly lady with a pink tutu on. When we ran with the 4:45 pace team, I saw the same lady and smiled at her again. When I looked at your blog to find out how you did, I was so surprised to see that you were the lady with the pink tutu on!
My husband and I had to go potty at mile 18 and lost sight of the pace team, too!
Congratulations again and thank you for inspiring us during our training!
All the best!
I LOVE THIS!!! How awesome — were you guys the couple w/the minimalist shoes on? If so, I remember seeing y’all both in the elevator and on the course! Yay yay yay!! Congrats!!!
Ha! Yes that was us! 🙂 What a small world! I look forward to hearing more about your running adventures and maybe run another race together!
Congratulations on finishing your first marathon! I definitely find races emotional! Sometimes it’s the starting line, a spectator sign, seeing my family…it’s all part of the experience 🙂
Karen @karenlovestorun
Karen @karenlovestorun recently posted…runDisney’s Mickey’s Jingle Jungle 5K
Thanks Karen — this is my first time crying during a race, so I’m glad to know I’m not the only one!
Congrats on running your first marathon! I haven’t done a full yet, but I’ve heard the experience is very emotional!!
Lorraine recently posted…BarkBox Review!
Yes – it was incredibly emotional!
Ahh, I was just getting hooked on your story! But I saw your medal so we do know it has a Happy ending! Congrats!
Meranda@fairytalesandfitness recently posted…Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular: The Rockettes
Haha – part two is up! 🙂
Ack, I cannot seem to comment from work or my phone. Not that I’m reading your blog while at work… 😉 But anyhow, all I was saying is that we, your adoring fans, are dying for Part 2. Can’t wait to read it tomorrow. Congrats on becoming a marathoner!!!
Cynthia @ You Signed Up For What?! recently posted…Somebody’s Got a Case of the Mondays!
LOL – thanks for the congrats — part two is now up! 🙂
Way to leave us all hanging! Seriously, great job on finishing your first. Can’t wait to hear the rest. And, yeah, marathons are crazy emotional, and not just the finish.
Clarinda recently posted…Marathon Monday #16
SO emotional!! Now I’m thinking of my plan for my next one 🙂
great job marathoner! I also wish I had extra socks- my feet were like prunes only after a half- I can’t imagine yours!
Thanks Emma — I’m SO proud of you 🙂
I just found your blog, and had to read your first 26.2 story, because I am training for my first 26.2! Belated Congratulations!!!! I am feeling everything you wrote and haven’t even run my first one yet (MCM2015) … now I’m trying to figure out how to avoid crying during the race. I won’t lie, I welled up reading this …
aw thanks – good luck at mcm – say hi if you see me out there! 🙂