As I awoke from my deep sleep, realizing I was squished between two other people in a tent, it hit me. Today I was running my second marathon. The Capital City Marathon in Olympia, WA. I got out of my bag, watching everyone else begin to awake, and meandered inside Prof Kennedy's house (we were camping in his backyard) to use the bathroom and prepare for what was to come. I pulled on my race clothes, ate my half banana and half bagel, helped take down our "circus tent" and off we went to the start line. As we pulled up to the downtown park start line, Camper says "I don't think we'll be able to find parking" to which Phylly almost agrees to, then realizes there is tons of parking out and that camper was being facetious. It was way too early in the morning for sarcasm.
As I thought to myself about my race plan, it dawned on me that if it wasn't to chilly at 7 am, it was going to be freaking hot by 10:30 or 11. Sunglasses were a must in my mind. At the start line we mentioned our goal paces, Camper's being to break the 4 hr barrier, and mine and Phylly's around 9:30 min/mi, to beat the Seattle marathon's time.
When the gun went off, we were off! Camper went up ahead, Phylly and I holding back not to get to carried away. But then, coming around a small inlet ofter 2 miles, I was feeling great. Not the sort of great that I would push to hard and then die later, but the sort of great like I could blow the doors off my pr. I began to push my pace a bit and was running next to another woman. She introduced herself as Connie, and I asked her what her goal pace was. She said this was her 17th marathon (she should be a marathon maniac!) and her goal was around 4 hrs, but that she runs for herself and for fun. I decide in my head that this pace is good, a bit faster than I had anticipated, but what the heck? Why not push myself and see what happens? I knew I wouldn't be doing a fall marathon since I'd be in Rome, so if I didn't pick a summer one, this was going to potentially be my last marathon for a year. We cruised for the next 18 miles at a solid 8:55-9:15 pace (our garmy's told us so). For a few miles inthe middle, where there were some short rolling hills (and glorious downhill) I could see Camper 300m ahead of me cruising along, and I thought of Phylly behind me, whom I had intended to run with. I hoped everyone was feeling well!
The heat started around mile 17, as we emerged from the countryside to head back into the city. Although there weren't many spectators (some people were upset, but I didn't mind since we'd bee doing trail runs with no spectators really) the ones who were on the course, Connie and I really appreciated. We took turns saying thanks to them, and a few who we saw multiple times learned our names and cheered us on! As we headed into the last 3 miles, I could feel how much I wanted to be done with the race. It was hot out, and the map had promised downhill, but really, there were some rollers. Luckily, people brought out their hoses and sprinklers for us tired and hot runners to cool ourselves off in. Also, with water stops every 2 miles, it was easy to cool off by dumping the rest of my water cup over my head. Finally, after what seemed like forever, the downhill came and I cruised into the finish, overjoyed to have completed another marathon. I came in at a 4:04 (about 20mins better than Seattle, to get 4th in our age) Connie hugged me and we parted ways to find food and water. I found Camper who had indeed broken the 4 hr with a 3:54 (3rd place in our age division!) and we waited for Phylly to come in at 4:19. All of us pr'd that day! Laury and Caryn were running the half and they got 1st and 4th in their age division too! It was a great day for all of us.
As we headed home, tired with tight muscles, I couldn't help but wish I had pushed harder in the last 3 miles, because then I might have broken the 4 hr marker. As I fell asleep that night, all i could think about was my next plot to run. I want to pr again, and as Connie said during our race, after the 2nd one, you're hooked. Even though I told myself I'd be switching to shorter distances, and work on my half marathon time, I find myself craving another marathon, despite the pain in my IT bands, and a few blisters on my feet, the first 23 miles were no problem. Maybe if I do a 24 miler as training the first 25 wont be bad since this time we did a 22 miler, and the first 23 weren't so bad. Am I crazy? I don't think so, but beating my time running was a way better high then when I was rowing and would beat my 2K time. Nothing compares so far to the joy and empowerment of finishing a full marathon, and I can't wait for more.
Happy running!!!
Soph
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