The Road to Hayward Field

(This is part two of my marathon recap... catch the first part here)

Between mile 14 and 15 I took another gel, and this time chased it with a salt packet. We were running along a busy road, and I saw my family drive by on their way to mile 20, yelling my name. I felt so tired, but was still trying to push through it; to run as much as I could. We crossed an overpass, and I could see Autzen stadium ahead of me. The stadium marked mile 16. I was exhausted. I might have shed a couple of tears. I took a brief walk break and texted Matt, Ashley, Devon, my dad. “Mile 16!” I felt pretty defeated, but I was more than halfway. I told myself I would count to ten and then start running. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine... I tried to get my legs started.  My phone beeped. It was my friend Allie, texting me at random. “Run girl!!!!! You can do it!” Perfect timing. I picked up my pace.

Playing with my daughter at mile 20

Mile 17, I started to rally. We were running along the river, and the trail was lined with beautiful, big trees that sheltered us the whole way. The crowd had thinned out a bit, and I started to find my groove. I had told myself I’d stop and text out an update at mile 18, but the mile marker came and went. I didn’t stop. I marveled at how good my muscles felt. I had never been this comfortable this far into a run. I knew my family was waiting a couple of miles ahead, so I pushed it. I found my parents and Kisa again around mile 20. Again, I stopped for hugs and to say hi to my daughter. Again, she ran circles around the field (“watch me, mama!”). She passed me a gel. I ran on.

The mile after that was probably the slowest of the whole race. Over 3 hours into it at this point, my body was catching up with me. I prayed for a port-a-john and found one JUST in time. We crossed back over the river, and I tried not to think about how much further I had left to go (about an hour). Soon, I spied Matt, Mitch and Ash up ahead. I was slowing, and hurting, but still just as happy to see them. I ran up with a big smile on my face and gave Matt a hug. I was soooo tired, I wanted to stop, just for a second- but he shouted at me to keep running, so I did.

The next few miles are a blur. We headed into another park and ran along the river some more. I still felt strong, although I knew my pace had slowed down considerably. Crowds cheered us through the park. Around mile 23, I saw my favorite sign of the whole race “Chuck Norris never ran a marathon.” I grinned at the lady holding it and tore my way through the next mile. This was maybe the best I felt through the whole race: waving, smiling, hearing people cheer for me by name, telling me I looked strong, that I was sooooo close. A man at an aid station held out a cup of beer. Not yet! Mile 24.5, The Final Countdown came on my ipod. I swear that was unplanned. I was grinning from ear to ear.

I told myself I had two miles left. There’s a two mile loop near our house that I’ve run countless times, including the wednesday before the marathon. I pictured myself bounding down our front steps, getting ready to set out on a quick jog.  I took stock of my body. Okay, two miles, I can do that.

I was close, but the race seemed to drag on. I was running, but most of the runners around me had slowed to a walk. The miles inched by. I couldn’t see any sign of civilization, no streets up ahead.  My only stop was as I hit the 25-mile marker. I texted Matt, just the number 25. I wanted them to be ready.

Finally, the park ended and we ran into the Public Plaza. A band played there. Someone offered me a cup of water, but I was too tired to stop; I waved them away. I could see the road curve up in front of me, I could see the starting line in the distance where I had waited hours before. But I was so, so tired. My watch clicked closer to mile 26, I knew I was in the home stretch, but everything in me just wanted to stop. There were two photographers  perched at the top of a small hill,  snapping photos of the runners as they rounded the last bend. It was the final stretch of road before Hayward field.  I tried to pose for the camera, smiling as wide as I could at Mile 26, ignoring my desire to quit.

 It is a strange feeling to be so close to accomplishing goal and yet so exhausted that you’re tempted to throw in the towel. I can’t really explain it, but others who’ve run a marathon or  competed in some other endurance event (childbirth comes to mind) can probably relate. I knew I could finish,  I knew I WOULD finish. I commanded myself not to walk. Just two more minutes to go, then you can walk  all you want to.

Suddenly, there was the sign. Hayward field. I welled up. This was my moment. I yanked my headphones out of my ear so I could hear the crowd. A huge grin spread across my face.  My feet hit the edge of the track. I could hear another runner nearby call out “There’s the finish line! We’re almost there!” 

Stepping onto the track at Hayward Field :)

Where's the noise?

I saw people lined up along the perimeter, but it seemed like no one was cheering.  I waved my arms and shouted at them. My father-in-law captured this moment with his camera and titled it "C'mon! Where's the noise?"

As my feet hit the straightaway I took off, arms raised high over my head, fists pumping, cheeks sore from the huge grin on my face,  screaming with pure joy...

Victory!

 I crossed the finish line in 4 hours and 25  ½ minutes, an interesting coincidence considering my bib number (4255).

The sweetest moment of the day was finding my family  waiting for me outside the recovery area, exhausted and overwhelmed and excited and high on endorphins, falling into my husband’s arms and shedding a couple of tears of  joy and pride. 

Post-race: tears of joy

The only real answer to the question “How was your race?” is that is was amazing.  It’s difficult to sum up a day like that, especially when it comes as the conclusion of months of effort, anxiety and physical and mental training. I think it’s safe to say that I’m not done, although marathoning will have to go on the back burner for the next couple of years.  But I was incredibly blessed to run a healthy, happy race and to be surrounded on all sides by family and friends who cheered me every step of the way. And though I'm proud of my time... of course, I'm a runner, so there's always room for improvement. ;)