nucpharm29
<font color=purple>The Exercise Goddess</font>
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2004
- Messages
- 3,074
I thought I would post my report in a separate thread, so I didn't hijack the others. Bear with me--the report is long and I have lots of pics to follow!
Wow, what an experience my 1st Marathon was!
From the days leading up to race day and throughout the marathon itself, lots of excitement and anxiety.
The night before the race, my whole family joined my running partner and his family for a pasta dinner. We carbo-loaded on spaghetti and lasagna. Yummo!
Then it was time to head home early and get a good nights rest. Well, until 2:00am, when I was lying in bed wide awake and trembling at the thought of what lie ahead!
5:00amout of bed for a shower and my obligatory cup of coffee! Like Ive mentioned before, no one wants to run with me if I havent had my coffee. Ate my normal before run meal, PB&J on toast and banana. All dressed and ready to go!
6:30amRunning partner and his 2 friends from Texas (all experienced marathoners, I might add) arrive to carpool to the start. We were in the car pumping up toEye of the Tiger and the theme from Chariots of Fire!
We arrive at the start a few minutes before 7am and not much of a crowd has formed yet. We headed over to the Capitol Bistro for more coffee (yeah, I know). But it was cold! Below 30 when we got out of the car. So, we grabbed our coffee and decided that we should head over to the port-o-potties before the lines got outrageous. And as we were walking the block over to the toilets, I managed to trip and spill hot coffee all over my white running shirt! AAAHH!!!
Number 1 it was HOT and number 2 now I have to have my photos taken with this nice coffee stain all down my front! But my friends were nice to ask if I was okay first, and then they laughed! 
So after 2 trips to the potty we headed over to the start. I was literally shaking in my shoesnerves, yes, but it was still cold!
We lined up with the 4:00hr pace groupknowing 2 of the guys would go pretty fast, and my partner and I would fade back. 5-4-3-2-1--and we were off!!!! Took us about a minute to cross the start line after the gun went off. The marathon, half-marathon, and relay all started together so it was pretty crowded at first. I was impressed that the pace group leaders held their groups back a little so that we didnt get so bunched up.
Miles 1-4 are pretty much a blur. I really wish I would have taken more of it in, but I was so nervous. We headed into North Little Rock and toured the downtown district. I remember seeing a sign in a yard that read Only 22.4 miles to go! I looked at my buddy and asked Is that supposed to make me feel better???? He just laughed. I saw my dad and aunt as we were crossing the bridge back into Little Rock. By this time, I had already shed my jacket and gloveshoping they would find their way back to the finish!(which amazingly they did)
Miles 5-6.8 were pretty nice. Flat!!! We headed toward the President Clinton library where we got leid at the Margaritaville tent
around the 5 mile mark. I took my lei and threw it around my neckhaving fun! Well, after 2 minutes with that thing around my neck it started to get oldcouple of minutes later I had to throw it to the curb! Next major stop was the relay exchange. It was really crazy and congestedbesides the relay exchange it was the first chip mat after the start. So the volunteers were trying to divert the relay people to their spots while trying to get all the rest of us to cross the mat (chip time 1:00:12, 6.8 miles)all of this while rounding a curve. Susie, I did see you!!! I didnt see you at first, but I turned my head as we were going around the corner, and I saw the WISH t-shirt!!!!!
Miles 7-13 were pretty uneventful. Saw DH a couple of times
did my first water bottle switch. We did run past Central High School, which was pretty cool to see. And I had to walk through my first water stop. I had been just coasting through them and drinking on the go from my own bottle. Then the half split off from the full. It really thinned out then. Then up a hill to the captiol for the halfway mark! 13.1 PR!!!! Chip time 1:58:07. Saw DH and my auntloved the scream team!!!
Miles 13-17 H-E-double hockey sticks!!!!!!!!!
If youre looking for a fast half marathon course, Little Rock is greatthe full on the other hand, is a different story. My partner said afterward that this course was the hardest hes ever run. Once you cross the halfway mark, the course starts going up hill for 2 full miles, levels out for a couple blocks, climbs some more, and then you go into a steep decline. It was at the beginning of this section, that I told my partner to go ahead and leave me. I needed to do some walking, if I was going to make it. We had been averaging sub-9:00 miles up to that point, and I was dying. There was a point along mile 14 that I was ready to throw in the towel. I wanted to quit so badly. But my family and my WISH buddies (in spirit) kept me going.
Apparently DH and Daunt were at the 16 mile mark ( I know b/c there is a picture taken there) but I was so focused I never saw or heard them. I just wanted to start going downhill. But the downhill portion was almost as bad as the up hill part. It was so steep going down, that my calves and achilles were screamingcouldnt walk it b/c the grade was so steep. When we were back on flat ground again, I was in heavenbut then round the next corner and had to go up another hill!
Miles 18-24 Finally its flat!!!
An out and back portion of the race. I was really hurting at this pointbut I got another burst of energy when I saw a dear friend cheering me on (her husband is an ortho sports dr. who was volunteering at the med. tent), and then a block up was my wonderful husband again! 
We switched out my water bottle for the second timeand I was off againwith renewed spirit. But started getting lonely again around mile 20, until guess what???? My wonderful parents had brought my babies to cheer me on! I get teary eyed just remembering seeing my daughters face at the turn-around point yelling Go Mommy!! Youre racing!!!
I just wanted to stop and love on her-but I knew if I stopped I wouldnt be able to start again. I made the second of my 2 mistakes at this point in the race (the first being going out too fast) I started taking Gatorade at the aid stations. I had never trained with it, and it really hurt my stomach. But I was needing more fluid than I could get, so took whatever was offered. Relentless forward motion!!
Mile 25UPHILL again!!!!!!!
I tell you, whoever designed this course is definitely a sadist!!! Ha! I walked up this hill. I knew I only had a little over a mile left and I could do it!! At the top of the hill, the course went down a little and then made a left turnI knew the finish line was to the right, so I started to panic. Where were we going????
Mile 26 I looked at the Garmin and knew I only had 0.6 miles left. Where were we going???
Of course we just went around the block, but it was enough to make my heart skip a beat. Then we came to the last stretchI could see the finish line!! And now it was downhillIt may not look like it in the pictures but I was soooooo happy! I crossed the finish line, people cheering and calling out my name. What a glorious experience!! I was hurting, but I had done it!!! Chip time 4:18:09!!!!!!!!! 
Sixth in my age division, 101st female finisher out of 484!!!
My only complaints were from post-race. As soon as you finished, you had to stop and have someone cut off your chipI needed to keep moving!! And then a couple of steps past that, you had to stop to get the medallove my bling, but needed water and to keep moving. Grabbed some water and some snacks-and had to get in line for my finishers t-shirt. DH was waiting for me outside the finish zone and gave me a huge hug!! It was wonderful!! At this point I was just wandering around trying to get my head clear!! Took some pictures and then my kids and parents arrived!
I went out today and drove parts of the course, and I cant believe that I ran that. Wow!! Im now part of the club of 1% of the population that will ever conquer that giant26.2 miles. Thanks to all my family, friends, and WISH teammates for seeing me through this process. Next giant to conquerDisney 08 with DH!!!!
Wow, what an experience my 1st Marathon was!
From the days leading up to race day and throughout the marathon itself, lots of excitement and anxiety.The night before the race, my whole family joined my running partner and his family for a pasta dinner. We carbo-loaded on spaghetti and lasagna. Yummo!
Then it was time to head home early and get a good nights rest. Well, until 2:00am, when I was lying in bed wide awake and trembling at the thought of what lie ahead!5:00amout of bed for a shower and my obligatory cup of coffee! Like Ive mentioned before, no one wants to run with me if I havent had my coffee. Ate my normal before run meal, PB&J on toast and banana. All dressed and ready to go!
6:30amRunning partner and his 2 friends from Texas (all experienced marathoners, I might add) arrive to carpool to the start. We were in the car pumping up toEye of the Tiger and the theme from Chariots of Fire!
We arrive at the start a few minutes before 7am and not much of a crowd has formed yet. We headed over to the Capitol Bistro for more coffee (yeah, I know). But it was cold! Below 30 when we got out of the car. So, we grabbed our coffee and decided that we should head over to the port-o-potties before the lines got outrageous. And as we were walking the block over to the toilets, I managed to trip and spill hot coffee all over my white running shirt! AAAHH!!!
Number 1 it was HOT and number 2 now I have to have my photos taken with this nice coffee stain all down my front! But my friends were nice to ask if I was okay first, and then they laughed! So after 2 trips to the potty we headed over to the start. I was literally shaking in my shoesnerves, yes, but it was still cold!We lined up with the 4:00hr pace groupknowing 2 of the guys would go pretty fast, and my partner and I would fade back. 5-4-3-2-1--and we were off!!!! Took us about a minute to cross the start line after the gun went off. The marathon, half-marathon, and relay all started together so it was pretty crowded at first. I was impressed that the pace group leaders held their groups back a little so that we didnt get so bunched up.
Miles 1-4 are pretty much a blur. I really wish I would have taken more of it in, but I was so nervous. We headed into North Little Rock and toured the downtown district. I remember seeing a sign in a yard that read Only 22.4 miles to go! I looked at my buddy and asked Is that supposed to make me feel better???? He just laughed. I saw my dad and aunt as we were crossing the bridge back into Little Rock. By this time, I had already shed my jacket and gloveshoping they would find their way back to the finish!(which amazingly they did)
Miles 5-6.8 were pretty nice. Flat!!! We headed toward the President Clinton library where we got leid at the Margaritaville tent
around the 5 mile mark. I took my lei and threw it around my neckhaving fun! Well, after 2 minutes with that thing around my neck it started to get oldcouple of minutes later I had to throw it to the curb! Next major stop was the relay exchange. It was really crazy and congestedbesides the relay exchange it was the first chip mat after the start. So the volunteers were trying to divert the relay people to their spots while trying to get all the rest of us to cross the mat (chip time 1:00:12, 6.8 miles)all of this while rounding a curve. Susie, I did see you!!! I didnt see you at first, but I turned my head as we were going around the corner, and I saw the WISH t-shirt!!!!! Miles 7-13 were pretty uneventful. Saw DH a couple of times
did my first water bottle switch. We did run past Central High School, which was pretty cool to see. And I had to walk through my first water stop. I had been just coasting through them and drinking on the go from my own bottle. Then the half split off from the full. It really thinned out then. Then up a hill to the captiol for the halfway mark! 13.1 PR!!!! Chip time 1:58:07. Saw DH and my auntloved the scream team!!!Miles 13-17 H-E-double hockey sticks!!!!!!!!!
If youre looking for a fast half marathon course, Little Rock is greatthe full on the other hand, is a different story. My partner said afterward that this course was the hardest hes ever run. Once you cross the halfway mark, the course starts going up hill for 2 full miles, levels out for a couple blocks, climbs some more, and then you go into a steep decline. It was at the beginning of this section, that I told my partner to go ahead and leave me. I needed to do some walking, if I was going to make it. We had been averaging sub-9:00 miles up to that point, and I was dying. There was a point along mile 14 that I was ready to throw in the towel. I wanted to quit so badly. But my family and my WISH buddies (in spirit) kept me going. Apparently DH and Daunt were at the 16 mile mark ( I know b/c there is a picture taken there) but I was so focused I never saw or heard them. I just wanted to start going downhill. But the downhill portion was almost as bad as the up hill part. It was so steep going down, that my calves and achilles were screamingcouldnt walk it b/c the grade was so steep. When we were back on flat ground again, I was in heavenbut then round the next corner and had to go up another hill! Miles 18-24 Finally its flat!!!
An out and back portion of the race. I was really hurting at this pointbut I got another burst of energy when I saw a dear friend cheering me on (her husband is an ortho sports dr. who was volunteering at the med. tent), and then a block up was my wonderful husband again! We switched out my water bottle for the second timeand I was off againwith renewed spirit. But started getting lonely again around mile 20, until guess what???? My wonderful parents had brought my babies to cheer me on! I get teary eyed just remembering seeing my daughters face at the turn-around point yelling Go Mommy!! Youre racing!!! I just wanted to stop and love on her-but I knew if I stopped I wouldnt be able to start again. I made the second of my 2 mistakes at this point in the race (the first being going out too fast) I started taking Gatorade at the aid stations. I had never trained with it, and it really hurt my stomach. But I was needing more fluid than I could get, so took whatever was offered. Relentless forward motion!!Mile 25UPHILL again!!!!!!!
I tell you, whoever designed this course is definitely a sadist!!! Ha! I walked up this hill. I knew I only had a little over a mile left and I could do it!! At the top of the hill, the course went down a little and then made a left turnI knew the finish line was to the right, so I started to panic. Where were we going????Mile 26 I looked at the Garmin and knew I only had 0.6 miles left. Where were we going???
Of course we just went around the block, but it was enough to make my heart skip a beat. Then we came to the last stretchI could see the finish line!! And now it was downhillIt may not look like it in the pictures but I was soooooo happy! I crossed the finish line, people cheering and calling out my name. What a glorious experience!! I was hurting, but I had done it!!! Chip time 4:18:09!!!!!!!!! Sixth in my age division, 101st female finisher out of 484!!!My only complaints were from post-race. As soon as you finished, you had to stop and have someone cut off your chipI needed to keep moving!! And then a couple of steps past that, you had to stop to get the medallove my bling, but needed water and to keep moving. Grabbed some water and some snacks-and had to get in line for my finishers t-shirt. DH was waiting for me outside the finish zone and gave me a huge hug!! It was wonderful!! At this point I was just wandering around trying to get my head clear!! Took some pictures and then my kids and parents arrived!
I went out today and drove parts of the course, and I cant believe that I ran that. Wow!! Im now part of the club of 1% of the population that will ever conquer that giant26.2 miles. Thanks to all my family, friends, and WISH teammates for seeing me through this process.
Next giant to conquerDisney 08 with DH!!!! 
