I'd say better late than never, but this is really good for me!
Sit back and prepare for a novel. This years marathon was a major spiritual event and I want to get it all down to remind myself how blessed I am. So, be warned and forgive my long-winded marathon report.
I have to go back to the last 2 years to start. Because of the heat, I added extra walks. Usually, we only walk the water stops. The last 2 years, though, we had to add more. This year, I really wanted to know that I had given it my all and didnt give up.
The training all went really well and, for the first time, there were no breaks taken in training. Doing tris this summer really helped me train through the heat and I felt better prepared than I have been since at least 2006 (my first marathon).
Then, the weather reports started to say that the weather would eb perfect. On the cold side, but perfect for me. Thats when I thought I really could PR this year. Then, as we got closer and closer, the temps kept going up. Bummer. Still I wanted to give it my all.
Through the years, we debated over starting fast and doing our best before the heat hit and pacing ourselves to not burn out. This year, I decided that I would do all that I could when it was cool and see what happened when the heat came on.
Before I knew it, it was race morning. I was more scared/nervous than I had been since 2006, but I was hoping that would give me the adrenaline I needed. As I started to get ready, there was an mp3 player and speaker with a card on the counter that said, play me. The first song was the theme song from Rocky. For those that dont know, this was the song that got me going this fall after I took a spill in the Grand Rapids half. Perfect. From there, it went to Got to Be Somebody by Nickelback. I had never heard this before, but it got me hopping. The words were so perfect, especially coming from my dh and running partner. To keep it short, lol, Ill just post the chorus.
Cause nobody wants to be the last one there
Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares
Someone to love with my life in their hands
There's gotta be somebody for me like that
Cause nobody wants to go it on their own
And everyone wants to know they're not alone
There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere
There's gotta be somebody for me out there
From there, the mp3 played the theme song from Chariots of Fire. Very cool. I then put Nickelback on repeat and drove DH nuts the rest of the time we were getting ready.
We finished getting ready and headed out to the bus. Thats always an awesome experience for us. Theres just something in the air. Were all nervous and excited and you can just feel it. Plus, theres that thing about it being 3:30 in the morning.
Got to Epcot and found WISHers right away. That always helps to calm the nerves. Plus, it was withdisneyspirits first full, so I put more focus on her while trying not to think about what was lying ahead.
Then, it was time for the religious service. This is just a 5 to 10 minute service/prayer that really helps put things in perspective for me before the race. The pastor is a marathoner and he had done the service last year. He would be running the marathon too. The man is amazing. This year, the service was based on a verse in Philippians and it spoke of pressing on. I felt like it was spoken right to me. This was going to be my year. The year I was going to press on and not give up. I just cant even describe how that felt.
Funny thing about the service. There was a man there that we had met on the plane to San Antonio. He had met his wife at the Great Wall of China marathon and was a 50-state club member. Oh, and he was about half way through doing the 50 states again. :O Small world.
We chatted a bit after and made our way to gear check. We met the cutest couple in line. They asked us to take a pic, as this was their first. I did and told them to enjoy it, as they would never have another first. The guy asked what it was really like. I told him I wouldnt lie and tell him it was easy, but that it was well worth sticking it out. I told him where some of the hard parts were for me, we wished each other well and parted ways. I still wonder how they did.
It was really crowded after we crossed to port-o-pot city, so we only had time to go once and head to the start. It was chilly, but I was happy about that. Getting to the corral seemed to take forever with the way we were routed this year and we only had a few minutes to spare. As we turned the last corner to our corral, though, I about stopped dead. My HS running song was playing. A song that was played at the banquet every year for Cross Country. A song that I had not heard since fall of 1988.
Runner
by Mannfred Mann
Through the night...through the dawn,
Behind you another runner is born.
Don't look back, you've been there.
See the mist as your breath hits the air.
And it's underneath the moonlight, passing some;
Still your heart beats in the moonlight like a drum.
Through the night...through the dawn,
Behind you another runner is born.
Don't look back, you've been there.
Feel the mist as your breath hits the air.
And it's underneath the moonlight, passing some;
Still your heart beats in the moonlight like a drum.
And you will run your time, a shooting star across the sky.
And you will surely cross the line, to pass on the flame.
Sun come up...sun go down.
Hear the beat, see the sweat on the ground.
Watch your step, keep your cool,
Though you can't see what's in front of you.
And it's underneath the moonlight, passing some;
Still your heart beats in the moonlight like a drum.
And you will run your time, a shooting star across the sky.
And you will surely cross the line, to pass on the flame, pass on the flame.
Through the night...through the dawn,
Behind you another runner is born.
Don't look back, you've been there.
Feel the mist as your breath hits the air.
And it's underneath the moonlight, passing some;
Still your heart beats in the moonlight like a drum.
And you will run your time, a shooting star across the sky.
And you will surely cross the line.
And it's underneath the moonlight, passing some;
Still your heart beats in the moonlight like a drum.
And you will run your time, a shooting star across the sky.
And you will surely cross the line.
Poor dh, I just kept walking with tears streaming down my face. Couldnt help it. If I hadnt already known God was with me that day, that did it for sure. (Sometimes I need a kick in the head, I know)
Thanks for being there at the overpass!
