We got to the WWoS and there were many busses waiting for us. We were able to board almost immediately and then were off. We arrived at Hollywood Studios about 15 minutes later and went to the pre-corral area. The wait lines for potties was huge so I got in line, knowing I'd have to go at least once. I changed out of my tutu and Autism Speaks singlet as the skirt was bugging me a bit and the singlet was chafing my arms already. I changed into my old standby of light compression bike shorts and my Nike second skin-like top which has a drawstring and peplum-type bottom.
Here is a link to this awesome top:
http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/NKL1479/
The fabric is amazing: like raw silk in feel. Feels like nothing is on and very lightweight.
DH and I parted about 2115 and he went off to the spectator areas while I got into corral B. I had submitted a time of 1:15 for a 10k and was given that corral. It seemed generous: I was expecting a C.
I was so tired standing in line. I was yawning and having some serious self-doubt. It was so hot and muggy. I was already so tired.
We got into the corrals and the wheelchair division started in two waves, and then corral A. 5 minutes later we were off and it was a sea of runners for a long time. We made our way out onto the highway and I settled into a good pace. The toughest parts were on the highway ramps which were very steeply angled and made running uncomfortable as my feet were finding the pavement at very different times due to the banking of the ramps. There were some segments of gradual hills, but nothing too bad. There were also some nice downhill segments, but again gentle. The trail was much the same as the 5k through WWoS but we went around 2 tracks (I think!).
I really didn't pay a lot of attention to the course. I was just trying to keep my stuff together to finish and stay strong.
I took some salt tablets with me, some electrolyte tabs, and some fuel. I ate one of my Honey Stingers just before corralling and left my water with DH. There were 6 water/powerade stations so I thought I would be fine. I managed to take one salt tablet at about 45 minutes into the race as I was sweating tremendously, but then my container fell out of my pouch and I drop-kicked it across the highway, scattering all my salt pills. I'm sure I looked like a junkie with those pills but I was disappointed to lose them. From there in I drank only powerade to try to keep my electrolytes up. By mile 9 though I was in a bit of rough shape as I could tell I was becoming both hyponatremic and dehydrated. I could feel the useless powerade sloshing in my belly, unable to be taken up as I was salt-deficient by now. My hands were starting to swell a bit (my sign of being hyponatremic), and my belly was sloshing (another sign for me). My hands started getting pins and needles up to my forearms, and I started to feel nauseous and a little dumb. Luckily I was in Hollywood Studios and knew I was almost done.
The course was not finished at 10 miles, according to my Garmin. Others around me also found that their watches said 10 miles, yet we were about 300 yards from the finish line. In all my watch said 16.45/km, or 10.3 miles when I was done. I suppose it was the inefficient weaving around folks, or taking turns wide.
I was happy with my pace while running, about 7:30-7:45/km but I took two long walk breaks of about 9-10 minutes each during the course because I was just TOO HOT. I managed to run the rest of the course with only a few short walk breaks at the water stops and the odd minute here and there, but ran for most of it.
When I finally crossed the finish line I was done like dinner. I received my medal, got my 'lunchbox', grabbed two waters and a powerade, and some ice and Tylenol. My knees held up surprisingly well, and I enjoyed a quick stop for some Bio-Freeze, but that was it for the knees. Thanks knees for holding up so well!
I called DH to find him as he unfortunately didn't see me finish. We met up on the street in front of ToT and I knew I wasn't going to be able to party. I needed electrolytes. I licked the salt off a few crackers (too nauseous to eat) and drank one of the bottles of water, and sucked on some ice to cool down. We walked to grab a cab - allowing my legs to walk it off a bit.
Here is me in the elevator lobby at BLT as I had forgotten to get a post-race picture AT the race:
And my medal:
It wasn't pretty getting out of the cab - I felt about 80 with creaky knees. BLT was so cold that night and I started to get a chill. I stripped down in our room and showered and stretched a bit. Clean and warmer I got into bed and knew I needed to eat and drink. I hadn't peed since 9pm. It was a good pee though as I had been hydrating all afternoon.
I ate the cheese and crackers and ate a banana. It was all I could stomach and I was eating out of sheer determination. I downed the powerade and the other bottle of water. I was wracked with chills and my legs were aching so badly. I couldn't sleep as I was so cold and so achy. I finally drifted off, feeling like I had done what I could do to right my balances of salt and fluids.
I woke up feeling fabulous and had a good light pee. We got up and packed as we had to check out. We headed down to The Wave and had a great breakfast of smoked salmon, grits, bacon, potatoes and fruit galore. We sat for a bit as ME wasn't going to pick us up for another hour. We found a couch on the second level of the Contemporary and parked it. I was now really tired again, with a full belly and the long trip home.
Getting home was uneventful but long. Our flight was at 1505 and we got in our door at 2145. Two of my kids were up to greet us and we gave them their little presents, kissed my mom goodbye and headed to bed.
So we got some paints chips and DH and I have to agree. DH likes beige. I like colour. I think we are going with the stunningly original cream with white trim, but our furniture is espresso brown and the accents will be a rich red.
Finished, but it wasn't pretty. I walked a bunch. Finished in about 2:30:00. Not pleased.
So I stopped for some bandaids for about 2 minutes and was able to carry on pain-free. I would have toughed it out but the hotspots were almost bleeding and with 8k to go I couldn't think of anything else.
