26.2 miles. A year ago I never thought I could do it...or wanted to do it. However, after my 4th half-marathon and my 40th birthday fast approaching, I started to wonder if I COULD do it. I waivered back and forth, and finally, with Grady's encouragement, decided to go for it. I signed up online about 6 months ago and felt physically sick after I hit the "enter" button. There was no turning back now! I found a 16-week training program online and began training at the end of June. At first it was pretty easy, but in mid-August the mileage started to really increase and just finding the time to train was hard, let alone the physical demands of it. What kept me going was the REASON I was running. I decided to dedicate this marathon to my mom, who was brave and strong and battled breast cancer, AND WON! Compared to what she went through, 16 weeks of training and 26.2 miles at the end was nothing, really. I felt this marathon would prove to me, my girls, and to other women, that one can conquer ANYTHING with courage, strength, a little help from God and well....stubbornness!
The Night Before...
I thought it would be fun to have the girls think up a phrase or phrases and write them on my body so I could look at them while running for a little motivation!
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| GO MOMMY GO!! |
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| Macey made up this phrase: "GO JANE, IGNORE THE PAIN!" |
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| Important people in my life who gave me inspiration each mile. |
Race Day!!
I woke up at 4:45am, got dressed, drank a cup of coffee, ate a whole wheat bagel with peanut butter and made sure I had everything ready to go. We left the house at 6am.
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| Putting on my lucky socks! |
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| All of my gadgets that I can't live without. |
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| Right before we headed out the door! | | | | | |
We arrived downtown about an hour before the race started. Just in time to park, hit the port-o-potties, and get to the start line. Speaking of port-o-potties, they call them "port-o-johns" now...like that's supposed to make them sound cleaner?, less repulsive?, less stinky?...well, I don't care what they're called, they're still gross, but I'm SO glad they are on the course! LOL!
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| My friends, Mendy, Tracy, and Jenni in the pee line! |
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| Start line!! Here we go! |
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On the course...
I started running with my friend, Tracy, who was running the half marathon. The first 4 miles were very hilly, so we took it slow and steady. Grady surprised us at mile #5, but the camera was acting up, so we didn't get a picture. The half marathon and marathon courses split up at about mile 8. So, Tracy went one way and I went another. I had been on "cruise control" from mile 5 and was feeling great. All of the sudden, Grady surprised me again at mile 10 (the mile I dedicated to him...for 10 happy years of marriage!). Here are the pics he took at mile 10:
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| Smiling and feeling good! |
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| Goodbye mile 10! |
The next 5 miles took us through some very nice neighborhoods. I started dreaming that I lived in some of the houses I saw (just to help pass the time). These neigbhorhoods were beautiful, but they were HILLY! In the middle of mile 15, my spirits started to fade as I saw yet another hill ahead of me. I also started thinking "oh my gosh, I have SO FAR to go" when all of the sudden, I saw 3 of my dearest friends at the side of the road. Tiffany, Beth and Stacy were waving and cheering and were all smiles!! I needed them so badly! Right when I saw them, my spirits were lifted (I almost started crying because their presence meant so much!) and believe it or not, the next few miles felt effortless. Here are the pics they took at mile 15:
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| A great shot of the girls' message on my leg! |
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Around mile 18, the sun started beating down and it was getting hot. But, I kept going... At the aid stations I started drinking one cup of water and dumping another cup down my back. I had been following the 4:25 pacers pretty much from the beginning, but lost them at mile 20 when I had to make a pit stop. Nature called, what can I say. :) Shortly after my pit stop, I saw my 3 dear friends again! Here are the pics at mile 20:
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| So happy to see my friends again!! |
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| Goodbye mile 20! |
Ok, now only 6.2 miles to go! I knew I had one more friend who was going to be at the mile 21 aid station, so I kept running. My friend Holly ran in the Chicago Marathon last weekend and was a sight for my tired eyes! She was smiling and cheering and jumping up and down! It was awesome! She asked me how I felt and all I remember telling her is, "it's getting hot!". She said, "just a little further to go...you're almost a marathoner!". After mile 21, my quads were tightening up and every step hurt. I actually found it hard to go in a straight line! Just about everyone around me started to walk. I kept thinking, "if I keep running, my legs are going to give out and I'm going to fall", so for the last 5 miles, I would walk a little and run a little. Finally, I passed the 26 mile marker, rounded a corner and SAW THE FINISH LINE!
THE HOME STRETCH!
I was so happy to see the finish line, I decided to give it all I had...
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| So happy to see my family on the sidelines! | |
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FINISH LINE!!!!
I was never so happy to cross a finish line in all of my life! Every single muscle in my lower body was screaming and I could barely walk. Somehow I managed to have my time chip cut off of my shoe and get my medal. Grady was there to meet me.
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| Official time was 4:34:02...just shy of my sub 4:30 goal, but I'll take it! |
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| Smiling and trying to ignore my legs and feet screaming at me! |
Family Reunion...they make it all worthwhile!
Grady took me to where my mom and the girls were waiting. I was so happy to see them, so full of pride, so overwhelmed with emotion...
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| Overwhelmed with emotion...my mom told me, "I'm so proud of you...you did this for me!" |
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| more tears... |
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| My 4 favorite girls |
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| Thank you, Grady, for believing that I could do this, for supporting me during training, and for being such a big part of race day. I LOVE YOU!! | |
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| I love this picture |
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| This wasn't my official time, but I think it is funny that the distance reads 26.38. Hmmm...I wonder if the additional .18 miles is due to all of the staggering in the last 5 miles? hahaha! |
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| Eewww! This fella joined me around mile 15 and was quite annoying! I thought we should name him, so Macey named him "Steve"! hahahhaha!!!! |
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At Home...
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| My 16-wk training schedule that I had taped to my bedroom mirror |
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| Balloon and flowers from Tom & Judy--Thank you, how thoughtful! |
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| Emmy made this for me and said, "this is for you, mommy...for being in that big marathon". What a sweetheart! |
It may be my name on the race bib, but so many people helped to make this marathon happen for me. First and foremost, Grady. Not only was he supportive during my 16 weeks of training, but he often put up with a very tired and sometimes grouchy wife...thanks for putting up with me! Next, my friend Tracy. She ran almost every weekend with me and helped me through a lot of my very long runs...I loved her company! My friends Tiffany, Beth & Stacy for taking the time to meet me on the course and chase me down to meet me again! I love you girls for that!! My friend, Holly, who also trained with me and encouraged me at mile 21. And to all my friends and family who were written on my arms...it took ALL of you to help me conquer 26.2!
I loved the whole experience and would do it again (on a FLAT course!). Maybe in 2011?....we'll see.☺
