Running the LBC

Remember that unit in your English class where you discussed foreshadowing? Well, let's do some of that, shall we? Just for chits and giggles...

Here is a conversation I had back in July, with my friend Grant, who has been helping me train for my last two halves.

Hang on to that for a bit, ummkay?

Now fast forward some. It wasn't until just a few weeks ago that I really started to think I could cross the finish line at or near the 1:50 mark.

Then, Sunday morning as I lined up in the chute I found the 1:50 pacer. I figured, what the heck, why not give it a shot? I'd been busting my buns training, and it wasn't for nothing.

The first 7 miles went by fast. So fast I don't really remember ever passing the 5 and 6 mile markers. My pace was great, and I was feeling pretty much on top of the world. It didn't hurt that 80 percent of the course was along the harbor and ocean. The views were perfection.

Photo source
A fire boat was in the harbor and had all of its pumps running during the race. The spraying water provided a much appreciated mist as we ran by.
I can't take credit for the photo above, but that was the view I had right around mile 5. I wanted so badly to stop and snap a picture of the boat - I considered doing so for about five seconds - but I decided against it.

Somewhere in the first 7 miles a gentleman ran along side me, saying I had a good pace and he was going to stick with me. Somewhere in there my running partner suggested I run at least one full marathon in my life. I chewed on that little nugget as I ran on.

It wasn't until about mile 9 that I started to pay attention to what mile I was at, what my pace was, where we were on the course, and my running buddy started to pull out in front of me. That was also the point when the 1:50 pacer began to creep farther and farther ahead of me.

To say miles 11 and 12 were hellacious would be a total understatement. I began to feel sluggish and cold. My legs felt as if they weighed 100 pounds a piece, and they were beginning to cramp. At one point an evil little voice crept into my head and had me considering stopping to walk. I quickly had a Come To Jesus Meeting with myself and pushed on. There wasn't a snowball's chance in Hell I was going to walk. At that point in the race, and with my training, walking would have been almost as bad as quitting altogether.

Then I saw it, the finish line. What a magnificent sight she was.

I crossed the finish line, not at the 1:50 I was hoping, but at 1:51:16 - official race time - what a run, what a rush!

Like the last half I ran, due to the sheer number of people I had to swerve in, out, and around, I hit 13.1 miles before the actual finish line. All that extra dodging added about .2 extra miles to my run. But, hey, I PR'd on pretty much EVERYTHING! Can't be mad at that.

The finishers medals are huge and weigh about 15 pounds. An exaggeration? Only slightly. They are freaking heavy.

The second I crossed the finish line I stopped running and I relaxed. And, so did my bladder (remember the foreshadowing?!? I called it way back in July!)! Hand to Jesus, I peed myself right then and there at the finish line as I was getting my medal. Apparently this bladder issue isn't uncommon for women who run long distances. Why did no one tell me this?!!

I couldn't decide if I was mortified from the pee that refused to stop running, or elated that my time was so much better than any race I'd even run. It was also right then that I decided I'll never run a full marathon. Can you *imagine* the issues I'd have after that?

Take a look at those pants. Can't even tell, can ya?!

After the initial excitement and terror wore off I found my cheering committee.

We took a few obligatory post-race pictures of Marcus and Mommy.

I smelled so ripe by this point. Poor kid. It was no wonder he didn't want to smile for the camera.

Then we packed up shop and headed home.

Before Scott let me in the car he made me put down my race blanket so I wouldn't sit directly on our seats. I guess that was warranted.

In short, what did I learn from this race?
Mind over matter.
Believe in yourself and push on.
And always wear black running pants. Always.



Any runners out there interested in running this next year? It's an awesome, fast course, and a Boston qualifier. I'd LOVE to have a running buddy.