etc

I feel like my post from yesterday kind of shafted the whole marathon experience...there has been so much going on lately that it's been hard to really focus on any one thing--in both my writing and my actions...but, the marathon definitely deserves a little more attention.

Seeing TriSaraTops out there was great...we all started together, but Jill and I kind of lost her at around mile 1. Then, Jill and I had to go to the bathroom around mile 3, so we stopped and Sara's pacing group went on ahead. The freaking bathroom line took 9:04 to get through! (Yes, I'm a dork and set a split on my watch for it...) The only complaint I have about the race is that they didn't have enough porta-potties...every single time we got to some there was a huge line--even at mile 20!

So, when Jill and I started out again, we were right around the 6:00 pacing group, which at first made me panic, but then I realized that it really is a pretty good racing strategy...because for the entire rest of the race we were passing people--definitely good for the morale. After the bathroom break, we found a comfortable 10:00/m pace, which felt great. The rain had stopped (it was POURING when the race started), but it was still cool out, so it was just a really nice day to be out running. We ran past some areas in the West Side that I didn't know existed.

Jill had been planning on running the half, but she wasn't registered and when we got to the half turn off, she decided to just keep on running. She felt so good that she ended up running about 16.5 miles of the race before turning off to run home for a total of 18 miles! Pretty awesome, eh? In her words, "The running Gods were there." I have to admit, I agree...

After Jill left, I got it into my head that I was going to break 4:30. It wasn't the smartest thing, because it could have led to disaster. But...it didn't, and I ended up with huge negative splits. My last mile was the fastest!

Up until mile 19, I felt great. Then, we turned onto the Lakefront, and the wind slammed into me. My legs were fine; I knew I wasn't going to hit that dumb-ass proverbial wall...it was just a pain in the butt to be running against the wind--especially in the last 7 miles of a marathon, you know?

Miles 19-25 were miserable with that wind...it just never ceased. There would be a building up ahead and I'd think "That has GOT to block the wind...at least a little..." But, it didn't...the wind was just invincible and seemed to be able to get through anything.

At a certain point, I just realized that the faster I went, the faster it would be over with. So, staying within a comfortable aerobic zone, I definitely started pushing a lot harder. Then mile 25 came, and we did a little turn around, and I swear I didn't have to do anything to get to that finish line...the wind pushed me the entire way. It was a great way to end the race, but I still would have gladly given up that easy last mile for the wind to have changed directions for the rest of the race!

Running through Cleveland was such a thrill...I saw parts I've never seen before, but I also got to run through areas that are like home to me. Running through University Circle, past Severance Hall...it was just awesome.

One thing is for sure: I can stomach Rasberry Hammer Gels...but that's it...nothing else. It's probably a mental thing, but anything else makes me vomit. Literally vomit, not pretend vomit. I had a Gu that I bummed from Brian that definitely made me sick around mile 20. I just didn't push it though, and threw out the Gu. I just figured that even though I would have really liked some nutrition besides PowerAde, I didn't need it to get through the last 6.2 miles. It definitely wasn't worth upsetting my oh-so-fragile stomach over. So, from now on: I'm bringing MORE THAN ENOUGH Hammer Gels with me. And perhaps sometime (hopefully soon?), I'll learn to be more tolerant of different brands.

This is probably too boring for most, but if you're interested--here are my splits...

11:31:04--mile 1
12:33:47--mile 2
10:39:80--mile 3
9:04:39-- bathroom stop
6:47:41--from bathroom to mile 4
10:24:35--mile 5
9:56:39--mile 6
9:55:50--mile 7
9:44:96--mile 8
10:14:54--mile 9 (up hill, talking to Lori from TNT)
10:04:61--mile 10
9:39:19--mile 11
19:09:57--miles 12 and 13...never saw the 12 mile marker, but that's when Liz found us, so I'm sure it was there...
10:20:11--mile 14
9:56:60--mile 15
9:32:95--mile 16--bye, Jill!
9:29:60--mile 17
9:57:66-mile 18
9:22:49--mile 19
9:53:10--mile 20 (argh, the wind!)
10:13:00--mile 21 (still windy)
9:33:27--mile 22 (the faster you do this, the sooner you're done!)
10:09:03--mile 23 (okay, it's REALLY windy out here, but...just 5K left...anyone can run a 5K!)
9:29:09--mile 24 (2.2 miles left...only 2.2 miles left)
8:51:90--mile 25 (I LOVE this wind!)
1:46:00--last .2--I'M A MARATHONER!!! (Chip time: 4:28:12)