Marine Corps Marathon 2016

Although I'm so glad this life event is behind me, I miss the runs with the girls often and will never forget the hundreds of miles I spent with them over the spring, summer and fall!

So... here's my recap of the race and the day starting with some pre-race pictures in our bath robes that we tossed knowing they'd be donated to Good Will!

Once the announcer began the first words, we threw off the robes and geared up for the race of our lives. Amy, on the left below, was our 'coach'. She had been a running coach for years and took a step back after her baby was born only 6 months ago. She knew she'd be slower during training (she can normally run sub 8's) so it was a perfect match. She's also run this marathon 10 times and several others so it was helpful to have someone so experienced run with us. Lisa, in the middle, was running this as her first and only marathon too. We hit it off from the first time we met and I know we'll always be friends wherever we are in life. A lady even yelled on the course 'are you guys twins?' to which we obviously responded YES! 

Then we were off. The first 10 miles were great! We had a lot of support and I was feeling fine, hence the smiles!

It was around mile 15 that things started quickly changing. My stomach was absolutely sick of sugar after hydrating for 3 days with straight Gatorade and I was feeling extremely nauseous and dizzy. It sucked. Big time. To train for months and months for something and it not go as planned is very disheartening. I had the proper fuel and hydration, but the 82 degree weather and high humidity killed us. Seriously. Killed us. Marathons are best in 50-60 degrees and this was just brutal. I let those 2 girls go on ahead and began running with my friend Stephanie who trained at just a smidge slower pace than me. 

We had fun for a few miles but around 19/20 it was terrible. Just terrible. I literally couldn't take another sip which, of course, was bad in of itself being that I was potentially getting dehydrated and I couldn't get my chews down for the life of me. I was a wreck. Thankfully Stephanie was struggling just as much seeing as she had been in a car accident just a week before. We both took it easy telling each other we'll make it and I couldn't have crossed that line without her.

And this group of people as well! My family got to see me SIX times including the finish line and I'm so beyond thankful for that. My mom and dad had made 3 huge signs that were awesome to spot when I knew I was coming up to where they were! The hug I got from my mom around mile 15 was all I wanted at that point in time. And seeing my little wormy smile when she saw me around mile 6 gave me energy. Having my brother and dad cheer me on and knowing he was at the finish helped me to keep going. Also seeing Drew's little face despite being sick was amazing. And lastly, having Derek scream my name each time he saw me and actually run with me for 100 feet to encourage me made me the happiest person in the world.

And despite all odds, we finished. About 40-50ish minutes slower than I would have liked and with my body feeling terrible in so many places, but we crossed that line.

I officially ran a marathon and survived.

And will NEVER do that again.