My first Marathon

May 21st was the Ogden city marathon. I had registered for it way back in October. My life for the past several months revolved around "when am I going to fit my run into my day". Needless to say that now that it's over with it is so nice to have that little voice inside my head saying "you have to run today; you have to run today" gone. I once heard a quote about Marathons and I think it really summarizes my marathon experience. "Respect the distance, if you don't it will chew you up and spit you out". That is how I felt by mile 16 into the race. Of course I did my training but because I got some mild plantar fasciitis, and also a bad cold that took me out of running for a full week and a half a few weeks from the race, I didn't get in my two twenty miler's like I needed to. Also I'm expecting so training through morning sickness, and constant fatigue wasn't exactly a walk in the park either but I was determined to do it. I guess I'm the type of person who once they decide to something, they'll do it even if it kills em. Of course I wouldn't have pushed myself that hard being pregnant and all, but I was determined to still finish. I didn't waste the last several months of running just to get out of shape now. But enough about training, I was soooo glad that I still ran the race. My sister, who is also my best friend flew out to run the marathon too. I totally idolize her. I can still remember watching her run her first marathon over 13 years ago. I remember thinking to myself, I could never do that. She's fast, she's finished several marathons including the Boston. So obviously we didn't stick together. The morning of the race was fun. It's so much more enjoyable to stand around in the cold for and hour and a half with your sister, than standing around by yourself. The race started at 7:00 am and the morning was beautiful. Luckily it wasn't raining that day. I felt so good the entire first half. The time just seemed to fly by. I didn't even look at my watch until was was well over several miles in. At the half way point I could feel my legs getting a little tired, but I was still going strong. I think my half time was something like a 2:15. If I could have held on to that pace I would have reached my goal of a 4:30. But of course I hit the wall around mile 16. I kept getting slower, and slower. By mile twenty I had decided to not finish. I was walking at that point and my leg was bleeding from my stupid running skirt which was chaffing my leg. Dan was at mile 23 and I told him I was done. I was not in a great state of mind. I was ticked that I couldn't finish strong, and I was mad that my time just kept getting slower and slower. He just told me that I had to keep going, and just finishing would be awesome. Well I know that my time was anything but awesome, but I was so hungry I just wanted to finish so I could eat some food at the finish line (they always have chocolate creamies). He snapped this photo while we were debated the finish or not to finish question. So with that said I kept going and sped walked for another mile, and very very slowly finished and a snail paced run. The most frustrating part is during all of my training I always felt pain, but I somehow could run through the pain. I wasn't in pain my legs just refused to run anymore period. It's so maddening when you can't use "mind over matter" and just push through for a few miles. It was like I had weights strapped to my legs and they wouldn't go. But I finished. It was almost an hour later than I should have finished. I had been on a ten minute pace during all of my long training runs. That should have taken me in just before a 4:30. I honestly don't know what went wrong. I felt great most of the run, I probably went out a little to hard the first six miles, but who knows if that's what did it. I think deep down, it really was my lack of preparation. I only did two 18 milers, and then got sick right afterwards and didn't fit in any other super long runs. I think next time I'm going to train with several extra weeks built in for injury, or sick days. Also I've gained about 15-18 pounds already with this pregnancy. You'd think running like I have been would ward off the excessive weight gain, but nope. I'm sure that had to have slowed me down some. One thing is sure. My first marathon set the bar very low, so it should be easy to beat, my time when I run my next marathon. I definitely won't be pregnant, and I'll train harder. My sister said "Lisa training for a marathon will feel easy when your not sick and pregnant". We shall see, but I already can't wait to do Ogden's half next year. I'll have the baby in October, and that should give me enough time to pull off 13 miles. Then I'll to a full after that. I'm not sure which one I'll do, we will have to see, how out of shape I am after I have the baby. One thing is for sure I am proud of myself. After I had Benjamin, my third baby. I couldn't even run a mile without stopping. I was so out of shape. But I was determined not to stay that way. Now I guess you could say I'm in the best shape of my life, and I'm 20 weeks pregnant. It's amazing what the human body can do when you set you mind to it. I can remember when a four mile run seemed long and tough. I've never been a runner. It's always a struggle for me. Every step forward that I take requires a lot of work. But I think that's why I love it so much. For me running is completely personal. I'm not trying to beat anyone else. I'm not trying to win a race, it's just me and my body out there. I'm just running to conquer my own limitations, and expand my once thought "impossible" to "possible". I once said "I could never ever run a full marathon". Well I guess I upped that impossibility because I not only finished, but I did it all pregnant. I look back at the last four months of pregnancy and I smile. I think about all the days I was so sick, and the last thing I wanted to do was get on the treadmill. I'd just trick myself and say I'll only do a mile. You can just run one mile. Of course once I was on I'd end up doing several. I actually felt better once I was running and once I figured out that my nausea would subside once I got my butt going, it was easier to force myself to train. I think the interesting thing about marathons is that no matter how well you do, there's always a sense of discontentment when you finish. I remember when Dan ran his two. He wasn't totally happy with himself. He got an amazing time 3:22. I couldn't get that time even in my wildest dreams. But of course he had set his personal goals, and for him it was a good time, but not amazing. I guess that sums up my first marathon. I finished even though I was pregnant, I wasn't the last one to finish, but I'm not at all satisfied with my time. That's why I have to do another one. This Marathon was my first, but it's definitely not going to be my last!