This race was so much different than any other I have ran. Why?
First off it would have been easy for this experience to have gone the same way as my first half marathon. What a fiasco that was. In the past few years I have learn a lot from it. Like over training is bad and tapering even if just for 2 weeks is good. And sometimes going at things alone isn't the best idea.
A year ago when I set my goal to run a marathon in place I knew it wasn't going to be easy but in the end it was a lot of fun. I am really grateful for the coaches at USAFit Cypress for their support and just general "you can do it" attitudes.
So the race:
The expo had a good amount of vendors and the packet pick up was very smooth. Being a Half Fanatic, our group packet pick up was held by the Marathon Manics/Half Fanatic pace team. These guys are amazing and if you every get a chance to run with their pacers DO IT!
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| Front & back of the 5k medal |
I ran the 5k the day before the bigger races. I am so glad I did. The route to the finish is the same both days so I got a preview of what I needed to have left in the tank for the marathon finish. The last 1 1/2 included one serious up hill via highway overpass and then some smaller rolling hills to the turn for the downhill finish.
But let's go back to the start. We started on time with a rolling wave start, every 3 minutes or so. I hung back behind the 5:30 pace group. The first 1/2 mile was a bit unfortunate since the roads were torn up but the announcer was really good and letting us know about it. The first turn to the left lead us up our biggest hill for the day and then some gentle rolling hills on tree shaded roads that lead to the highway over pass at mile 2 (the downside of the finish hill). I noticed right at the top the 25 mile marker. This point of reference became a good visual on my way back.
The course continues on to the LSU campus, thru the Greek Houses, around Tiger Stadium, passed Mike the Tiger and then around the lakes, still on tree shaded roads. As the course ran the winding road I was able to keep the 5:30 pace group in sight helping keep me on task to my goal of an under 6 hour finish. In this area you got a real glimpse of what is to come. Every few house there were people out cheering on the racers, offering water, fruit, beer, tequila, whiskey, bloody marys, all kind of stuff. The locals are really what made this race. Music blasting from house to house, signs everywhere. Some towns (BCS) treat runners more like we are a nuisance, but Baton Rouge really turned on the Southern Hospitality. This kind of support lasted the entire race! AND it was on top of the truly amazing aid stations the race had put together. All of them full stocked and manned.
I was rally enjoying the race until about 18.5 miles in when my hip began to give me a bit of an issues. I kept on. About the 19 mile mark I switched from running 3:1 to 1:1. I was still able to maintain about the same pace during my run portions and truth is the walking parts began to hurt more than the running ones. At mile 20 I took my last GU and a pair of Motrin. By the time I hit mile 22 and it kicked in I was back running 3:1. As the miles ticked to 23 I started to really get into it. 5k to go. I made a right had turn and I knew that down at the end of that road was the left that would lead me straight up that overpass to mile 25. I went for it.
At 25 on the way down I caught myself ready to let loose with still more than a mile to go. I wasn't ready I told myself you still need some in the tank. It's mostly up hill at this point until the last right turn, the finish line is then right in front of you, as is the Louisiana State Capital building. Still about 1/2 mile to go. Time to give it a little speed. Block by block the crowds came back. The shouts, the "YOU GOT THIS", I start to be able to see the clock. My eyes welled up and just as the clocked clicked the 6 hour mark I crossed the finish line of my first marathon!
OH MY!
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| The Green ribbon is 5k medal The Purple is the Marathon Medal The Blue and Gold is my Half Fanatic Medal And the Crawfish platter is for running a race on both days |
Immediately after I crossed and I was out of the photographers view I was scooped up by this guy at the finish line. The race had "finish line angels" as I like to call them. He grabbed me and then I really let loose. The tears, oh my how they flowed. "Is this your first?" he asked, all I could do is nod. He put his arms around me and let me have my moment in his shoulder. He walked with me the 100 feet or so to get my medal, asking me all those important questions, are you hurt?, do you need medical attention? are you here alone? and then "You did fantastic" and they put that medal around my neck and as quickly as he came to me he was gone, long gone before I could thank him. I have never seen that kind of after care at any race I have run.
The finish party was good too. Jazz playing, happy runners everywhere, tons of food. If I had run the Houston Marathon I would have been treated to soggy eggs and sausage but not here. Their was so many different food options, I wish I was in a better condition to actually eat something at that point.
In the end it took 4 Gu's, 40 ounces of Tailwind and 40 ounces of water, along with 7 months of hard work and dedication to get me across that finish line. My new marathon PR time 5:50:41.
If you get a change to put The Louisiana Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon or 5k on your schedule DO IT! You will not be sorry.
Up next for me USAFit Sugarland Marathon and Marathon Maniac status.
