Over the Rainbow (Or better: yet) Kicking that Damn Leprechaun to the Curb and Running Like I Stole His Gold 2009 Georgia Marathon Race Report!

So Dorothy sings: Somewhere, over the rainbow, skies are blue.
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.

Huh. Who knew? Not me!

But sometimes, I think, perseverance pays off.

And sometimes, I also think, it boils down to a lucky day.

And other times, it is because Silly Lilly calls it (thanks GB!)



I, on the other hand, for not one second before-- or even during-- the race thought it was going to happen until I rounded the curve to the finish and saw the finish line clock flip to 3:30.


And imagine my happiness after crossing and hitting my watch and seeing 3:29:58 and later finding the official chip time and it being faster.

So yep! Apparently 3rd time was the charm. . .

Natalie Fischer #2018

Age: 37 Gender: F

Distance	MARATHON
Clock Time	3:30:27
Chip Time	3:29:51
Overall Place	188 / 2076
Gender Place	25 / 713
Age Grade	66.2%
Division place(W30-39)	9
Splits:
10K	47:57
Half	1:41:13
20M	2:37:28

So.Very.Happy.

Me after I finally found Ryan and right before my lips turned blue because I was.so.very.cold. Always with the pretty after a marathon.

Me being silly after the race with Pookie--she did the half and was unhappy with her 1:53 time--which I have no idea what she was expecting with her yoga-centric training regime that did not include much running.
Me with celebratory Sweetwater at Brick Store Pub in Decatur waiting for my celebratory hamburger. Mmmmmm beer, red meat.

Okay. The long winded blow by blow tale of my race:

This was the first marathon where I had someone else watch the kids the night before. It was great not having to get them ready, make them breakfast and fight with Beau about something inane. So huge thanks to Bubbles and Poppy for having them over to spend the night and keeping them all day Sunday too! Whew! How lucky am I? Those with littles know.

Also, Ryan was even nice enough to let me have the bed all to myself. Mostly because he didn't want to be blamed for keeping me up with his snoring and snuggling. I can't say I slept great but I definitely got more than I usually do before a race. And I won't say I woke up all refreshed like a spring day but I also didn't wake up feeling like Atlas either. So definitely off to a good start.

I got up at 4:30 am. Had coffee and Uncle Sam's and then a whole wheat bagel with cream cheese and salt. Water. Then I showered and stretched in the shower (right, naked stretching. No. I will not be going to naked yoga) and got dressed (no naked marathons either for that matter).

Ryan and I left about 5:45. In the car I realized I had left my hat at home. Small moment of control freak freak-out but I decided that it would be okay, that it was probably an unlucky hat anyway.

I reaffirmed myself with my mantra of the day: Positive attitude. It is a great day for a race and I will be happy and take whatever the day gives me. I love running and I am doing what I love.

I know that is pretty zen for me since I am in general negative and pessimistic. But I was channeling the happy for this race so even if I didn't believe it I tried my best to pretend and embrace it. I had to keep reminding myself of the happy a lot though.

Then I found my sunglasses so it was all okay. I have no idea why I thought I would need them. Guess it was my sunny outlook: it was so bright I might need shades????

As it was I did not need them and I wore them on my head until around 23 miles when I finally got tired of readjusting them on my head and tucked them in my sports bra realizing the sun?
It wasn't coming out.
Sunday?
That's right.
I was the sunshine!
Hey, on a dark and cloudy day even the pessimistic shine like the sun if they just smile a little.
Or something like that. . .

It was dark and kinda cold and little breezy at the start. We had Lola with us so Ryan wouldn't walk me to my corral so we parted ways and I guess he went over to my sister's.

I found my way to corral two and realized I was at the back end of it. This did not make me so happy and I was all about the happy on Sunday. So I politely as I could excused me and pardon'd myself up towards the front. When I got almost to the front Pookie saw me. I was not happy that we were smack in the middle of the corral as I prefer to be on the sides but we were sardined in and could neither go forward, back, right or left. I noticed that the 3:30 pace group was parallel to us so I figured it would be okay.

I never untie or tie my running shoes. I just slip in and out of them but I must have tied and retied them 10 times standing there waiting for the start. Finally it was go time and we were off. I took this time to embarrass my sister by yelling Go Pookie!!!!! Run Pookie!!!!! Yay Pookie! Pookie is my sister!! And she was like 'shut up asshole.' She LOVES me!

I chatted with her for a few minutes and then out of the corner of my eye I saw the 3:30 pace group catch up to us and was like uh, yeah this is my cue for game on. I wished Pookie a good race and took a deep breath and started focusing on the race.

I turned on my ipod and took in the city. The sun still wasn't up but the lights from the city were bright enough so it wasn't dark at all. As I ran down the road I saw parts of the city laid out before me; framed by the diminishing night sky. The sun was starting to break through the clouds and rays of light were wrapping around and reflecting brilliantly off the glass facades of the buildings. It looked to me like the sun was hugging Atlanta. It was a very peaceful and hopeful sight to me. So I just chilled out and told myself again; it is going to be a great day! I am going to have a great race. And at that moment I felt so happy I teared up a little. Not one for emotion I checked myself and found that I was at the first mile marker.
7:42! Perfect. I was very happy with that.

By the time I hit the split for the second mile marker I realized I really was feeling good! No tight calves, no pain, no lethargy. I just felt good. It was going to be a good day! Oh boy was I happy!

Hit the split for mile two: 7:32. Uhm, a little fast but damn I felt good!

All week I had practiced my super secret never gonna happen marathon pace which was right around 7:40. It had felt good all week--energizing even-- but that was on the treadmill with no incline. No way could I hold that on the hills-- not to mention-- much less for 26.2 miles. I doubted that I could even hold an 8 minute pace. Self doubt found it's way in as I reminded myself that this was my 3rd marathon in 4 months. I had struggled with illness and slight injury since my 2nd marathon in January. Really, I wondered, how much could ask of myself today?

As I pondered this I hit the split for the 3rd mile: 7:32--Holy crap! Two miles in a row exactly the same? 22:47 for 3 miles. Really fast but not impossible.

I tried to reign myself in. It was way too early with way too many hills and miles ahead of me to get excited about anything. I hit the split for mile 4: 7:52. Better!

I told myself right then that I would be grateful for whatever the day brought me. Just run, I said. And I hit the split for mile 5: 7:10. calm down woman! Miles and miles to go.
And I smiled and I ran.
Somewhere after hit the split for mile 6 (7:46) my friend Joe (my shoe guy, see previous post for picture) passed me. My first thought was holy crap what is going on. Joe, who I didn't think was running is a 2:28marathoner. I should never see Joe in a race. But he looked easy and I told him happily that he would see me crawling across the finish because I no business running this fast right now. And he was gone.

7 Mile split was 7:35. I just stopped caring. I toyed with the idea of completely ignoring the watch. Forgetting it. But I was worried that I might end up regretting that in the final miles. As I contemplated this thought I completely missed the mile marker for the 8 mile split. I realized that I had either missed it or slowed a lot on the long hill we had just run up. I asked and yep it had been at the aid station. So I got 8:41 .

As a result I have mile nine coming in at 6:37. Yeah, that's not right but averaging them it seemed that I was falling pretty close to that super secret marathon pace and boy was it a fun pace to be running.

Around this time I saw a pace group in front of me. I thought at first it was the 3:30 pace group. But then I started noticing the stragglers and they had 3:20 pace group signs on their back. Hmm. Yeah that's not gonna happen, don't look at them.

As it was I had to look down because by then I was at the terrible hill that made me lose the 3:30 pace group last year. I recalled the terribleness of that mile and that I had had a horrible hip cramp that stopped me in my tracks and made me think I should quit. I thought all about that as I ran up into Decatur--or where ever the hell it is. When I hit the split at the 10 mile marker--7:54--I was instantly I rallied.

I had made it up the hill still under the 3:30 pace! Boy that was hopeful. The hill still went on and finally at mile 11 I was still happy to see my split be 8:02. I didn't care. I had made it past the part that had darken my race last year and I still felt good. This really, really surprised me.

Okay, so I really don't like this section of the course. You'd think this wouldn't bother me having done a double loop course on an airforce base 2 months ago but it is kinda ugly. You just run along side the rail road track and they have all these "clever" signs cheering you on. But there aren't a lot people so it is just weird and desolate. The signs make you think there are going to be lots of people but there are not. And the signs? They don't make up for up it. In fact, they kinda annoy me. But whatever. Run faster! It is boring!
12 mile split: 7:43

I don't remember the 13th mile except that I was kind of surprised by the mat. I guess it was the 13.1 cause I had 8:27 for that split. The d-tag has my time wrong. I know it is wrong because I crossed the mat, hit the split and saw my watch flashing 1:40 and freaked out a little. I ran 1:41 at Museum of Aviation in January and that race is flat and I thought I had gone out too fast there. Story of my life I tell you (but hey, it works!)

I was feeling the start of side stitch and knew that meant my Gu wasn't going to digest and I needed to get my heart rate down and everything would probably be okay. I saw an empty porto potty and thought okay I'll have a pee break. I knew I risked losing any chance at 3:25ish but also knew that I would have an even worse race if that Gu continued to sit in my tummy. I definitely didn't need to slow down but sometimes a little break is all you need. So I stopped. I did have to pee so at least it wasn't wasted time spent in a porto potty.

As I exited I started running but I think I was too fast because I started feeling a little like hurling. So then I was at the water station and decided I would just sip my water and walk through it. And this what I did.

Even with all that stopping when I hit the split for 14 I had 7:32. Of course the mile was short because I had hit the 13 at 13.1 but obviously I was feeling yucky because I was running too fast to digest the Gu.

I started feeling better but it was not the greatness that I had been feeling. I really didn't care-- I just didn't want to be miserable during the race. I wanted to have great race--whatever that meant.

I've already had my miserable race on this course 2 years ago when I had to go to the medical tent. A pr, sub 3:30 all that would be nice but I really cared more about having a good race and feeling good. So I basically told myself that it was okay to walk the aid stations. And I did. With this strategy I knew that I would still easily run sub 3:37 for my 2nd fastest marathon. And I was happy about that. Really.

Around this time of apparent deep contemplation and walking aid stations I started missing mile markers. So miles 15 and 16 came in at 15:34. That's about a 7:45 pace right? So still on track for a PR even with my aid station walking.

I should also mention that I took sips of water at every aid station but refused the Gatorade. It was the lemon lime kind which I hate. It makes me think I am thirsty which makes me want to drink more. And with my tummy on edge I figured it would be better not to aggravate it. It was a cool day so I also figured I didn't need it so much. I had had 2 Gu's (one at mile 5 and over miles 12-13 I had another. Then later at 19 I had a half a Gu.).

Miles 16-20 you run through Druid Hills. Normally I like this section. Bit rollers. More up than down but you can get a rhythm going. And I still like it but Sunday it felt really hard and much hillier than I remembered from previous years. I was definitely having to work and my pace was definitely fading.
Mile 17 was 8:04
Mile 18: 8:03
Mile 19: 8:14
Mile 20: 8:49
Fading and fading fast. But honestly I didn't care. I was still very happy with my race. Even though I was slowing and it was getting hard I was not in the valley of darkness. I was still walking the aid stations and most of all I was still smiling. At least I think I was.

Mile 21 I guess I was doing better: 8:04 and at 2 hours and 45 minutes.

This made me really happy. The way I saw it I had 50 minutes to do 5 miles and nab a course PR. I was totally fine with that.

But I was also approaching the 3 hour mark and my mental acumen and patience starts waning big time at that point.

So my thinking was this: If I can get to 23 mile in around 3 hours I will let myself walk as much as I want.

This must have rallied me because mile 22 was 7:27.

And then I was running with the half marathoners and it gets a little dicey having to wind around the walkers. If I am at mile 22 of a marathon and they are at mile 9 of a half marathon and we started at the same time, well, we ain't doing the same pace.

I kept looking for the 23 mile marker and never saw it. So that was a little disheartening to be looking for something and not find it. Also the end of mile 23 or maybe the first part of mile 24 you run out of Piedmont Park and up--I guess that is 10th street. That hill totally sucks! And this was the first part of the race where I had a really negative moment. I was running up that hill and the wind was in my face and I was sad and confused because I never saw the 23 mile marker-- but was assuming and hoping I had missed it and wasn't running a 14 minute mile. Logically I knew I had missed the marker but since more than half the people around me were walking a 14-15 min pace I have to admit I was confused and doubting myself. So I stopped and did walk for a few seconds.

Then I told myself come on! Whenever it gets tough at the end of a run or race I always tell myself: The faster I run the sooner I will be done.

I know that sounds very simple and not like something you need to remind yourself of but I get really really dumb at the end of a marathon and it can be more comfortable to walk. So I have to remind myself that by walking I am actually prolonging my discomfort.

So I was running again. The splits for 23/24 were 17:37--3 hours and 10 minutes.

This is the point where math is hard and frustrating. I had 26 minutes to traverse 2.2 miles and nail a course PR and my second fastest marathon. And to run a PR I needed to run the 2.2 in under 18 minutes. Certainly I am capable of that. But it was just too close and I was tired and it was all. up. hill for the next 2 miles. And I just didn't have it in me. I didn't even want to try to fight for it. It would hurt too much and I wanted to be happy.

So I said I am just going to run and however and whenever I get to the finish I will get there. I quit looking at my watch, even pulled my arm warmer over it. And these hills in those last 2 miles? They are nothing. I had already run up all the hard and steep ones but these just wear on you physically and mentally. Not to mention there are all those people walking the half marathon going double the pace you are.

But I didn't care.
I was almost done!
My race had been great and I just had a little left and I knew I would be thrilled once it was said and done.

But then, my right calf rebelled. It was the absolute strangest sensation. It felt like there was snake in there trying to crawl out. It wasn't particularly painful but was just so disturbing and I thought, "well that can't be good."

So I slowed down to walk and waited it out and it didn't happen again. So I started running. And the snake in my calf stirred again. I decided maybe it was an electrolyte thing. I happened to be at an aid station so I grabbed some of that Gatorade and drank it down. I doubted it would work but I figured with how little I had left to go at least it wouldn't make me sick. So I ran on.

The snake in my calf would do its wiggling thing and freak me out and I would walk for a minute. And any marathoner that passed me would pat me on the back and encourage me. And feeling compelled by their encouragement I would start running again. And so on and so on.

This whole run, calf freak out and walk process was very frustrating. My pain was really no different than it ever is at the end of a marathon so I definitely could have done my hang on/get'er done pace but the snake in the calf thing had me very concerned since I had no idea what it was and what it meant.

I started imagining that it would reach a point of no return and completely freeze up on me and I would be one of those people that crawl down the final stretch to the finish. I found the thought somewhat entertaining since it seemed an ironic and humiliating ending to what had been such a great race. I pushed the negativity aside and went back to my zen thinking and told myself: I will take whatever this race gives me.

So I was fine with it. I had made my peace with whatever was to be and would run as much as could, walk if I had to and crawl if necessary but no matter what I would cross that finish line with a smile on my face because damn it! I was having a great race!

Around this time the 3:30 pacers came up on me. They are Floren and Jerry. I know them because I ran with them for 10 miles last year and have talked to Floren a few times since last year's race--whining about my inability to run sub 3:30.

I have to say I was a bit surprised to see them. I had assumed they had long passed me and I just hadn't seen them. I will admit though seeing them gave me a bit of that sad twinge you can get in a marathon when yet another one of your goals passes you by (even if you tried to not have goals because damn it your only goal was to have a great race!)--which actually often is literally the case. As they passed me Floren patted me on the back and encouraged me to "come on." I think I weakly told her that I was trying.

I let them go but then instantly was annoyed with myself and started running.

Floren said something of the effect of "you are awesome" when I caught up to them. And I had a little burst of energy and passed them. But then the calf wigged and I got scared about what it was and what it meant injury-wise and slowed again to walk. I tried not to look at the 3:30 group as they passed me again but I saw Floren kept looking over her shoulder at me.
Oh the guilt!
I was the Pokey puppy!
I looked up as the distance stretched between us and got mad about it and started running again. Floren turned back again and saw that I was running and waved me towards them.

They were probably 100 feet in front of me and I just kept my eyes on Floren and Jerry and the 3:30 sign. I didn't notice anything else but started to hear the crowd cheering and I knewmeant the finish had to be close. And She Was started playing by Talking Heads on my ipod which I had been about to turn off but instead let it play:
And she was lying in the grass
And she could hear the highway breathing
And she could see a nearby factory. . .

The crowd of spectators began to thicken and the 3:30 pace group disappeared from my sight around a curve as I entered the finish area. I knew I was almost there. So I kept running, ignoring the crazy thing my calf was doing and figured it just didn't matter anymore. I was almost done! I started smiling again. A big smile. At least it felt huge.

She's making sure she is not dreaming
See the lights of a neighbors house
Now she's starting to rise
Take a minute to concentrate
And she opens up her eyes. . .

And as I round the curve I see the 3:30 pacers fly under the finish line and I see the finish line clock flip to 3:30. I have less than 100 feet to go, maybe even only 50 feet. It is so close. So close that it dawns on me that Holy Crap! I just ran my 3:30 GA marathon!

The world was moving and she was right there with it (and she was)

I throw my arms up and cheer for myself, smiling huger and see that I made it in the 3:30 window as I cross the mat and under the finish arch.

The world was moving she was floating above it (and she was) and she was

The 3:30 pacers rush over to hug me as I hit the stop on my watch and see 3:29:58. I almost start crying.

She was glad about it... no doubt about it
She isn't sure where she's gone
No time to think about what to tell them
No time to think about what she's done
And she was

And maybe if I hadn't been so dehydrated I might have managed actual tears but seeing how I am not one who cries in joy anyway it is doubtful.

But my emotion?
HUGE.
My happiness at that second?
GIGANTIC!

And she was looking at herself
And things were looking like a movie
She had a pleasant elevation
Shes moving out in all directions


I keep replaying it in my head over and over again it was that great for me. Hard to believe there could be so much joy and magic in just a few seconds but there was, is. Whichever. It was an amazing moment for me. Best finish of any race ever!

I had such a fantastic race. And I am so, so very grateful for the experience.

So what is next???

The Twisted Ankle Trail Marathon on May 16th.

My goal?


To not die.

I hope everyone else had as fantastic of day as I did. And if not, all I can say is that eventually they happen: there are good races, bad races, horrible races and then really awesome races that just make it all worth it.

Running Down a Rainbow

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream . . .

Number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9 . . .

Number 9?

Number 9.

Is it a lucky number?

Well you know I looked it up and it is, kind of...

In China it is. Apparently, in the Chinese language--which I do not know--the number nine is a homophone for "longlasting". . .

In Christianity there is 9 Choirs of Angels . . .

And there are 9 Noble Virtues:
1. Courage
2. Truth
3. Honor
4. Fidelity
5. Discipline
6. Hospitality
7. Self Reliance
8. Industriousness
9. Perseverance

There were 9 muses in Greek Mythology until Plato came along and added Sappho as a 10th honorary muse. Way.to.go.Plato.

9 is the atomic number of fluorine . . .(I do have good teeth from all those fluoride treatments as a kid. . . )

There are 9 planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth (this is where we live), Mars, Jupiter (this is where boys go to get stupider), Saturn, Uranus (Not mine! Yours!),Neptune and Pluto.

Okay, so maybe I am reaching.

Maybe I am searching for meaning where there is no meaning but hey, at least I am not reading my horoscope or tarot cards.

The point though is that tomorrow I am lucky because I get the opportunity to run my 9th marathon in 4 years. My 3rd in 4 months.
My 3rd attempt on the Ga ING course in 3 years to run 3:30.

Is 3rd time gonna be a charm?

No, no I don't think so. But that is okay. Maybe someday but I don't think tomorrow will be that day.

But I am optimistic about having a GREAT race tomorrow and excited and feel blessed that I get to toe the line in the town where I was born and have grown up and get to run with 15,000 other enthusiastic people --okay maybe just 14,999 since Pookie is running and I don't think she is so enthusiastic about it--- participating in the sport and race I love.

But this race. . .
Sigh.
It really is going to take some luck for it to ever have good weather.

March in Georgia is crap shoot. And by that I mean the weather totally sucks. You may get a nice day here and there but for the most part it is old bitch winter leaving out our back door in one pissed off mood. Really, spring here is just an argument between winter and summer and in March it is pretty clear that winter is winning the argument.

The past 3 days we've had a ton of rain--and I ain't knocking it; we need it! But I am just so tired of running in the rain and the cold. I want some good race day weather already!

Along with my other taper activities--shopping, obsessing over how fat I am getting, worrying about each and every pain--I have been stalking The Weather Channel.com for the past 10 days. And here is what the latest from TWC says to expect tomorrow morning:
7 am

45°F
Partly Cloudy

39°F real feel

10% chance of rain

74% humidity
11 mph wind

Sunrise 7:29 am

8 am

44°F
Partly Cloudy

39°F real feel

20% chance of rain

73% humidity
10 mph wind

9 am

45°F
Partly Cloudy

39°F real feel

20% chance of rain

68% humidity
12 mph wind

10 am

46°F
Mostly Cloudy

40°F real feel

20% rain

65% humidity
14 mph wind

11 am

48°F
Mostly Cloudy

42°F real feel

20% chance of rain

61% humidity
15 mph wind

So not totally terrible but that wind might feel like a wind tunnel and with that humidity my hair is definitely not going to look good. Like that is news.

However I am still optimistic!

Why?

Because I've been reading signs!

Yesterday I went to the expo.

Beau and Carmella--of course-- had fun and collected lots of swag. Beau even got to do circus tricks:

But while I was there I saw Joe:
He was very busy but he still stopped and told me good luck. It has to be lucky to have the guy who sells you your running shoes to stop when he is that busy to wish you luck. Right? That is what that means. . .

And my sister? Pookie? She put the blond in my hair! No hair cut this time. Don't want to make that Samson mistake again--you know, like last year when I had my hair cut the night before the race. That didn't work out. But I feel good about the blond. Maybe not faster good but brighter, happier about being slow. . .

See foils? That is Pookie is mixing the magic in the background. She is running the half. She hasn't trained but will still do good cause that's her thing.

See me getting the bleach!
See me and Pookie. Can't you tell how much she LOVES me!

And then, most important. When the kids and I were driving home from the expo the rain stopped and I saw blue in the sky and I saw the sun. Okay, so I think the sun heard about my blondness and was trying to tell me that even though I am blonder and brighter he is still the brightest of all. And I get that. Not trying to compete with sun. I know I won't win. But then as I pulled into my neighborhood I saw a rainbow arching over us.

Look! I said to the kids: There is a rainbow leading to our house!

And Beau, with the inherent optimism of children asked if that was where the gold was.

No, not likely, but surely--it means something good. . .

Now you scientists be quiet and don't ruin the magic and my faith in silly supersitions. Life, I think, is more poetic when you believe in something.You know, that dare to dream the dreams you dream thing . And, I have heard sometimes, dreams really do come true. . .

Everyone have a great race tomorrow!

It Sucks Because I Am Running Up a Hill (or alternately, The Georgia ING 2008 Marathon)

Race Day:
It is 4 am and I feel like I have not slept at all. I have a glass of water and then a cup of coffee and a bowl of Uncle Sam's. I finish breakfast and then hop in the shower and try to wake up. I get dressed.

Around 5 am Pookie gets up. She is, unsurprisingly, not so chipper. I decide that I should have another breakfast--half a whole wheat bagel with peanut butter. More coffee, more water.

The day before Pookie had made fun of me for bringing my own cereal but now admits that she has trouble getting things--you know what mean-- moving before a race. I advise her on the Uncle Sam's. It does, after all, tout itself as a "natural laxative" on the box. If that doesn't get your palate whet I don't know what will.


Doubtful she pours a bowl for herself and then eats it while making fun of my outfit. She keeps making comments about the "special marathon" I am doing. I even pose for pictures for her.

I didn't have my camera so I have no pre-race pictures and she has not sent me the ones she took. But here is my picture in the special outfit after the race. Please note how my hair--despite being braided-- still tried to turn into dreadlocks.I am so pretty.

I know that this is not the cutest outfit ever and that my socks look way dorky but hey, they work! All week I had worried about my calves. They had felt heavy and tight in every single run I did. I massaged and iced and stretched. And I have to say that my calves felt fresh the entire race--no cramps, no heaviness whatsoever. In fact, they still feel good and I have run twice, swam once and cycled 30 miles in the 3 days since the marathon. I wish could say the same for my quads. . . I am still sore in the quads. Damn Atlanta courses. Every time with the sore quads.

Anyway, Wes--our driver,Pookie's husband, lush-- is sorely hungover from getting home at 2 am but nevertheless he has us at the race by 6:15 am. In the car Pookie, coins a new term and happily informs us that she had indeed Uncle Sammed. She suspects though that she might be Uncle Samming all through the race.

Wes drops us off and I make Pookie jog down to the park. She does her usual complaining that she always does before a race. For the record Pookie acts like getting up at 9 am is the crack of dawn so it is understandable why she complains so much on race day. I always take this opportunity to be even more chipper and annoying than I naturally am in the morning.

We hit the Johnny on the Spots and as Pookie exits her Johnny on the Spot she triumphantly exclaims that she Uncle Sammed again. We stretch a bit and then I walk her to her corral. Apparently in her corral, which was corral 3, she got bored and texted Fishstick who was in corral 5. They spent prerace texting animal sounds to each other: hew haw, nay nay, moo etc. Silly girls.

On my way to corral 2 I run into Steph. She informs me of some secret Johnny on the Spots on Baker street. So we hightail it over there for one last potty break. Clearly I am over hydrated.

Steph moves to the back of the corral and I seed myself with the 3:30 pacers: Floren and Jerry. I chat with Greg who I met had Chickamuaga and also Caroline and Erin from Big Peach while we wait for the start. We sing the anthem and then at 7:03 am someone says "Go" and without much fanfare we are off and running.

Oh man, I think, I still feel tired.

I chat with Caroline for part of the first mile. She is running the half and is looking for Erin who we lost at the start and who is also running the half. Erin runs up on us and they go off together. I stick close on Floren's heels. Everything feels very off. It is still dark and I am so tired. Not leg or body tired but just sleepy. I feel like sleep is sitting on my head. Then I start to feel that nag in my bladder again. Ugh. Damn faulty bladder.

I am annoyed at my discomfort. My body awareness. I like to not think about my body and right this second that is not possible.

It is still very crowded in those first few miles but at least everyone is running and the dodging and weaving is minimal. In the second mile I am directly behind a tall male runner. Suddenly he veers left and all the sudden I am right in front of a cone. Surprised, I leap over it. This earns me an "Impressive!" from the guy on my right. I mumble "Thank God it is mile 2 and not mile 22 or there would have been a completely different result."

I have no idea what our pace is but it feels wrong to me, slightly uncomfortable and I am questioning how the heck I am going to hold it for 24 more miles. Then I realize that my left foot is completely numb. I puzzle over it but still stick on Floren and Jerry's heels. No one is really talking. There is just breathing and that running marching sound and all I can think about is why is my foot numb. What does this mean. I start getting bored and my obsessing over my foot gets worse. I start entertaining thoughts of a DNF and realize that today? Today I am really not so much in the mood to run a marathon. Ugh, this sucks I think.

I had planned to not listen to my ipod but brought it just in case I lost the pace group. Since no one is talking anyway and things are not going well I turn it on and try to focus on something other than my foot. This song is on.

Instantly I start to chill out and relax and focus on following Floren and Jerry's feet and finding my groove. I forget about my foot. Forget about everything and suddenly I find myself in mile 5 and that somehow I have passed the pace group. I glance over my shoulder and I see their little sign. I slow down and by the sixth mile I am back with them. During this time I have my GU. I am also carrying 20 ounces of Gatorade but I am not to drink it until after the 20 mile mark. Already I am annoyed by carrying it. Later though I know I will be happy that I do not have to navigate over to the aid stations so I hang on to it.

At mile 8 we start up a terrible hill. I think this is our longest incline and I am prepared for it. I tucked my head down and just run on the pacer's heels. During this time I begin repeating to myself what will become my mantra for the race: "It only sucks because I am running up a hill." I say it over and over. I look up periodically to see if the hill is over and it isn't. I feel like we never go down hill. It seems like we are running up a hill for over 20 minutes. The wind is starting to get bad and I am getting cold. I keep reminding myself that it is only sucking because we are running up a hill but then all the sudden I find myself standing still.

I am shocked to be not moving. This has never happened before. There is intense pain in my hips and the right side all the around to my groin muscle is cramped. I take a breath and say- out loud: "Okay, I guess I am going to walk for a minute."

I have no idea what happened. I still don't. The pain was only for a second but it stopped me in my tracks and came out of nowhere. It felt like I just stood there and watched the pace group slip a way. While I walked for a minute I had this dialogue--not sure if it was interior or exterior:

Maybe I should quit and call someone.
I look around and realize I have no idea where I am. I know I am about to run into Decatur because I remember this part from last year (which I don't remember it being this terrible) but I have no idea where I am in Decatur.

I ask myself: Do I feel okay?

No, I'm cold.

I decide to put on my long sleeve shirt that I luckily decided last minute at the start to not toss and to hang onto just in case. The wind is really bad.
Maybe I should eat something, I think. I open up my Clif Blocks and munch a few.

Then I ask, Do I want to quit?

Emphatically the answer is yes.
But then I ask; Will I regret quitting?

Yes, is the immediate answer.

So then I ask,Will I regret finishing-- no matter what the time?

No, is the immediate answer.

And with that I start running again and decide that I will reassess at the half point.

And so I run on; trying to find my groove.

I don't really remember anything about miles 11-15 except I do remember crossing the mat at the halfway point and decide to run on.

At mile 15 it was still sucking but the Beastie Boys "Get It Together" come on my Ipod. I will not include a youtube of this one since the song is full of all sorts of inappropriate cuss words but it use to be the only thing I could put on while driving in the car when Carmella was an infant and having a melt down. She would instantly be calmed and would in fact "get it together."

I look at my watch and try to do some math. I know that 3:30 is impossible but sub 3:40 isn't. A PR is still a possibility but it will be close and I will really have to hold, even push the pace to get it. I knpw that that will be tough to do considering I still have Druid Hills coming up and that 3 mile climb to finish. Not to mention, I still have to pee and it is not going away like it did in Chickamauga. I debate whether or not I should stop. I know that stopping will risk any chance at a PR but I also know that stopping and getting back on pace is easier to do at 16 miles rather than at 20 or later miles. I rationalize that the sensation could still go away. While having this inner argument I suddenly see the mile 16 marker and a Johnny on the Spot next to it that is empty.

I run right to it. I cannot believe how full my bladder is. You know, I've had 2 kids--one of whom I ran until my 34 week of pregnancy with. So I really don't expect much from my bladder but damn I am impressed. Even more so because I haven't peed on myself at all.

Exiting the Johnny I feel like a new woman.

"Open the Door" by Magnapop comes on and suddenly I have renewed energy.

I am in Druid Hills--arguably one of the toughest portions of the course. But this part of the course is like all my long training runs with the rolling hills. Plus it is so pretty. I start passing lots of people and even began seeing some 3:30 pace groupers that had also fallen behind. Since I have no idea what my time or splits are I see this as a good sign. I also note that I have not seen the 3:40 pace group yet so I am still running a PR from last years time. That really motivates me.

Miles 16-24 feel my strongest. I smile at people, encourage people, wave at the crowd and thank the volunteers. Finally after 2 hours I am starting to enjoy the race. The race has really turned around for me.

Everything is going really well but I am starting to really have to work in the 24th mile. I have been playing leap frog with a guy who-- I might be wrong on this-- I think has a 3:20 pace group sign. He is faster than me but keeps stopping to walk. Right before 25th mile he passes me again and calls back over his shoulder "Come on 3:30 girl!" Ugh, I think. I have wanted to rip that damn 3:30 pace sign off my back the entire race because I basically feel like I am wearing a sign that says "Hello! Look at me! I'm a failure!" It is completely demoralizing to be advertising a pace that you clearly can't maintain. Always better to be the sandbagger I think.

I grumble to him that 3:30 was a stretch, explaining that I had only wanted to beat my 3:37 Pr. He says, "Well if you pick it up you've got it!" And with that I pass him and do not see him again. That was exactly what I needed to hear.

And then, even better, this song comes on:


Gotta give a shout out to all the GA bands;)!

And then all hell breaks loose and I hit the 25th mile. I am still feeling pretty good. I certainly have the energy to run the pace and fight my way up the hill but I do not have the energy to do it and weave around the walls of half marathoners and the kids in orange shirts. It is insane! I have never experienced anything like this. There are even people walking in jeans and ladies with pocketbooks--clearly spectators who are not part of the race. And all the kids with "13.1" on their backs. I can't figure it out as they look way too fresh to have just run a half marathon-- not to mention they too are in street clothes.

So while I am trying to dodge and weave I am actually no longer even sure I am still on the course. I keep looking for other marathoners. I see 2 this entire time but they are all the way on the other side of the street. Every other second I have to yell out "Runner coming through!" Or "Marathoner! Passing!" And some of the kids will turn when I say this and rather than move to the side take this as a call for a challenge and start sprinting me! But after about 50 feet they come to a stop and I have to try and navigate around them again. I keep looking around for an official and finally I see one. He looks at me and says "Marathoners go right."

Then all the sudden we are being directed onto the sidewalk and I say "Really? The sidewalk?" I am so confused! I have no idea where the finish is. I know it must be soon but all I can see is yards and yards of plastic orange fencing and hundreds (or so it seems) of half marathoners. Oh to be tall!

The course keeps narrowing and it feels more and more congested and it is getting harder and harder to get around people. I feel like I am Alice and I have mistakenly fallen down the rabbit hole. The whole scene is so surreal and crazy. The course winds around and finally I can see the finish around a curve. The crowd is intense and cheering and I start trying to do my final dead out sprint. I can't, there are just too many people. And right then, at that second, a half marathoner stops dead in front of me. I completely lose it and shove her out of my way. As I do this and run past I scream at her that is a race and you do not stop until you cross the finish!

As I round the curve I see my Dad and Ryan and call out to them. They seem surprised to see me. As I approach the finish I look up and see the race clock and it reads 3:38 xx. I am simultaneously disappointed and completely pissed off as I know I have missed a PR and I know I was so freaking close. Oh boy am I mad! Later I come to find out I missed a PR over Chickamauga by 52 seconds. That sucks.

I cross the finish and someone hands me my medal and a space blanket. I am hot (probably just from being mad) but take it because I know I will be cold in few minutes. I wander around and try to figure out how to get over to where I saw Ryan and my Dad. I sit down and my phone rings. It is Ryan. The first thing he asks is if I am in the medical tent. That makes me laugh-- remembering last year and how much more it sucked. And that even though I didn't run a PR I did run 6 minutes faster this year and at the very least, if nothing else, I do not have to go to the medical tent. Oh, and best of all? I am done. See? All good.

Okay some pictures.
Me right before the finish and after I knocked that girl out of my way so you can't see how mad I am.
A picture of the orange shirted kids and what I had to run through at the finish.


Me right after I finish and Beau congratulates me by punching me in the quad with that stuffed bird. Kids are great! So very cute.

Me and Lala. She is sporting Pookie's medal.

Me and Fishstick:

Pookie and Fishstick. They both ran the half. Pookie got a Pr of 1:50. If you'd like to follow her training method it is called not really running much at all. Fishstick ran 2:20 with a sinus infection. Her training method is more regimented and actually involves running.

We did make good use of my space blanket. Allow me to introduce super Marlow.

My nemesis for the past few days:




Video of finish line 10:30 to 11:00am. I cross at 3:39 on the clock.

Final stats:
Clock time 3:39
Chip time 3:38:18
38th female finisher
278th overall finisher

Final words: This year's race was much better put on though the finish still needs a lot of work. I would do this again and I would recommend this race. I hope it swells to the sucess of the Peachtree and the other big marathons. But it should be said that this was by far the most challenging of all 5 marathons I have run. It is a tough course.

Ugh, Ps! Sorry about all the tense switches. I know that must been annoying. I have a tendencey to write in past perfect--which is a no no so I tried to switch it to present. I have been writing/editing this for 2 days while my DSL goes in and out and I just had to publish before it went out again. Damn Bellsouth.

Finished

I am at BBQ at sister's so full report later. But . . . 3:38:18 finish so no pr.

Honestly I am not surprised considering how my training went this winter. Not to mention this course was so freaking hard. I got a hip cramp (new one for me) that stopped me cold in the 11th mile. Considered quitting but decided to at least run to the half and then decide. I really thought this would be my first ever DNF for any race. Then I had to stop to pee at 16 but it was worth it because I felt so much better. And then at the finish--not kidding--to cross the finish line I had to shove half marathoners out of my way. So, yeah, I am happy with 3:38. Oh and the weather was perfect. Hey and it was 6 minutes faster than last year's time, so that is something . . .

Okay, getting in trouble and NAT needs a beer. . . Congrats to all that ran today. I know there were a lot of PR's!!!!

Visited Expo

Went to Expo today with my brother-in-law Wes. He was picking up Pookie's number. We had lots of fun.

Expo is great this year!

If you have kids you should bring them because they have bounce houses and other fun stuff. Wes and I even saw a bar (probably not for kids) but sadly did not partake. We also got lots of great swag. I even bought a new skirt because it had strategically placed pockets and one with, get this, a zipper! I know. It doesn't take much to get me all hot-- just some pockets for GU, dry wick material and a zipper. I made Wes buy Pookie one too. Wes, for a guy-- wait, I'm sorry-- for a straight guy, is really fun to shop with. Thanks for being my escort.

I saw tons of people: Big Peachites who I totally harassed. My friend Dee Dee and all her girlfriends (they are doing the half) and told me about a new restaurant on Holcomb Bridge that not only has tacos (mmm, tacos. . .) but also a mechanical bull on the last Thursday of every month. I am so there! I even met a reader of my blog. I am so sorry I totally spaced on what you said your name was because I was so shocked that people not only read my blog but recognize me from it. Very cool and it definitely made my day and it was super to meet you. Good luck! Heck, good luck to everyone!

And a special thanks to all the people at Big Peach. I know you guys are all working so hard at this Expo and helping make this race come together and most of you are planning on running the half. Well, except for super Kate. She's doing the full. She said she would probably "take it easy and cruise in around 3 hours." Go super Kate!!!! You are awesome. I hope you nab first GA woman and get a cool prize.

And after being downtown and trying to navigate away from the dome and seeing all the damage the tornado did to Atlanta I have made a minor adjustment to my race day outfit:
Good luck, rest up and enjoy the race!

#785 and the Metaphor of the 22nd Mile

I am dim and not feeling very clever these days. Things are not so bright over here and I feel like I am perpetually stuck in the 22nd mile of a marathon. Maybe it isn't the 22nd mile for you or maybe you have been so lucky in life to never experience the self doubt, fatigue, hopelessness and frustration that happens when you hit a hard spot. Really, I envy you but I also hate you (but not really). Me though? I am not so lucky.

Anyway, that is why posting has been light of late. I've been down. In a rough patch but I am thinking of it as my 22nd mile and I always get through that no matter how much I just want to quit or sit on the sidewalk and cry. So I will get through this too.

Not searching for pity here and I am not trying to be all secretive. But the gist of it is that I am currently looking for a job. Again, maybe you are lucky and never had to look for job but it has never proved a fun challenge for me. The uncertainty, the what ifs and the future is somewhat frightening. I feel quite overwhelmed by life right now. I hope, I really do, but I just don't know if it is all going to work out. So it is, the 22nd mile of the marathon.

I'm dealing but not always so positive these days. Ironically my friend Fishstick commented while I was lamenting my current situation that I am always "so upbeat and positive." Of course I felt flattered because right at that second I felt anything but positive. But I thanked her and explained that I was relieved that is what she saw as that is how I want to come across. I know no one wants to hang out with a self-wallower and people just don't like being around negative people. People want to be around people that make them feel good. And me? I don't like to be alone. I want to be the one people want to hang out with. I want to be the one that makes people laugh and brings them up. And most of the time it is so easy to be that person. But these days, admittedly, I am having a hard time with my commitment to the positive and happy. I'm trying though.

Okay enough of that!

Moving on to the finish line and, hopefully, success! Roll it out: Com'on number 785! THAT is my number for the GA ING marathon. I am bib number 785. And for those that like to race day stalk click here.

My current plan is to go out with the 3:30 pace group--or try to since last year I was unable to line up with them. But if that happens again I promise to not try and chase them down from the 6 hour pace group as that didn't work out so good last year.

I am not hopeful about a 3:30 but I figure it is a reasonable goal to shoot for since I ran 3:37 at Chickamuaga. My main goal is to just do better than last year which is 3:44. And anything under 3:37 will be considered a successful race.

The taper is going as the taper goes: I feel fat and lazy and antsy.

Here is last week's breakdown:
Sunday: 22 miles. I don't know about time but it was a really strong run. Probably one of my strongest long runs.

Monday: Here was where I was really naughty and did a recovery run on the Leita. It was just 4 miles but it did a number on my lower leg muscles.

Tuesday: I took it easy and hit the Greenway for just 12 miles on my bike. I finished in under 45 minutes.

Wednesday: I met Steph and she was naughty and let me run too fast at the Leita. Again it was just 4 miles and my legs were none too happy. I swam for 30 minutes afterwards.

Thursday: 5 miles on the treadmill practicing paces from a sprint to recovery.

Friday: 10 miles with last 6 hopefully at marathon pace. Felt right.

Saturday: 6 miles easy at a recovery pace and then Steph and I were naughty again. We rode 30 miles on our bikes around Roswell. But it was totally worth it because it was so much fun.

Totals:
Running; 51 miles
Cycling: 42 miles
Swimming: 1 mile

And the taper continues:
Sunday: Since it was Easter and Ryan was out of town in the morning I was hard put to get my workout in because the gym nursery was closed and I only had a short window before church. So I after the kids hunted eggs and had breakfast I drug them up to Carmella's school armed with toys, a jump rope and a soccer ball. I instructed them to play on the field while I ran for 30 minutes around the track. You'd think this would have been easy but darn kids kept complaining about hands being cold and wanting to go play on the playground. I relented them on the play ground since they were only out of my sight for half of the track and I gave Beau my socks for his hands and ran sockless. Not ideal but I got it done! I have no idea how many laps since I lost track after the sock hand off. Guessing at least 3 miles but no way was it more than 4.

Monday: 30 minute continuous swim.

Tuesday: 10 miles easy

Wednesday: 6 miles easy

Thursday: Plan is 6 miles with pick-ups.

Friday: Is 3-4 miles on the treadmill with 2 miles at marathon pace. 30 minute swim maybe. I swam way too fast on Monday (was being bit of show off) and now my lat is sore. Dumb ass.

Saturday: Swim or walk for 30 minutes with some strides for good measure thrown in.

Sunday: Marathon!

Okay, now I've got questions:
Half or Full?
What is your number?
What are you wearing?
When are you going to the Expo?
Are you being a rule breaker and wearing your ipod?
Time? Goals?
What are you doing after?

And one last thing . . . I already know what Monday will be like (thanks Baraboo!)

All Signed up and Ready to go!

So I got through it. My monster week. And you know what? It didn't feel all that hard. I would think that by today I would be toast but I'm not. Very weird. But yeah, ask me next week when I'm dragging and just can't figure out why. . .

Here is the break down:

Sunday: 10 mile run
Monday: 6 mile run and an hour bike (17 miles). I am bummed that this wasn't longer.
Tuesday: 5 mile hard treadmill run and an hour continuous swim.
Wednesday: An hour continuous swim
Thursday: 25 mile run. Holy moly I am I glad that is the bank.
Friday: 6 miles hilly recovery run. I was pleasantly surprised that my legs, my calves, felt totally fine. I was expecting a struggle and at the very least some mild discomfort but I was all good. I credit the new shoes.
Saturday: 10 mile general aerobic pace with some fartleks thrown in. Again, legs felt surprisingly fresh. Clearly, I must have someone else's legs or this is some serious DOM.

I ran from the Big Peach in Brookhaven. I declined the group run on the ING course as me and hills? Yeah we've spent enough time together this week (see 25 mile run and yesterday's recovery run). Instead I ran the first part of the Atlanta (Thanksgiving) course on Peachtree: Out to the start from the Big Peach store, and then back to the top of the hill that bottoms out at Peachtree hills.

Those that have run the half on Thanksgiving know that it is the only flat/fast part of the Atlanta course. And yes, that is the how and why behind my decent run today. As those snow showers, the bitter cold and wind gusts certainly were conspiring against me. But it proved all good. In fact, on the way back, the wind was pretty much blowing me up that slow incline on the return. I had been dreading it going out but it felt like someone was pushing on my back. At the very least it was much better than going out on the downhill when the wind directly in my face.

Other news of the day is that I am officially registered for the GA ING full.

I am hoping that I can send in my past marathon times and get a seeded number. The application said seeding was available for women with marathons faster than 3:45 in the past year. That's me but the cut off was 2/24/08 to get it in. I am hoping they cut me some slack. I really don't care where my placement is just so long as I can start the race with runners and not walkers this year. No offense meant to those that walk. I just like to start running my pace right off the bat and would prefer to not have to dodge and weave for 4 miles like I did last year.

Totals:
Run: 62 miles
Swim: 4 miles
Bike: 17 miles :(

So is there anyone else that reads here that is in for the full-- or are all of you doing the half? Halfers: Steph, Pookie, Fishstick, Dani, Sarah, Lauren and all those Peachites. Full? Doug? What say you.

Oh, and today I am thinking that maybe I am not going to have a cold after all. Did I dodge the bullet? I definitely feel better today; less snot like and food tastes like food and not phlegm. Mmmmm. . .

Okay. [looks left, then right, then left]

What the heck is going on? First someone else's legs and now someone else's sinuses? This is way weird.

Okay, who's legs and sinuses do I have?

Bad News

During my fall training for OBX I had this problem. And I ended up losing the toenail. It had finally grown back and was long enough that I had to clip it before the marathon on Sunday. I had even given myself a pedicure the day before since I once again had 10 toenails and could sport open-toed sandals. Apparently the clipping was a waste of time because I think (and think because I can't find my polish remover to check for sure but it is bruised around the nail bed just like last time)I have the black toe again --on the very same toe.

This really sucks because on Sunday? I'm going to the beach for 4 days. I apologize in advance about the state of my feet but no way will I be wearing closed toe shoes-- even if it does look like one of my toes is rotting off of my foot. This also means I cannot go get a professional pedicure because no way am I letting those Korean women anywhere near my toe. It hurts! Not to mention I know they will laugh at me.

In other marathon related news--for those interested-- here are my race day photos. I can only do a link since I don't plan on paying money for pictures where I look so hideous. I can get those for free.

I want to point out this one in particular. This is in that final sprint before crossing the finish line. The photo completely belies the early stages of death that I was experiencing. The other photo with my arms thrown up and doing the peace signs--that was on Freedom Parkway right after passing the 19th mile marker. I just wanted to point out that I was feeling really good there. It was a few miles after that point that I entered Dante's rings of hell.

GA ING Marathon Race Report

For those that want to skip all the boring details of my 26.2 yesterday here is the gist:
Official results:
START 7:07:14 AM EST
10K 48:07
Half 1:43:20
20Mile 2:43:52
FINISH 3:44:15
TIME Chip Time: 3:44:15 Clock: 3:47:47
Pace: 8:33
Place Overall: 499
Gender place: 82

I woke up yesterday at 3:52 am. The alarm was set for 4 am but no matter what time I set the alarm for I always wake up before it goes off. Upon stepping out of bed my ankle felt weak and hurt. I had not run or done much of anything for 2 straight days so there was no reason for it to hurt and I chose to ignore the pain and went on getting dressed. The stiffness and pain either worked itself out or I forgot about it because after awhile I was unaware of it.

I left the house at 5:15 and headed downtown to my sister's house in Atlanta. I got there at 5:50. She was, as usual grumpy--so not a morning person-- and even my ING shaker and little cheer didn't rally her. It is kind of a downer to be all happy in the morning when everyone else is sour grapes.

I brought her outfits and she picked black skirt and declined visor. I also discouraged her from the cotton tank and later she thanked me for my wise-- although less cute-- recommendation of a technical singlet.

Wes showed up and was all tired and whining and hungover. I am not sympathetic. He is the one who volunteered to take us to the start so he knew what he would be doing and at what time and besides it wasn't like he was running. We took my car and I found some of the kids' candy in the car so I ate a blow pop and showed my blue tongue to Sarah several times. She was unimpressed. See how fun I am in the morning?

Wes dropped us near Underground and we ran to get in line for the port-o-lets. The lines were ridiculous. We got in line at 6:30. At 6:48 I started timing people. My sister was a bit mortified at this and that I was being very vocal about my impatience. But seriously, I know I can pee in less than 15 seconds so I don't see why everyone else can't too. I mean do you really want to spend anymore time than that in the portapotty? And the men? They took the longest to pee! Averaging about a minute--some even took 2 whole minutes. That is just wrong. With that equipment I should think you would be much faster. Most women took about 40 seconds. Sarah beat me with a record 12 seconds. It was because I fumbled with the tp. I should have just dripped dry and then I would have won.

At 6:56 we ran to the start and I pushed my way through the crowd trying to get with my pace group. I apologize to all the people I shoved out the way to get through the crowd but I did not want to be way in the back. I was very annoyed to find that they were not corralling people and even worse that they--the volunteers--would not let me cut through to my pace group. Though one volunteer did relent and I got as close as the 5 hour pace group. I never heard the gun and had to ask if it had started realizing it was now well past 7am. Then the mass of people finally started moving. I started Garmin as soon as I crossed the mat and wanted to shove all those people walking out of the way. IT IS A RACE!!! After jockeying a bit hopped on the sidewalk and sprinted it. My friend said she saw me go by in pink skirt like someone was chasing my ass.I am sure I looked ridiculous but I wanted to get away from all the walkers and hopefully catch my pace group.

As I was running down the side walk I saw an older woman who had fallen in the middle of the crowd and was being dragged out of the mob before she got trampled. See, that is is why you should run at the race start and if you don't plan on running get way, way in the back and let the runners be ahead.

Okay, please let me rant on here a second about this: Even in the Atlanta half marathon-- where you are also not corralled-- people still start running once they cross that chip mat. You can visibly see the wave roll ahead of you and then you are running. That did not happen yesterday at all. I was passing walkers in the those first 2-3 miles. I should not have been passing walkers at all after that first mile if they had placed them self appropriately in the line up. And let me also say that it is very hard to stop when you come running down the road at a sub 7 minute pace and find yourself directly behind someone walking a 16 minute pace. That is how people get hurt. So in case this was lots of peoples first race ever and they just didn't know any better let me be the one to tell you that unless you are in the way, way, way back that when your foot hits that mat it is time to start running. Otherwise, please, step aside.

Okay I feel better having said that. So anyway, I know this is where I went wrong but I started chasing down my pace group. I passed the clock at the first mile split and it said 10 something. So I think my first mile was well under 7 minutes. 3 miles was 22 minutes, way, way too fast. This is where I saw Bubbles, Lala and Pop (Poppy ran the half!). They were surprised to see me as I blew past them and mom said I was already glistening. I was hot and I think it was barely in the 60's. I started to slow a bit and around the 5th mile I finally caught and passed the 3:40 pace group.

I think around the 6 mile mark I realized that I was actually ahead of a 3:30 pace time wise but not physically on the course. I had banked about a minute 15. I was hot but I feeling really good. I ate a few clif blocks in the first 10k and stopped at 2 water stations. Then I didn't see another water station til the 11th mile. Not good. But I was still feeling really good.

Somewhere in Decatur-- I think that was in the 11th mile maybe earlier-- a man called out that I was in the top 75 women. So to entertain myself I counted down as passed the girls 74, 73, 72 . . . Later though I would be too confused to count back up as they passed me on Peachtree.

Around 15 miles I still had just under a minute in the bank to be on target for a 3:30 marathon. I knew that I was slowing and would continue to do so considering the course and rising heat. I decided to stop and go to the restroom as I felt that nagging feeling in my bladder. But I couldn't go. I briefly thought this was odd because I am one of those people that can always go but didn't worry about it too much. I was drinking water at every station I came to and I was eating my shot blocks and had had a gel earlier. That was more that I took in my last 2 marathons so I figured I was fine.

I was really enjoying myself. The course is amazing and rolled through the old Atlanta neighborhoods punctuated buy the blooming cherry, dogwoods, pear and red bud trees. Everywhere green with cotton candy like blossoms and pretty bungalows. I thought of e.e. cummings poem anyone lived in a pretty how town (with up so floating many bells down) as ran through Druid Hills and Inman park. Anyway, just gorgeous. I loved it and didn't really mind all the hills until we hit Freedom parkway. I think they should take this part out. I think it offers nothing and is just a 2 1/2 mile stretch of concrete and asphalt. This was when I really started to feel the effects of the heat.

It was going up Freedom Parkway, right before the 19th mile marker, that I saw the second of the 3 downed runners I came across during the race. This one brought me to a walk. It was a young, fit looking guy. He was already off the course, surrounded by other runners and he was unconscious when I came upon him. They were trying to turn him over and he was just out-- totally floppy. There was nothing I could do so I kept on running. The firetruck going to him passed me at the beginning of the the 20th mile so I hope they got to him in time. I have heard no reports of anyone dying so I have to assume everyone I saw went down was fine. I am sure this being the inaugural run they are downplaying any major glitches. But let me just say it was a tough course anyway and people were struggling big time from the heat. I mean, hello, nearly every year someone dies running the Peachtree and that is only a 10k. Yesterday felt hotter to me than in any of the years I have run the Peachtree and that is on July 4th.

I was still feeling good and realized that I was about 2 minutes behind a 3:30 marathon goal and I was fine with that. I really was not set on getting a 3:30-- just a sub 3:40-- or at the very least a PR. I figured with a 10k to go and how I was feeling it was in the bag. I even cheered at the 20 mile split and yelled out "Last 10k, woohoo!" Those around me weren't quite as cheery.

Coming up Ponce De Leon I ran up on a weaving runner with 2 cyclists on either side of him. They were medics. The runner, a man in his late 40's I'd guess, who looked to be quite fit, raised his hand to wave them off and then went down. He just crumpled into himself right before me. As I went around him I saw him trying to stand and the medics pushed him down and pulled him off the course. That was very unnerving to see but I was still feeling good and not worried.

I turned into the Highlands and was feeling great. I mean, yes, my feet were hurting and I was hot but you know that was not surprising considering I had just run 21 miles. I saw my uncle in front of Limerck's Junction. He jogged alongside with me with his laptop and said he was tracking me. I asked where I was and he said I was predicted for a 3:34 finish. Awesome, a nine minute PR.

Then after I passed the Inman park middle school I saw Ryan, Beau, Carmella and Lola. They didn't see me and I had to jump off the course to get to their attention. I gave out sweaty kisses and forgot to tell Ryan to get orange juice and Motrin for the end. Oh well, I would be okay. As I came down a hill there was a guy setting out beers in front of his house. I called out to him-- but I don't think he heard me-- that after 21 miles I wanted something better than Miller lite. I know, gift horse in the mouth but Miller lite? Gag.

As I entered Piedmont Park I started to get really cold. I had goose bumps and my hands were very swollen. I also wasn't sure where I was. I couldn't figure out if I was still in the 21st mile or the 22nd. I started to feel a little sick and dizzy so I slowed down. Then this guy in a yellow nut hugger (a.k.a speedo) ran up beside me. This made me feel sicker. It was just obscene and I picked up the pace a bit because I sure as hell didn't want there to be any race pictures of me next to him. I couldn't shake him and my feet were absolutely killing me. Every step felt like my bones were being crushed and I felt so sick. So I stopped and walked and creepy speedo guy passed me and went on his jiggly sweaty way. Finally I saw the 23rd mile marker. I was so happy that I was where I thought I was but time was really slipping away. I made a deal with myself that I would run the flat and downhill parts and could walk/jog the hills. This was a good plan but the last 3 miles? Yeah, they are uphill. It was Atlanta all over again.

And here is my other rant, and I mean no offense to the walkers doing the half marathon, but after busting my ass on 22 grueling miles, hitting the wall and suffering early signs of heat stroke, and then find myself having to walk among half marathoners with canes-- okay they were walking sticks-- was very demoralizing. Not to mention when I was struggling to run I had weave around them. They should have had the half start later or well before so the marathoners don't have to tango with them at the end. Just seems unfair to the winners of the marathons to have to cross the finish line with the half marathoners and also not fair to the halfers who are struggling after 2+ hours of running and have marathoners blow past them.

So yeah, I really wasn't feeling well and my feet were just killing me. I figured my choices were to just quit right then, run and be like one of those runners who pass out on the course and maybe not finish and seriously hurt myself or conserve my energy and walk so I could finish. I really wanted to finish and knew I could but it was hard getting past having to walk after having run so strong for 22 miles. I was so angry that I wasn't finishing strong. I even said out loud as I came up on the Fox Theater that this was just mean--referring to the hill, to the heat. Those last miles were a blur and I think I probably talked to myself. I felt very out of it.

Once I got to the last mile I knew I could finish it running and really busted it out the last stretch to the finish. I must have looked strong and impressive because Lala said I was "flying". It was a total rouse but none of the people at the finish had seen me humbled and crawling up Peachtree so-- at least to them-- it looked like I kicked hill ass. I even threw my arms up and smiled for the photographers.

I was very confused after I finished and I have never, I mean never felt as bad after a race as I did then. The volunteers just push you on through the finish maze. I felt like I was drugged and was still really cold as volunteers pointed me this way, and wait, stop here and let me take your chip. Here, hang on, congratulations, here is your medal. Then someone pressing water into my hands and another putting a space blanket around me. Wait. Stop, Natalie, (my name was on my bib but it was weird that everyone knew my name)let me take your photo. Hold up your medal and smile. Medal? When did I get this? Then people offering me food and somehow I ended up with pretzels. I was just wandering through this maze not really seeing, hearing anything. Just sort of sleepwalking awake. I saw the medical tent and decided I should ask them if I was okay.

Apparently not because the next thing I knew I was laying on a cot getting my pulse and bp taken. Then they placed ice on me and on my hands and propped my legs up. When I wiped my face I brushed off salt and realized that I was covered in it. They kept asking me to eat or drink and if I was going to throw up. And they must have asked me my name about 15 times and after the first few time of telling them I just started pointing to my bib. I tried to tell them that I was feeling much better now that I wasn't running. 3 different medics also asked me how hot it was. I kept saying I don't know the temperature. I felt like I wasn't understanding the question. But looking back on it now I think they were asking me how hot I felt it was. At the time though? I thought they were just trying to make small talk about the weather with me and all I wanted to do was close my eyes and rest for a moment.

I don't know how long I was there when Wes found me in the tent. I was feeling better by that point and told him to tell Ryan where I was but not to come since I didn't want the kids to see me on a cot surrounded by people with IV's and in wheel chairs. They took my pulse and bp again and moved me to a blanket and had me sit up. Lala and Pookie showed up then and helped me take my shoes off. We all marveled at how swollen my feet and hands were and put more ice on them. Bubbles and Poppy came by and took pictures and then left. Shortly after I was feeling better even though I was starting to have bad stomach cramps but they passed and I was able to walk to the car.

Ryan and I went to Sarah's and I tried to use her restroom but still couldn't pee. I was feeling like I could finally eat something so I had an olive and cream cheese sandwich on toast. I know that probably sounds gross but it was just what I needed.

After that Ryan, the kids and I left. My Dad drove my car home since I felt too shaky to drive. Once I got home I was finally able to pee-- and I know you really wanted to know that. Then I took an ice bath and had a big glass of orange juice and Motrin and felt eight million times better.

Today I am feeling tired and my quads are sore and I think I have tendinitis or possibly a stress fracture on my right foot.We'll see. Sometimes these things just take a few days to work out and are not really injuries. I am feeling well enough that I may go to the gym for some cross training to work out this soreness in my quads later today. I don't know what is up with Peachtree but the only time my quads ever feel like this is after I have run a race that has Peachtree Road in it. Bitch. I'll kick her ass one of these days.

Thank you to everyone for your support and well wishes. ING wasn't what I had hoped it would be but I am glad I finished and I don't regret running it.

And I do recommend this marathon. It is a challenging and beautiful course (except Freedom Pkwy) and yesterday was unusually warm. It is normally 20-30 degrees cooler. I believe we set a record high of 87 yesterday. So don't let yesterday's heat detour you from signing up for next year's ING. I am sure they will have the start logistics worked out by then. And maybe even tweak the course a bit and stagger the half marathon and start times so the marathoners--especially the winners--don't have to dart around the half marathoners.

And you know, next year, I may be one of those half marathoners since I'll be doing Boston as my spring marathon.

Lastly, props to all my friends who ran:
Pookie--half--1:58
Fishstick--half--2:27
Danielle--half--2:19
Tracy--half--2:27
Poppy--half-- 2:02
Paige--first full!--4:33
Toby--first full!--4:53
Steph--half--1:54
Virginia--half--2:03
Jason--half--2:01
Also Wes and James

I am so proud to have such great runner friends. You guys did fantastic!