thefrinkydinks everyday: Eugene Marathon

The DAY finally arrived.

Chad and I running the half marathon and Dad running the FULL.

I don't think any of us slept very well the night before.

I got up at 4:45am to give myself an hour to get ready before we left. I had put all my stuff/food in the bathroom so that I wouldn't wake up the kids while I was getting ready.

We all had goals we wanted to achieve. I wanted to finish sub 2:30.

I finished my first half in 2:45. I was pretty devastated that I didn't do it in 2:30, but the last 3 miles were sloping uphill. I wasn't prepared for that. Mentally and physically I barely finished.
Then I finished the Seattle Half Marathon in 2:48. It was a brutal course, but I was "ready" for it. I still was mentally and physically exhausted the last 3 miles, but I gave it my all. I felt good about the run.
The Eugene course is supposed to be fairly flat and the best course to get a personal record (PR).

I had shirts made up to support Dad running his marathon.

It ends up the we were all in corral B together. I had planned on lining up behind the 2:30 pacer, but they only had marathon pacers. So I lined up with some friends from the Y that were running the half also. Keri is a little faster than me and Allison is about the same speed. I knew that if I could pace with Keri, then I would make my goal. I lost my Dad in the corral, so I didn't get to give him a final, "good luck!" But I know that he knows I was sending prayers his way.

We were off!

Now Keri told me that this was a flat course, but I'm starting to think that there is no such thing. :-) There were hills. Several of them. I passed Dad going down one of them. I kept with Keri the first couple of miles and then she pulled away. Allison and I ran together for about a mile and then I got the energy to catch up with Keri. As I was back with Keri, Dad passed us. :-) I stayed with Keri another of couple of miles and then I lagged behind on a hill and from then on I tried to keep her in my sights. I could actually see Dad and her ahead of me for most of the race. I knew if I just kept a steady pace that I could come in at my goal. I lost sight of Dad and Keri around mile 8. Then it was just me and the Lord pushing me onward.

A side note: Keri and Dad ran together on and off for several miles until it came to the split at mile 10. She is a really nice person that likes to talk while she runs. :-) Dad was happy for someone to help get his mind off the miles. When I saw Keri after the race (she came in at 2:19) she told me that Dad was doing good and felt really good when they split. That was so great to hear.

I often have thoughts while I'm running a half of why I feel the need to run so far. Really, isn't 6-10 miles plenty?! It may be in the future, but today I wanted to make my goal. I wanted to show myself that I can do it. That I can run the mileage. That I can NOT give up on myself. That I can push through the times I want to walk or quit. That I am strong. That part of life is pushing through the tough times and not giving up or making excuses or lying to myself and saying that, "I'm just not that kind of person". I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. The race is no longer about proving my worth, but to just simply persevere and see that I have the strength to do it.

I felt really strong. I felt like I had fueled up and I passed through many of the water stations because I didn't need it. I ate energy jelly beans throughout. I listened to what my body needed. I didn't feel nausea at all. My legs felt good. I just needed to keep my mental strength going. I knew I could do it.

I was SO HAPPY to get to mile 11 and then 12 and know that the end was near. I just needed to push a little harder and then I could celebrate. Just outside running into the stadium, my left calf started cramping. A cramp that could send you to the ground in a second. I prayed, "Please Lord, let me just make it to the finish line. Help me!" I tried to straighten up as much as possible and kept on running onto the track. I could see the FINISH! I pushed myself to go a little faster. I wanted to finish strong. I crossed the finish line at 2:24!

Oh, sweet victory! I wanted to burst out crying. If my family would have been there, I would have. I walked it out. I ate some food. I went to the bathroom. I got my official time. I went and found my family.

I really am so proud of myself. I ran the whole way (except walking thru the water stations that I got water at). I walked partly in both of the previous races. I felt strong the whole way through. I knew that no matter what my time ended up being, that I would have been proud of the effort I put in. But I'm SO thankful I met my goal!!

Here are my official stats:

Here are the stats from my iPod:

Next time (See Jane Run on 7/17) I would like to try and keep all of the miles at 11 or below.

Chad came in at 2:01!

Chad was wanting to beat Dad's PR at a half marathon and he did. I txt'd him later and said that He can't really say he beat Dad until he beats him on the same course. A little razzing going on. :-) But then today, I'm thinking about it and my first half in Vancouver, WA comes to mind. To say that I have beat "my mind over matter", then I need to go back and do that race again. None of my friends want to run that course again and I hadn't decided what I was going to do. But I feel like I need to. That is the only race I feel like I didn't do my best. I need to go back and conquer that course. So I'm pretty sure I'm going to sign up for the Girlfriend's Half Marathon again. It is October 16th. Hopefully Darin and I will make it a long anniversary weekend. :-)

And DAD came in at 5:06!!

He did amazing! He ran the whole 26.2 miles.

Mind you, he just started running a year and half ago.

He had his own cheering section.