Fox Valley Marathon 2013

3:35:12* a new PR by 5 minutes!

12/97 AG 12%

46/608 Women 7.5%

223/1317 OA 16.9%

1st half 1:44.23* (7:59/mile) my fastest half marathon to date.

2nd half 1:50.49 (8:28/mile)

So this isn't the post I envisioned writing post FVM. Everything leading up to this race pointed to the fact I would get the time I wanted. My training was solid, I had no injuries, I was in good health. I rarely have a "bad race." I don't let nerves get to me, at my core I am a performer and know all sorts of Jedi mind tricks to stay calm and carry on.

I got a 5 minute PR, which I'm really happy about. Yeah, it wasn't the sub 3:30/ BQ-5 that I was working towards, but my body had other plans for race day. Before I launch into the what went wrong side of things, I will say this:

I am truly thankful for the love and support I've received over the past 14 weeks. I am happy that my body allows me to complete 26.2 miles. I LOVE running. BQ, PR or not, the BEST day of running for me is any and all days I can run injury free. Currently I have some minor quad soreness, a funky right knee and a tight left hip flexor. I do not have any injury to speak of.

This recap will be a bit different than my others. I'll let photos (and a few words) do the talking.

Start

It was 45 degrees, and low dewpoint the morning of the race. *Perfect*

I ran into Melinda Before the start. It was nice to see her and have a quick chat.

I was feeling good going into the race. Said my good byes to my Daad and L and soon it was time.

Soon we were off running. I felt good but I also felt a little "off." Nothing that I could pinpoint, just not the usual springiness I have when I'm running.

I love running. This is awesome!

I felt good but "off" and took off at a conservative pace. (Mainly I was trying to run by effort because I don't trust the garmin all that much. Plus it is defeating when it reads a pace you don't want to see.)



So around mile 4.5 I'm cruising and see someone holding a sign. I see they have a dog on it and think "aww what a cutie, it kinda looks like CB!" Then KIM Shouts my name and I realize it's her holding a sign with CB on it!! dERP!! I didn't expect to see her so early in the course. :)

Took a salt and gu at mile 5 and almost didnt get it down. Once I got it down I started feeling queazy. I decided at that point, no more salt pills.

Half Way!


I was happy to have 13.1 more miles to go. But the "off" feeling was getting magnified with each step.

I patted the Fox on the head as I ran by around mile 17. I did this last year too.


But by this point the "OMG I LOVE THIS" was fading fast.

Mile 17 where I smash hard into a brick wall.

Well that "off" feeling became super intense around mile 17 and just kept intensifying. My body hurt. My arms and legs and all my muscles became very sore and difficult to move.


I had wicked side stitch starting around mile 17 and I don't remember if it ever let up before the finish.

I tried to "push" the pace from one light pole to the next and my body just wouldn't go.


I was getting more and more delirious with each step. My thoughts were so incredibly negative by this point- and it wasn't because I might not BQ, but instead extreme frustration at the fact my body was failing and there was nothing I could do. I repeatedly though "if only I tripped and fell, then someone would tell me my day is over." I couldn't DNF myself. I couldn't throw in the towel, it is not in my soul to simply give up. So I continued on.

I walked up a hill at mile 23. I saw the hill and thought "there's no way in hell I could run up that." The pain inside was tremendous.

Around mile 25 I saw Britt's husband and he started running with me. I remember him asking how I felt and I replied "I feel like shit." We "picked up the pace" towards the finish and he was nothing but encouraging. Had you asked me my pace at this point I would have said 7 minutes. I felt like I was sprinting. My actual split was closer to 8:30.


I tried to just keep pushing towards the finish. I was in pain. Once I crossed I remember bending over to catch my breath and felt numb. I actually don't remember much after that.


My Daad, L, Britt, D, Kim, and Bobbi were all there and I don't have any memories of our interactions. I know they kept asking if I was ok, but in my delirious state I kept saying "yes, I'm fine." I wasn't.


Thank you Britt for pushing me and inspiring me the past 14 weeks!

Thank you to my Daad and L who spectated and saw the progression of my meltdown. Thanks to L for putting up with me while I chase this BQ goal.

What went wrong?

A combo of the following:

•Stress leading up to the race

•Depletion of electrolytes (I took Gu every 5 miles, but no salt)

•Whatever caused me to feel "off."

•Hormones.

I ate fine before the race, slept ok, so basically I feel something above caused me to bonk hard around mile 17.

I am happy with my PR and know a better day is in these legs.

Thank you again for all your support and encouragement, I certainly feel very loved :)


- xaar