On October 20th, I ran my very first marathon in Chattanooga, TN. Our training program had us scheduled for a 26 mile run in town, so I figured I'd just sign up to run a "real" marathon.
I signed up for the marathon some time in August and even from sign up, I wondered why/ how I could run it without my awesome running group. Over the past 6 months, I've grown to love and appreciate that group and each individual in it.
So the week before the run, I decided I would "try" to convince Steve to jump ship/abandon the group and go to Chattanooga with me. Little did I know, I had done a better job convincing Tracy (our group leader) to jump ship.... That was a huge suprise! So by the end of that Saturday (the week of the upcoming race) Tracy and Steve were in.
Tuesday after our morning run, I get a text from Tracy that said Pam was in! Awesome. She is such a strong runner! Then later that night or the next Belinda joined us. Me heart was overwhelmed with excitement. We found out Jackie, another group member had already signed up and then Erica and Kevin joined the group, so 8 of our 10 group members headed to Chattanooga for the marathon!
We picked up our race packets, enjoyed great fellowship, and prepared for the big race! It was chilly Sunday morning. We assembled, said a prayer, and then... We ran... A long way!
Here's the thing about marathons... They are very long. Our group has always stayed together (for the most part). It's one of the things I really love about our group. We ran the first half and hit the half split right on pace around 2:30 hours. It was a "little" hilly. We had been over 3 bridges at that point. Then... The monster hit me. It started to warm up quickly, we hit a stretch of highway that would never end, and around mile 15 we hit the biggest monster of a bridge I had ever seen. By the end of that bridge, my stomach was in knots... Here's more info than anyone needs, but I would have loved to been able to get anything (and everything) out of my stomach and that point, but nothing would budge... I started to fall back from the group and my amazing pace leader Tracy stayed back with me. The next 10 miles were hard but we ticked them off, one by one. Tracy encouraged and God enabled me to finish! Around 25 we met up with Erica and Kevin and ran to the finish with them. Pam, Jackie, Steve, and Belinda finished before us, and I was ever so happy to see their faces when we sprinted to the finish!
These people will always hold a special place in my heart!
After the first marathon, my original goal marathon was just on the horizon. In between I had the opportunity to run the Los Angeles Rock and Roll half marathon. So now, I had a marathon under my belt and a rock and roll half, so physically and mentally I was ready for the Savannah Rock and Roll Marathon!
Race morning started around 5 am. I never sleep well before big races... Excitement, anxiousness, emotions, and this time what seemed/smelled like a fire on our room around 2 am...
Thankfully we survived :) my amazing husband shuttled us (Mike and Jenny Meier were running the full as well) to the start line. Took a bathroom break and settled into my corral. About 15,000 people ran the half/full that day. The atmosphere and crowd support in Savannah was great.
For the first time in 6 months, it was just me (aside from the other 15,000 people running - but you get the point) at the start of a long run. I missed my group and prayed for each of them as I started running. They too were running another marathon today!
The first 10 miles went by pretty quickly. We were still on the course with the half marathoners, so I had to dodge (or they had to dogdeme since I was following the run/walk method). We solo off from the half group around 11 and hit the highway... Ugh. I hate highways. It was starting to warm up pretty significantly when we hit the highway, so it took a lot out of me. We only ran about 2 miles on the highway, but I knew I would have to retrace those highway steps on the way back to the finish (mile 22-24) another ugh... On my way out on the highway, the elite runners were already on their way back... Geez. They are fast!
After I left the highway, I knew Adam and my mom were just around the corner (around the corner for a marathoner means around a mile but it encouraged me). I saw their faces before they saw me... Waved at them at 14.5 and headed on toward Savannah state university. Their students really came out in force to cheer and encourage. Everyone was great! Somewhere on Savannah State's campus, I took my 2:30 : 1 intervals down to 2:1 (the first number is how long I run and the minute is a walk break - it works for the long runs... Just trust that I wouldn't want to just run...)
I got another opportunity to see Adam and Mom at 17.5 where I picked up a banana and hug and headed on... Around mile 19, I entered a big park, Mike and Jenny were around 21 on their way out the park and have a sweet encouragement. They were booking it!
The park was hard. I really began to pray. Prayed for my group. Asked God why I decided to do this race instead of the one with them because I really need any one of them to give me a swift kick at this point. In the park, I took the run down to 1:30. I also took this opportunity to pray to God that he remind me why I ran. He did.
It's to be a witness for him. He didn't give me the gift of encouragement to just hold it in and not share it. I also asked him to give me someone to help get me through these last 6 miles... And he did just that.
Right as I approached mile 20, a man came up from behind and asked if he could walk with me for a second. I smiled and said, "of course!" Thanks Lord!
We shared our names and I shared with him my strategy for the end of the run. He was encouraged and jumped on board. This was Shelby's first marathon and his first time over 20 miles! What a blessing. I told him that I had just asked God to give me some one to encouraged and bam... There he was.
We prayed, shared scripture with each other, talked about Run for God, shares stories about our families... God was def present and running with us.
One mile after another, they kept falling off. We stuck to the 1:30 : 1 all the way in. His children came running up to him around 26 and his oldest ran in with him. I may never run into Shelby again but I am incredibly thankful that God designed our running paths to cross.
As I hit the final turn to run in, I pushed with everything I had left (which was very little at this point). Grabbed the medal and lots of snacks, took some finish line pics, and headed to hug my amazing hubby and mom!
I'm sure somewhere down the road, I'll run another marathon, but for now I am happy to finish and think I'll stick with half marathons and under for a while :)
