"There is something magical about running; after a certain distance, it transcends the body. Then a bit futher, it transcends the mind. A bit further yet, and what you have before you, laid bare, is the soul."
The mararthon was such an amazing experience that I'm not sure I can put it in words. Luckily, my wonderful friends Mandy and Christopher documented the entire event on camera. Please check out their website www.thedirtieduckie.com :) The pictures and the video captured a weekend, a challenge, that I have been looking forward to for a very, very long time...
I was full of emotion as I met my very good friend Eric at the baggage claim at KCI airport. It was like a scene from a movie- people passed by us as we embraced in a hug while tears flooded from my eyes. Every emotion I had experienced in the last 6 months came out at that very moment in uncontrollable sobs. It was so good to see a familiar, loving face- someone who knows ME. After a few emotional minutes, we grabbed my luggage, hit the highway in his jeep, and headed for some food. I missed how it felt to be in Kansas City. The air, smell, sights, all of it- it is different. There are leaves, green grass, and water! I was instantly happy and in awe that I was back home. I had a full schedule that day and I was so excited to spend every minute with people I loved and missed terribly. Eric and I enjoyed lunch at Panera- fabulous choice! I was planning on "carbo-loading" at each meal for three days prior. I had my routine for pre-race day that I didn't want to change up but knew I needed the necessary carb intake for Saturday's race. After lunch and a few other stops with Eric, I met up with another friend Misty for an early dinner (and belated birthday celebration!) at The Westside Local. Amazing food from local farmers and the restaurant's very own garden in the back. I encourage you to check it out if you have never :) Dinner with Misty was tons of fun, but brief. Next up was a quick meeting with another friend Jennifer aka Bootie! We went to our usual spot, Mi Ranchito :) No, I did not eat although I was very tempted! So many people to see and so little time. I loved seeing everyone but hated that it was always for a short visit before moving on to the next! I was staying with another friend for the night, Tara, and by the time I got there I was exhausted. Thursday was such a long day with flying and running around but I hardly got any sleep that night! I was a little stressed about it come Friday because two nights before a race is just as critical as the night before.
Friday was an exciting day full of all kinds of emotions! Race day was less than 24 hours away and I was feeling excited, nervous, confident, and terrified. Any given moment the confident, competitor in me would instantly be hit with thoughts of doubt and "What the hell were you thinking, you can't run 26.2 miles?!" Luckily, I only entertained those negative thoughts sporadically through out the day. I met up with Mandy and Christopher early that morning and they were able to boost my confidence all day with their words of encouragement (this being Mandy's third marathon I would consider her a pro!) We piled into Christopher's jeep and met up with Mandy's mom at the expo for packet pickup- she, too, would be running in the race the following morning, tacking on yet another half marthon to her resume! We made our way through the expo stopping to listen to the guest speaker, catching up with some fellow Herbalife Distributors who were sampling out my beloved Prolong endurance drink, and finally grabbing our race bags before heading off to lunch at Spin Pizza! It's official! With my t-shirt, bib, and timing chip in hand, I couldn't back out now ;) I was a little nervous about having pizza for lunch since I had not practiced this for the last few weeks so instead I opted for a sandwich. This would allow me to keep on track for my pre-race day routine consisting of a shake for breakfast, banana and protein bar for a snack, and my usual sandwich for lunch. I was feeling good but already tired after lunch and it was still early! We had a few more stops to make before we were able to head home and retire for the evening. With getting only a few hours of sleep the night before, I didn't know if I would be able to make it through much of the evening. But I didn't want to miss out on the festivities for the night! Mandy's tradition is to watch The Expendibles and have a glass of wine... How could I pass up a badass movie and wine?! Count me in! So all three of us piled onto the futon upstairs for the remainder of the evening :)
My alarm clock went off at 4:30a and I was already awake. Of course I slept horribly, typical before a big day! As I got ready and sipped on a Rockstar, Mandy and Christopher were getting ready as well- documenting the morning routine! I wasn't too nervous first thing that morning but I don't think the reality of what I was about to do had sank in just yet! In less than 3 hours, I was about to put all my training and sacrifice to the test... was I even ready?!? I would soon find out...
After gathering our bags, bikes, and people we headed downtown! We made it to Crown Center in plenty of time with no traffic problems. As we stepped out of the parking garage, I realized that it was a GREAT deal colder than what I had been used to running in- which I was not too thrilled about! I did come prepared with a long sleeve tshirt but my legs would have to freeze :( We made a pitstop in Panera before saying goodbye to Christopher and heading to the starting line. When I first set out training for this marathon, my goal was to complete it under 4 hours. Throughout my training I changed my goal several times. The few weeks leading up to the race I was telling people I would be content "just finishing." HOWEVER, those of you that know me, know I would not have been happy with that. I wanted to do better than that but I also was afraid to choose an unattainable goal so I went with a 4:15. My game plan for the race was to keep up with Mandy through the hill at Liberty Memorial and then go from there. She typically runs at a faster pace so I wasn't sure how I would do. I set my ipod to the same song I began every long race with ("Momma Sed") and the gun went off at 7:05am!! Here are a few "mile markers" that I remember:
* Mile 3: Liberty Memorial hill- As I started climbing, the song "Determined" by Mudvayne began to play. Perfect!! Because I did the Half Marathon last year I knew what I would be facing and lets just say I kicked it's ass. I loved it! We conquered the hill and I was feeling great :) Approximately four miles down and 22.2 to go!
*Mile 5: Seeing a few familiar faces in the crowd! Thanks Nic and Drew :)
*Mile 8: At this point, the half marathon runners separate from the marathon runners! The lane to the left was full of people but the one on the right was sparse. I guess there weren't as many "crazy" people willing to do the full! It gave a little ego boost :)
*Mile 10: Up to this point I had been keeping up with Mandy as our pace quickened. Somwhere between 10 and 11 I stopped to grab my Prolong from C and struggled to catch up with Mandy. As we hit mile 11, we stopped for a brief minute to grab our gels and the only words out of my mouth were "Holy hell." This would not be the only time I used those words!! We hadn't even hit the half way point and it was kicking my ass. I knew I needed to keep up with Mandy... if I lost sight of her, I was doomed. So I did just that...
*Mile 13.1: We crossed the half marathon checkpoint at 2:00:34. I was slightly annoyed with being half a minute short of completing it under 2 hours but happy at the same time because that was faster than last years time :)
*Mile 18: My legs had never felt heavier nor hurt more in all my life! They felt like tree trunks pounding the pavement with every step. There were moments when I would have enough energy to belt out the words to Stanky Leg or Check Up On It to Christopher but in the next breathe I was struggling to pick up my feet. I felt like we were just shuffling our feet from one mile marker to the next. I can't say that I was ever happy to see the mile markers. It was demoralizing at points to know that I still had many more miles to go being that every part of my body hurt.
PS. THIS pain was what I was expecting, hoping for, and wanting... It represented so much...
*Mile 21: Technically 20.90 lol. It had been a few miles since our last pitstop and I was donig everything in my power not to stop. I was hoping and praying that Mandy would want to stop and refuel SOON. There were a few times that I was either sleeping, blacking out, or in a complete trance. I was no longer in control of my body, it seemed. I had to get outside of my body and mind so somehow I blocked everything out and stared straight ahead- what a crazy feeling!! If Mandy had not been by my side, I would have given up. I was so ready to throw in the towel!! After our mini break, we both stated that we hurt like hell but we had to keep going, one step at a time...
*Mile 22- Watch the video!! You will see AND hear just how Mandy and I felt about that damn Mile Marker 22 :-P
Mile 25- Some point after seeing MM25, I saw my good friend Layne (who had just completed her first half marathon- way to go, Crunchy!!) It was so good to see a friendly face at that point :) Mandy and I made the final turn the final turn and the finish line look miles away! People were yelling and cheering as we got closer. and there it was- the final mile marker- 26!!! Ironically enough, my ipod began playing "Swim" by Jack's Mannequin. A song that Mandy introduced me to months prior- a song that got me through a little bit of hell. It was perfect timing :) With a few hundred feet remaining, I kicked it up a notch and began sprinting through the finish!! To my surprise no tears came. Probably because I had sweat them all out or because I had no energy left to do so- it was all I could do to catch my breath. I crossed the finish line in 4 HOURS, 4 MINUTES, and 29 SECONDS :) I finished a full marathon... and in a faster time than I had planned (Thanks to pacer, Mandy lol). Every single part of my body hurt... and I LOVED it!! We'll just forget about the many times I told Mandy and Christopher that I "hate my life right now" during the race!
I saw Eric and Kristen after I crossed and of course the first words out of my mouth were "Holy hell" ha! We visited for a few minutes as we made our way through the crowd. It was so good to see them at the end and share this experience with them! Kristen is a marathon veteran (8 notches on her belt) and Eric will be completing his first (of many) half marathons next spring- woohoo!! The gang and I hung out for a bit sipping on our post race beer and replaying the events of the race. Walking was nearly impossibly and sitting or standing required assistance from the guys! I was completely spent but so happy at the same time. I accomplished my goal of completing a marathon!!! I knew that this would not be my last :)
The rest of the weekend was busy! Somehow I managed to go dancing later that night and stay up until the next morning! My nap after the race was unsuccessful because laying still or trying to roll over hurt! Sunday afternoon I spent it with Nicole, Monica, and Sarah at Kona Grill and then Hamburger Marys :) It was so nice to see my friends and spend time with them. I missed them and I missed Kansas City terribly- this was life as I knew it!
Monday would be a sad day! I would be leaving that night and I wasn't able to see everyone that I wanted to. I had gotten comfortable again being in KC and I wasn't ready to leave. It was a nice fall day: overcast, chilly, with brightly colored leave all around. I realized that I am definitely a four-seasons kind of girl! Warm weather is nice, but I like variety- and the color green ;) I saw Tara, Mandy, and Christopher for awhile before I headed out that night. If there was anything I could do about it, I would have stayed...
I enjoyed my weekend back home! I'm so happy to have seen my friends. The marathon was an incredible, life-changing experience like I had expected. I now know that I can do anything I want- it just takes a little dedication and heart!! I never thought it was something I could have done, but with all the support and encouragement I received, I did :) Thank you to everyone!! One marathon down, many more to go! I hope you all will be along for my future endeavors :)
Love always,
B
I was full of emotion as I met my very good friend Eric at the baggage claim at KCI airport. It was like a scene from a movie- people passed by us as we embraced in a hug while tears flooded from my eyes. Every emotion I had experienced in the last 6 months came out at that very moment in uncontrollable sobs. It was so good to see a familiar, loving face- someone who knows ME. After a few emotional minutes, we grabbed my luggage, hit the highway in his jeep, and headed for some food. I missed how it felt to be in Kansas City. The air, smell, sights, all of it- it is different. There are leaves, green grass, and water! I was instantly happy and in awe that I was back home. I had a full schedule that day and I was so excited to spend every minute with people I loved and missed terribly. Eric and I enjoyed lunch at Panera- fabulous choice! I was planning on "carbo-loading" at each meal for three days prior. I had my routine for pre-race day that I didn't want to change up but knew I needed the necessary carb intake for Saturday's race. After lunch and a few other stops with Eric, I met up with another friend Misty for an early dinner (and belated birthday celebration!) at The Westside Local. Amazing food from local farmers and the restaurant's very own garden in the back. I encourage you to check it out if you have never :) Dinner with Misty was tons of fun, but brief. Next up was a quick meeting with another friend Jennifer aka Bootie! We went to our usual spot, Mi Ranchito :) No, I did not eat although I was very tempted! So many people to see and so little time. I loved seeing everyone but hated that it was always for a short visit before moving on to the next! I was staying with another friend for the night, Tara, and by the time I got there I was exhausted. Thursday was such a long day with flying and running around but I hardly got any sleep that night! I was a little stressed about it come Friday because two nights before a race is just as critical as the night before.
Friday was an exciting day full of all kinds of emotions! Race day was less than 24 hours away and I was feeling excited, nervous, confident, and terrified. Any given moment the confident, competitor in me would instantly be hit with thoughts of doubt and "What the hell were you thinking, you can't run 26.2 miles?!" Luckily, I only entertained those negative thoughts sporadically through out the day. I met up with Mandy and Christopher early that morning and they were able to boost my confidence all day with their words of encouragement (this being Mandy's third marathon I would consider her a pro!) We piled into Christopher's jeep and met up with Mandy's mom at the expo for packet pickup- she, too, would be running in the race the following morning, tacking on yet another half marthon to her resume! We made our way through the expo stopping to listen to the guest speaker, catching up with some fellow Herbalife Distributors who were sampling out my beloved Prolong endurance drink, and finally grabbing our race bags before heading off to lunch at Spin Pizza! It's official! With my t-shirt, bib, and timing chip in hand, I couldn't back out now ;) I was a little nervous about having pizza for lunch since I had not practiced this for the last few weeks so instead I opted for a sandwich. This would allow me to keep on track for my pre-race day routine consisting of a shake for breakfast, banana and protein bar for a snack, and my usual sandwich for lunch. I was feeling good but already tired after lunch and it was still early! We had a few more stops to make before we were able to head home and retire for the evening. With getting only a few hours of sleep the night before, I didn't know if I would be able to make it through much of the evening. But I didn't want to miss out on the festivities for the night! Mandy's tradition is to watch The Expendibles and have a glass of wine... How could I pass up a badass movie and wine?! Count me in! So all three of us piled onto the futon upstairs for the remainder of the evening :)
After gathering our bags, bikes, and people we headed downtown! We made it to Crown Center in plenty of time with no traffic problems. As we stepped out of the parking garage, I realized that it was a GREAT deal colder than what I had been used to running in- which I was not too thrilled about! I did come prepared with a long sleeve tshirt but my legs would have to freeze :( We made a pitstop in Panera before saying goodbye to Christopher and heading to the starting line. When I first set out training for this marathon, my goal was to complete it under 4 hours. Throughout my training I changed my goal several times. The few weeks leading up to the race I was telling people I would be content "just finishing." HOWEVER, those of you that know me, know I would not have been happy with that. I wanted to do better than that but I also was afraid to choose an unattainable goal so I went with a 4:15. My game plan for the race was to keep up with Mandy through the hill at Liberty Memorial and then go from there. She typically runs at a faster pace so I wasn't sure how I would do. I set my ipod to the same song I began every long race with ("Momma Sed") and the gun went off at 7:05am!! Here are a few "mile markers" that I remember:
* Mile 3: Liberty Memorial hill- As I started climbing, the song "Determined" by Mudvayne began to play. Perfect!! Because I did the Half Marathon last year I knew what I would be facing and lets just say I kicked it's ass. I loved it! We conquered the hill and I was feeling great :) Approximately four miles down and 22.2 to go!
*Mile 5: Seeing a few familiar faces in the crowd! Thanks Nic and Drew :)
*Mile 8: At this point, the half marathon runners separate from the marathon runners! The lane to the left was full of people but the one on the right was sparse. I guess there weren't as many "crazy" people willing to do the full! It gave a little ego boost :)
*Mile 10: Up to this point I had been keeping up with Mandy as our pace quickened. Somwhere between 10 and 11 I stopped to grab my Prolong from C and struggled to catch up with Mandy. As we hit mile 11, we stopped for a brief minute to grab our gels and the only words out of my mouth were "Holy hell." This would not be the only time I used those words!! We hadn't even hit the half way point and it was kicking my ass. I knew I needed to keep up with Mandy... if I lost sight of her, I was doomed. So I did just that...
*Mile 13.1: We crossed the half marathon checkpoint at 2:00:34. I was slightly annoyed with being half a minute short of completing it under 2 hours but happy at the same time because that was faster than last years time :)
*Mile 18: My legs had never felt heavier nor hurt more in all my life! They felt like tree trunks pounding the pavement with every step. There were moments when I would have enough energy to belt out the words to Stanky Leg or Check Up On It to Christopher but in the next breathe I was struggling to pick up my feet. I felt like we were just shuffling our feet from one mile marker to the next. I can't say that I was ever happy to see the mile markers. It was demoralizing at points to know that I still had many more miles to go being that every part of my body hurt.
PS. THIS pain was what I was expecting, hoping for, and wanting... It represented so much...
*Mile 21: Technically 20.90 lol. It had been a few miles since our last pitstop and I was donig everything in my power not to stop. I was hoping and praying that Mandy would want to stop and refuel SOON. There were a few times that I was either sleeping, blacking out, or in a complete trance. I was no longer in control of my body, it seemed. I had to get outside of my body and mind so somehow I blocked everything out and stared straight ahead- what a crazy feeling!! If Mandy had not been by my side, I would have given up. I was so ready to throw in the towel!! After our mini break, we both stated that we hurt like hell but we had to keep going, one step at a time...
*Mile 22- Watch the video!! You will see AND hear just how Mandy and I felt about that damn Mile Marker 22 :-P
Mile 25- Some point after seeing MM25, I saw my good friend Layne (who had just completed her first half marathon- way to go, Crunchy!!) It was so good to see a friendly face at that point :) Mandy and I made the final turn the final turn and the finish line look miles away! People were yelling and cheering as we got closer. and there it was- the final mile marker- 26!!! Ironically enough, my ipod began playing "Swim" by Jack's Mannequin. A song that Mandy introduced me to months prior- a song that got me through a little bit of hell. It was perfect timing :) With a few hundred feet remaining, I kicked it up a notch and began sprinting through the finish!! To my surprise no tears came. Probably because I had sweat them all out or because I had no energy left to do so- it was all I could do to catch my breath. I crossed the finish line in 4 HOURS, 4 MINUTES, and 29 SECONDS :) I finished a full marathon... and in a faster time than I had planned (Thanks to pacer, Mandy lol). Every single part of my body hurt... and I LOVED it!! We'll just forget about the many times I told Mandy and Christopher that I "hate my life right now" during the race!
I saw Eric and Kristen after I crossed and of course the first words out of my mouth were "Holy hell" ha! We visited for a few minutes as we made our way through the crowd. It was so good to see them at the end and share this experience with them! Kristen is a marathon veteran (8 notches on her belt) and Eric will be completing his first (of many) half marathons next spring- woohoo!! The gang and I hung out for a bit sipping on our post race beer and replaying the events of the race. Walking was nearly impossibly and sitting or standing required assistance from the guys! I was completely spent but so happy at the same time. I accomplished my goal of completing a marathon!!! I knew that this would not be my last :)
The rest of the weekend was busy! Somehow I managed to go dancing later that night and stay up until the next morning! My nap after the race was unsuccessful because laying still or trying to roll over hurt! Sunday afternoon I spent it with Nicole, Monica, and Sarah at Kona Grill and then Hamburger Marys :) It was so nice to see my friends and spend time with them. I missed them and I missed Kansas City terribly- this was life as I knew it!
Monday would be a sad day! I would be leaving that night and I wasn't able to see everyone that I wanted to. I had gotten comfortable again being in KC and I wasn't ready to leave. It was a nice fall day: overcast, chilly, with brightly colored leave all around. I realized that I am definitely a four-seasons kind of girl! Warm weather is nice, but I like variety- and the color green ;) I saw Tara, Mandy, and Christopher for awhile before I headed out that night. If there was anything I could do about it, I would have stayed...
I enjoyed my weekend back home! I'm so happy to have seen my friends. The marathon was an incredible, life-changing experience like I had expected. I now know that I can do anything I want- it just takes a little dedication and heart!! I never thought it was something I could have done, but with all the support and encouragement I received, I did :) Thank you to everyone!! One marathon down, many more to go! I hope you all will be along for my future endeavors :)
Love always,
B
