run a marathon

A charley Horse in my left calf made it agony after mile six, but I didn’t care much, even though it slowed me way down. My friends, Ken and Johnny, carried signs with arrows pointing to me saying, “Clap for Diana!” and “Doesn’t she look great!” and “This is her first marathon!” People were awesome to me and the goodwill and cheers were absolutely incredible! I totally ate it all up! I cheered right back to everyone who cheered me. I felt like a celebrity and my face hurts from smiling the whole way. After the race strangers were hugging me and congratulating me. It was so incredible. I absolutely could not have done it without Ken’s support and encouragement. Talking and singing and discussing food and beer with him made it bearable and even fun. Thanks 43T friends, especially Flirt! Don’t know what I’d do without you guys!!!!! Love ya’!

BTW – It took me about 5 hours and 40 minutes. I’m pefectly happy with that time. I was able sprint and smile and wave at the end!

Aches and pains and tension and NO ENDORPHINS to come to the rescue! Last long run was almost three weeks ago and I can hardly cope! I ran three miles last night and cramped terribly in my calf (which is unusual) and it still hurts today. They say these new aches and pains are normal for this point in training. I was also told it’s normal to feel like total crap and like I can’t make it for the first 5 or so miles because of all this damn tapering, but that I’ll feel stronger after that distance. I hope so. Really getting excited and nervous now.

I did this alongside the Army and then alongside the Airforce (when the Army left me behind) in the Tulsa Run, and it was SO GREAT!!! I’m loading a a bunch on my MP3 Player from napster for the Marathon.

All I can think about is my first marathon on Sunday! Turns out, THREE ultra runner friends of mine are going to pace me! Two of them are running a full marathon the day before and one of them ran a 100-miler last Saturday night! They make this look so easy! I hope I don’t wimp out and disappoint them (or me!).

I know I’m ready. It’s just the fear of the unknown. I’ll try to take Michael’s advice and just “BREATHE.”

I’ve had good runs and bad runs, but finally it seems the good ones are winning out. I raced in the Tulsa Run (15K) Saturday and it really opened my eyes to some encouraging things…

I really am prepared to run and to finish my marathon (which is a week from today!). Running the last mile of the Tulsa Run (9.3 miles) yesterday I felt GREAT! Like I could just run forever. The runners around me were quiet, as they concentrated on their effort. I heard lots of huffing and puffing and some grunting, but I felt like I could’ve sung aloud or carried on a conversation pretty easily. This realization caused me to whoop and holler out loud intermittently. I felt so much joy I just couldn’t contain it all!

My time was 1 hour and 36 minutes (ish), which is a little under 10 and a half minute miles. I ran next to the Army and ran to their cadences for a while (really fun and motivating!). Then the Air Force caught up to me and I ran with them for a while, but wound up passing them.

I sprinted hard at the end. Surprisingly I didn’t injure myself or even feel sore afterward. Just really GOOD!!! I know 9.3 miles isn’t the same as my upcoming 26.2, BUT I have surprised myself by how ready I seem to be. I’m happy!

Too much Ibuprofen (Advil) on an empty stomach will cause ulcers over time. If you’re like I was and rely heavily on the stuff, then just drink milk or eat a little food to cushion it in your stomach.

I was told not to take it anymore. Not sure what I’ll do without my Ibuprofen during training and during the marathon….

Looking back on the last four months, I want to try to express some of what I’ve learned in my training. Maybe it could help someone else who’s going through it.

There have been a LOT of obstacles to training

some physical… like shin splints, Morton’s Neuroma, starting training with a broken nose, viruses, PMS, 100 degree heat, chafing, losing toenails, awful poison ivy,etc.

some social, emotional, and mental… like starting training with an embarassingly ugly, busted-up face, out of state visitors (houseguests), injured dog, possible cancer and surgery for another dog, taking care of my sick mom, Holidays, Vacations, Celebrations, Finding my “correct” pace, school starting, insults and accusations from non-runners, etc.

some logistical… like traveling, having the right equipment needed, weather, bugs swarming, darkness, creepy trails, parent teacher conferences, etc..

But through it all I’ve stayed focused (enough) to get out there and do this thing. Imperfectly and with fear, pain, and whimpering at times, BUT I’ve still just about made it through.

I’ve leaned heavily on the support and expertise from my running group and my husband and especially on strength from God.

Almost 400 miles worth of training into this thing now, at times I still get overwhelmed while running, with the strange sense of, “Is this really ME doing this?” I feel like I will wake up and find that I’m still fat and sedentary and miserable, and that I’ve dreamed it all….

Who knew I’d be a really strong and fit encourager to myself and others. I never would have guessed I had this within me….

Training for a marathon changes you. I hope I can remember all these things as I face other challenges and obstacles. I hope I can be open and receptive to what else I need to learn from this. It’s not over yet. The difficult journey this far has been absolutely totally worth it, though!

My friend, Ken, who just ran an Ultra Marathon (100 miles) and who will run two marathons back to back the weekend of my marathon is going to run with me in the Rt 66, and he said he’s making signs to tell people to cheer for me. He said he’ll go “have a talk” with anyone who doesn’t! This gave me a warm fuzzy feeling. :-)

I’m a big believer in cheering…

just shared with me that his (longterm) goal is to qualify for and run the BOSTON MARATHON! Please forgive my bragging, but this man is incredible! He definitely possesses the innate talent and determination to achieve this goal. He’s currently training to run the Chicago marathon (His second) with his brother on 10/22, and has been doing some Ultra and Trail running, too. he’s crewing for friends in a Hundred-Miler this weekend and said he’d probably run about 42 miles alongside them. He’s a little crazy like that. Anyway I’ll keep you posted on his progress. I think I’ll write a separate goal so I can brag on him a little. I am definitely proud!

Husband says I definitely can. Eight and a half more weeks to train. Getting a little nervous, but I can do this. I can. I can do it. Okay, I’m not very convincing to myself right now….