Oct 30, 2007 5:02 PM
Virgin Marathoner Reports: Don't think you can't...if I can, you can.
Hey everyone! I'm old but I've not been around.
Just a quick bit of hope for all the struggling new runners wondering how you are ever going to manage running 3 minutes in a row. I know you exist because just a year and a half ago, I was you.
January 2006 I decided to start running. My first 5K in May 06 was a time of 42 minutes. My first 10K last year was 1:16. I am slow!!! I walk sometimes and I have worked hard. I quit marathon training after a longest run of 14 miles. It was too hot here and it was making me miserable.
Sunday I completed the Marine Corps Marathon. What an amazing experience! There is nothing that can describe it, really. I say this more enthusiastically as my quads heal more and more. The race was huge and I was late. And I had to pee. So I hit the port o' john and trotted to the back of the pack and it still took 15 minutes to cross the starting mat. I didn't have time to be scared. Miles 1-8 went by like I was walking in the park...not even running. I walked often and my partner had calf cramps. (sorry gents: Aunt Flo and I were crampy too) Miles 11-16 were long miles. I had to ditch my partner because he was hurting and shuffling. I still felt strong. And I was wearing a fresh-from-the-box pair of shoes.
I beat the Bridge (you have 5 hours or so to get to mile 19). Miles 22-24 seemed ENDLESS. Running through the Pentagon parking lot is hideously boring. I made a new friend in these miles. Her name is Mary and she's from B.C. We had matching shoes. We had matching paces. She made all the difference in the world. A long turn around at mile 25 and we were there before I knew it. Together we decided to run across the finish mat. B17CHIN!
The goods: Amazing experience, will do it again.
medal is awesome.
Balega socks rock my world.
sport beans aren't so bad.
There were real bathrooms at a part of DC called haines point. (I got married there too...aaaaawwww)
tons of amazing marine and local volunteers
bloody mary aid station in georgetown
husband with slarkly posters in not one but 4 spots.
I really can do this.
NO BLISTERS!
The bads: It was colder than i thought...I would have worn a windbreakers.
Other people don't wear deodorant.
My legs hurt yesterday and today.
It was long...but not as long as it was in my nightmares.
It was over in a day.
so much road grime on my legs, arms and face.
my chip stopped timing at mile 18
THat's it kids. Thinking you'll never be a marathoner? You're probably wrong. It takes time and it is worth it.
My time was 6:37:36
AND WHAT!
Just a quick bit of hope for all the struggling new runners wondering how you are ever going to manage running 3 minutes in a row. I know you exist because just a year and a half ago, I was you.
January 2006 I decided to start running. My first 5K in May 06 was a time of 42 minutes. My first 10K last year was 1:16. I am slow!!! I walk sometimes and I have worked hard. I quit marathon training after a longest run of 14 miles. It was too hot here and it was making me miserable.
Sunday I completed the Marine Corps Marathon. What an amazing experience! There is nothing that can describe it, really. I say this more enthusiastically as my quads heal more and more. The race was huge and I was late. And I had to pee. So I hit the port o' john and trotted to the back of the pack and it still took 15 minutes to cross the starting mat. I didn't have time to be scared. Miles 1-8 went by like I was walking in the park...not even running. I walked often and my partner had calf cramps. (sorry gents: Aunt Flo and I were crampy too) Miles 11-16 were long miles. I had to ditch my partner because he was hurting and shuffling. I still felt strong. And I was wearing a fresh-from-the-box pair of shoes.
I beat the Bridge (you have 5 hours or so to get to mile 19). Miles 22-24 seemed ENDLESS. Running through the Pentagon parking lot is hideously boring. I made a new friend in these miles. Her name is Mary and she's from B.C. We had matching shoes. We had matching paces. She made all the difference in the world. A long turn around at mile 25 and we were there before I knew it. Together we decided to run across the finish mat. B17CHIN!
The goods: Amazing experience, will do it again.
medal is awesome.
Balega socks rock my world.
sport beans aren't so bad.
There were real bathrooms at a part of DC called haines point. (I got married there too...aaaaawwww)
tons of amazing marine and local volunteers
bloody mary aid station in georgetown
husband with slarkly posters in not one but 4 spots.
I really can do this.
NO BLISTERS!
The bads: It was colder than i thought...I would have worn a windbreakers.
Other people don't wear deodorant.
My legs hurt yesterday and today.
It was long...but not as long as it was in my nightmares.
It was over in a day.
so much road grime on my legs, arms and face.
my chip stopped timing at mile 18
THat's it kids. Thinking you'll never be a marathoner? You're probably wrong. It takes time and it is worth it.
My time was 6:37:36
AND WHAT!
