Hi-dee-ho folks!
Yes, another marathon medal to add to my bulletin board ... still can't believe that I have run so many of these since that very first one almost 4 1/2 years back in Quebec City.
All I can say is that I am proud to be a member of Team In Training, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada's running team. Now affiliated with LLS in the USA, there was a lot of support out there on the course from staff, family, friends, and fellow team-mates. Lots of encouragement shouted from the sidelines and also when we passed each other ... "GO TEAM!" ... Yay!
The Honolulu course is touted as a "flat course", except for the hill at Diamond Head (a volcanic crater) that we got to climb twice. You've got to be kidding me!
Lots of out-and-back sections that passed each other. Interesting to watch the faster runners zip back at you ... less interesting to manoeuvre through the single lane amongst thousands of runners running slower than you want to run, especially during the uphills.
The race, preceded by fireworks, started at 5am. I thought we were bunching up, getting ready for a late start, but after about 21 minutes, realised that this was not the case as I found myself crossing the Start Line. It was already warm and muggy, about 22C. Due to a lack of evident corral markings, I realised too late that I had started too far back in the pack. It was difficult making my way through the slower runners and walkers and was forced to use the crab dart-and-shuffle to pass, great for expending all that extra energy one has during a marathon. This set the tone for the rest of the race as "openings" didn't really start appearing until almost the half-way mark and in fact, I continued to feel squished in with the other runners until the end of the race. Hitting the first big uphill at 12k, I tried to keep up a decent pace, but everyone else slowed. I wasn't breathing out any more, all my exhales were used up with words as "Excuse me, excuse me, excuse me ... running through," became my mantra to pass. A girl who did not want to move over said, "I'm running too." I darted past her quickly then rolled my eyes. ** Don't these people understand what momentum is all about?! ** If I had run any slower, I would have rolled backwards!
Run, run, run ... the race was all a little surreal. I have no clue really what I was thinking about during the entire race, I just remember never cursing and feeling in total disbelief that I was there in Hawaii running yet another marathon. I stopped often to snap photos of the course and of the other runners. What beautiful scenery! What crazy costumes! Watching the runners where the course doubled back was a great diversion and really interesting. Actually, I got to watch other runners for a long time, as most of the course was an "out-and-back" from 7-15 miles, looping around, and then doubling back from 17-25 miles. Some of the runners moved like gazelles, and it was especially nice to see the lead female runners way ahead of the other men ... I couldn't believe how fast some of those Japanese women were, the ones that hadn't the slightest muscle definition in their legs, and there they were, whuppin' my a$$.
I remember passing the 30k marker from the other side at 22.5k and thinking about what John "The Penguin" Bingham said during his inspirational talk at our team pasta supper the night before ... He had mentioned that at a certain point during a marathon, there is a moment when we KNOW we will finish, and I thought about how glorious that 30k marker I eyed would be when I would "know" it. I kept on running, and it kept on getting warmer. No wind anywhere and very little cloud to hide the hot sun.
Water breaks were treacherous, almost like little lakes with "Amino" sport drink and water spilt everywhere, empty cups and sponges were littered everywhere. Took some nimble manoeuvring to not trip or slip. Later on, I welcomed the mine fields as they gave me a
good reason to walk a little bit and rest and shower myself down with sponges.
I heard someone say that he couldn't believe how quickly time went by, and in my surrealistic reverie, I agreed, though that didn't make the fatigue go away or the race seem any less difficult. I hit the 30k mark and that feeling of KNOWING didn't come ... what!?!?! I was happy as I had less to run, but where was that much-needed adrenaline kick that accompanies that soon-I-will-finish feeling? Then I thought back to all my Thursday ****-Hill runs with my Montreal Coolrunning mates, and started looking forward to climbing Diamond Head again ... I wasn't afraid and I would KNOW then that the race was MINE!
"The Penguin" had spoken about how a runner does not hit a "wall" - he just gets to a "collapse point" when the body knows that it has only trained up to a certain distance. I ran and ran and ran and it only got hotter! I could feel my heart pounding quickly in my chest and wondered how much more I could push it ... Nope, I felt dizzy every time I tried to surge and was reminded of my Barbados Marathon where I had to lie down or pass out. I came to a water stop and let some Japanese man spray some sort of oil on my legs 'cause everyone else was letting him too. It didn't help me sprout wings or even give me super strength. Darn.
Diamond Head Hill came and went again and I honestly can't even remember running up it, I just remember feeling that I still didn't "KNOW" ... ugh! (How can I not remember a mile long climb at the end of a marathon?!) I saw Angela, the TNT Western Canada running coach, somewhere near the end and she told me that I looked strong ... "Only two more kilometres!!" There was that KNOW moment that I needed! I excitedly picked up my pace for a while ... but where were the markers? I should be finished soon. WHAT!! Only 40k!! Still 2.2k to go?!?! Angela, you lied!! ARGH!!!
The Finish Line was nowhere in sight. I was sure the 27C temperature was playing tricks on my mind. Last water break ... sip, sip, walk, walk, run, run ... push, push, push. The Finish Line got farther away as I got closer, but I somehow managed to cross it. John "The Penguin" Bingham said to think about how you will look crossing that line, to look good for the camera. I am afraid of what kind of face I made. An attentive volunteer helped a certain hot and tired, glaze-eyed runner into the finish area. I picked up my nifty medal.
24,261 FINISHERS OUT OF 28,048
(chip times noted, except for the single gun time)
10K: 01:08:49
Half Marathon: 02:23:51
30K: 03:23:58
Gun Time: 05:05:16
Finish Time: 04:44:54
Place Overall: 6087
Place Women: 1783
Place Women 35-39: 289
If I compare these stats to my other races, um, well, it was not my most impressive marathon time, but if I look at the entire field, I guess I can say I am content (negative split) ... especially considering I resprained my ankle a week before the race and it is actually still swollen.
Thanks to TNT and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for sponsoring me and allowing me this chance to race and fund-raise. Thanks to my Coolrunning mates - it meant a lot to me to have your support and encouragement throughout all my training setbacks.
Alright ... I'm ready for marathon #11 now!
Sally
p.s. Pics to come later!
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"Follow your bliss"
http://This message has been edited by Silly Sally (edited Dec-17-2005).
