Sub-4

Everything about this marathon was a little different than....the 4 prior.  My marathon training has really been a journey...moreso from the completion of the first one to the last one.  I can look back and see how I have changed over time, how I have approached training differently, how I have gained confidence and learned lessons along the way.  That's life, though, right?

But something was different this time around.  I think when I got 4:10 last year at the Air Force Marathon, I realized with some better training (which you can always improve....unless you're nearly perfect) I could "easily" break 4 hours.  Not that all the training is easy, but with the right amount of effort and discipline, I could do it.  My body is capable.  So going into my training, I set that as my goal time, really believing it was possible.  

I will say, it helped not having a job for the majority of my training :-)  That "extra time" also motivated me to not make excuses.  I did have the Kansas heat working against me, but it also pushed my body further.  I did a lot of runs in the heat that really....sucked.  But I believe also helped.

I really, really enjoy running long distances.  I love the ups and downs of a run.  So, I guess I love the mental battle.  That is what I got even better at during my training.  I pushed my body harder when I started to get tired or thought I was slowing down.  I added random intervals/sprints into my weekly runs (not a lot during the LONG ones but the others).  I basically felt like I was taking more control than before.

In the few weeks leading up to the marathon, I wasn't as dedicated due to my job.  50 hour job, plus it was new at that point so I was working even more than that trying to get used to it/settled.  I was worried that I had peaked too early because I tapered more than I should have.  But I found it very strange that in the couple days before the race, I didn't really feel nervous.  I didn't feel anything about it.  I really wasn't sure if this was good or bad.  The "pros" told me that meant it was just another run for me....I was used to it.  No big deal :-)

On race day, I still felt mentally tough.  I took off and decided, from the start, that slowing down really wasn't an option.  If I started getting tired or felt pain, I could just push through it like I always do.  And that is what I did.  I knew I wouldn't break 4 hours if I didn't break 2 at the half (which I have never done in a race; I did during training).  My half split was about 1:54.  So I then decided...I must keep that pace.  Well I didn't do quite that otherwise I would have come in at about 3:48. But I tracked closely.

I took all the fluids, usually both the gatorade and water at each station.  I took most of the food, except the sport beans and the dunkin' donuts.  At mile 24, donuts did not sound good and I didn't know if there was something to drink shortly after that.  I also used almost 2 packs of Gu Chomps (that I brought).

There were 2 main things that kept me going.  1)  I initially kind of think of this as a little selfish.  But I did not want to let myself down.  I had put in the training and I pretty much felt like if I didn't break 4 hours it would be because I lost the mental battle.  And I would feel terrible.  I also really wanted to meet my goal because, as bad/sad as it sounds, I knew it would be a major thing that would light up my life right now since I'm unhappy with a lot of other things  2) The Marines in full uniform lining the course.  It was just a constant reminder that running 26.2 miles is small compared to what so many Marines see and face.  

I think it was about mile 23/24 when I started walking a little.  Again, a huge mental battle ensued.  I know from the past....once you start walking, you keep walking/walk more often.  So I argued with myself and started jogging again.  And that was it.  I decided....I only had about 20 minutes left of running.  "Just put up with the pain, it's a small fraction of the time you've already been running...."

I must have gotten some twinkle in my eye.  In the last mile, I kicked it in.  A spectator with a "Runner's World" shirt on made eye contact with me and started yelling at me. "You go girl, you go get it!!!"  MAN did that help.  I took off and finished.  The finish feels so awesome.

3:57:42.   I decided after this one that I CAN qualify for Boston.  3:35.  My focus for now (next year) is going to be triathlons (I said that last year.....).  70.3 in 2013!!!  Overall, this marathon left me feeling more confident than ever of what my body is capable of and what I can accomplish.  If I could figure out how to leak this into other areas of my life, I'd be golden! :-)