2 hours, 19 minutes, and 55 seconds.
I DID IT!!!
I beat my goal time, with an average pace of 10:41 min miles, which is better than what I had been training at. To see my actual results, check this website Results.
How the day went:
3:45 - I woke up to my alarm, plus the sound of rain pouring down. I dreaded getting out of bed, but knew I had to get some food in my system. I ate a bowl of oatmeal with protein powder added, had a green smoothie with spinach and a banana, plus drank coconut water.
I got dressed, and realized I needed clothes to wear over my running outfit so I could stay dry before the race started, since I would be standing outside at least a half an hour in the rain. My dad gave me an old turtleneck sweater he didnt want anymore and the only pair of pants I had that I could throw away were a pair of black dress pants. I put both of these on over my outfit, plus a rain poncho and plastic bags on my feet. I looked absolutely RIDICULOUS. Thank goodness nobody was around to take pictures.
4:40 I left to drive to the mall where I would board the shuttle bus.
5:00 Board the bus. Takes an hour to get to the start line (thank goodness, I thought it would take only a half hour and I'd be outside in the rain for an hour). Like an idiot, I sit in the front seat, where I can see the route. We keep going... and going.... and going... and going! I had no idea the start was soo far up the highway. It was terrifying.
6:00 Get out of the bus. Push my way into the giant crowd of people trying to get their sweatbags into the shuttle to the finish line.
6:25 Realize I need to pee, and head for the giant line at the porta potties. Find a way to get in there quickly and not wait in line. Whew.
6:30 End up toward the end of the crowd at the starting line, which is fine by me! Finally time to start the race!! Luckily, the rain stopped right as the gun went off and only slightly drizzled during the race. Miles 5, 8, and 12 were the worst, the others weren't too bad at all. By the last few I couldn't feel my legs at all. It was really cold out!
8:55 Cross the finish line!
8:56- 940 Wait in line to get my sweatbag so I can call my mom and my friends who came to watch. But its not there. By this time I am FREEZING because it is only 48 degrees out, I am wet, and didn't get a heat sheet like everyone else standing in line around me. I walk down to the finish line, still can't find anyone, watch the winners of the full marathon come in, then go back to see if they found my bag yet. Not until 10:40 did they find it! By that time, everyone had left, not knowing where I was, so I just walked to the shuttle to get to my car.
10:45-11:45 sit on the bus for a half hour waiting for people to board, then another half an hour back to the mall. By this time I finally have feeling in my legs, but I still haven't been able to stretch very well. I got home, took a hot soak in the tub to warm up, then finally stretched my legs. Since I was in the cold for so long, then sitting for another hour and a half, they were very cramped up and I could barely walk the rest of the day, plus 2 days later.
The race went pretty well, I beat my goal time, but the hours following were some of the most miserable hours of my life. Next time I run a race there are a lot of things I would do differently, which I will explain in my next post! All I can say is thank goodness it is over! (and I still hate running.)
