2.17.08 up at 4am with the regular pre-race routine, coffee, vitamins, shake, t-p rollers, recheck of the weather and the post race bag...bathroom about 100 times...and off on my bike to the downtown start point at 5.20ish...
i parked my bike in front of the gym...right by the "clothing management" tent...took off my warm-up pants and sweatshirt that i wore for the ride and shoved those into the plastic bag with my name and bib number on it and crossed my fingers that my stuff would be there when i got done...it was a little chilly out (43 or so) but going to be sunny and rather warm...so i was in a long sleeve toss-able t-shirt and my gloves...that i was hoping to pawn off on coach amy if i could...then off to the rogue tent
a few folks were there warming up by the heaters and just checking in with each other to see what was going on...we were all excited...a few port-o-potty stops...then at 6.30 ish, beth ed and i headed to the start line...coach had given us a hug, temporary tattoo and two note cards for focus at the line...but i was nerved up for sure...more nervous than 3-m day...i tried to focus on my cards..."you are well trained and prepared for this race...start easy finish strong"...and close my eyes to visualize the finish...i tossed my shirt after the anthem (gloves had been pawned to amy before) a few yards of walking....stop...a few yards of walking....stop...boom! the cannon and the fireworks started the race...walking...walking....jogging over the mat to start...only three minutes...not bad for a huge race...
then it was just running...that felt good...the first mile was slow...as it always is...the second faster...it is hard to figure out your pace with all those people around...i did a lot of...one too fast...the other a bit slow...saw my in-laws on the first street bridge....then around that weird block on fourth...then back out to ceasar chavez...saw my in-laws again :) then it felt like we were really running...when we were squeezed over to the left side of the road towards austin high...several people were falling...there were those bumpy reflective things on the road (higher and bigger than most) with a few pot holes thrown in...it felt like a hardcore mosh pit where you protect the person that fell and others grab them off the ground...at the water stop there they were playing jack johnson that made me smile...and found the 4hr pace group...they were a lot harder to find than i thought...
it was still pretty crowded with people on lake austin blvd...but soon after the half marathoners went right and we went left...feeling pretty good here just running...keeping the four hr group in sight...saw jon around mile 12 he was out on his bike...up and down the rollers here and over mopac...just running...clicking off the miles...keeping up with my nutrition and hydration really well...amy was totally right when she said the first 13 miles will take care of themselves...it seemed fast...we were at mile 20 and i was taking my last gel....and i could tell my effort level was going up...
keeping "strong body strong mind" playing in my head...we plowed our way to 22...it is nice to have had the experience of running parts of the course several times to know where the hills are even when they don't seem like hills during those training runs...the turn from red river to 41st brought a much needed and too short down hill where i just let myself go no brakes...up a rise...these little rises were hills...hard hills...at this point...i never thought they would feel this hard...but they did...left on duval...i knew mile 24 was just ahead...24!!!...this is where i was convincing myself that i really could run the last two mile...that .2 was going to take care of itself...jon was at 24.5...ed was pulling ahead i head him say "you are going to have to dig deeper than that" and i was trying...left on san jac...i was digging...caught up to ed at the bottom of that san jac hill from hell and gave him a few choice words of encouragement...and we hit that dreaded hill head on...man i was running as hard as i could at that point...my quads were on fire...i wanted to throw my shoes off...but i knew what was awaiting me when i crested that hill and turned the corner on 11th...
i heard a "go rogues" on that hill...no idea who but that was good...much needed...jon was somewhere behind/beside me on his bike but i was not looking up at anyone...i was in my head pushing...pushing those last few steps to get to the top!!!....right on 11th....left on congress...there was notcoachamy....a huge smile from her...and i know i had a huge smile on my face....running towards the finish....across the line....arms raised...amazing...
water, powerade...metal...coach!...my legs shaking...she held me up to walk me down the shoot to get my shirt...and hobble my way to get some food and my clothes and my shoes off my feet...to the rogue tent to meet the family...and some running buddies....and i was off to get my DC jacket, a latte and a soak in barton springs...where i saw mr. enstone...so proud of him...he qualified for boston...and looked like he was as fresh as a daisy...then food...a margarita...and bed...no sleep but just resting...then a second ice bath...Chinese food and in bed by 9pm...amazing day...
that is the nuts and bolts...i hope to have a more reflective post but perhaps that will happen when i am able to walk like a 29year-old not this hobbling that i am doing today...it hurts but it is totally worth it.
1 comment:
Wow Jess, sounds like you had a perfect marathon. I saw in the photos you are smiling- I think it's in response to my cheering right before you turned the corner on to Congress! I'm so glad to have caught you and Ed. It's hard to see everyone when they are zooming by!
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