Twin Cities Marathon

My husband and I traveled to Minneapolis for the marathon earlier this month. I was very excited about this race for several reasons: new city, new course, cooler weather, and I had trained hard and dropped some weight. I have been trying to break my December 2004 marathon PR since then and have started to think that I was just not destined to run a 3:30 marathon ever. I usually go with the “ money in the bank” strategy, and recognize the feeling of going out too fast, and the wheels falling off all too well. You feel so good in those early miles, that it seems ludicrous that by just going 10-15 seconds per mile too fast, you are costing precious minutes per mile later on.

We stayed with a friend in a neighborhood resembling San Marco, and right off the course, so we did our practice run around one of the nearby lakes. We drove the very scenic course….bad idea……lots of hills to stand in the way of my PR. Well, there was always flat, cold Disney in a few months. I do not like running hills one bit, did not train for them (one outing on the downtown bridges doesn’t count), am not good at them, don’t have the leg strength for them…you get the point. My husband told me “don’t worry, you are running well………” Gee, thanks…….that doesn’t change my genetic disposition against hills, and long scrawny legs.

I scarfed down the yummiest pasta dish ever at Broder’s, took my benedryl, and laid out everything for the next day, while I tried to get tired. Sleep was good, and getting up at 6, rather than the 3:45 Disney wakeup was nice. Normal preparation routine……vaseline between the toes, toasted wheat bagel, watered down Gatorade, one cup of black coffee, lucky shorts, dry clothes bag………wait, wait, wait…..is it time yet………yes it’s time……….what a relief……and I’m not talking about time to get in the car. The black coffee is the key, as well as eating dinner no less than 12 hours before race start.

At race start and ready to go. Weather is nice and cool, but I feel warm with adrenaline. I stripped down to my short sleeves and gloves. Here we go! The early miles felt nice and easy, hard to believe I was going 8 minute pace on the dot. I decided to try to stay with the 3:30 pace group, but after a few miles Darin and I got a little ahead of them, despite the urging of my friends who know I always go out too fast. Although I was a bit ahead of pace, I felt like I was holding back still, and I knew that more of the hills were in the last 6 miles, so I would need some extra time.

The early hills that had looked so steep from the car did not feel that bad and the downhill stretches afterwards were a welcome boost in speed and confidence. I actually was enjoying the change up of muscles used, and the changing scenery which was incredibly beautiful. It was like running down the nicest street in Avondale the whole race with lakes, hills and tons of people cheering. Darin felt great and left me around mile 9, but I stayed on my pace, just a few minutes ahead of the pace group. Around miles 11-14 there was a series of lakes and beautiful parks, but also some cold winds….I was wishing I still had my gloves and hoping that it got warmer.

At the half I was at 1:43……just 2 minutes ahead of pace…..questions loomed in my mind. Had I done the first half slowly enough so I would not pay for it later, and had I done the first half fast enough that I would have enough time for the closing hills? I was starting to feel better about the hills, but I had no illusions about my hill running, I still stink at it. Quick assessment: one gel down, a few salt tablets down…hydration and nutrition in order, stomach feeling ok, legs feeling ok….on with the second half.

As the miles ticked by I started to think my PR was possible. Nothing bad was happening….yet. Somewhere I missed mile 15 and all of a sudden it was mile 16…..I love it when that happens……….now I was just over 10 miles away….I could do this for another 1:22, right? These are the miles that are usually the toughest mentally for me, soon giving way to the toughest physical miles. My mind wandered, as I tried to keep focused and stay with the same runners around me…all of us obviously trying to do a 3:30. The crowds and scenery continued to be awesome as I made my way down the Mississippi River…..where was the bridge? I knew the bridge would be around 19 or 20, and I was waiting for it. Seeing the bridge, I galloped up a short, steep incline, and having skipped mile 18 and seeing mile 19 gave me a much needed mental boost again. Crossing the bridge gave me a feeling of making progress, and I was soon in St. Paul.

I knew the worst hills were still to come, so I held back my excitement. I saw my sweetie walking up ahead and called out “Come on baby, come with me,” but he was done and told me to go on. I almost stopped to walk with him but I thought, “what would he do,” and kept going. Mile 20….the wall…..they literally had an inflatable wall that we ran under, as I slapped it and gave a happy cheer. Now, some sizeable inclines, but I was doing ok….slow and steady and not stopping. I was 2 minutes ahead of pace at mile 20, so I had stayed consistent these last 7 miles. I could do the last 6 in 8:15 and still make it.

A sharp left hand turn onto Summit Road and here was the whole race right here. Not a steep incline, but a long, gradual one with no end in sight. I walked through the water station, but I was not done….none of the usually cramps and pains were present, just not much left for these hills. Mile 22…..closer and closer and still on pace. More hills and more crowds……I was still running, although slowing some. Thanks, Tori, for pushing me on those long runs…….you helped me through this. Mile 23, having to walk some….almost losing it, but running again.

Ahh, some flattening out here…..ok, feeling better, and some sight downhill….this feels nice. I know it goes up some more and then the last half mile or so is straight down, and you can see the finish. I am waiting for the welcome sight of the Capital below me. Mile 24…..it feels like the summit, but I know it is not. It looks like a flat, but it surely is not….more walking, now some running………….aaaarrrggghhh, where is the summit? Mile 25…………the 3:30 pace group passes me and my heart sinks…..I try to hang on to them, but I cannot. I almost burst into tears…..this mental blow caused me to walk again…why did I have to see them pass me when I was so close. At this point in the race it is all mental, and this mental blow almost paralyzed me.

Then, Tori ran by me and shouted some encouraging words, so I started up again, slowly but surely. I might not get a 3:30, but I am surely going to break my 3:32, and I am going to fall over at the finish trying. Then I see the apex of this big hill and the Capital looming down below……I almost started crying tears of joy. I shifted into fast gear and gave it all I had. I was so close that I could hear the runners names being called at the finish line. I bounded down that final stretch as quickly as I could go, and when I finally saw the clock it read 3:30……something, so I kicked it and crossed just as it said 3:31, with my chip time being 3:30.25………..a big PR and major milestone for me.

I was elated and felt ok for the time being. After downing some water, and collecting my medal, shirt and blanket, the rain started to fall and I was freezing. My teeth were chattering, and I realized I couldn’t walk much farther. I decided to hit the medical tent, no shame in doing that, especially when you give it your all. I must have not looked very good, since the volunteers ushered me into a wheelchair and wheeled me in. I was greeted with warm blankets and hot soup. After about 20 minutes in there and a change into warm, dry clothing, I felt pretty good. The next time I have a hard day at work I have to use this experience as an example. If I can break a 5 year old PR on a hilly course then all those angry customers and inefficient short sale banks just do not seem that bad.