I couldn't tell you the date I started training; all I know is it has been a long time. It has been at least five months of work--running while on vacation, putting in turns around the track two days a week after school and a few trips to the doctors offices. But I am done. Mission Accomplished, as they say.
A few highlights...
WTOP wrote a story about my motivation for running the marathon.
Traveling to DC, I took three personal days off (half of my personal days for the year, if you were curious about when educators are allowed to choose their time off)
My mother met me in DC, we had planned on her being a cheerleader, but once I won an entry into the 10k, I offered it to her and all of the sudden, she was a participant too.
The Expo was less than stellar--definitely worth skipping.
I purchased tickets in advance for the Team RWB Pre-Marathon pasta dinner. I had heard the MCM was the largest annual collection of Eagles, and I am never one to miss a good pasta party. I ate so much food. And I didn't regret it.
A plate full of food I hadn't let myself eat in months. And a cookie.
I had slept very well the night before the night before the race...a God send. The night before the race was a little bit of tossing and turning as usual, and the regular "oh my gosh, did I oversleep?" thrill. Mom and I woke up early enough to catch a 6:00 train to the start line.
Maybe one of the only selfies from the weekend.
The Metro was a disaster...it took more than thirty minutes to exit the Metro station, causing us to miss the National Anthem and the start of the parachute jumpers. We were able to see the Osprey just before the gun went off and the MCM had started! That was pretty damn cool.
Having taken a month nearly off, running only speedwork twice a week and a long run, I was nervous about my IT Band. I had one pain free run under my belt the week before and was uncertain about whether it would flare up again. I planned to take the course three chunks
--the first 10k, slow and steady, saving myself on the first few hills, and planning for massive crowds
--the middle half marathon--kill it, run the race I had come here to run
--the last 10k, depending on the IT Band, I'd either slay it, or take it easy
I didn't have a time goal in mind--I had been training for 3:45, but the IT Band Syndrome struck up right at my twenty miler week and I had no runs longer than 16 without pain. It was so hard to tell where my body would be come race day. I said I'd be happy with 4:30. After all, I was still injured.
I felt great the entire race, checking my watch every now and then to see that I had been running sub-9:00s. I pulled back, afraid of pain, of gassing myself, and I'm ashamed to say, of my potential.
About the half way point, I was well within striking distance of remaining sub-4:00 and with no pain in sight, I bolted and finished with a little over a minute to spare. The time on the clock read 4:01 and without having checked the start clock when I crossed, I wasn't sure if I had made it. My friend texted me immediately upon my finish (she had been tracking me) and delivered the news that I had mined in 3:58:20.
What the what?
I have so much more to say--about the injury, about the training, about race day...but I haven't yet wrapped my mind around the whole thing.
I will leave it at this.
I am not done yet.
I have seen what I can do. I am aware of what I am capable of accomplishing.
This will not be the last marathon and this is not the end of Speedy Sel.
No comments:
Post a Comment