Tammy's Bird Brain

Last weekend I ran my first marathon in St George, Utah.  I did better than I thought I would and it was more fun than I thought it would be.

Going in I didn’t expect much of myself.  The farthest I have ran in the last 9 months is 7 miles.  In case you don’t know how to train for a marathon I was supposed to log a 20+ mile run 2 weeks before the race just to make sure my body could finish.

So, again, going in I didn’t expect much.  I told myself I would listen to my body and stop, walk, and get on the sag wagon if needed.  My plan was to walk 45 seconds each mile.  I was told the walk/run method was for unprepared people.

Funny enough I started in the elite runners group since I had a hook up.  With the elite group you get to stand by a bonfire before the race and you don’t have to wait in a long line for a john.  Standing by a bonfire before a race can really change your outlook on the whole experience.  Usually you are standing at the starting line in 3 layers of clothes jumping around trying to keep warm and trying to keep your feet from going numb.  This time I was stripped and ready to go way before it was time.

So I got started.  I felt good.  I did the 45 second walk thing for 2 miles and decided that was lame so I just kept going.  I had some energy goos and an mp3 player to keep me going.  Mile after mile I was surprised how good I felt.  Mentally I was doing great.  I was focused on my form from the Chi running class I went to.  This really  helped me win the mental battle since I had something else to focus on rather than how badly I wanted to stop.  Did you know the faster you go the faster the race is over?

By mile 18 I was excited because I thought “I am going to qualify for Boston” but then the 3:40 pacer passed me. I stayed with him until the next down hill.  I am better on the decline.  My goal was to keep that pacer behind me.  I did OK until mile 21 when he passed me again.  My body was starting to feel the lack of training.  My heart and lungs felt great but my legs and feet were getting stiff. (BTW my qualifying time is 3:40 in case you didn’t catch it.)

I decided to keep the pacer in my sight so that at the end I could use my resersve burst of energy to pass him but by mile 24 I was done and even started to cramp.  I watched that 3:40 pacer get further away and I was a little sad.  I was so close.  I was down to a jog and my last two miles were 11 minute miles.  I told my body that my last two miles would be the cool down.  I couldn’t have walked or my legs and feet would have cramped up and I would have been in a lot of pain.  I took it really slow and watched the guy pushing the wheel chair pass me which sucked. The last mile felt like 2.  It seemed so long.  I had nothing left.  Usually I can sprint to the end but this time there was nothing.  I heard once that if you can sprint at the end then you didn’t push yourself hard enough through the race.  I will keep telling myself that.

I was on track to finish in 3 hours and 50 minutes and I knew my family wouldn’t even be there yet because they were expecting me at 4+ hours.  I got a little teary eyed knowing they would miss me and knowing I had done well.  I get emotional when I run.

So I crossed the finish line and grabbed some water and just kept walking.  I felt a little weird; my insides were tingly but no cramps which was good.  I walked around looking for my family.  I found them about a half hour later looking for me.  I got back in the race just so my mom could get a picture.  I found Clint an hour and a half later at the finish line waiting for me.  He was impressed with my time.  So was I.

So it was actually fun and I am proud of myself for doing it.  My next race will even be more fun because I will be ready for it and I will qualify for Boston.

Now that I am a Marathon Veteran I will share with you my wisedom.

Tammy’s Tips for Running a Marathon

1:  Train for it

2:  Get more than 3 hours of sleep before running it

Me and my step dad.

My mom and Eva

Filed under: Month of fun, race, running by Tammy