Monday, January 19, 2009

Houston Marathon

I completed my 5th Marathon yesterday. I can't say that it was the most pleasant experience, but I did finish. Hallelujah! You would think that it would get easier. The race is always hard, no matter how many times you have done it. The recovery gets easier though. Today I can walk and everything!

Here is some video of that great day! Charlie, Bill, and the kids came to cheer me on. They met me around the 8, 12, 16 and 21 mile markers! It was so great to be able so see them along the course. It helps keep you motivated.

This is me around Mile 16. Mile 15 goes over a tall bridge. I think that is a rather rude thing to do to runners who are just trying their hardest to keep going. So as you can see I am really starting to hurt here.

Here I am at Mile 21. I was ready to quit! I already knew that my time was going to be slower than I wanted it to be and I still had 5 miles to go. It just seemed like torture! So I asked Charlie to run with me the rest of the way. He HATES to run, but did it anyway! What a WONDERFUL MAN! I probably would have finished, but it would have taken twice as long without him there cheering me on! Thanks, babe!

http://www.finishcam.com/Events/2009-Chevron-Houston-Marathon/WatchFinish.asp?FinisherId=96124&Camera=1

You can click on this link to see me cross the finish line. I am so dorky!

Last year I was able to complete the Marathon in 4 hrs and 14 mins. This year it was 4 hrs and 45 mins. There were a couple of things working against me this year. First I only trained for 6 weeks rather than the normal 16 week training schedule. Second, it was warmer this year, I think I drank too much water, trying to cool off, which just made my stomach tie in knots. Third, they explained at the beginning of the race that if it did get too hot, they would stop the race. So the seed was placed in my head that I might not have to run the whole 26.2. That is not good mentally to get any negative thoughts in your head when you run. It is too easy to dwell on them. You know you have a lot of thinking time when you are running 26 miles! As long as your mind is in the game then you can make your body keep going!

Oh well, I did finish and that is something! Hope I can do better next time! Yes.... I am CRAZY!

7 comments:

Bart, Erin, Hunter, Jorden and a couple of crazy dogs said...

Still a FANTASTIC time! Congratulations! The mental game is for sure the hardest part once you are out on the road.

Anonymous said...

I am so Proud of you for doing it on the fly. And tell Charlie he was doing AWESOME at being a motivator!! It was cool to see the progression of the race and how you were feeling.. Some day you and I are going to conquer that Salt Lake marathon!!

Melanie Rossi said...

You have been a very busy blogger lately! Seriuosly, I'm glad to here you had a cheerleader on the last part of the race! I like seeing the videos!

angela & family said...

Awesome! I can't believe you have rune five.....you ARE crazy!!! Good job!!

Robyn said...

That is amazing!

Melynda said...

You're my hero! Great job and a great time.

Rawlins Town said...

You are amazing!! Here I was thinking I could go for a 5K and maybe run the entire time. You make me look like a whimp!! Great job!! That was awesome of your cute family to cheer you on too. I love it!!