Marathon Recap

The big weekend loomed. We find our subject, 36 hours before race time, frantically packing and repacking her bags. Does she have everything? Anti blister socks? iPhone holder? Gels? Can she do it? Hear the pitter patter of her {already spazzy} heart as panic modes sets in...

The irony! I Marathon station, right at the finish line! 

We went over to Stillwater on Saturday, so I could pick up my packet and get a "feel" for the town. After all, it gave me more chance to be nervous. I had purposely not paid much attention to the route beforehand as I didn't want to further freak myself out. Stillwater is known to be a pretty hilly town, and I knew I would have to climb a few during my run. I still have no idea how the course measures up to other marathons, but I am taking RunMommyRuns word that it was challenging. She has run 4 marathons, so she must know more than me. 

My sister, brother in law and nephew met us in town on Saturday to hang out and eat lunch. That was cool, as it allowed me to relax a bit. {Whatever. I lied. Whenever you get our 3 boys together it is mass chaos. Your blood pressure goes up just being in a 100 meter distance from them.} 

We ate lunch at a cute cafe on the corner, with outside seating and great river views. Then we walked for a bit, went across the lift bridge and checked out some shops. {Yummy candy shop! Fudge was 50% off!} 

I was super nervous during my packet pick up, but spent quite a bit of time talking to a guy from the Pace Team- they are people who run marathons for the sole purpose of pacing people. He suggested I try to run with the 4:15 pace group, but I decided to do the 4:30 group, as I thought it would be more comfortable for the first time. 

Okay. I love pasta. Runners are always eating pasta before big races. However, I get a stomach ache from eating pasta. So, I was not going to eat pasta. What do I do? Eat manicotti. Go Sara. 

I had a stomach ache for 2 hours. Nice. 

Obviously, I didn't not sleep the night before- way too nerve wracked! 

I felt really good at the start line and the first 18 miles flew {well, as fast as 18 miles can fly!} by. Corey, Asher and Elijah met me at mile 14 with a new water bottle and some hugs! It was right after the 1/2 marathoners had broken off, and the course was getting pretty sparse, so it was very welcome!

Mile 18- I started feeling some pain in my right knee. I have never had any pain in my right knee, it is always my left that bothers me, so I was surprised. By mile 20, it was beyond painful. I stopped at mile 21.5 to have an ortho-type-person feel it and see if it felt okay. It did, so I went on. I cannot tell you how bad it hurt to start running again. It felt like I was being stabbed in my IT band. 

After that, I could not stop, for water, gel, anything. It hurt to darn bad to start up again, so I just pushed through. I was near tears at mile 23-24, but figured I'd crawl the rest if I had too. 

I added over minute to my pace the final 6 miles, going from a 10:15 mile to a 11:somethingorother mile. Final time? 4:36:52 

Here I am at the end! Yay! I am all alive and stuff! 

I started crying at mile 26, because I knew I was so close and I could take the pain for a measly .2 miles, right? sorta  

After crossing the line, I slowed down and went into a walk. About 3 steps in, my knee was so bad, I was in tears. A paramedic grabbed my arm, another one came and grabbed my other arm and took me into the med tent. They stretched me out, checked for injury {just the IT band} and gave me the nice ice you see in the picture. 

My knee was  in major pain the rest of the night and yesterday. The doc told me to keep moving and take it easy...umm, do those go together? 

However, Sunday night, I took Asher on a mile long limp walk to keep my knee from stiffening up. {Thank you to the lady who saw me hobbling along and stopped to see if I was okay!} Then? I went grocery shopping, with my mother, who refused to walk by me, because she said I looked constipated. 

So, that is the long of it. When people ask me about it, I can truly say it was good, but bad. Meaning, I felt good, other than my stupid, painful knee, but the bottom line? I finished! 

The subject ran her marathon. She loved it all, except for the pain part. But will that stop her? No. She will take a week or so off and begin training for her next this fall! For now? Look for her, hobbling along the halls near you...

Thank you Pacer Pete for all your help, conversation and advice! Pace on! 

And Corey? Even though you don't ever read my blog, thanks! I seriously don't know what I would have done if my husband hadn't supported and loved me! Okay. Done with my emmy speech now. Bye.