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Leading up to registration and throughout my training, there were many times where I questioned whether or not I would actually be able to pull this off and run a marathon. Do you know how many miles that is? A LOT (well, 26.2 to be exact). SO MUCH RUNNING.
Do I even like running that much? I still don’t know the answer to that but I know that I love the feeling of crossing that finish line knowing I’ve accomplished something that half of one percent of the US population has accomplished.
| Look, I’m flying! |
It wasn’t until I completed my 18 mile training run solo (due to scheduling and whatnot during Easter weekend) that I could finally see how people actually do this. The run went really well and I finished it feeling tired and a bit sore, but thinking, “Ok, I could do 20 miles. And then I could survive a 10k after that.”
Two weeks later I joined the wonderful women of the 11:30 pace group from Elite Runners and Walkers (or should I say Pro Bike + Run now?). When I first started marathon training, I had intended to join this group for more Saturday runs but my schedule just didn’t work out that way.
If you had told me in January that my longest training run – 20 miles – scheduled for April – would be one of the snowiest runs, I would have laughed. But it was. We slugged it out for 20 miles with the snow pelting us in the face and the wind blowing us into one another on the sidewalks. But again, I finished feeling pretty good and thinking, “Ok. I can do this. I can run a marathon. A WHOLE marathon.” Special thanks to Joanna for helping me through those 20 miles and for laughing (and complaining and judging at times, haha) with me – I couldn’t have done it without you, especially in that craptastic weather.
| About halfway done with the 20-miler! Notice the snowflakes stuck to our clothes. |
Runners talk a lot about tapering. After your longest training run, you cut your mileage back in the weeks leading up to the race to allow your body time to heal and recover. Taper talk often comes with discussion of frustration and mood swings and anger. I didn’t experience any of this. Yes, I noticed I had so more “free time” because I was running less, but I was so busy with work and life and other things that I didn’t actually have any more “free time”. There was never a time where I was sitting around doing nothing.
Patrice – she promised that the weather would not ruin race day and she was right! The evening ended with Kristy, Chelsea, and I introducing Kathleen and Mar to tacos and margaritas at my new favorite, Bakersfield. In 2015, The Pittsburgh Marathon introduced The Steel Challenge. You earn an extra medal if you complete both the 5k on Saturday and either the half or the full marathon on Sunday. I completed the 5k and the half last year and knew I would do The Steel Challenge again this year.
Because I was running a marathon the next day, I knew the 5k would be at a slow and steady pace. This actually turned out to be a lot of fun because I got to run with Chelsea, Kathleen, and Lynne! We had a great time together and I finished feeling good and still ready for the Big Day.
| Of course the weather was great on 5k day. |
| We were actually on a walk break, so I faked running 😛 |
Final preparations for race day included finally deciding on an outfit and a spaghetti dinner at Chelsea’s (ok, and a beer too).
| The weather forecast made it really hard to choose a shirt! |
The Big Day finally arrived. There was nothing left to do but run 26.2 miles. Stay tuned for part two tomorrow!