I’m going to spoil the ending for you right here in the first sentence: the Long Beach Marathon ended up being a PW for me by about twenty minutes. I had a flat-out awful run (that was more like a really, really long walk). But I managed to learn some lessons and meet some fabulous bloggy-friends and still brought home the medal because I didn’t quit. Even when I wanted to soooooooo bad. Here’s the weekend in pictures:
At the expo, picking up my shirt and bib. The expo was a little small.
But it had these really awesome balloon sculptures!
At the starting line, ready to rock and roll (or so I thought). I had a backpack full of my Gatorade/Perpetuem mix. The plan was to drink every half mile at the beginning, so I wouldn’t get dehydrated and suffer the nausea/vomiting that I have at past marathons. The problem with the backpack is that I couldn’t tell how much I was drinking – I thought I was sticking to the plan, but when I went to clean out the bladder, I’d only had a third of what I was supposed to. Oops.
This course had lots of out-and-backs and looped back to the start at Mile 6. Here I am, still thinking I could have a good day. It didn’t last much after this. Around Mile 8, I ran into Rad Runner!!! I was so excited to meet her – she was running strong and I can’t wait to hear all about her first marathon experience. We chatted for a mile or two – and took a pic of course! – then I lost her in the crowd. I took my first walking break at Mile 10 and didn’t see her again. I stopped to use the port-o-pots at Mile 12, hoping to relieve some of the churning in my gut. I knew already it wasn’t going to be a day of glory, but at that point I still had hopes of a decent time. I called The Hubs and let him know I was slowing down significantly from my projected finish. At Mile 13, I saw The Running Green Girl, just the boost I needed!! We girly-squealed and hugged and she took a bloggy pic, then she cheered me on my way. Her awesome enthusiasm carried me through Mile 15. I was still running a little (albeit slowly) and walking a lot until about Mile 18 or 19, when things went south. All I wanted to do in the world was quit. There was a lot of crying, I’ll be honest. I didn’t think I had it in me to go eight more miles. Thankfully, I saw Green Girl again, running with her friend Michelle, which distracted me a little longer. At Mile 21, the puking began. I knew it was coming and I was glad it held off so long, but UGH! My stomach continued to turn itself inside out every half mile or so for the final 5 miles, but I kept walking and wishing that I could just sit my butt on the curb and never move again.
With the Finish Line in sight, I was able to run it in, even though I burst into tears when I saw The Hubs waiting for me.
Calling my kids to let them know I finished, which was probably the best part of my day. They cheered for me over the phone and told me I’m a rock star. Finish Time – 5:43:27.
On the 7+ hour drive home, we saw this, so it must have been a good day after all, right??
Way to push through and finish!
Oh P! I know that is not the day you wanted but wow you stuck it out through all that and FINISHED. That in itself is a huge victory. So so sorry about the puking etc. But lots of extra style point because you looked fantastic out there! : ) Here’s to many, many more, much better days! Hugs!
Oh no! So sorry to hear it was not your best run. BUT you didn’t quit! I’m glad you kept going and got that medal!
You are a rockstar. You did something that less then 2 percent of the world has ever done, congrats on crossing the finishline.
This is awesome. No way is it a fail, because despite all that was going wrong you did not quit. Well done!
The only think that I wish was different was that you saw the rainbow at mile 18…
A finish is never a fail, well done! You are tough and you didn’t quit. That is awesome! Rest well!
You are so adorable and definitely a rockstar!! So sorry about all the puking, that must’ve been miserable. Way to push through a crappy end and finish. You are amazing!!
You finished 🙂 That’s what counts. You didn’t give up.
You pushed though. Awesome.
I’m with Johann. No finish ever = a fail.
You are awesome.
Way to finish! And a rainbow makes every day good.
Sorry you struggled, but so proud of you for finishing. Way to go.
How fun to see Rad Runner and Green Girl!
P- You really are a rock star, your kiddies are so right! I was so excited when we met on the course! Im sorry to hear about your tummy probs, but you crossed that finish line and you got that HUGE cool medal, because YOU ROCK!
You are amazing to finish such a hard race! You are a strong person who had the courage to make those final steps across the finish line! I am sorry about your stomach issues…believe me, I know all about them! Get some rest:)
You finished!
Way to go!
You. Are. Tough!
It was hard for me to keep running even though I really wanted to quit, too, but we finished!!!
I’m so proud of you. I admire your determination and drive to finish. You did awesome!
It stinkd when your gut doesn’t cooperate. Did you mix Gatorade with Perpetuem?!!! That I think would churn my stomach!! Glad you finished and got your medal
You are a rock star not to quit! What an example to set for your children. How did you recognize the bloggers?
If it was easy everyone would run a marathon…congrats on hanging in there and finishing strong! Way to go!
Agreed – this is awesoome
I know that feeling post marathon Epic Fail feeling
but you finished WAY to GO!
-Derek
I’m sorry that you were disappointed in your race but agree with the majority that it wasn’t a fail. I believe it was a mental win since you chose to finish even though you could have bailed.
Sorry you had such a rough run, but way to push through and finish – that is awesome!
I really feel for you. Pushing yourself to keep going when you’re feeling sooo sick is hard! You’re a champion to have made it to the end.
PS – if you find out the secret of not feeling sick in a marathon can you please share. I’d love to get that sorted before I do my next one.
That sounds really terrible, but the fact that you pushed through is amazing. Great job on fighting those mental (and, well, physical) battles!
xoxo,
A
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I’m so sorry it ended up being such a rough run for you. You look absolutely adorable decked out in the far superior color of the world. ::grins::
I’m so glad you spotted me, girl. ::hugs::
I felt so bad when I saw you coming back from the campus and you told me your stomach was all messed up. Urgh.
I”m sorry you got sick. Do you know what causes that? Is there a specialist coach/nutritionist of some sort who can sort that out? It’s gotta be common.
I can’t imagine being that sick and feeling bad and STILL finishing the race. You are one tough cookie for sticking it out. NEXT TIME will be better!
Congratulations on sticking it out. I’ve had those races. I’ve cried my eyes out on my biggest race of this year. So I kinda know how you felt. But you finished!! Take care of yourself in recoverying.
Hey you finished a marathon… while puking! That is pretty awesome and makes you a super rock star! Take care!
You finished despite how you felt and that’s an amazing accomplishment! Days like this happen to ALL athletes.
dang it i didnt know you were going to be there too – SO MANY BLOGGERS!
congrats on finishing your marathon! making it to the finish line on tough days takes some serious will power and you did it. congrats!
Oh, I am so sorry your race didn’t go as well as you would have liked! Throwing up is just horrible and I know how much it takes out of you! You are awesome for keeping going and finishing! You deserve that medal!!!
Yay, you are one tough chick to finish while going through all of that. Super duper high fives!
Way to finish in spite of everything!! During St. George, I knew if I puked I probably wouldn’t finish so you really are a rock star!! You earned that medal for sure!
Sorry to hear you didn’t have the best of runs. You still did so awesome though for finishing! I don’t know that I would have made it if I had started with the vomitus.
Sorry to hear you had such a rough day 🙁 if it helps you looked GREAT!!