My First Marathon

This is a LONG detailed recap of my experience preparing for and running my first marathon.  I hope a few of you find it enjoyable, although I expect most to think it is exceedingly boring and I understand!

Salt Lake Marathon, April 2008
I did something I never thought I would do, I ran a marathon.  I am still in amazement that I actually did this.  Late last year, I realized I wanted to maintain my training condition and decided the timing of the Salt Lake Marathon was just right.  I registered without really thinking much or telling anyone, which is probably why I actually followed through and did it.

I had to tell a few people about my marathon goal because I knew they would wonder what was up if I just started going for runs.  I had never done this in my entire life.  Those I told were quite dumbfounded with this information, after all I had never shied from sharing my distaste of running.  My biggest complaint of the “sport” was that I felt my bum was going to fall off in the process.

I vividly remember my first “run”.  I was walking the dogs and would run for a block and then walk a block, then run, walk, etc.  I was surprised at how out of breath I got in such a short period of time.  I momentarily questioned my ultimate running goal, but then quickly brushed that thought aside and replaced it with how great a challenge this goal will be. 

After I got a good pair of running shoes (this was key for me because my feet had potential to be a HUGE problem in running), I mapped a 3.5 mile route from my house and used that during most of my autumn runs.  After run/walk-ing it a couple of times, I was able to push myself to run it without stopping.  This really surprised me.  I took the dogs with me often and it was fun to have them with me, but eventually they started to hold me back, so I ran a few times without them to see how I did.  I did OK, my pace felt faster without them. 

I was able to run into mid-November, but then the cold weather hit and I decided to take some time off to enjoy the holidays.  I read articles about running during the holidays, but really did not spend much time in my running shoes.  I knew I would jump into my 2008 exercising goals after the New Year and that would include purchasing a gym pass to Steiner. 

In January, I purchased my first ever gym pass and started following Hal Higdon’s marathon training plan for novice runners.  I had always avoided the anticipated boredom associated with running on the treadmill, but now it was staring me in the face.  My first 5-mile run on the treadmill wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be; there were televisions and people working the weights that provided distractions.  I also wore my heart rate monitor so I could use my HR as a guide to my training.  The boredom I dreaded did not hit me until I did a 10-mile treadmill run.  I was so happy when that run was done.

I followed my training guide and felt like I was progressing at the right pace.  I started running at 5 mph which eventually jumped to 5.5 mph and then progressed to 5.7 mph for the last couple of months of treadmill training.  This pace led me to my challenging goal of possibly running my marathon at 6 mph, which is 10 minute miles.  I knew I probably would not be able to accomplish this, but it was something I could strive for.  My ultimate goal was to cross the finish line, but I was able to set a pace goal also.

As the winter months wore on, I could hardly wait to be able to run outside.  The longest run I did on the treadmill was 13 miles, which took me over two hours, and I did that twice.  That distance about did me in with the boredom.  Television can only distract me for so long.  The winter continued with very wet, cold days, which prevented me from getting outside for a long run until a trip to Moab in March. 

In Moab, I was able to clock a 4-mile loop for my goal to run 16-miles.  The weather was in the 50’s with a strong wind that started at mile 10.  It was a headwind for 2-miles then a tailwind for 2-miles.  This windy run ended up being a great reference during my marathon because it was windy from mile 7 until the end of the marathon.  I did great during this run in Moab and it felt wonderful to be outside and have real-life distracters instead of the television in the gym.  I took the dogs with me for the last two miles and the wind turned out to be a challenge for all of us, along with the llamas, stray dogs and cars.  I was happy to get back to the condo and get cleaned up.  My first official “long run” was under my belt and I had survived it.

I discovered that Salt Lake Running Company organized “Teaser Runs” that anyone could use for their marathon training long runs.  These runs were supported with Gatorade along the way and an experienced runner stationed at the start to answer any questions.  I decided to use this opportunity for my 18-mile run.  The weather was cold, in the 30’s, with no wind at all.  It was fun to run at a new location (Jordan Parkway) and be outside with people who were training.  I finished the 18 miles faster than I thought I would.  It was good to practice drinking along the route and see how far I could run without needing to walk.

I did one more long run of 20 miles before the marathon.  I found a 20 mile route on mapmyrun.com and ran it on a sunny, nice Friday.  The route included Foothill Drive, South Temple, Liberty Park and Sugarhouse Park.  There were lots of stoplights on that run and I used libraries and banks for my water/restroom stops.  It worked out just fine.  The last few miles were all uphill, which made it a bit more challenging than what that point of the marathon would be.

In one of my taper weeks, I decided to run to the airport from my house and meet Brenda when she arrived from a business trip.  I could catch a ride home with her.  She was quite surprised to get my phone message and everything worked as expected.  It was an 11-mile run in nice weather.  My right foot really started hurting badly for the last two miles.  This was a familiar pain but in a different foot.  I got a little concerned, but at this point what was I to do.  I just hoped it would not happen during the marathon.  That would not be fun.

One week before the marathon I was supposed to do an 8-10 mile run and ended up running 12 miles.  I was worried that I had gone too far, but to feel better, I cut a 3 mile run out.  Everything ended up working out fine, although those final two days before the marathon, when I was to do nothing but rest, were quite difficult.  I did take my dogs for a very long walk the day before the marathon and that felt great.  My legs really wanted to do something.

My nutrition the week of the marathon was great; I minimized treats and ate a greater percentage of my meals in carbohydrates.  During my training for LOTOJA and the marathon I trimmed 13 pounds and felt great. 

I was excited for race day to arrive, but not over anxious.  I finalized everything and found out where to look for my spectators along the route.  I talked with Brenda's sister, Cathy, a few times to help her think through things for her first attempt at a half marathon.  I slept well the night before, which was more than I anticipated. 
 

I woke up early the morning of the marathon and got dressed, ate a banana and waited for Cathy and her sister, Debbie, to arrive.  They got to the house right on time and we headed to the start, at the University of Utah.  I took off my jacket and it was a little chilly, but I knew I would warm up shortly.  We gave hugs to Brenda and Debbie, then made our way to the LONG port-a-potty lines.  There was a cool gospel choir singing from atop the Legacy Bridge, which was right above the starting line.  It was the perfect type of music to get us ready for our day’s events.  I waited in line with Cathy until after the wheelchair start happened.  While I was there I felt a pat on my shoulder and looked to see Diane, a fellow triathlete I met at the gym.  She is running the half-marathon.  We wished each other luck and she headed to the starting line.  I decided to head to the start, so I wished Cathy good luck and told her I would see her at the finish line, and then headed off for my adventure.

I was happy to have some time alone to mentally go where I envisioned myself being when the race started.  I reviewed my plan for the first few miles and reminded myself to be aware of my pace from the very beginning.  I looked around at my fellow runners and took in the moment.  So many of them were already listening to their iPods and I was reminded I a minority, runners not listening to something.  I wanted to experience every step of the marathon and I felt music might take away from the experience.  I am comfortable with my thoughts and I wanted to be attentive and interactive with them during my first marathon.  I felt like I should be stretching or doing something rather than just standing and waiting.  I sat on the curb for a minute, stretched out my calves walked around a bit on the side of the road, then I made my way to an opening within the crowd to wait for the official start.  The choir sang the National Anthem and soon afterwards the countdown started…10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, GO!  There was no gun, boom or anything, just GO!  Nothing happened where I was at, but I could see the first line of runners take off.  My first marathon was officially under way, but I was standing still with electricity buzzing around us while waiting to be able to move forward.

 A surge of emotion exploded within my body.  We were packed in tightly with a nervous energy inside each of us as well as inside the group, wanting us to start running, but instead we just took slow occasional steps – like a magnet was drawing us slowly towards itself.  The magnet would end up being the finish line for me.  Twice there was a false start of running that ended abruptly.  As we approached the bridge I knew I would soon step across the starting line.  I wondered where Cathy was at and hoped she would be OK.  I knew there were many spectators already lining the course anxiously awaiting their loved ones to appear.  My family and friends were part of that group.  I knew exactly where they were supposed to be and I couldn’t wait to get there.  People were maneuvering their way through the group, trying to go faster, but it wasn’t really working.  I could sense the start line ahead and before I knew it I was stepping across the timing mat.  I pressed the start button on my watch, four minutes after the official start.  I wanted to increase my pace, to even start to jog, but it would not be allowed quite yet.  I walked along, hoping the pace would increase soon and it finally did about 100 yards beyond the start line.  Now I felt like my marathon had started.  Would my training be enough to get me to the finish line?  Would my feet hold up?  Would I see my friends and family along the way?  I confidently knew the answer was undoubtedly YES to all the questions in my head.

Mile 1:  I wanted to get into my comfortable pace, but there were too many people around going all types of speeds.  I ended up running slower within this group than I would have been if I was on my own.  I was aware the course was taking us downhill, but there were so many runners that you really could only attend the immediate area around you.  I made the south turn onto Foothill Drive and thought it was so cool to be running in the middle of the road.

I was very aware of staying off the curved edges of the road.  During my last training run I learned how these could strain my lower legs.  I stayed in the middle, where it seemed nice and flat.  I saw a couple of sweatshirts thrown off to the side of the road and remembered reading that some people wear old clothes for warmth in the beginning and then throw them away when they aren’t needed any more.  I was surprised to see the Mile 1 marker so quickly, but I guess we had walked and jogged for quite a long time in the beginning.

Mile 2 (20:22 / 9.55 pace from start / 9.55 lap pace):  I ran through the Sunnyside intersection and noticed my heart rate had started to settle down a bit, but my pace was still at 10:30.  I felt I was going faster than that.  The crowd had started to thin a bit, but it was still effecting my pace and ability to relax and get into a groove.

I could see the library intersection and a group of people were there.  I knew this was where Brenda and Debbie were going to be.  I approached the group, but there were no familiar faces.  I could see Brenda’s car in the parking lot, but no Brenda or Debbie.  I was sad for a moment and then realized that I had probably missed them on this first sighting.  Oh well, we knew this may happen.  Right about then, I saw two people on the side of the road a ways ahead and it had potential to be them, just further down from where I thought they would be.  Yes, it was them.  I started waving my arm and they finally saw me.  They waved and it felt wonderful to see my first fans.  If this was how it would feel every time, I knew I would be able to finish this marathon.  

Now it was time to look for my next group of fans, which would be my parents and friend, Natalie.  Not long after seeing Brenda, I saw Natalie’s red jacket and then my parents standing nearby.  We were still a large stream of continuous people, so I started waving my arm high in the air so they would see me.  My mom saw me and started clapping and yelling.  My dad didn’t have his camera ready and, when he realized I was there, he jumped into gear and while walking fast along my side tried to take a picture.  I absorbed what I could from the support of my family and friends and put the rest of it in the bank of energy for later on when I would really need it.

I saw the aid station and was happy I didn’t need to stop for the restroom because there were lines.  It had been breezy, which made me more thirsty than I thought I would be.  I had not planned on getting anything at this aid station, but decided I should get some water.  I got water at one of the last tables and learned quickly why it was beneficial to walk the aid stations.  It was very hard to drink out of a paper cup while bouncing up and down.  I drank my water and tossed my cup into the garbage box at the end of the aid station area.

Mile 3-4 (36:58 / 9.50 pace from start / 9.45 lap pace):  This part of the run was quite familiar to me because I had run it a few times.  The crowdedness of the runners was lessening, which was nice.  I could see where the route turned away from Foothill and down 2100 South.  I was looking forward to that change of course.  I checked my pace often and it was usually around 10:00 min/mile. 

When we turned down 2100 South it was a steady downhill.  I knew this section would be like this and knew what to do.  Just go with the slope, don’t try to slow yourself down because it would stress your quads.  There were more runners going a slow pace than going faster with the slope.  I found myself passing other runners and feeling good with how my body was running.  I was following my plan to perfection so far, except for that gel incident.  My visualization of the course was working and I still had a smile on my face.  So far, so good.

There were a few houses along this street that had their speakers on the lawn and music playing for the runners.  It was great!  There were quite a few spectators along this part.  There were kids standing along the side of the road giving runners high-fives.  I ran by them and slapped their hands.  It was a fun distraction. 

Mile 5-6:  I was running towards Sugarhouse Park and knew that my family/friends were going to be there to cheer me on.  I was feeling great.  My regular feet pain had been absent and I was extremely grateful for that.  My pace was on track and I was enjoying the experience so far. 

At some point on 2100 South there was a person behind me that ran into a cone and fell down.  There was a group of runners who stopped with her to see if she was OK, but I wondered if I should have stopped also.  I knew there were many people there and it looked like she was starting to stand back up, so I kept moving forward.

As I got closer to Sugarhouse Park, I knew I should be seeing familiar faces soon.  The first sighting was Brenda and Debbie.  I ran towards where they were standing and gave Debbie a high-five while Brenda was taking pictures.  It was great to see them and I momentarily remembered I would not see them again until the finish because they were following Cathy during her half-marathon.  I was happy to have seen them in both places we had planned.

I started looking for my parents and Natalie and didn’t see them until I turned into Sugarhouse Park.  Just before that turn was where the marathon and half-marathon route separated.  The marathoners ran around the road in Sugarhouse Park, while the half-marathoners made a U-turn on 2100 South.  They had lots of signs and volunteers helping guide the runners at that point.  This was very helpful because I could imagine how frustrating it would be for someone to get off course and run longer than was needed.

I saw my mom and dad with Natalie as I entered Sugarhouse Park.  My mom held out my bag of extra gels and I signaled to her that I wanted one.  She handed me one as I passed and they all commented on how good I looked.  I was feeling great and continued on my merry way.

I was able to run both the hills in the Park without my heart rate going crazy.  I saw a couple of runners taking a leak off to the side, it reminded me of LOTOJA, and made me angry because there was an aid station just about 100 yards ahead.  Some people are quite inconsiderate. 

There was a Spanish trio with guitars walking around the Park singing.  I think they were the celebration area for Sugarhouse Park, kind of smaller than what I had envisioned.

Mile 7 (1:12 / 9.42 pace from start / 9.34 lap pace):  I finished the loop at Sugarhouse and towards the end I saw the restrooms and considered stopping because there probably would not be any lines, but again I couldn’t bring myself to stop the momentum.  I felt good.  Right after the restrooms I saw  Earl, the Respiratory Manager where I work.  I caught up to him as we were leaving the park and said hi.  We were talking when I heard my name and looked over to see mom, dad and Natalie cheering me on.  I smiled, waved and continued talking with Earl.  Not more than 40 feet beyond, I heard my name again and looked to see Brenda and Debbie.  I had not expected to see them again.  They said Cathy had just passed them about 5 minutes ago.  This meant she was doing good.  Yeah! 

I continued running with Earl past Highland High and beyond where the marathon and half-marathon split up, then his walking alarm sounded and I continued running.  I was approaching the last of the familiar running routes for me.   

I knew the big hill was coming up soon and I started reminding myself to walk up it, as suggested by the Running Company coaches.  At the turn towards the big hill, I saw a half-marathoner who was obviously frustrated because she had missed the turn for the half marathon.  She was trying to convince a volunteer to take her back to where the switch was.  I felt sorry for her, but knew that she would find her way to her correct route.  She was a good distraction for a minute.

I made the turn and headed down the big hill, letting my feet fly beneath me.  It felt great to let my body go with gravity.  When I got to the bottom I let my momentum carry me until it was gone and then I was good and walked up the hill.  It felt good to change my pace and be following my plan. At the crest of the hill the wind was really blowing, just like was predicted. 

At the top of the hill was the aid station for mile 7.  I noticed there were no lines at the restrooms so I decided to take advantage of that and use one.  I grabbed some Gatorade and water and continued on my way, into a pretty strong headwind.  Instead of just eating a gel at this station, I looked at my time and it hadn’t been 45 minutes since my last Gu so I decided to wait.  If I went back again, I would have a Gu at this point so I could wash it down with water.  The next aid station was three miles away and I didn’t consider that in my decision.  I was hyper-aware of the possibility of cramping if you eat a Gu without any water.  It never happened to me though, thank goodness.

Mile 8-10 (1:43 / 9.43 pace from start / 9.45 lap pace):  My strategy during this part was to run behind a bigger person than me, to block the headwind.  We were running due south and the wind was a direct south wind.  It was non-stop during this entire section.  I found a runner that I tucked in behind for probably just under one mile.  He knew I was there and occasionally would look towards me; he may have been a little annoyed.  His pace was just slightly faster than what I wanted to run at this point of the marathon.  I decided to let him go.  I watched him slowly pull away and questioned my decision to let him go.  Later on it would be evident that I made the right decision because I passed him around mile 20.  I got thirsty quickly with the headwind, and there was nothing to do about it but hope to get to the next aid station quickly. 

I was running along, around mile 8, starting to realize that I probably should have had a gel at the last station, when I heard my name “Andi”.  I looked towards the sound and it was Jess, my friend from nursing school, at the corner.  I made my way over to her and gave her a quick hug and high five.  She had just ended her shift at Primary’s and made it in time to cheer me on.  I was SO happy she gave me a boost of energy because the wind was really draining, both physically and mentally.  

I spent lots of time during this section trying to remember when the next aid station was because I needed some gel, but I was hesitant about eating it without water.  I had a couple of my Luna blocks, to help pass the time and not get behind on my nutrition. 

There was one turn to the east when we got away from the wind for a few blocks (3540 South).  It was quite a relief.  I remember thinking that maybe we were lucky enough that the wind actually was starting to decrease, but inside I knew that wasn’t true.  I thought I heard someone holler my name quite a distance ahead; I looked but couldn’t recognize anyone that far ahead.  I moved to the inside of the road and could finally see Natalie’s red jacket, she was easily visible with that color.  So, I knew my mom and dad were just a few houses away.  I picked up my pace a bit and passed them with another smile because I was doing as good as I possibly could.  I could do nothing about the wind, but I could maintain my pace and keep an eye on my heart rate.

After I crossed 3900 South without an aid station in sight, I decided to eat a gel.  I had waited as long as I could.  About ½ mile after that, the mile 10 aid station came into view and I knew that I would be OK.  I thoroughly enjoyed the water at that station.  The wind had really made me thirsty.

Mile 10-12 (1:59 / 9.42 pace from start / 9:38 lap pace):  This section was still windy, we were heading south into a south wind.  There was a celebration zone just after mile 10, a band in a church parking lot.  It was nice to hear the music for a while instead of only the wind blowing by.  I remember trying to stay behind people to break up the direct headwind.  It worked but it was hard to find someone running the same pace I was for an extended period of time.  At one point I glanced behind me and saw a line of people using me as their wind-breaker.

Mile 13.5 (2:12 / 9.44 pace from start / 10.01 lap pace):  After the mile 12 aid station, the terrain was mostly uphill for the next 1.5 miles.  I remember the road turning southward and I could see the uphill route ahead.  At the peak of the climb we would turn westward and have downhill relief for a period of time.  I was also acutely aware that I was approaching the half-way point of my journey.  Mom, dad and Natalie would be somewhere near that 13 mile point and they would see I was still doing well.

My legs told me that this section was climbing.  I just kept taking it one step at a time, knowing that very soon I would turn and have some downhill relief.  I was passing a few people at this point and there were many who were walking.  There was a girl ahead of me, dressed in black and pink, who I had been slowly catching up to over the last few miles.  I don’t remember when or if I ended up passing her, but during this section I remember focusing on her ahead of me.

I could no longer see the guy I had tucked behind around mile 7-8, his quicker pace had carried him out of my view.  This meant there would be no more thoughts about where I would have been if I had kept up with him. 

It seemed to take forever to get to the top of the climb.  This is the disadvantage of being able to see into the distance, it always seems to go so slowly.  There were quite a few spectators lining the streets.  I also remember a marathon course marshal on her mountain bike appearing during this section.  She made occasional appearances all the way to Liberty Park.  I have no idea what she was doing, but she would slowly ride past us and then, after what was probably a couple of miles, she would pass us again.  I don’t remember running past her as she was stopped, but my focus was definitely elsewhere.  I hope she had a nice ride.

At last I was getting closer.  I saw a red jacket on the left side and thought it could be Natalie; it was.  I waved, smiled and enjoyed the thought that I was almost half-way done.  I continued running while preparing to give some extra Gu’s to my mom; my pockets felt too full with every step I took.  I saw my parents on the sideline just after I passed Natalie.  I handed them the extra gels and learned that Cathy was doing just fine.  I was happy to hear that.  Once again it was great to see my supporters.  They really made a difference for me.  It would have been quite different running that distance without anyone to look forward to seeing during the run.  I am thankful they were there for me.

I turned west on 6200 South and few feet beyond that I ran across the 13.1 mile mat.  It beeped, which meant my time had been recorded.  I was officially halfway done with my marathon and I was still feeling great; I had minimal pains in my feet and my legs felt strong.  I could not ask for more.  

Mile 14.5 (2:21 / 9.44 pace from start / 9.51 lap pace):  I was running downhill and let my legs go at a comfortable, minimally energetic pace, enjoying the change of terrain.  I could hardly feel the wind because of the trees lining the street.  I was running due west and the wind was coming from the south.  I was pretty sure I would have a tailwind after the next turn northward. 

As I was running down the hill, a runner came alongside me and asked what my goal was.  I instinctively answered, “four and a half”, and hoped this was what he was asking about.  He said that I definitely would make my goal and that I looked great.  I said thanks and he ran ahead of me.  He looked like an accomplished runner in his 60’s.  This was a very nice thing for him to do and it gave me something positive to think about for a while.  I watched him run ahead for a couple of miles, until he ran out of sight.

I saw the aid station ahead of me and decided to make it a Gatorade stop.  I enjoyed the drink, but the water I poured over my head felt just as good.  I was happy I wore a visor because it kept the water out of my eyes; I was able to cool down.  There was one of the largest groups of spectators at the area where we turned onto Van Winkle.  They were cheering loudly and I ran by them, giving many kids high fives.  It made me smile. 

Mile 15-18 (2:57 / 9.41 pace from start / 9.42 lap pace):  I turned onto Van Winkle and remembered hearing this was the longest, loneliest section of the run.  I immediately noticed a difference in the road surface, it was all torn up and it was difficult to find a smooth section to run on.  This concerned me because of my feet problems, which had not yet become unbearable, but I did not want to awaken the sleeping giant within my shoes.  I did my best to find smooth parts to run on, but overall it was a rough section the entire three miles.

I immediately noticed the tailwind and it reminded me of my run in Moab, where I learned that sometimes a tailwind is annoying because it pushed me faster than my legs wanted to go.  I was carefully aware of this potential and tried to find a happy medium pace with the tailwind.

At the mile 16 aid station I got some more gel, they had the orange flavor this time – yeah!  This would be the last aid station with gels.  I ate one and washed it down with plenty of water.  The tailwind made it feel hotter.  I dumped more water over my head and it felt great!  I also rolled up my sleeve on my non-GPS arm and continued to adjust it to try to keep it up during the remainder of the run.  I had been aware this may happen if it got warm, but I decided to wear a shirt I was familiar with instead of trying out a new, cooler one that I had not worn while running.  My instincts had given me the correct information and with more experience I would have been able to wear a more correct shirt for the possibly warmer weather conditions.

At the beginning of Van Winkle and somewhere in the middle they had bands playing the REAL soccer theme.  I absolutely loved them at this point in the run.  They had great beat and you could hear them well before and after you passed them.  They really broke up this “lonely” section of the marathon.  Kudos to the marathon organizers for placing these groups at this point of the run.  It was very helpful.

There were a few spectators at the cross-streets on Van Winkle, but overall there were only runners during this section.  It was weird to be running on a multi-lane road without any cars on it.  Runners were spread out the entire width of the northbound lanes, most trying to find a smooth part of road for their feet to collide with.  I was quite concerned about this uneven base with my feet. 

I was aware my pace had quickened, most likely because of the tailwind and flat-to-descending terrain.  It felt good to be able to run a little faster.  Most people were running a quicker pace, but there were more who were walking towards the end.  I was aware that I should look for Laura somewhere around 4500 South and 500 East.  I had estimated I would arrive there around 10:00 and it was going to be exactly that time, if not a little bit earlier.  I hoped I would not get there before she would because she was driving there just to see me and then needed to leave for work.  I was surprised that she would do this, but to be honest I needed to see a face that I knew within the next mile or so.  I hoped she would be there.

I saw a stoplight in the distance and hoped this might be where we turn, but as I approached it I remembered there was one more light to run through. Damn!  I would have liked to be done with that rough section of road, but I continued on, knowing I would turn at the next light.  Soon after the road turned due north, I saw the intersection in the distance.  Yeah!  I could tell I made good time during the Van Winkle section.  I was ready to get onto 500 East and experience what the remainder of my marathon would put in front of me.  Little did I know what lay ahead!

Right after I turned, I saw my mom and Natalie who were not expecting me to be there.  They shockingly cheered for me and I couldn’t see my dad anywhere.  I continued towards the aid station and finally saw dad standing on the sidewalk looking away from the runners.  I shouted to him three or four times while I was jogging along.  He finally saw me, but I couldn’t slow my pace at that point.  I saw the aid station right ahead of me, so I walked while I drank a Gatorade and then got some water at the last table.  After the aid station I saw my dad go running by on the sidewalk with his camera.  I decided it would be best for me to stand still for a second so he could take a photo.  I smiled and he said something supportive and then I could not resist the urge to throw the remainder of my water at him.  Before I knew it there was a stream of water headed his way.  It got his shirt wet and I smiled as he turned and smiled with me.  A couple of the runners laughed as they saw what had happened.  I knew it would be OK because it would dry.  I continued forward towards the turn onto 500 East.  I still had not seen Laura so I figured I had missed her, too bad.

That turn onto 500 East was long awaited.  I could see the mile 18 marker and took note that I was feeling tired, but my muscles were still strong.  Shortly after I took note of how I was feeling things changed.  I felt an annoying pain in my right little toe and hoped it might go away, but as the steps continued, I realized that the pain was with me to stay.  I decided to get my mind somewhere else and noticed a spectator in the shade on some grass near a building on the side of the road.  She was holding the hand of a young child.  As I approached her I thought it might be Laura because she was dressed in scrubs.  In the split second these thoughts were processing in my head, she looked towards me and we recognized each other.  I started waving and she hollered out, “Curtis”.  All of a sudden, a man jumped up from sitting on the lawn and ran towards me.  It was my brother Curtis.  I had no idea he would come to support me.  He was saying something like I need to high-five my sister.  He caught up along side me and gave me a high five.  It was absolutely wonderful to see them.  They had their young twins, Sierra and Devin with them.  I continued on my way, smiling because of the support I felt from my family.  They really are great and I feel bad I questioned whether they would be interested in my marathon. 

When I came down from the high of seeing my family I noticed my toe was still hurting.  It felt like a blister was developing, so I moved my toes around and tried to land in a different position.  It wasn’t working.  Not too far beyond when my toe started hurting, I felt a sharp pain surge through my toe and intensify every time I stepped on it.  It felt like my skin was being torn from my toe, oh no!  I immediately stopped running and tried to walk it off, but the pain was the same with every step.  I quickly decided to keep running because it was going to hurt either way so I might as well finish as quickly as possible. 

Mile 19-20 (3:15 / 9.42 pace from start / 9.47 lap pace):  The center of attention during this section, as well as the remainder of the race, was my right small toe.  How could something so small and insignificant cause so much discomfort to my entire self.  I found myself starting to focus on wanting to be done, which was only making things seem longer and harder.  I decided to have a little talk with myself about being positive and using my mental strength during this part of the run.  I decided to take things one-at-a-time, so I would find something ahead of me to focus on and then run until I made it to that item and then find something else to run to.  This seemed to work and I did my best to just run through the pain.

There were two places along 500 East where groups of people had created their own water stations.  I appreciated the water at one of these and I had an orange segment at the other one.  I could tell that there had been many spectators along this section, but many of them were actually packing up and walking away as I ran by.  It was kind of sad to feel like we weren’t worth supporting, especially at this point of the race when we really needed the support.

This section was nice because it was lined with houses and trees.  The road was in good condition, which was appreciated after experiencing Van Winkle for three miles. 

I knew the Fitt’s Park celebration zone was somewhere around mile 20 and I was looking forward to it.  It ended up being smaller than I thought it would be.  There was a band under a tent, but there weren’t many spectators in the area.  I had some water to drink and some more to dump on my head.  The temperatures were definitely the warmest that I had ever run in and my body knew it. 

Mile 20-23.5 (3:50 / 9.46 pace from start / 10.08 lap pace):  I could tell I was slowing down because of how much my toe hurt.  It was a constant mental battle with myself to keep running.  There was one point around mile 22 that I actually slowed to a walk because of the pain.  It didn’t relieve much of the discomfort because I still had to step on that toe when I walked. Within a few seconds I started my running motors again and decided I would run until the finish.  Not long after that, I felt a shearing, sharp, sudden pain in my toe and was really worried about what might have happened in my shoe.  I knew I couldn’t slow my pace, so I continued running, limping through the increased pain intensity until it plateaued; then I just hoped the horrible sharp pain would not happen too often.  I was really ready to not have to take any more steps, but instead of stopping I continued running for another five miles or so.  What is up with that?  Marathons make people do silly things.

I saw the overpass of I-80 in the distance and I decided I would be very happy when I got to that point.  I found shorter running goals to focus on, like intersections, groups of spectators, people walking ahead of me, and aid stations.  I finally crossed under the I-80 overpass and then I focused on the upcoming intersection.  I remember smiling as I ran through that intersection because I usually crossed it in a vehicle.  This running and having the right-of-way was a new thing to me.  It was kind of fun.  I thanked the officers who were helping with traffic control as I passed them.  There was someone at almost every intersection, even the smaller ones, at this point of the marathon. 

Somewhere in this section I saw a runner sitting on the curb not looking too swell.  I focused on her as I approached and wondered if I should stop and offer encouragement.  As I got closer, I realized she looked like someone I worked with.  I wanted to stop and help, but I knew how much I was hurting myself.  As I was thinking this, she got up and started walking.  I later found out she was having stomach problems because she had decided to run the marathon just a couple of weeks earlier and had not had time to train her stomach for eating on long runs.  This was her first marathon, also, and she really struggled to get to the finish.  I guess I did a good job of training for the marathon and executing my plan. 

The other way I passed time during this long section was to encourage people as I passed them.  I had read about this suggestion during my marathon research and was happy I remembered about it.  I found myself passing more people than were passing me, which surprised me, especially with my painful little toe.  I hope most people appreciated the positive comments as I passed them, because most didn’t say anything – probably because they were tired and focusing on finishing.  It was fun to have enough energy to be able to do this.  It was also a good way to get the focus off my own painful situation.

I saw the blinking arrow ahead, directing runners towards Liberty Park.  As I was plugging away, running towards the blinking arrow, I saw a different colored mileage sign on the course that indicated I was at mile 9.  This was definitely wrong.  I quickly realized I had met up with the merge of the half-marathon course.  This meant I was almost ready to put the long, tiresome miles behind me and look forward to the short sections guiding us through the city. 

It seemed to take a long time to get to the blinking arrow, but I finally did it.  I was thrilled to see Liberty Park.  I had been telling myself how few miles remained, about six.  Now I could finally believe myself, as I started to make my way around Liberty Park.  I took a few steps on the soft, bark-filled running path, to see if it would relieve some pain, but quickly realized it took more energy and my pain was still there, so I hopped back onto the road, where everyone seemed to be running. 

As I approached the southeast corner of the park, I heard someone yell “Andi, you go!  You look great!”.  I was shocked out of my focus because I did not expect anyone to be there for me.  I found the person cheering, which was harder than I thought because I was passing the area instead of approaching it, and had no idea who the person was cheering for me.  It was a blonde girl with sunglasses and a cap.  I smiled, waved and figured I would just not know who was cheering so avidly for me.  Thankfully the person lowered her sunglasses and I realized it was Karen Nye, another person I work with at the hospital.  She later told me that she realized I didn’t know who she was and how my expression changed when she lowered her glasses.  I told her how much it helped me to have some cheering specifically for me at that point of the marathon.  She continued cheering my name as I ran away from her and it felt energizing.  This point of the marathon is a critical point to have support.  The dreaded final six miles are just as brutal and challenging as I ever heard they were. 

I could now see the aid station set up within Liberty Park.  I passed a photographer sitting on the ground taking photos so I smiled, gave a “thumbs up” and proceeded to the aid station.  I walked that aid station, ate a gel and had plenty of water to wash it down. 

My toe really hurt, so it was by mental will and strength alone that I started running again after that aid station.  I crossed another timing mat and heard the beep caused by my timing chip.  I realized that the next timing mat I would cross would be at the finish line.  My body was urging me to stop because of the pain it was feeling, but my head would not let it happen.  My pace had definitely slowed, but not as much as my toe/foot wanted it to.  I was carefully aware of trying not to hurt other muscles by over-compensating, but at that point, I would do doing anything to run across that finish line.  Getting hurt at this point would not be a good thing. 

Mile 24.5 (4:01 / 9.48 pace from start / 10:35 lap pace): As I was preparing for the marathon, especially during the mental visioning of the course, these last three miles were something I was excited to experience.  I had no idea what those miles would be like.  I looked forward to running through the city, having short sections with lots of turns, being on the city streets without traffic or stoplights interfering with my momentum. I tried to soak in everything I could.

There was another aid station and I drank a Gatorade, a water and dumped another water over my head.  I tried to keep running during this station, but it was impossible to drink and run at the same time.  I had not practiced this skill during my training.

Mile 25.5 (4:11 / 9:50 pace from start / 10:45 lap pace): I had been told that the “false uphill” feeling of running on State Street was not false at all.  It was a gradual, slight climb that was amplified by the view of the capitol building sitting on top of the hill straight ahead of you.  I actually never really felt that I was climbing, but it was probably aided by the south wind that was again a tailwind for me.  Albeit painful, I enjoyed running up State Street having officers control traffic for me as I passed through all the intersections.  

The next distraction on State Street was the Volvo dealer with three or four of the dealers standing along the curb.  I recognized one of them as who sold me my Volvo, so I yelled out from across the street.  They all waved, but I don’t think he recognized me.  They probably thought I was a weirdo.  I figured this was the case and kind of laughed out loud at how silly that must have appeared to those who saw it.  Oh well, I was about to finish my first marathon and I had enough energy left to yell out to my car dealer.  Go figure….

I made it to the last aid station and grabbed some water for my belly and my head.  From behind me, I heard someone shout my name while I was almost leaving the aid station.  I turned and found the person, it was Linn, a nurse I work with who was volunteering at the station.  When she learned I was running the marathon she told me to watch for her at one of the aid stations.  When I had not seen her, I figured we missed each other.  It was quite the surprise and another boost of energy to hear my name being called.

Mile 26.6 (4:24 / 9.53 pace from the start / 11.15 lap pace):  I was ready to give my toe some relief, so I kept moving forward as fast as possible.  I knew there would be some adrenaline to help me finish that last stretch, I just had to get there.

There were still officers at every intersection controlling traffic and I continued thanking them.  There weren’t many spectators just standing and cheering, most were walking around.  I started noticing people on the sidewalks with marathon bibs/numbers.  This meant the finish line was within walking distance for some who had already finished the marathon.  I told myself to keep running.

I felt my toe with every step and occasionally wondered what the damage would be.  I did my best to keep those thoughts minimal, but when every step initiated a yell by my toe to please stop, the thoughts started taking up more time that I wanted to give them.  I was paying my price to earn the title of "marathon finisher".

Just before I made the turn towards the finish area, I heard a familiar voice yell my nickname loudly.  It had to be my brother, Greg, since few use that nickname.  I looked and saw him and his son, Jake, cheering me fiercely.  They both looked so excited to see me.  As I ran by, he yelled at me to look up and towards the west; then they took off running.  I wondered what they were up to and then it became a reality that I was at the time of the marathon I had been envisioning for months.  My finish was approaching.  A surge of adrenaline filled my body and I knew the approach to the finish line lay around the next corner.  What I had only envisioned up until now was about to become a reality.  I could hardly wait!

I turned and made my way through the course.  There was moveable fencing along the roadway, but there were hardly any spectators behind them any more.  It was kind of sad.  There were probably about four other runners near me, all women, as we made our way northward.  I remembered that Greg said to look up and then I figured what he meant.  There were walkways on the second level that crossed above the road I was on.  I could see one in the near distance.  As I approached I looked up and saw Greg, Jake and my niece, Lexi, all cheering loudly for me.  I waved and spread my arms like a plane and zig-zagged my way along the road.  I was experiencing my final approach.  As I crossed under the walkway, they must have taken off running.

I ran through one last intersection that was totally blocked off with fencing.  There were more spectators at this point, but I could only imagine what it must have been like for those who finished earlier in the day.  I am sure the spectators were four or five layers deep.  I hoped there would be more as the finish line got closer, but what really mattered most was that my friends and family would be there for me.

After the intersection, there was another upper level walkway lined with a few more people.  I looked and found Greg and Lexi going crazy for me once again.  They again took off running and I glanced ahead and saw there was one more walkway before the finish line.  They must have been trying to make it there before me.

There were more spectators now, which made me happy.  Along the entire “finish chute” I had been looking for family members and friends, but had only seen Greg, Lexi and Jake.  There were so few people that I knew I had not missed anyone.  Now, with more spectators, I hoped I would see them.  Somehow I knew my family would make themselves seen by me.  I wondered who I would see at the finish area.

I continued the approach to the end of my marathon.  My toe was still hurting, but the excitement of being at the end was carrying me through this moment.  I could see the finish banner ahead and felt a slight wave of amazement pass over me that I was actually just about to finish a marathon.  Wow, this would be an accomplishment for me. 

The sounds of spectators cheering were wonderful.  People were everywhere.  I was approaching another second level walkway and found myself looking up because of how loud the cheering was.  It was my entire family!  They were waving their arms, clapping and cheering so loudly.  I gave them a huge smile and a big happy wave.  I felt a surge of energy that allowed me to start my sprint to the finish line.  I literally took off running.  It felt awesome to let my feet fly underneath me; they felt so much lighter.  I ran across the finish line and felt better than I expected I would, all except my little toe.  I looked at the official time and was so happy to be finishing faster than my best estimate.  I wanted to finish under 5:00 (hours) and would have been very happy with 4:30 – I finished in 4:24, awesome for a first time running event done by a non-runner.  I actually finished a marathon!

Someone handed me a finisher’s medal, a foil blanket and water.  I remembered I needed to turn my timing chip in, but I didn’t see anyone doing that.  All of a sudden my mom was at my side giving me a big hug.  I told her I didn’t know where to go.  One of the volunteers came towards us and told my mom that she couldn’t be where she was.  She went out through the fencing and I continued walking down the chute.  It felt good to not be running, but I was lost as to what to do.  There were people there, but I couldn’t identify the flow of where I should be going.  I looked to the side and saw my family making their way to a meeting place and walked the same direction. 

The area cleared out of people and there was space for my family and friends to get to me.  I gave so many hugs to people, with my salty face and everything.  My mom asked if I was OK; I immediately remembered my poor toe and wanted to get my shoe off and see what the damage was.  I took it off and was happy to see my toe still attached to my foot.  It didn’t look as bad as I expected it to, but I was glad there was a little blood there.  With the amount of pain I had tolerated, there needed to be a little evidence of “trauma”.  I put on my flip flops and my feet were overwhelmed with happiness to be out of those shoes.

I was happy to see Cathy and hear she did a great job in her half-marathon.  I thought of her a few times during my run; it was fun to have someone else do a “marathon” event with me.