Well my 7th marathon is in the bag but it didn’t go without a fight. Though the temperature got only in the 70’s, the humidity hovered around 100% at the start of the race and seemed to just suck the life right out of me and virtually everyone else. Early on in the race it felt like a struggle and I knew I wasn’t going to make my goal time so my goal was just to finish. Well honestly, my goal was to finish and make it back to the hotel in time for our 1:00 check out so we wouldn’t have to pay for another day! I ended up walking parts of the last few miles, something I’ve never done, not even in the Ironman. I did a lot of pep talking to myself too and though I briefly contemplated taking the 1/2 marathon turn instead of the marathon and thought about quitting no less than 100 times, I’m glad I finished. I just kept thinking of those long training runs I did this summer and didn’t want all that effort to be for naught. I don’t know if it’s my age or the race conditions but last night every part of my body hurt, and I am not exaggerating when I say that even the roof of my mouth hurt when I tried to eat a burrito.

But I saw plenty of fun, weird, and interesting stuff along the way. Like:

• I met the woman who runs marathoncharms.com, after seeing the ridiculous numbers of people waiting for the shuttles she and I were in a group of people who decided to walk the 2 miles to the start, led by a very nice guy (whose name I didn’t catch) who was our navigator.
• Met Belinda from Michigan who was running her first marathon.
• Saw a woman doing the marathon barefoot.
• Saw an elderly couple cheering on the marathon in front of their house in lawn chairs. For some inexplicable reason the man had a big stuffed gorilla on his lap whose arms he was waving.
• Read some very clever signs, including “This is hard” – that’s what she said, Pain is temporary, pride is forever, Run like you stole something, and Your legs will forgive you….eventually.
• Thought it was nice that some unofficial groups were manning aid stations but wondered why they thought pretzels, cheerios, or trail mix would be good running snacks. Especially when unaccompanied by drinks.
• Thought that those people manning aid stations that included sliced oranges were angels sent directly by God himself.
• Wished that the people offering free beer had thought to include some flat Coke. Flat coke is amazing when you need a boost. Beer is amazing when you need to pass out.
• Wondered how spectators could have the nerve to smoke along a marathon course. Thanks for your support but I’d like it without carcinogens please.
• The most hilarious thing was at mile 14 when some spectator said “you’re almost there” and about 5 runners around me heckled him. Really – you think 12 miles is almost there? In a car maybe. Almost there is at mile 26.
• There was someone near me wearing a Nebraska shirt and I kept hearing “Go Nebraska,” I found the guy who is from Nebraska but has lived in Texas for 25 years.

The best part of the race for me was around mile 2 where I saw my husband and daughter. I got a kiss from my girl and went on my way. I wish I could have gotten another one around mile 24. I’m glad the race is over and I can go back to running the mileage I feel like running rather than what’s on the schedule. It’s the yin and yang of running for me. Sometimes I like the focus that a goal gives me and the predictability of a set schedule and sometimes I like just doing whatever my body feels in the mood to do.

Congratulations to my buddy Sandy who finished her first half marathon and had to start a new job today, I hope your new co-workers think you are awesome and give you some slack today!

And for anyone thinking of running a race, do it! Those spectators are right, the pain is temporary (I hope) but the pride of accomplishment lasts forever.

Here’s something for your running mix to get you through those tough runs and races.