National Marathon Race Recap
| March 29, 2011 | Posted by Lauren under Running |
It’s three days after the race. My legs are still sore, my body still tired….and the smile is still on my face. Because I never in one million years, truly believed I had enough speed in me to pull out a sub 3:20 marathon. And given the physical condition of my body on Saturday, I probably shouldn’t have run that fast! For the past couple weeks of training, I had been struggling with some bad hip and sciatic pain. So I was pretty stressed about how that was going to hold up over 26.2 miles.
Even now, with plenty of time to think and reflect on the events of the day, the entire thing seems a bit surreal. I’ve thought a lot about how I want to write this recap (and have even started and re-started a couple of times), but in the end I realized that the race recaps I like to read most are the ones that are written like a story. And while there’s so much to say, I think I’ll just jump right into the day of the race. Which means I’m not going to focus on the fact that my over-stuffed, over-sized suitcase that contained everything I needed for the race and my week-long work conference got lost on the way to DC….
Or how I ignored all rules about what to do the day before a race and walked around the expo for far too long, didn’t eat a good lunch, and went for a long time without staying properly hydrated.
Or how we went to a nice Italian restuarant the night before the race without realizing that every dish contained either meat or cream sauce (and usually both) so I ended up making up my own dish to order.
And I won’t even focus on the fact that I literally had an emotional meltdown in the hotel room that night because “I absolutely am not ready to run, and I feel so lethargic and my legs are like lead and please-oh-please don’t make me run a marathon tomorrow!!” (thank goodness I have very patient and understanding parents who both understand the stress of the marathon all too well).
Nope, instead I’ll tell you the story of the PR marathon I never knew could happen. Which started at 4:30am on Saturday morning, after a night of restless sleep with 5 members of the {onetherun} family crammed into one hotel room. A little after 5 am, my super prepared Dad ran down to the front desk to get our car from the valet. 10 minutes later he was back in a panic. Runners had invaded the lobby and the valet was nowhere to be found. We decided to scrap our original plan and take a taxi to the start. By 5:35(ish), we were all piled into the back of a smelly minivan on our way to the start. I tried choking down the remainder of a bagel with PB, but my stomach was more off than usual that morning. While I am no stranger to pre-race stomach issues, that morning was particularly awful. At first I thought maybe it was just the rocking cab that was making my stomach turn. But later in the race, it became apparent that it must’ve been something more.
We got to the Armory just before 6, and I made a bee-line for the finish line festival area, where pre-race heaven awaited: a ton of empty porta-potties (my Dad tells me all my race recaps focus on the bathrooms. I can’t help that I find this aspect super important!). Thanks to my Dad’s careful planning and quick thinking, we apparently made it to the race just in time, I heard many horror stories that day of runners getting stuck on the metro or in traffic or being blocked out by closed roads. I am so thankful that I had plenty of time to relax and prepare in the warmth of the Armory.
Yes, I gave in and wore capris. It was a tough decision, but in the end I was glad for the extra warmth!
At about 6:30, my family and I parted ways: me to make one last pit stop before lining up, and them to make the mile trek out to part of the course. At this point, my stomach was still pretty queasy. I had given up on my bagel and had only been able to choke down about two bites of a banana. The only thing that seemed to sit okay in my stomach was coffee and Gatorade, which I drank liberally.
Fortunately, by the time the final race countdown began, all my anxiety had floated away. The sun was just beginning to peak out over the horizon, and I felt calm and ready to run. A little after 7am, we all were off! Over 15,000 runners streamed out of the corrals and into the capital city. It must have been a pretty amazing sight.
My goal for the first few miles of the race was to not go out too fast. All the extra energy stored up over the taper week and the excitement of race day makes it really difficult for me to hold back. Fortunately the first mile was really congested, which helped keep my pace more relaxed than usual. I saw my family right after the first mile mark, which gave me the extra boost I needed to feel race ready. As I turned the corner away from them, I could still hear my sisters shouting my name. That encouragement fueled me through the entire first half of the race.
After that mile, I realized I was running next to the 3:15 pacer. So I settled in with the group for the first few miles and completely zoned out. I tried to pay attention to the beauty of the course, but the truth is that those miles passed by in a blur. I know that we ran past all the amazing DC landmarks – along the National Mall, past the Capitol Building and monuments and through streets lined with cherry blossoms. And even though the Obamas did not come out to cheer us on as we ran by the White House, it felt pretty cool to be running through such a beautiful city.
Despite all my best efforts to keep my paced relaxed, I still went through the first 4 miles faster than I had planned. But by mile 4, I realized the 3:15 pacer was going too fast. As much as I wanted to stick with him, I consciously put on the brakes a little bit and let him go, afraid I’d regret it later if I didn’t.
Mile 5 brought with it the biggest uphill of the race, and along with it – the hip and sciatic pain I had been dreading. Not only did I feel a sharp pain in my hip, but I also felt tingling down my left calf, and I could swear my foot was going to go numb. For a brief moment, all my excitement faded away and was replaced with panic. What would I do if the pain got so bad that I had to stop running? Could I handle coming all this way and not finishing?? To make matters worse, the nausea in my stomach increased until I tasted bile in my mouth – bile filled with the disgusting taste of the Motrin I had taken that morning in hopes of keeping the hip pain away. For the next couple of miles, it was all I could do to just keep it together. I made sure to drink plenty of water at all the stops, and focused on remaining calm. I had come this far. And I was going to run until my body couldn’t move another step.
After making it through Mile 7, I somehow found my stride again. Although the pain in my hip hadn’t gone away altogether, it had subsided. For the rest of the race, I would face a strange cycle of the pain growing sharper and then fading away. Although it was less than ideal, I knew I was tough enough to run through it.
At this point, the course started sloping downhill, and my stomach calmed down enough to take a GU at mile 9. I was able to keep a fairly consistent pace after that. I enjoyed the route, and focused on making it to my family who were waiting somewhere around Mile 12.
Mom{ontherun} ready with the cowbell
As anyone who has ever had spectators come to cheer them on at a race knows, having that support makes all the difference! Not only did it give me mini goals to work toward, but their loud cheering and excitement gave me an extra boost! It meant so much to me that they were willing to give up their day to cheer, and because of that I was motivated to push harder so that I wouldn’t let them down.
I felt strong through the half marathon, although watching a good portion of the field turn off and finish was tough. Especially because the course then wound around the back of RFK stadium and through the parking lots (not exactly scenic). This part of the course was lonely, but I had something to look forward to – the ontherun family would be waiting for me in just a few short miles! Knowing that I would see them between miles 15 and 16 kept me going.
It was after seeing my family for the 3rd time that I experienced my second mini panic attack of the race. The remaining 11 miles were not spectator friendly at all. I knew that I’d be on my own during the loneliest and most difficult parts of the race…and it seemed like I still had so far to go. In a moment of desperation, I asked my Dad if I would see him again. And even though we both knew it was impossible, he replied: “I’ll do my best!!” That little promise was all I needed. I settled in next to Mr BAA (above) and focused on tackling this last part of the race. I was strong, the sun was shining, and 11 miles isn’t really that far to run (right??). Not when I’d already come so far.
Even though the course was lonely, I got a second wind during Mile 17. Maybe it was the GU, or the fact that the course had completely flattened out, or maybe it was the fact that I was 17 miles into a marathon and still felt really strong. Despite the pain in my hip and a sudden sharp pain in the top of my left foot that came out of nowhere and stayed with me for the rest of the race, I actually felt really good. I couldn’t believe it! I knew that if I could hold my pace and not fall apart in the later miles (as I usually do), I was going to do really well. So I started breaking the course up into segments, first telling myself to just make it to Mile 20. Once I got through Mile 20 still feeling strong, I told myself that all I had to do was make it to Mile 22 and then I would only have 4 miles left. …and 4 miles is nothing.
The last 6.2 miles covered some of the absolute worst parts of the course. First, we ran over a long grated bridge between Miles 20 and 21. In case you’re wondering, running on grates is torture to beat up quads and feet! And then there were a series of some pretty sharp turns, culminating in a section of the bike path where we literally ran out to a bucket, ran around it, and ran back in the other direction. Being forced to run past the 23rd mile marker and a water stop was hard enough. But when I got to the end and saw that a measly little bucket was all that had prevented me from turning around and heading toward the finish I almost laughed. If there hadn’t been officials watching, I may not have been able to stop myself from kicking that dumb thing over. 
Mile 23 was where I finally started to fall apart. I had been throwing up bile into my mouth a couple times over the past few miles, and my energy was fading fast. When I got to the water stop at 23 miles, I choked down one small gulp of GU, chugged water, and prayed I could keep everything down for those last 3 miles that seem to stretch out forever. But even though I could feel my pace slipping away, I still felt extremely positive. I was tired, everything hurt, and I just wanted the race to end. Underneath all that, however, was a determination unlike anything I have ever experienced during a marathon. Usually I spend the last few miles calculating just how slow I can go and finish within the buffer I’ve given myself from running really fast at the beginning. This time there was no buffer, but it didn’t matter. I never wanted to quit and I never wanted to walk. I just kept running, knowing that every step I took brought me one step closer to my goal.
Proof: my face at the 10K compared to my face after running 20+ miles. Still feeling positive, still trusting that I could do this!
Miles 23.5 – 25 were up a hill that never seemed to end. To National Marathon’s credit, however, the water stops were more frequent at this point. I appreciated that they were every mile from mile 23 on, when you need fuel the most. We finally reached the top at Mile 25, and as I crested that hill heading into the final mile, my excitement only grew.
….that is until my watch hit 26 miles, and instead of seeing the finish, I only saw another hill. I kept chugging away, looking down at my watch with growing concern. We hit 26.2 and still the line seemed miles away. Finally, after an agonizing extra 0.4 miles, I crossed the line victorious. The clock had yet to hit 3:20 – I had done it!!
Pace for the final miles:
And how did I feel about this? Well, a picture is worth 1,000 words, so I’ll let you see for yourself.
That, my friends, is exhaustion and complete shock. I am a 3:18 marathoner. Not only do I have a new PR that I’m incredibly proud of, but when registration for the 2012 Boston Marathon opens up, I am going to be among the first to sign up. I can’t wait. 
My final results are below. More than anything, I’m happy about how consistent (relatively speaking) I ran this race. And by the fact that I somehow managed to keep my pace below 8-min/mile the entire way – a first for me!
I’ll take that for consistency
6th in my division; 252 out of 2,877 finishers
Thank you again for all your wonderful words of support this past weekend! It means more to me than I can ever express. And to my amazing family – you guys got me through the race! Thank you for everything. I wouldn’t be the runner that I am without you.
That is an unbelievable race!!! Congratulations on an amazing time!! That face certainly does say it all. Happiness, relief, excitment.
Definitely an inspiration.
Alaina – Jogging Concierge´s last post ..Knee Slapper
Oh Lauren, this was so wonderful to read! You really have me inspired, yet again! More importantly, congratulations on such an amazing race! I hope you are recovering right now and glowing from that race time.
claire´s last post ..earth hour native day
You are amazing!!! 6Th in your age group? WOW!!! It’s funny how you can run your best when you feel your worst. I set a 5K PR two weeks ago after being out of commission for a whole week with tonsillitis. Boston Marathon! woohooo! Wonderful race recap =) (Also, I love how you rock those braids)
Again fantastic race, even more impressive whit that run up. You really are one tough cookie!!!
Wonderful recap candid and funny, love the pictures they are so expressive.
Your race recaps are always inspiring to me, as even though you share the pain the overarching sheer love of running always shines through.
Mari´s last post ..The quest for silence…
Yep. You made me cry. I really cannot articulate how ecstatic I feel for you. After the harshest of winters, you dug deep, ran with your heart, and earned that top spot in BAA registration. You’re strong, inspiring, and unstoppable.
And those final miles were no joke. The grated bridge? Nothing like running over grates on what feels like a broken foot. You are a tough cookie!
I’m so glad we went through this together! And pretty shirt
Becky´s last post ..The National Marathon
Oh my gosh, I am so insanely thrilled for you. What an amazing accomplishment. I can’t believe that despite your hip, foot, and stomach pain you PRed! INCREDIBLE job!
Kate (Embarrassment of Riches)´s last post ..What Im Giving Up For Lent
Great recap, and a HUGE congrats again! You dug deep and really showed what an awesome runner you are. Totally agree that having a cheering section gives such a boost during a marathon! Hope you’re feelin good today and resting up – you earned it!
Kelly´s last post ..Spicing It Up
Congratulations! I love reading your race recaps because you’re always so honest about your experience. I find you so inspiring, thanks for sharing!
Cyndi @ Weightless Life´s last post ..Monday No Fun Day
Lauren, this was seriously my favorite race recap ever. It just totally goes to show all of that we should never count ourselves out.
You are so amazing! I cannot believe you ran your fastest race when you felt so crappy. I love how you kept getting it together and pushing through. You are truly my inspiration!
COngrats speedy girl! Those pictures of you at the end really are priceless
Jen´s last post ..The emotions I don’t want to feel
Lauren, this is an amazing recap!!! I am still so incredibly impressed that you ran that time. And this post shows that PR’s can happen even when you least expect it and when a lot of factors are going against you. I can’t believe you ran so fast through that awful stomach issue! I completely know what you mean about how important and amazing it is to have supporters and family there during the race – it truly does make all the difference! I am so happy for you that you got this time and you’ll get the first crack at next year’s Boston!!! You are amazing and totally inspire me.
Can we celebrate soon??
Corey @ the runners cookie´s last post ..Bouncing Back
This is so amazing and inspiring! I’m really impressed!
Kathy @ newlywedindc´s last post ..Weekend Wrapup
Awesome!! You are so inspirational. Thanks for sharing this journey with us…it really makes me want to attempt the marathon one day!
You already know how proud we are of you since we have told you about a thousand times. But, i will tell you again in the words of many who commented on your blog- You Rock!
The recap was great. I felt all your emotions and i thank you for that.
Dad
Wow, amazing recap Lauren! I think it’s so interesting how we sometimes have our best runs despite imperfect conditions. It shows how mental running can be. Sad that I didn’t get a chance to see you in DC, but I’m sure we’ll meet again some day
Brittney´s last post ..Social Blogger
Congratulations on an awesome race! You are inspiring! Your race recap makes me excited to run another marathon. I’ve only run one so far, and while I was just excited to finish since it was my first one, I can’t help being a little bit disappointed with my time because I feel like I could have a done a lot better (but I pulled the dumb rookie mistake of going out way too fast and completely crashing and feeling horribly nauseous at the end:).
PS, I raced a 10 miler on Saturday and I also raced in capris and what look like the same arm warmers:). Woohoo:)
Congrats!!! You rock!!
Erin @ Until You Tri´s last post ..Charlottesville 10 Miler – Race Recap
Wow! Your amazing run almost leaves me speechless. I think your determination and drive to push the limits of your body to it’s very brink is something to be admired. I absolutely loved reading your recap, it was captivating and the photos were the perfect compliment. Again congrats on your amazing PR!
Lauren this is an amazing race recap! You are so inspiring that you pushed through body pains and mental struggles. You are so inspiring! Congratulations and I can’t wait to be reading about your path to Boston next year.
Liz´s last post ..A New Non-Training Plan
I love it I love it I love it I love it!!! What a great race, and way to CRUSH your PR! Double yikes on the tummy issue (bile? that’s a gross gu flavor…ha), but I’m soooo glad you pulled through at the end. Knowing we’ve had similar marathons in the past, it was really awesome to read about your take on the final miles versus my take…love how positive you were and how you pulled through in the end! Makes me wish I’d gone with the National Marathon instead. (Cue, I told you so!)
Congrats again, and I can’t wait to run with you sometime…we’re still wayyyyy too similar!
Love all the pictures and the “celebrating life, one run at a time” shirts!
Congrats again!!
Susan´s last post ..2011 Ocean Drive Marathon Race Report
Speedy! This is amazing! Your recap is so thorough—I’m totally impressed. I can never remember anything after the race because it all feels like a blur.
It’s wonderful that you have such a supportive family.
CONGRATULATIONS on dominating the race, pushing through the pain and finishing with a smile on your face. You are a super star and an inspiration. Keep being awesome. Also, that last photo of you is fantastic.
Congrats again! This is so great!
Lee´s last post ..My Luck Has Changed
AMAZING!! You are absolutely AWESOME and your determination and perseverance is SO inspiring!! Congrats again, and I can’t wait to read all about Boston next year!!
Emma (Sweet Tooth Runner)´s last post ..Being thankful
I love everything about this race recap. FRom the pictures to your innermost feelings on the course, I enjoyed it all. As I’ve said before, you are such an inspiring athlete and amazing writer. I feel so proud that I am friends with you! I cannot believe how consistent you were, that is seriously so impressive!
I cannot wait for you to run both Boston and New York next year. Both are such amazing races!
Lizzy @ Food to Run For´s last post ..Race Recap- National Half Marathon
I’ve said it before in comments but now I’m adding some curse words for emphasis – You are %$#*()%$)$( AMAZING!!! You have some serious internal and external badass-ness, lady. And yes, that is a real thing! I am so happy for you. Love, love that last photo too.
And I love how your Dad comments on each post. It makes me want to cry!
Erin @ Big Girl Feats´s last post ..How To- Prepare for the Low-Iodine Lifestyle
Lauren, you are awesome! Thank you for giving me the gift of the cowbell. It truly inspired me to make new friends of every runner I cheered for, but sadly made spectators flee from me! You are an inspiration to our whole family. Next race I cheer for can I have the cowbell AND a Healthontherun T-shirt??
Love,
Your always proud Mom
you are SO BAD ASS.
I love so many things about your race report I can’t even go into it. The finish line pictures are priceless. I mean, ALL the pictures are priceless, but you manage to make 3:18 finish line fatigue look adorable.
CONGRATS times 20 million and 10. I can’t believe what a steady marathon you ran! I’m channeling your perfection at Boston!
Emily´s last post ..National Half Marathon Race Report
CONGRATULATIONS! I loved your recap, especially when you talked about having determination unlike anything you have ever experienced before in a marathon. I felt the EXACT same way during my last marathon around Mile 23 – totally exhausted but there was no way I would let my pace slip now…not after 23 miles of hard work!
I’m so impressed with your time…it is really incredible! You should frame those pictures of you crossing the finish line – they are priceless!
I couldn’t say congratulations enough. You are going to own Boston in 2012. I can’t believe you’re able to hold that pace for so long! You’re going to need to whip me into shape, haha.
Congrats on your race! I loved reading your race recap, and you seriously look so happy in all your pictures. Everytime I read a marathon recap, it makes me wanna train for & run my first marathon!
Lauren´s last post ..An American Tries Vegemite
Oh my gracious! CONGRATULATIONS!! Both on the PR and doing so well overall! Way to ROCK that marathon!!
Rach´s last post ..Commenting Questions
What an awesome recap! Congratulations on that incredible time!
It’s funny how things work out sometimes
This is AMAZING. You are such an inspiration. Huge congratulations on the incredible time and monster PR and for pushing through and never giving up, despite all the obstacles that you had to overcome leading up to and on race day. L.E.G.E.N.D.
I also LOVE the sequence of finishing photos! Pure genuis.
Lauren, I’m so proud of you!! Your face at the end says it all
and your smiles throughout the race just radiate positivity, even with the pain and discomfort. It must have been wonderful to have your family out there supporting you, and to know they were there even if you couldn’t see them. I just love the picture of your mom with the cowbell! I’m so impressed you were able to push through everything, even things I never would have thought of (like running over grates when your muscles are already sore and exhausted!). I can’t wait to hear how you ace the Boston Marathon and get a new PR 
Your ROCK!!!
Delane´s last post ..Sizing Up March
Awesome recap. That feeling you described when you just dug in deep and found some determination to finish the race? I KNOW that feeling and felt it yesterday at the Cherry Blossom 10-miler. Very descriptive recap, I loved reading it.
And congrats on the BQ!
DC Runographer´s last post ..Groundhog Day at the Cherry Blossom 10-Miler
i’m seriously in LOVE with this recap. i’m going to read it constantly between now and next week…i cannot tell you how inspiring it is to hear about how you faced all the pain and fatigue that you normally face, but your attitude and determination is what made all the difference. I LOVE IT!
the dawn´s last post ..in the hospital
You are SO BAD ASS. I love your determination, and I really hope you beat that guy rocking the BAA half shirt
So excited for you!
Kim´s last post ..Boston Bandits
haha thank you!! Sadly, I did not. He pulled ahead of me when I slowed to get some water at mile 25 and I never caught back up. Next time Mr. BAA
No, in all reality I was so thankful for him! He was such a steady runner and he helped pace me for miles (whether he actually wanted to be doing it is another story, haha)
Oh my goodness, congrats!!! Such a great story…and very motivating!
Lizz @ Leading the Good Life´s last post ..Barrel of Crackers