I was wound pretty tight at this point. I hadn't had a drink all week because I didn't want to be dehydrated. Friday is always pizza night at our house, so I stopped and picked up a pizza. I was drooling looking at the ice cold beer! So I bought a 40 oz. Miller Lite (I haven't had one of those since high school LOL!) and decided that I was going to drink it Friday night. Man, that beer tasted good! And it relaxed me and I slept well Friday night.
Saturday I woke up to my period. Fucking great! My 2nd day is always the worst so I was extremely annoyed, but what could I do? What kind of luck is that to get your period for you first marathon? LOL!
Brayden had soccer practice and I made pasta and chicken for dinner. I wanted to be inspired, so me and Bobby watched Spirit of the Marathon. I tried to go to bed at 9:30 but I was so wound up and nervous that I could not sleep. The last time I looked at the clock it said 1:00 a.m. and I had to get up at 4:00 a.m. I hoped that this was normal and wouldn't affect me too much.
My alarm went off at 4:00 but I didn't get up until 4:30. I had some coffee (just one cup), ate a bagel with peanut butter, gathered my belongings and headed to Pittsburgh. I have never participated in a big marathon, only small ones so I was blown away by the excitement and all the people! I was pumped. I met the charity group I was running for, got a few pictures, and made a last pee break. I got into the end of the line for the marathon because I knew I was looking at least a 5 hour finish. I had trained enough to finish but not to be competitive.
I cannot say enough about the people of Pittsburgh. The fan support was so amazing! At mile six our Mayor Luke Rahvenstahl gave me a high five. It was definitely a high point during the race! I had to take my first pee break at mile 7 and had to wait in line. This annoyed me very much but I had to go. I was off again....it started raining at mile 9. I don't like to run in the rain, but it wasn't too bad. My shoes and my Terrible Towel got soaked. Yes, I carried my towel throughout the whole race! After mile 13, but right foot kept cramping up and going numb. I had to take my shoe off a few times. There was a huge hill right around 13.2 which I thought was really cruel! But I got through it.
I was doing okay until about mile 20. I was getting pretty exhausted by this point! Then I heard my name being called and saw my husband, son, Dad and Sister. I was never so happy to see them! That really perked me up. My husband later told me that he intended to see me at that point because he knew I would be struggling. 20 miles was the longest training run that I had done.
Miles 21-25 were quite brutal. I.HURT.EVERYWHERE. I had to walk and run throughout those miles. But at that time I was going through the worst part of the city, but the fans were the greatest! I had a bunch of little kids high fiving me, and women cheering me on. I didn't have my name on my shirt but since I had my terrible towel, they were screaming "GO STEELER GIRL!" At mile 23 a very elderly woman in a wheelchair told me that I still looked sexy. That made me laugh out loud! I don't care who you are, that's funny!
I had made a few friends by mile 25 and one of the girls was running her 3rd marathon, so that made me feel a little bit better! She started walking along with another girl I met, but I was ready to run. The adrenaline was pumping!
I got to mile 26 and I saw my family again. My little boy ran along with me to the finish line...it was so incredibly sweet! There were no tears. I was just so happy to be finished that I couldn't get the freaking smile off my face!
All in all, it was a great first marathon experience, lots of up and downs, but I am glad that I held out and ran it in Pittsburgh. It was truly an awesome experience! It was a lot of fun running with all those people after 4 lonely months of training alone!
Distance: 26.2 Miles
Duration: 5:34:22
Pace: 12:46
13 comments:
Great report! You did awesome!
Kelly, Congratulations! Great job. Pittsburgh was also my first marathon and also had a fantastic time. Just like you, I was doing great up to mile 20 (also my longest run) and after that, I had terrible leg cramps. Even through the pain, it is a great experience. You are now and forever a Marathoner!
You may not have had any tears, but I did! I'm so proud of you!!!
And to see Brayden running with you was awesome. Something you will both remember forever.
Great Job!!! You did wonderful for your first marathon!!!
Congratulations, Kelly!!
That's a great report, Kel. I'm so proud of you!
Watching the marathon and half-marathon finishers this past weekend made me want to do one BAD. I'm so glad you got to do your first in your own city. And Brayden running with you was fantastic! Congrats!
Yea!! Kelly! You did a great job.
Great job, Kelly!
Congratulations on being a marathoner!!
I teared up a bit reading that B ran the last bit with you! I am so proud of you, can't wait to see you in July!
Thank you all ! :) *sniff*
Can't wait to see you too Hope!
Congratulations Kell! Sorry it took me forever to get here. It is tough to train for that brutal distance alone but you toughed it out cause you wanted it so badly! I am glad you first marathon was in your hometown the first year they brought it bak. Jayden is such a cutie. You go Steeler Girl!
Nice job. I just ran my first a couple of weeks ago. I did not get much sleep before hand either, I also trained alone, and I also struggled in the latter miles. Great job and nice report.
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