Ok so we cross the finish line...holding hands...in the air. And thats about where all the fun ended. We managed to shuffle off the course. I almost fell on top of the guy trying to cut my chip off my shoe. I grabbed a bagel, banana, and some cookies...and wanted to sit down sooooooooo bad. This is probably where my worst fear set in for the day. Should I sit? Can I sit? Will I be able to get up? How bad will it hurt?....so I watched Dani first. Watched facial expressions....looked for any cringing...looked for signs of relief once she was in the sitting position and decided to go for it.
It was freezing! I was sweaty....and freezing. The wind kept whipping around as I was chomping on my bagel...and I wanted to die. We had about a 2 mile walk (aka shuffle) to the MARTA station and I was probably at my lowest point. I couldnt stop shaking and shivering, my legs hurt so bad I wanted to chop them off, I could barely move, my body was hating life and rejecting me as a master...and all I wanted was warmth. It made me think of the homeless...and how they must feel in Ohio during the winter. We accidentally got on the WRONG MARTA bus and rode it for a half hour before realizing it. We ended up calling Dani's friend and sitting in a freezing cold elevator for another half hour. It was at this point I wanted to die. My stomach was ready to explode...I was cold...and broken.
We finally made it back to the hotel where we begged for another hour or so until we had to check out. Taking a HOT HOT HOT shower was where things started to turn around. After that...and going to the bathroom...I started to feel like a human being again. Packing up the room was pretty horrid though. I had to keep stopping to use the restroom and I felt awful. I really couldnt eat anything eventhough I knew I needed to. It was a fight to the finish of shoving things everywhere to get out of that hotel....and then....WE STILL HAD AN 8-10 HR DRIVE!!!!! Hold up WHAT???????
We get on the road... I was initally scared that my legs wouldn't even press the pedals, but quickly overcame that fear. THe only thing that was really bothering me was my stomach. We pretty much had to pull over every hour and a half for me to use the restroom at which one of the times we decided to fill up for gas. I gave Dani my credit card while I made a mad dash for the gas station bathroom. When I was coming back...I saw her get out of the car and head inside to get a frappacino. After she got back...I pulled out of the parking lot and heard a LOUD THUMP!!! I pulled away with the gas pump IN MY GAS TANK!! WHOOPS! hahahaha We got some good laughs!!
By the time we got to Gainesville where Dani's car was..I knew I was spent. My GPS was saying I wouldnt get to Savannah until 2-3 am...and I had been up since 4:30 for the marathon. Also I had only gotten 4 hrs of sleep the night before...AND I RAN A FRICKIN MARATHON for crying out loud. I knew it was best if I stopped and got a hotel..and thats exactly what I did....AFTER I got stung by a BEE in the parking lot!!!! Seriously??!? I was waiting for a Florida Gator to come bite my leg off after that...but somehow I managed to safely check into my hotel.
Fast forward....next day. Get up....the fear sets in again. Will I be able to walk? what is this going to feel like? should I even try? or should I lay in this hotel bed for the rest of my life? I sit up...put my feet on the floor...no pain...get up...walk around...no pain! REJOICE!!! WTF?! I just ran one of the hilliest marathons in the country..completely undertrained...and I have NO pain the next day. Completely shocked.
So heres the deal
Would I ever run a marathon undertrained again? HELL YES my friends! First of all....continuous 20+ mile runs on the weekends just isnt a lot of fun for me. Id almost rather go through a little hell on race day than fear 20+ mile runs weekend after weekend. ALthough eventually I want to get my time way down....so I will need to train better.
Have I suffered any major consequences from doing this? Absolutely not. I am petrified. I was hoping this would show me that I can't just go out and do anything my mind comes up with. I mean literally..any of you who have been following this blog since the end of December has realized that any little idea that pops into my head running wise...I go out and do it FEARLESS! in 2 months I have ran a half marathon, 10k, 5k, and full marathon. I STARTED running at the END of DECEMBER!
This all started as a way to conquer my feelings of failure. I was hoping to put myself out there to fail..and realize that its not the end of the world. INSTEAD.....its given me the idea that I can do ANYTHING I put my mind to. WHy fear failing? Just fricken go out there and kick ass...and never fail! Then you have nothing to fear! haha...sounds crazy huh? I'm sure I'll find something that will totally defeat me. I mean I even count the 10k That i felt totally lousy at....as defeat in a way. But this has just given me such a sense of super humanness....and these amazing feelings. I really feel like endorphins should be an illegal mind altering drug somehow. BC I'm TOTALLY Addicted. THere should be a warning on your running shoes "Do not operate heavy machinery after running" Or something to warn people. THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF! IT HAS CHANGED MY LIFE! ANd not just mine...OH NO! I've dragged others into this too. I get daily texts "thanks so much for making me do this. I'm in the best shape of my life..and it has totally changed my life"
So Do it people! iF i CAN do it..you can! I didn't break any records..I didnt even run a fast time, and after seeing this sign.....
....I sadly never caught up with the Kenyans!. But I set out to do something that most people wouldnt even imagine...even some of you elite runners that BQ...running a marathon without the training & only 3 months of running under your belt total. My training consisted of 2-4 mile runs during the week...and a long run on the weekend. The longest my long run ever got to was 15 miles. I was also putting hours in at school 6am-6pm just about every day. When I would get home from school around 6:30..I still had to make dinner and had 2 tests to study for each day. I also went through finals in which I had 19 credit hours of cumulative exams. Want to see someone crazier? Check out Danielle who's furthest run before the marathon was EIGHT MILES!!!!!!! Was in the middle of moving across the country, moving in with her BF (HI DANNY!)..and starting a new career. This is who we are......Running has changed my life. I feel like a new person. Finally...I want to say. Watch this YouTube video or download "Rascall Flatts- Stand".
I heard it on the way home..and after everything we had been through this weekend...sleeping with mice, sitting in a freezing cold elevator for 30 mins, running 26 miles in pain...on 4 hours of sleep...and then driving 10 hours....stung by bees...etc...I had tears streaming down my face as it blared on the radio. Check it out...and think of me! Love you guys!
20 comments:
Wow!! What a story!! Again, congrats on your achievement!! :-)
awww you made me cry!
i'm addicted...
i can't wait to run again... as soon as my foot heals... it's on!!!!!
my marathon sista!
You ran a fantastic race! You also have every right to be proud of yourself and your accomplishments both running and in school. I don't think you will find an event that will defeat you; defeat is only in your mind and every chance one takes is an accomplishment in some way. Well done! So what's next?
Great Race report, you did awesome. Congrats goes out to you for completing the marathon.
You must have been tired to pull away from the gas pump with the pump still in your tank! Too funny!
Congrats and good luck planning and training for your next one - fewer hills, right?!
Hey, yup that is quite atory. It's amazing how you can do whatever you want when you put your heart and soul into it. I really think you should do an Ironman Triathlon now...sign up...you can do it : )
That gas pump thing happend to us (we were traveling to California from here) and the attendant left it in and we drove off. Funny...I thought we were the only ones.
Great job, you're a natural.
Finishing my first marathon was similar to yours. I was so damn cold and nothing was warming me up, then I had to sit in a car for 8 hours. I couldn't eat anything, it was horrible.
Then all the congrats started getting texted to me and it hit me: "holy shit. I ran a marathon."
One exception: I was sore the next day (week, actually) because, you know, I'm mortal, unlike yourself.
Nice job, like Doug says you're a natural; your mental fortitude will carry you a long way and you seem to have that in droves. You face lots of choices now, faster time; there's a lot of room for that, longer distances; running for 5 hours plus means you can switch up to a 50k or beyond. There's always the darkside of HIM and IM! I am sure you'll do great and whatever you decide.
Wow, great story. You never forget your first marathon. I hope you got some time off from the OR...can't imagine having to stand through cases right after the marathon. That'd be brutal. Once again, congrats on your triumph. You're official a marathoner now!
Christine, thanks so much for sharing it all. Girl, I have laughed and got excited for you. Hell, I even felt tired for you on that drive. Glad you stopped. Great, on feeling recovered and the pep talk that i can do it. Are ya sure?!! LOL!
Congratulations! Enjoy the feeling you deserve it.
so when is the tatt (carpe diem)day coming??
Freaking crazy story. The end part where you got real sick in the stomach and freezing cold reminds me of my first and only marathon (in October). I sure as heck am more mortal than you too... I spent two months recovering from blown up feet. You were right as rain the next day.
Talk about a God complex... that'll start one. Congrats!! Great story.
Congrats again...sounds like you had an amazing time. Make sure you rest, though...you don't want to get hurt...you've done a lot in a short amount of time! Congrats!
You are absolutely amazing. Sounds like your marathon day was absolutely crazy!! But a good story, and an amazing accomplishment!
CONGRATULATIONS SWEETS! what a fantastic race and a great race report. you did absolutely fabulous!
do i hear heartbreak hill in boston calling your name?
That's pretty amazing how you're running career has gone so well in such a short time! Great job!! : )
you guys are amazing... i was telling my husband your story on our run last night and said we can do it too!!! we will finish! thanks for the inspiration :)
Totally inspiring! I have recently started running 5k's...I plan to do a half marathon by the end of the year....You guys are awesome!
Rebekah
Congratulations! Your story is a little scary but totally motivating. Thanks for sharing it!
I saw the lady with the gummy worm, after I passed her I wanted to eat it so badly! :)
You are too inspiring. I just signed up for Disney but now you got me thinking of signing up for a marathon in the next month or so. Our training levels sound about the same so... maybe?
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