The Rundown- Photo Style

Below is my marathon experience told through pictures. Enjoy!

Here I am with my dad and brother, walking to the start line. It was a long cold journey to the start. Walk, metro, walk, walk, bathroom stop, walk. My parents, grandparents, sister, and brother were quite the troopers.

Pre-race, post first Goo. A very sunny morning. Can you tell I am excited?

The Start. I am somewhere in this mass of people. I didn't even hear the gun go off. Things were quite confusing, since there were two waves, one at 8:15am and one at 8:45am, and the 8k start in between. I was in the second wave. I had to ask two women if I was in the right place. (Like there was another marathon going on down the road). I was nervous and jittery.

More Start pictures. I think I walked and half-jogged for the first mile because of all the runners, which I appreciated since I didn't have a great warm-up. The first 3 miles of the race were hilly, but we were going at such a slow pace it wasn't that bad. I remember cheering for the wheel chair competitors as they struggled up the hills, hand over hand. What an amazing and encouraging sight!

Spectators walking from the start line across the Memorial Bridge to the 10-mile marker near the Lincoln Memorial.

Runners on Constitution Avenue. You can tell from this picture that the sun was shining and the weather was rather warm. I would have liked it if the temperature was about 5 degrees cooler.

This is actually pretty funny. It was getting hot and I was making really good time, about 9 minute miles. I had not stopped yet, and this is around mile 11. I needed to take my long sleeve shirt off, but I had accidentaly pinned it to my tank top. My entire family pitched in to help me, and my mom and grandmother pinned my bib back on.

My first water break at mile 11. This is the one thing that I would have done differently. I felt so good at the beginning that I neglected to walk through the water breaks, rest my legs, and take a sip of Powerade for the first 11 miles. By mile 20 I was kicking myself and wishing I had taken it a little easier at the beginning.

Race-day glitter.

Water break. You can see the Marines who handed out water, Powerade, and food to the runners. They were so encouraging. When a Marine is shouting at you to keep running you listen.

Cynda jumped in and ran with me around mile 14. She got me passed mile 15. It was perfect timing for her to jump in. The wind was picking up and my spirits were starting to fade. I saw my family somewhere around there as well and took two more Advil.

This is me after the last ten miles and finish line. There is a gap in pictures. The last ten miles were hard. There was a lack of spectators, shade, and still air. It became extremely windy. I walked through every water station. I ate 3 more Goos. And I kept running. It was tempting to stop. People were passing out and getting sick all around me. My knees and ankles were aching. My stomach was nauseous. But I kept running. I was determined to finish, and to finish running.
After the finish line, which was at the top of a hill (very cruel!) I found my family and immediately collapsed to the ground. I rested there for several minutes, drinking water (in hopes of flushing out the yucky Goo) and eating pretzels. It was so crowded and hot. I think my family was scared I was going to pass out.

I finally touched base with my training partner on the phone. We congratulated eachother and then headed home.

Mission Accomplished

I have finished my first marathon. Final time was 4 hours 17 minutes. My toenails are black and blue, and one is falling off. My knees hurt and my left ankle is awful sore. My family is still in shock by everything they witnessed on the course (Tim got a bunch on tape, but I am not sure if "what happens during a race stays in the race" is proper etiquette) I am trying to reconnect with friends who were at that race, they even made a sign, but completely missed me (I feel awful).

But I am completely thrilled to be done the marathon. I enjoyed it, but not as much as the beer afterwards.

I couldn't have done it without my husband, family, and friends (Cynda even jumped in and ran with me...well so did James and Tim but that is for later) who sacrificed sleeping-in, church, and their Sunday morning to be with me at the start, middle, and finish of the race. I love you!

And I couldn't have been more prepared if it weren't for all the wonderful running bloggers who ran before me, and gave me so many words of encouragement. Thank you!!!

I will post more later, my sister got some great shots!