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sistergoldenhair
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Joined: 22 Sep 2003
Posts: 151
Location: Going to Carolina in my mind
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 Posted: 10/27/03 - 11:09 Post subject: MCM "Unabridged" Version
(I've posted this report on the CR site too so if you read it there, you can skip it.)
I actually slept very well Saturday night, and got up at 5:15...did some sun salutations, ate breakfast, got ready, stretched more, etc. I was very happy to be able to take care of all bathroom business! Then I walked two blocks to the Rosslyn metro station and a bunch of people I'd trained with were there. The most hectic moments were trying to figure out where to line up, but finally those of us who were starting together found our spots. Because I have had ITBS and PFS in both knees for the past month, I decided to try to stay with a realistic pace group and pick it up if I was feeling strong near the end--I was pretty much just glad to be able to have my knees calmed down enough to run, since 3 weeks ago I couldn't do more than 4 miles!
Temperatures were in the low 60s and it was cloudy, but humid. A nice breeze helped with that part. At 8:30 we heard the cannon go off and waited...and waited...and waited... and finally started walking. The crowd at the beginning screaming and cheering was unreal. This is what rock stars feel like. Amazing energy. I loved giving high-5's to the kids who came out to watch. The first 6-7 miles, until Key Bridge, really seemed like a blur to me. So many thoughts were going through my head, about how the day was finally here and I was doing what I'd trained for for so long...it almost seemed like I wasn't running. Over Key Bridge, a little trip through Georgetown, and next up Rock Creek Parkway. At this point I was still feeling no pain and had fun noticing some of the more colorful runners--a Kermit the Frog, a man skipping rope, a woman with a headdress of fall leaves. I started pulling away from my running partner around Mile 9. She was having some cramping in her glutes. I wished we could have stuck together through the whole thing, but we each also needed to run our own races.
We ran back down Rock Creek, past the Kennedy Center, and the halfway point at the Lincoln Memorial was already here! At this point I told myself to erase the last 13.1 and start fresh doing a comfortable half marathon. I also saw one of my students and two friends at this point which was so uplifting! The crowd was very supportive as we headed along the Mall. My cousin was waiting for me next to the Capitol at Mile 15, and jumped in with me. At first her company was great, but as those upper teen miles ticked off I started feeling irritated with having to make conversation--but she understood. The sun also came out at this point and I really wished I had my hat. We headed back down the Mall, around the Tidal Basin (which also went by in a blur) and she left me at Mile 21. At this point I was starting to feel less energetic though I never felt like I hit "The Wall" as others have described it. The hardest part about miles 21-23 was that the course wasn't very pleasant...the 14th street bridge went on FOREVER and the part after the bridge was kind of a desloate and ugly area of Arlington. I took two couple minute walk breaks during this point and had my only few moments of ... "ah, let's just bag this and WALK the rest." However at mile 23 I knew the end was so close, so I picked up again. My legs felt very tired and in a weird way running felt better than walking. At mile 24-25 the terrific crowd was back--everyone cheering for me and yelling my name kept me going and staying positive. I was getting excited too because that medal was going to be around my neck very soon.
MILE 26!! Just the circle around the Iwo Jima and I'm done. The spectators were absolutely amazing here...they carried me that last 385 yards as my quads were so tired and sore. It was impossible not to smile though. I kept thinking, I know I've never been married, but this has to be a better feeling than walking down the aisle even. And there was the FINISH! In a weird way the time had gone by very fast on the course.
I really wanted to come in at under 5:00 but ended up with a chip time of 5:07. I was a bit ahead of pace until the whole mile 21 part. But considering the recent injuries and so many other things that could have gone wrong but didn't, I'm very pleased with the overall experience. I would do it again, but not for a long time!
Today it hurts to move a millimeter although it all seems muscular at this point, and not related to my knees (which is great!!)
As for the course, it felt essentially flat even though there were three small, minor hills (less than 150 feet elevation change). I think everything was so exciting I didn't notice the hills much. The one at the end was the roughest--because it was the end! Most of the course was very pleasant, and I think to someone who doesn't live in the DC area it would be even more impressive. I was so focused I didn't even notice a lot of the monuments. Seeing all the runners pass in front of the beautiful Capitol building was the most inspiring view to me.
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