First Marathon Ever!!!

When I told people I was running my first full marathon, 90% of the time I got the same reaction:  "What?  Really?  I thought you ran marathon's all the time!"

For that very reason (combined with many others) I decided I had to run a marathon.

Now, when I tell people I ran my first full marathon last weekend, they look at me and say, "What?  Really?  I thought you had run several or ran them all the time!" (That just happened Friday afternoon with 2 ladies I was talking to.  They both said it!)

At least now I can say I ran one.

Lane would like me to say that is the only one.

Unfortunately, that will probably not be the case.

You see, I have this disease.  It's called the "I can do it better" disease.  This disease doesn't come up in competition with other people, though.  Strangely, when competing against other people or friends, many times my mental conversation goes something like this: "You don't have to beat them, just stay up with them.  Keep them in your sights."  Or it says, "Wow, they are really fast!  Good for them, I'll just do my thing, because there is always going to be someone faster, better (and skinnier- how did that get in here?) than you!"

I'm really OK with being pretty mediocre at everything.

BUT!  When I do a race, when I finish, if I feel I could have been faster/stronger/better, I have to do another one to prove I can!  I want to beat myself, thus the "I can do it better" disease.

So, for my own posterity, here is the play by play of my first, but probably not last, marathon:

JUNE 9, 2012


The alarm sounds at 2:45 a.m. My friend Lisa Wallace and I wake up bright eyed, and bushy-tailed (my dad's saying) ready to go run my first and her second marathon. We get dressed, pack our bag, make sure everything is in order, and drive the 2 miles down the street to the parking lot to meet the busses that will take us up the canyon.  The last bus left at 4:15 a.m., so no sleeping in that morning!  Us and 7,000 other crazy people were ready to go.  We ride about 45 mins. up Provo Canyon and through a small town called Wellsville.  We are dropped off at a cow field with rows of port-a-potties, and some fire pits to snuggle up around and keep warm.  It is a beautiful morning, and expected to hit a high of only 75.  Perfect day!!!

I counted about 50 port-a-potties!

As the sun peaks over the mountains from the east, the excitement starts to build in the air.  Everyone is encouraged to line up according to how fast you think you will run the race.

This brings to mind yet again, what will be my plan?  We listened to some pros lecture the day before.  They said, "hydrate, hydrate, hydrate" and don't start too fast if this is your first marathon.  You will hit the wall and die.  I had heard that so many times from many people.  I also was concerned about the elevation difference.  I live at about sea level, and the race was at about 5-6,000 ft.

So, in my head I thought my best best time could be 4 hours, my realistic time 4:15, and my worst time 4:30.  I also decided I would drink water and powerade and walk 10 seconds at every water station.  They said what you don't do in the beginning to save seconds can cost you lots of minutes at the end in cramping, dehydration, "the wall", etc.  I didn't want that.

Standing behind the 4 hour finish pacer.

But then I start thinking about how I know myself.  I need to start fast because then my body will keep that pace.  It is hard for me to start slower and make myself speed up.  Plus, the first 8 miles were supposedly downhill (I later found that those downhills also had 5 good uphills!!!)

So, we got behind the 4 hour pacer, and took off with the shot of the gun.  Well, wouldn't you know it, 1 mile in, I have to pee.  Are you kidding me??? I never have had to do that!  Nerves? maybe. Pre-race hydration drinks?  Maybe.  Whatever it is, I need to pee.  However, there is a line at the port-a-potties.  So I continue on to mile 2, 3, 4, and finally at mile 5 I don't care.  I wish I was a guy who could just run to the side and pee behind a tree like so many guys did!  I decide to stand in line, and Lisa keeps on going. I stopped my watch to see what time difference it would make for me (in the end it was only 4 minutes.)

I do my business as fast as possible, and take off running again.  I feel good.  It is a beautiful morning, the sun is coming up over the mountains, there are horses running around, mountains around, things are green, I have music in my ears and I feel really good! 

Me and some of the other crazies on a beautiful morning marathon!

At about mile 12 I am running up a hill and see Lisa up ahead.  I caught her!  Unfortunately I still haven't found the 4 hour pacer.  We rejoice in our reunion and start chatting while we run.  Lisa is feeling OK.  At mile 13 I turn to her and jokingly say, "Hey!  We only have to run 13 miles!  That is a half marathon!  Want to come with me?  Let's do it!"

She pulls out 2 Excedrin for pain, and I asked if she happened to have any extra?  I thought maybe my legs won't hurt toward the end if I take a pain killer.  She said she had a couple, so I took some.  We run another mile, and I start feeling really good!  It is downhill, my legs are basically numb, and I want to kick it!  I think that was Ecstasy and not Excedrin she gave me!

I pick up the pace a bit and Lisa gives me the OK to leave her.  I feel good.  I'm singing AIDA and Wicked and Justin Bieber and Carrie Underwood and Taio Cruz and Jason DeRulo and Taylor Swift all down the canyon.  I hit mile 20 and feel great and pass what used to be Bridal Veil falls.  I pull out my phone and snap a picture.

I start to wonder when the "wall" is going to hit.  I feel good!  I am at the end of the canyon and have 4 miles to go until I'm done.  I can't believe I am almost done with this marathon, and I feel great!  I'm breathing fine, no problems there at all.  Legs feel great.  I pick it up a little.  I keep playing "I pass you, you pass me" with various runners.  I hate that unintentional game.

3 miles to go and the bottom of my foot starts to pull a little.  I've never had that before, but it doesn't hurt or bother me too bad.  I run past the last 2 water stations because I really feel good and don't want to stop and walk.  I run past BYU and all the memories I have of going there.  I get to downtown and have 1 mile left.  I can't believe I still haven't hit my wall.  I realize I'm not going to hit any wall.  I am going to finish this smiling!  I get a little emotional as I begin to think that I just reached a goal I set for myself 3 years ago that I never in a million years thought I ever would have set for myself in my life!  I think of my great friend Lisa and how she was willing to step in and train with me and run the race with me.  I NEVER could have done it without her!  I don't have enough self motivation to do that!!!  I ran my first marathon at, ahem, um ...... 40. 

 I pick up the pace a little more and cross the finish line with an official time of 4:11:54.  I look around in awe, and want so bad to hug someone or talk to someone but there is no one there.  Just me.  So I smile, congratulate myself, pinch myself to be sure it's real and bask in the fact that I just did it. 

The legs and feet that served me well that day!!

My time without the potty break! :)

Then I immediately realize that this will not be my last marathon.  I could have gone faster, I could have done more, I didn't leave it all out there.  I try not to be disappointed by this.  I did a good, safe, first race.  I didn't injure myself, I didn't have a horrible experience, it was a good "maiden voyage".  But now I do know I can't call it good with that.  I have to do another one and break 4 hours.  Why?  I don't know, I'm just crazy I guess!  It's that "I can do better" disease.

Lisa and I at the end.  What a great friend!