Yay I PR'd the marathon! Finally! I've run 3 marathons since I set that time, felt good to finally beat it! I felt "ok" most of the race, like hell warmed over the last 3, but kept pushing so I'd have no regrets, and came in 27 seconds under my PR. My pace should have been good for 4:29 but the course was long, so what can I do. I'll take it! My friend ran all 26 miles with me as my pacer and he made all the difference. Happy to be home, and sitting down. LOL
I'm zoo so happy for you Angie! You never cease to amaze me with your determination and grit and general awesomeness.
Thanks, girls. It was so hard the last few miles, but honestly, that's what makes the finish that much more special. If you cross feeling ok, you're just like meh, whatever. If you white knuckle those last few miles, the finish line is the most beautiful sight you've ever seen. And provided your dead relatives aren't surrounding it, you know you survived this crazy thing. This might not mean much to non-runners, but... I actually picked up the pace between mile 20 and the finish line. (which I guess means 16-20 is where I screwed it up? LOL) But to know I found the strength to pick up the pace when I felt like fried hell... I'll ride that high for a couple weeks.
That's so awesome Angie! My hubby just did his first half marathon this weekend and finished at 2:01:25. I was so so proud of him, but watching those runners for the half and full marathon just amazed me and made me appreciate just how hard it is what you do so well! side note: in the expo they had the day before the race there was a vendor that had these really cool display racks with a row of little hooks along the bottom to hang all your race medals from and all I could think of is... those don't have nearly enough hooks for Angie! LOL!