Daniel and I started the race together for the first minute and a half.  At the start of the race I was standing next to a lady, Barbara, that had finished a marathon in 4:39:00 before and wanted to repeat that time again. So I decided to keep her in my site from the start. After about 2 miles I decided that I should go my own pace. So I stopped watching for Barbara in the crowd. Throughout the run we would see each other and talk off and on for the first 14 miles.

I started off fine and was trying very hard to not go fast. It was very difficult not to go with the crowd. I loved getting to see my family and friends along the course! I was hugging everybody I saw. I was very happy at the start. Then the course started to leave downtown. I really had to pee and I waited for the Half runners to split off first. Then at the halfway point I called Daniel and said “I am at mile 13 and I am dying!  Tell me that 13 miles is nothing!” Then I was able to pick myself up and keep going pretty well. I put my headphones on for music and started rolling.

Then around mile 15 the course was sort of ugly and things were getting harder. Then around mile 16 I started to get chills every time the wind blew. Then, I started to feel very nauseated. It felt like I had the flu! I never felt that way during training. It was very discouraging to be in long straight-aways with the sun beating down on you. It didn’t help that the people around me looked like they were dying too. Many were walking.

I started walking too. Then I figured out that I should keep my head down, listen to my music, and keep my feet moving. Then I really wanted an icy cold limeade. I don’t know why. Eventually some non-race-sanctioned people were handing out wedges of oranges. It was the best orange I had ever had in my life! Then at the next station I tried the Cytomax and it was good! I had been eating my GU gel’s every 45 minutes and drinking water. Then I had to stop to pee again.

I was right on pace at mile 20 at 3:44:30. Then saw my friend Melia and her two friends dressed as a rooster, chicken, and tweetie bird at mile 21. It was so hilarious!!

Then after that I didn’t care so much about meeting my 5:00 hour goal time. I just wanted to finish without dying. It was really hard to push myself those last 6 miles. Downtown couldn’t come soon enough!

Then at mile 24 I looked up and saw a large white muscular guy passed out. He was halfway in a driveway and the road. There were people yelling for the medical aid station staff. There were a lot of people helping him. So I prayed for him and kept running. After that I decided not to push myself too hard to finish.

There were also some weird hills in the road going into downtown and next to the Alamodome. I eventually got to the finish!! Wahoo! I finished at 5:08:59.

After I crossed the finish line I really could not believe that I finished a MARATHON. I texted Daniel, “I finished. I can’t believe it. 5:08:59″  I know my body felt it, but my brain was too tired to even register that I completed a lifetime goal.

Overall, I am pleased with my performance. I think if it wasn’t so hot and humid I could have done better. I couldn’t figure out if I was under-hydrating or over-hydrating during the race. I never have to stop to pee, but I stopped 3 times on the course.

After I saw my pace times and my splits I was really pleased with how I did.

5K = 32:22, 10:25 pace
Half = 2:23:38, 10:58 pace
20 mile = 3:44:41, 11:15 pace
Final at 26.2 = 5:08:59

Now I am looking forward to taking a break from training. I will probably do another marathon again next year. For now I am looking forward to running for fun so I can run off the holiday food! LOL.

Here is a photo of Annabelle running after me at mile 23.

My marathon medal!