First time racing in a tutu. - A couple of weeks ago, I bought some tulle with my birthday money. I saw a girl racing in a tutu for my half and I really wanted to wear one for Rockford. I made one and then my Princess wanted one so I made one for her too. I was a little nervous to wear it to the race, but sucked it up. I got a lot of attention and compliments and it made it a lot easier for Dan to know where I was. This was my first time, and it definitely won't be my last! I plan on wearing one for The CRIM in August!
First time starting "late". - I was standing in the potty line when I heard the race start. Panic set in among those of us still in line. Some of the 10K people let me cut and I finally made it up to the potty. Walking out, I heard, "Last call for marathoners and half marathoners!" I ran from the potties to the coral to start the race. It took me about a mile to kinda settle in and get myself out of that panic feeling.
First time running with a pace group. - Around mile two I caught the 5:00 pace group. It was a group of really nice people. Ralph, the pacer, was running a bit behind but his goal was just to be safe. The 11:30 pace felt really nice in the heat and I decided to slow down and stick with them. The conversation was fun and it was neat to hear everyones racing stories. They slowed down a little bit more during some of the hills and before I knew it, I was running with two guys I met in the group. We decided we would just keep trucking and stay together, the three of us, as long as we could. We lost Mark around mile 8 and then it was just Carmen and myself until mile 13. It was a good experience and I could see running without music if I were to run with a pace group again sometime.
First time thinking that I was going to die. - Around mile seventeen I started to feel terrible. I wasn't in any of the normal pain that I usually feel from running. My legs felt fine. My feet felt fine. It was my head and my stomach. I felt like I had the flu. I knew I was getting dangerously close to having to call it quits. I backed off from running and decided to give myself some time. If I had to speed walk until the end, I was going to do it.
First time starting my period during a race. - Of all days, it had to be this one. During mile twenty, the course took us in to this park. I spotted a bathroom that I decided to stop at. I filled my fuel bottles with cold water (everything they were handing out was boiling) and went in to the bathroom. I looked down and I think I swore out loud. Guess this explains the cramps...for the most part.
First time laying in the grass during the race. - I saw Dan and my Princess again at mile 21. I layed my head on his shoulder and just cried, wishing he could carry me to the car and take me away. I composed myself, kissed him, and said goodbye. I made it another mile down the course (it was a scenic park trail) and had the urge to lay in the grass, under the trees, in the shade...so I did. I layed there until my back was itchy...until I knew if I layed there any longer that I wouldn't be able to get up. During mile 22, I would stop two more times at benches and just sit there. I was feeling so sick.
First time puking during a race, not once, but two times. - The last three miles were absolute torture. I have never experienced anything like it. I puked during mile 23, but it was nothing like what was ahead. During my races, I usually use all of my "alone time" to pray for people and just talk to God. I prayed for a few people, but the last few miles were just asking Him to give me the strength to keep going. At mile 25, I came up to a water station. I was not looking good or feeling good. I took a cup of water and a cup of Gatorade and tried to drink as much as I could. I got about .1 of a mile away and started throwing up again...and couldn't stop...to the point where I knelt in the street...I thought it was over. There were two cops directing traffic who came over. One of the cops gave me what was left in his water bottle...it was ice cold and tasted so good. The other cop poured water down my back. I heard them talking with eachother about calling medical. While dry heaving in the street, on my knees, I knew I could not quit a mile from the finish. I told them that I was sure I was okay and that I could suck it up and finish the race. They said that they would let me go only if I was sure and that if I made it over the hill and felt like I was going to be sick again that I was to turn around and come back. I agreed, but it my head I was thinking that I just needed to book it over the hill out of their sight...there was no way I was stopping. I had come too far and been through too much to not make it the last mile.
First time running across the finish with my Princess - I rounded the corner, with tears in my eyes, and spotted Dan and Kait waiting there for me. Kait was walking toward me and when we met, I held out my hand and she ran with me to the finish line. It was a terrible race, but in that moment, I was so proud and thought it was my best finish ever.
First time finishing a marathon in over 6 hours. - I really have no idea what my time was. I stopped my Garmin at mile 23 because I was convinced that I wasn't going to make it. Nothing (but the tutu) about this race was pretty and at times I was sure that they would find me hours later laying in the grass beside the course. This was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, but my need to persevere proved stronger. I finished. I didn't rock this race, but I did rock my tutu.
