but there sure is in marathons!!! Whether it’s your first, a PR, a DNS, a DNF, a tough course, a come back from an injury or illness…that finish line can bring even the toughest to tears.
After getting over my initial shock of simply finishing, the next day I found myself feeling a little weepy that I really had hit a 5 min PR when I wasn’t even planning to get close to it. I remember during mile 24 I wanted to ask Matt (a military man) to give me his best drill sergeant speech because I was sure it would make me run, but I knew it was also guaranteed to make me cry and being that he is so nice, I didn’t want to him to take that personally. What can I say race day makes me a little emotional.
Houston provides some really cool graphics for us number crunchers! Here are a few that I pulled from my race:
PACING
I have often said that once I settle in to a pace I can pretty much hold it without thinking…this weekend proved that was basically true. I did not look at my watch during the entire race because I wanted to simply run and see what would happen.
As we all know I probably should have checked myself a little more at the beginning, but it really is fascinating to see how consistent I was without looking!
Mile 1 – 9:21
Mile 2 – 8:54 – it’s cold maybe if I go faster I’ll be warmer
Mile 3 – 8:48 – Hmm my foot really hurts
Mile 4 – 9:04
Mile 5 – 9:00
Mile 6 – 9:06
Mile 7 – 9:09
Mile 8 – 9:05
Mile 9 – 9:01
Mile 10 - 9:00
Mile 11 – 8:58 – gosh this feels good, but I’m way ahead of pace
Mile 12 – 9:07
Mile 13 –9:01
Mile 14 – 9:01 – Where’s David I should see him soon
Mile 15 –9:02 – David! Have you seen the bacon bits commercial? That was me.
Mile 16 – 8:43 – David hands me off to Samara
Mile 17 – 9:19 – Boy I’m starting to get tired
Mile 18 – 9:15 – DOH why did that 4 hour group seem like they sped up
Mile 19 – 9:30 – Man my foot feels pretty bad
Mile 20 – 9:45 – Well I thought I started too fast, here comes the downward spiral
Mile 21 – 10:11
Mile 22 – 10:23 – Matt’s turn to run with me
Mile 23 – 10:12 - Hey you paid to do this stop whining
Mile 24 – 10:29 – 1 minute walk, darn it keep moving Matt’s still there this isn’t much of a workout for him
Mile 25 – 11:24 - Am I still moving? Can’t tell refusing to look at watch
Mile 26 – 10:28 – Run for those who can’t
Mile .2 (.37 on my watch) – 8:47 – AHHHHHHHH
Never let them see you cry!!! Ok not really, I just happened to catch the camera’s at the good points here…and then there is this photo which really speaks a thousand words…I want to stop so badly that I don’t even care if the course photog catches me pondering it.
Does finishing a big race make you cry? Do you get teary eyed seeing other people finish?
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Gratitude Journal
Jan 17
I am grateful for almonds
I am grateful for cashews
I am grateful for walnuts
I am grateful for hazelnuts
I am grateful for peanuts
