I finished this race saying that I hated it and didn't want to run another marathon for a long time. The next morning I woke thinking that I wanted to run it again...Aren't we runners silly!
I ran this marathon to support Jackie. We trained for and ran St. George marathon just a few weeks ago. Unfortunatley Jackie was puking the last 8 miles and wanted a do over. Orginally I was just going to come to Santa Barbara and cheer for her but then I figured I might as well get another marathon under my belt and a bit more experience. I am happy I ran it and feel like each marathon I have run whether good or bad I always learn something important for the next one.
I had to talk myself through almost every mile and seriously considered walking the last 7. Jackie turned to me at mile 2 and said this feels easier than St. George and I was thinking and said "not to me". Jackie and I ran only the first 5 together and then she got caught in the 3:30 pace group and I backed off. She slowed a bit and I caught up to her around 11 I think but we only ran together for maybe another 1/4 mile. She started to speed up and I wasn't feeling it. I could see her till about mile 19.5 where I took a walk break and lost sight of her.
Okay so onto the mile break downs.
1-7 Feeling okay not great but also thinking I was going to give it what I had for the day so just kept on. Splits 8:06, 7:49, 7:48, 8:03, 7:46, 8:10, 8:10
8-12 Still feeling about the same. Our mom's were waiting for us at mile 9 with fuel. It was nice to see them. Splits 8:18, 7:54, 7:57, 8:31, 8:24
13-18 Mental torcher. I was thinking just hang on till 18 where I knew my mom was waiting again with more fuel. We ran along a trail for most of these miles and I thought I hated it but thinking back had I not mentally been struggling these miles would have been really fun. I really kept expecting to feel okay "the next mile" but it just didn't happen this race. I also was running near a guy that would not let me pass him. Every time he saw me over his shoulder he would speed up just enough so I couldn't pass him. At water stops I would end up passing him but then he would always take the lead again. Splits 8:22, 8:25, 8:20, 8:38, 8:35, 8:29
19- I felt a bit of a pick me up at this mile and I decided I was going to go for it and see what I could do. 8:19
20-26.2 Don't know what happened but my pick me up back fired. I started having knee trouble. I could barely bend my right knee. I had to walk about a quarte mile and then every time I tried to pick up the pace just a little it would stiffen again so I really had to take it easy. This is where I started toying with the idea of walk running till the end but then new I would be dissapointed if I didn't do my best for the circumstances. There was a water stop every mile so I told myself no walking excpet through the water and that seemed to really help me to be able to take a quick breather at every mile. Mile 23-24 was crazy!!! There was the biggest hill of the whole race which was about a half mile long and the wind was blowing soooo hard. I ran the whole thing but every time I looked at my watch I was running over an 11 min mile.. just couldn't go any faster. I ran past the guy who wouldn't let me pass him earlier on and I thought he would do the same thing again but.... I beat the sucker. That's what you get for thinking you are better than a girl!! :) The last two miles I was singing the songs that were playing on my ipod out loud and it felt GOOD! I loved looking a bit crazy because I sure felt a bit crazy at this point. Splits 10:06, 9:16, 9:33, 9:28, 10:14(hill), 8:43, 8:48, 3:16 Watch read 26.40.
Now that I have had time to reflect on this race I really want to run it again. I thought I hated the course but I think I really actually like it. It was a pretty flat course and I think I might have been able to run it faster than St. George if I had more time in between.I also thought that I hated that it was a smaller marathon but I think I enjoyed that it was a different experience. I want to run it on fresh legs and not 6 weeks after a previous marathon but I will always run the St. George marathon so that will probably never happen.
So happy I ran this marathon even though it was rough. I am so proud of myself for being mentally tough and I am so happy that Jackie ran a good time... she ran 3:40:04. So proud of her!!!
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