Marathon Day!

My day started at 4:15 this morning and feel good even though, I knew that I was entering into the part of my cycle that tends to make a bit more to run. I had breakfast (oatmeal, banana, cranberries, and almond milk) as well as some coffee and vitamins then got dressed.  We the hotel around 5:45 we thought that would be early enough not so much though, we got to the Convention Center at 6:30 due to the traffic.  Met up with one of following Rochester MRTT mamas and her sister for some pictures.  Walked up the started area, gave Bill a kiss and a kiss for luck, enter the race start by 6:50, it was very, very crowded because half marathon, marathon, and marathon relay were all starting together at 7 am.  At 7 am, the gun went off but, it was so crowded that it took 3 mins 16 seconds before I crossed the start line so, at 7:03 I was off for my first marathon.  At 6.2 miles I tweeted that I finished 10K and I took some Hammer Gel.  For first 10 miles or so, I enjoyed reading the signs listening to the cheers, I felt great.  We were the shoreline and there was a camera for the runners to smile, cheer, whatever it was livestream cast, which was awesome!  I must have really caught up in the excitement around the 13 miles because I missed about half of my walk time for walk interval figured, it would be fine to just take 30 seconds of walking.  Still feeling great and really enjoying the entire atmosphere of the race it was electric and I love it.  Around 15 mile, I thought maybe I should grab the BioFreeze or Gatorade or some water (I didn't realize how low I was starting to run on water) but, decided that I would be ok because it was just starting to feel warm so, I thought I would be fine.  Around mile 17 when we were entering Delaware Park there was no shade and the sun was fully out so, was definitely starting to feel warm out. Then being the sun and bit of heat for mile, mile 18 I started feeling my body to slowdown by then mile 19 my body was really started to drained.  I took a piece of my waffle and finished up my last of water and most my Powerade.  From mile 19 to mile 20 it was downhill so, I let gravity do the work because my calves really starting to hurt.  I really slowed down at mile 21 & 22 and definitely starting feel like I wanted because between the heat, calves hurting, and my body just feeling like it wanted to really finish.  So, I changed up the walk/run ratio from mile 22 to 23 and do a lot of self talking saying, "I know you are getting body, I know you think you want to quit but, you have come this month to quit now because want kind of example would be setting for the kids if give up now.  You are stronger to make it through, so what it is a rough spot, just keep moving, you got this, so get it done.  There was a water station at mile 23, they had a sign saying, "you only got 3.2 miles left, you got this!"  I took the Gatorade and water, drank both and I told myself, " you know what you do got this so get it done."  So, mile 23 to the finish, I got back on track for the 9:1 (run/walk) ratio, saw people handing beer along the last 3.2 miles, there were sprinkler at the next water station and I again I took both the water and Gatorade, which definitely help.  I finally saw the sign for mile 26, I could feel myself fill up with tears because I knew I was almost there, I had to swallow the lump I was getting my throat (the one that some people get when they want to cry).  I rounded the corner and finally see the finish line and told myself, "give whatever you have left and finish hard."  Success, I crossed the finish line, pulled out my earbuds, got my medal, went over the the picture booth for the professional pictures and Bill took a picture too.  Finally found an opening in barricade to get to Bill, he gave me a hug and I started crying because I finally finished this marathon journey thanks to love and support from him, I was/am so grateful to experience this moment with him.  It took some efforts to getting back to the van due to the adrenaline rush that I kick in from mile 23 to finish when gone and I was very tired.  I told Bill that there will another one just not very soon and this my start point.  Thank you Bill and all of MRTT mamas as well as other friends and family for the love and support through this journey it has been amazing.

Here a map of the course:

Here are the split (using the 9:1 run/walk ratio):