On Friday afternoon/early evening, I took MacKenna and WES with me to get my packet from Fleet Feet in Rochester. MacKenna as always had about 20 million questions, WES was interested in the course map and I explained to them where they would be meeting me during the race and then again at the finish line.
Saturday, I did a shake out type run to basically calm my nerves and I had learned from Buffalo that I needed to run the day before the race in order not to go out too fast.
Sunday, the day of the marathon had arrived. 16 weeks of training and now it was time to race. I say I was nervous would be a lie because I always get nervous before a race but, this time it wasn't as bad.
The gun for the race went off, I made my way over the start line, I wasn't rushing like I normally do because I kept telling myself that it was just long run and stick to the ratio and I will be fine. I went out in 9:06 pace, which for me in "race mode" (as Bill puts) was conservative for me. At 5.5 miles up through mile 7.25 was a steady climb then it was downhill until mile 9, where there was another uphill climb that lasted until mile 13, hardest part was from mile 9 to mile 10.5 at which my body wasn't liking it but, I reminded myself the Bill and the kids would meeting at mile 13.5 to switch out my water bottles. When I reminded myself of that I got a little emotionally because at the point my average pace was 9:08 meaning that I was on my way to reach my ultimate goal of sub - 4 hours in my 2nd marathon. I continued on with my run 4 mins and jog/walk 30 secs, which I felt like I could really maintain for the entire race. I pass through the second relay stop seeing some of Rochester MRTT mamas, who cheered me on and said I was looking amazing, I finally got where Bill and the kids were we trade off my bottles and as I ran away from them I got a little emotionally knowing that it was first time that the kids really were getting to see mommy in the thick of race and how much time that I spend away from them to do my training and hoping that it inspires them to never give up even when you like it would be easier thing to do. I was feeling great and still maintaining my pace/speed that I wanted until about mile 21 because there was a climb that started just before mile 17 and ended mile 21 at which my doubt in my head was telling me that "you know your body is tired and you are wet from the rain, this isn't worth the pain you are going to be in later." So, I let my head get in the way, which unfortunately cause to me to slow my pace/speed by quite a bit, I went from maintaining a 9:08 to 9:10 pace down to 9:14 then pace down 9:23 (which up being overall pace for the race). I went from run 4 and jog/walk 30 secs to run 3:30 mins and walk 1 minute, which I was very upset with myself and beating myself over it. It wasn't until mile 24, which I was get it back together and telling my doubt in my head that I trained too hard for this give up my goal now. Then I started picking up the pace again, went back to run 4 mins and walk 30 secs even though, my doubt kept trying to get me to listen to it, my determination to finish under 4:10:00 was winning the battle, then hit mile 25 and last water stop and hearing them say you only got 1.2 miles left, my body was like lets get this done and I got this. Again, I started to pick up the pace knowing that 1.2 miles was easy and I could do it. Hit mile 26, and heard someone only 2 blocks left (ie just around the corner) and again my body was like get it done. I rounded corner and heard the cheers for me, hear my name being announced as spotted Bill and the kids, all I wanted to was cry. I crossed the finish line and went to get my medal and realizing that I missed out on my sub 4 hour goal but, I finished in 4:06:53 (chip time) and that was pretty amazing for my second marathon in a year. I found afterwards that I was 7th of 32 for my age group and I finished 182th out of 543 finisher.
