It is now 2 days post-marathon...and I'm trying to get everything straight in my head. It has been such a crazy few days...few months really that I'm trying to piece everything together. I have had a couple of people tell me that I should remember everything about it, from before, during and after...and that's what I'm trying to do.
The insanity that has been the past few months started in September when I made the decision to run the Disney marathon, instead of running a couple of months later with the team. I had a couple of reasons for doing this...one being to give me more time to accomplish my other race goals for the year...which will need me to focus much more on cycling. And two...my roommate was also running the Disney marathon this year...plus...I knew running at Disney would be an added bonus for my parents (especially my mom) to come to the race.
After the Army Ten Miler at the beginning of October, I had taken a small break, and really hadn't been doing many long runs...I think my longest *might* have been 6 miles...maybe. The break was nice...but come November...I knew that I needed to kick it into gear. I got my training schedule from Ed...and cringed at all of the long runs that were ahead of me. There was a big part of me that didn't think I was ever going to be able to do this...but the other part knew that as long as I put my mind to it...I would be fine. After all...look at how far I had already come in 2009...when in January...I couldn't run for more than a minute without feeling like I was going to die...and I had already ran a half marathon...and survived that...
Looking back on some of my long training runs...and then remembering them during the race...was very sentimental. I remember my first 14 mile run...and at the end of the run I hurt so badly...my ankle, my hip flexors, everything. Then the next weekend I had a 16 mile training run...and the same feeling afterward.
The question of "why am I doing this again?" was definitely creeping into my head...but for as long as I had been running...running a marathon had been one of my goals.
Of all of my long training runs...I have to say that the 18 miler definitely went the best. I had just come off recovery week...and everything just went right. I was sore afterward...but of course that's to be expected. However...the next week...my 20 miler (which was also my longest scheduled run) did not go so well. I hadn't slept well the night before, the motivation to finish the run wasn't there...and I ended up walking...a lot. But the most important thing was that I finished it. And it was over with.
Taper was...weird. After having so many weeks of losing so much time to training and recovery...it was nice to have a small portion of my life back. The longest run I had during taper was 16 miles...scheduled for the day after Christmas. Since I was at home in Middle America...I had my parents get everything that I needed...and I brought all of my cold weather gear. But I was totally not prepared for the difference in the cold between DC and Southern IL...especially with the wind. I got 2 miles into the run and I was in tears the wind was blowing so much. So I ran home...and just stopped. The next Monday my mom and I went to a local gym and I ran a couple of hours on the treadmill. For someone who hates treadmills...it was definitely a much more pleasant experience than I had had trying to run outside.
So...woohoo! Last long run is out of the way.
This is also the point in which pre-race nerves start to set in. I have always gotten pre-race jitters...and ALWAYS feel as though I'm never going to be able to finish the race. It seemed especially bad this time...probably because this was far and above the longest race I'd ever attempted. Ok...so basically any race to date was the longest one attempted...but this was really a big deal...
So...it was finally race week...and I would be flying down to Orlando on Thursday after work...which meant I would have to pack Wednesday night. On my way home Wednesday evening...I found myself completely unwilling and unable to pack anything. When I finally forced myself to do it...I did a sloppy job (which is completely unlike me) and really...I'm surprised I made it to Florida with everything that I needed. Thursday evening, we arrive in Orlando without incident (except for the guy that sat between Bri and I who refused to turn off his cell phone). My parents meet me at the airport...and we finally get to their house...and I get to sleep somewhere around midnight.
The next morning...in a completely unrelated race anecdote...I get up and walk to the kitchen...and realize that my parents have a real coffee maker at this house. I use a french press...and have for a long time. Long enough, in fact, that in my half asleep, coffee deprived state of mind...I was very unsure if I remembered how to use such a thing. But I survived...and decent coffee was brewed...and the earth continued to spin...
On Saturday...we headed to Orlando...and checked into our hotel. Seriously...the pictures do not even do justice to how hideous and gaudy the hotel is. Our building is bright orange and yellow...and is decorated...well...in a bad version from the 60's and 70's. I'm terrified. But this gaudy monstrosity is also close to everything...so we board the shuttle to the expo and packet pick up. I know everything I need to do...but this is the first experience for my parents to witness such a thing...and the reality of what I'm about to do hits my mother. She ends up being ok...which is good. We peruse the expo for a while...which is oddly selling more cold weather gear than anyone would have ever imagined. Who knew that a balaclava would come in handy for a marathon in Florida?!?
After the expo, we went back to the hotel, finished unloading the car, and hung out for a while...I got a good chance to relax...and calm down just a bit. Some other family just happened to be in Orlando for the weekend, so they dropped by the hotel, and then we ate a quick dinner...and then it was bedtime...at 7:45pm.
I typically don't sleep all that well the night before a race...probably due to the aforementioned race jitters. I woke up a couple of times...and even though the alarm was set for 2:30, I was awake around 1:30...and was up for the day. When I finally rolled out of bed...my parents were very kind to me, and got me a coffee...and I got into my race gear. And I ended up with all of the truly essential things...but I forgot my camera to carry with me during the race :( At 3:30 I met my roommate and her parents...we snapped a couple of quick pre-race photos...and then boarded the shuttle to take us to the start.
We arrived a little before 4am...and it was a whopping 30 degrees outside. I was bundled up but it really wasn't enough to properly keep me warm. And even though I had hand warmers, it was so cold, they wouldn't get warm. We all stood around for about 45 minutes...and then we realized that we should probably use the facilities...so we got in line with the rest of the mass of humanity...and had a lovely 45 minute wait. After that...it was time for Bri and I to head to the start line, and the parents went off to find the cheer section. I had to strip off all of the extra layers...but had fortunately found a garbage bag (unused) that I had snagged and used that as an extra layer. Really...you would be surprised at how much insulation it could give you...
On the walk over to the start...it was even more cold...and I couldn't feel my toes. Or my ankles. I made the comment to my roommate that between the Biofreeze and the weather, I couldn't feel my ankle...which was probably a good thing. This is kind of a recurring theme throughout the day...
Once I finally found my corral...it was only a few minutes to wait before the start. I talked to a few other racers...and tried to calm my nerves. I will tell you...completely up until this time my stomach had been in knots...and I seriously had the feeling that I wouldn't be able to finish. I hadn't trained enough. I was going to be in pain. And I just wouldn't be able to do it.
I was very fortunate that I was in the first wave of the start...meaning I got to start running right away (not the 40 minutes additional waiting time that some people had...) I crossed the start line at exactly 5:45am. And I was running...and it felt really good. I'm actually not quite sure than running had ever felt so good before. I tried really hard to take it slow because I knew how long of a day was ahead of me.
Around mile 2, we entered Epcot...and it was so wonderful because there was a huge crowd cheering us on outside the park, and throughout the park (all of the parks actually) all of the workers were standing along the route cheering for us. I chatted up a woman from British Columbia who hadn't brought her cold weather gear along with her...but had purchased stuff here. But she ended up taking a walk break...and I kept running. Once out of Epcot, we had our first water stop...and this was a good example at what all of them would look like for the rest of the day. It was extremely well stocked...but it was so cold that the Powerade and Water were freezing, so everything was slush...and where people had discarded liquids (which ends up being everywhere) the ground was a complete sheet of ice. I literally walked through every water stop so I wouldn't chance falling. Perhaps I know myself...and my klutzy ways...
So...continuing on...at mile 4 you loop around to the start of the race...and pass by the crowd of spectators again. I knew my parents were supposed to be along the route somewhere...so I was kind of on the lookout for them...but my mother...I tell you...for a small woman...she can make a lot of noise. I heard her well before I could see her. She was cheering her heart out...and it was definitely awesome to see.
It was shortly after this that I really took my first self-evaluation on how I was feeling. My answer was that I was feeling really good. Like...excessively really good. Wait...this is weird. I then forced myself...to ask myself...am I really feeling good...or can I just not feel anything? The answer either way was that I felt good enough to keep running...so I did.
Another note of interest...is that this is seriously the most organized race I've ever been in. The water stops are completely fully stocked. And even better...they actually are where they say they are going to be. And the med tents were great as well. Vaseline, Tylenol, and Biofreeze available. Since I tend to have a slight tendinitis problem in my right ankle...having biofreeze readily available is a very good thing. The only thing I will tell you...is that if you have gloves on...avoid getting Biofreeze on the gloves...especially if it's the one you blow your nose in.
The next park to run through was the Magic Kingdom...and by far my favorite to run through. I'm not exactly sure if I can say why...I just got a warm, fuzzy feeling as I was running through there. Oh...and I TOTALLY wanted to stop and take a ride on the teacups. It also was a lot of fun that they had pirates (complete with ship) as we left the park. But then I had "yo ho yo ho a pirates life for me..." stuck in my head for a while. At least it wasn't Jingle Bells...
The next stretch...although there were good parts...were probably the most difficult for me. Between the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom...you are literally in no man's land. There are still characters and entertainment...but not much else to see. There were times where I wanted to walk...and I would ask myself if I really needed to walk or if I was just being lazy. On almost every occasion the answer was that I felt fine enough to be running...so that's what I did.
At mile 14...I snarfed a banana...and it set better than I was expecting...especially because it, too, was nearly frozen. I also passed the young cadet that was running the marathon in BDU's, complete with combat boots and a 30 pound pack. This kind was amazing. I don't run that fast...but even miles later...he wasn't that far behind me.
At mile 15, I got fairly emotional. I knew, at that point, that I would finish. Even better? I was going to finish under my goal time of 5 and a half hours. At that point I was on pace to finish in just over 5 hours. Woohoo!!!
Once in the Animal Kingdom...it once again felt good to be back in civilization. And there were spectators there...which also was a good thing. Between there and mile 22, I really felt good. I was also thrilled to be able to count down how many miles I had left and was thrilled that I was finally in single digits!!!
By mile 22, we were getting in, and through Hollywood Studios...and although I knew I was going to finish...and it was getting soooooooooooo close...the feeling good started to slip. Mainly from my feet. My tendinitis ridden ankle was fine...but my toes were really starting to feel it. In fact...at one point they even asked while I was still running. My running started to turn into more of a shuffle...and I ended up walking more of the last 4 miles than I ever imagined. But I always continued to move forward. In fact...I walked most of the last mile. Until I got to the last corner before the finish. I heard other people talking about the finish...and knew it was close...so I started jogging again. And then I turned the corner, and could see it...and I could see the massive amount of people that were there...and I couldn't feel my toes bothering me...and I sped up. And definitely had tears in my eyes as I crossed the line.
I moved on, and got my foil blanket wrapped around me. And then next I got my medal. As the guy was hanging it around my next, he asked how I was feeling...and the only thing I could think to say was "unbelievable." I also made a quick stop at the med tent and got an ice pack wrapped around my ankle (more as preventative because it still wasn't hurting that bad...yet. It was definitely the right thing to do).
I eventually wandered around, and found my parents. Somehow, my dad ended up being right in front of me as I walked out of the tent to the family reunion area. Which was a good thing. I handed off my water to him (which he had to open for me...because I still couldn't feel my fingers). And then we found my mom...who gave me a huge hug...and was crying because she said she looked so hard for me at the finish...but just couldn't see me. They snapped a couple of quick pictures...then we headed off to the shuttle bus that would take us back to the hotel.
The hardest part of the day (and I'm really not kidding here) was coming down the steps off the bus. 2 hotel employees were standing at the bottom...and they practically had to lift me down because I was feeling so sore. Fortunately...we had gotten a late check out time, and I was able to take a quick shower before we went back to my parents house.
Once we got back to the house...we relaxed for a couple of hours. My parents knew where I wanted to go for dinner...but I had also told them this: "I won't be able to eat much for a while after the race...but once I can...look out." So we went to an all you can eat buffet for dinner (seriously...they had to have lost money on that deal...) and then I went home and polished off a pint of chocolate ice cream :)
Since the end of the race, I have tried to wrap my head around everything. I wanted to remember every second of the race...and it unfortunately has turned into a blur for the most part. But I still feel amazing. And I'm incredibly thankful to everyone that was so supportive over the past few months. I know that I haven't seen many people because of training, and other insanity getting in the way...and maybe life will go back to normal...if there is such a thing. But I did it...I have joined the <1% that has completed a marathon. *I*...Johanna Lynn Hooks...who one year ago was just starting to run...who had never been athletic for a day in my life before that...finished a marathon.
