We signed up for this marathon in March. I never thought the training or the race would be easy. Once we got into runs that were upwards of 8 miles I began experiencing pain in my hips. I remembered encountering this same pain last year when we were training for the half-marathons. Last year I just ran through it. I thought it was hip flexor muscle pain so I just stretched and ran through it. I realized I had to contend with more long runs this year than I did last year so I went see an orthopedic specialist.
The soonest I could get in to see the specialist was in early June. The doctor speculated about the different problems he thought the pain could be stemming from but needed me to get an MRI to be sure. He told me I could run but if I started to feel pain then I should stop. In my mind he was limiting my runs to 8 miles or less. At this point my longest run had been just less than 14 miles.
By the time I got approval from my insurance to get the MRI, got the MRI, and had the MRI read it was July 11th (only about two weeks away from the actual marathon). I’d been able to get in a couple of 10 mile runs before July 11th but the pain always returned at around 8 or 10 miles. The MRI results showed a small labrum tear, trochanteric bursitis, and iliopsoas bursitis.
I asked him if this one marathon was going to make the tear or the bursitis worse. He said it probably wouldn’t make either one worse. I decided to go through with the marathon. I got in one (pain free) 10 mile run before the marathon. To try to keep my endurance up I took spinning classes and did some swimming throughout June and July (we were also training for our triathlon so this helped that!).
Race day we woke up at 3 am. We had to be at the bus pickup no later than 4 am. We set everything out that we needed the night before so we would not wake anyone up. Setting out our stuff for the marathon was worlds easier than the triathlon! You just get dressed, grab your iPod, and go! But, our 3 year old woke up so we had to contend with his tired little 3 am attitude. Deanna (Ben’s mom) showed up at 3:00 am to watch Will. [Thank You So Much Deanna! You are a complete life saver!] Since he was already up she just took him home with her.
We arrived in the parking lot of Stockman’s Restaurantat Snake River Landing before 4 am. Runners were starting to gather. It was still dark outside. The air was still, and just cool enough for a light jacket. Two busses rolled in only a couple of minutes after we got out of our car. I looked around and realized there may not even be enough people to fill two busses. I began to panic just a little as that old familiar fear of coming in last began to creep into my mind. Ben reassured me that I would not be last. But, looking at all of the ultra-fit and serious runners around us, I knew what he meant by that. Ben was planning on staying by my side during this run and at the last minute he would drop back and be last, for me! He stayed with me throughout our entire sprint triathlon as well. I know this isn’t easy for him because his legs are much longer than mine and I have an extremely slow pace, bordering on fast walking. So it’s actually uncomfortable for him to keep pace with me. When we go on training runs he pushes the stroller and holds on to both dogs. And on shorter runs (depending on the length) he will wear 20, 40, or 60 lb. weight vests so that we can both get good workouts at my pace.
We boarded our bus and I laughed after the woman sitting in front of us made the comment that you know you are boarding a marathon bus when you get on and all you can smell is Icy Hot. We rode, sipping our coffee, and talked a little about the crazy idea that we were actually going to run a marathon. Although we had previously driven the course, the drive seemed particularly long on marathon day. Maybe because it was dark and the prospect of running the course was just moments away. When we entered the canyon the chatter on the bus intensified. I asked Ben if he thought it was because people were nervous. Finally the busses stopped and we disembarked. There were only two port-a-potties at the starting line. This delayed the race by about 15 or 20 minutes. But, by 6 am we were off and running.
The sun was just beginning to rise, the air was cool and calm and I was completely comfortable in a t-shirt and running shorts. I had no doubt in my mind that the first 10 miles of this run were going to be perfect! Perfect, aside from the woman in front of us that was literally stopping every 2 minutes to take photos with her iPhone. Notice I said, “In front of us!” I couldn’t pass her! It was a little embarrassing. She would run for awhile, walk for awhile, and then stop to take photos. And she stayed in front of us, repeating this run/walk/photo-op scenario the entire 26.2 miles! And I stayed right there behind her, with Ben, at my slow and steady turtle-like pace. Luckily it took so long for me to finish the race that I was able to get through a full range of emotions about Jody (She was a Marathon Maniac and her name was printed on the back of her uniform.) and in the end she sort of grew on me. I’m kicking myself now for not asking her if she had a website where she published those photos (a link to them would’ve made a great addition to this post).
At mile ten I felt good. My hips were tender but I felt strong. At this point I wasn’t sure if I was going to finish the race without walking. To quantify this, I didn’t consider stopping to use the bathroom or stopping at an aid station walking. And furthermore, I stopped at every aid station and stopped to use the bathroom three times. One of my goals for this race was to make myself as comfortable as possible. I wasn’t going to run mile after mile having to pee just to get a better time. I tried that last year and had a horrible first half-marathon because of it! There is no way I am ever going to win something like this – I am not built for it. And, even if I was, my desire only goes as far as completing it. I love to run, but I know that my love for it would diminish if it became a competition against anyone other than me. Although, I still didn’t want to be last! Luckily, there was a kind man at the beginning of the race that introduced himself to us because he thought he recognized Ben. He said that he only walks marathons. So that was that. Thanks to my husband and a strange man I was not going to come in last!
At mile 15 I felt pretty proud of myself. I had never run this far and I still felt OK. It is amazing how your mind can resign itself when you tell it that you are just going to do it. If I were doing a 16 mile training run I assure you I wouldn’t have felt this good at mile 15! At 15.5 miles, on a 16 mile run, my hips would’ve been falling out of their sockets, my thighs would’ve been on fire, and my chest would’ve been unbearably heavy! But since it was a 26.2 mile run my mind was resigned to this fact and it told my body to relax, we still have a ways to go.
At mile 16 I fully realized this mind-to-body game and I knew I was going to finish this race. My pace would be painfully slow, but I’d finish it without walking!
This race was well supported. For the last 17 miles there were potties and aid stations every 2 miles. I took advantage of the water and Gatorade, and stretched at every aid station.
I experienced hip pain on this race. But, after mile 17 my quads began to burn so much that my brain was redirected to the pain in my thighs. At one point I remember telling Ben that I thought they were seizing up. At mile 23 I could feel something in the second toe on my right foot. It felt like pressure on my toenail. I dismissed it because it didn’t feel like it was something I could fix. I’ve had problems with this toenail sincelast season. Later, I’d be scared to take off my shoe and would find a monster blister on the end of my toe when I did.
At mile 24 it began to rain in earnest. It wasn’t a hard rain but it was steady. It didn’t really mind the rain. It wasn’t cold and it gave me something to think about other than my toe, my quads, and Judy. My music helped too. I’ll always wonder how people can run without music.
After 5 hours and 50 minutes we finally crossed the finish line! About 1 minute later than our friend Jody. Not quite the time I was aiming for but I finished without walking!
This run and all the time I spent in medical facilities this summer didn’t give me the marathon bug. I love running and I’ll always run. But, I may never run more than 6 miles in a day.
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Congrats! I have been following your training, progress, and challenges and impressed by your determination and focus. Your husband sounds like a great guy: how great that you were able to share this adventure.
Thank you! And, Guess what? In August I am finally going to break down and get a smart phone! I am going to try that fitness pal app you told me about!
Pretty amazing! Good job, guys!
Thanks little brother!
Just *LOVE* that finish line photo !!!
Thanks Kelly. I believe my legs were like Jello on fire at that point!
Fabulous! You did it! I am so proud of you guys! I was thinking back to my two death marches…and they were definitely over 8 hours! I didn’t run at all on either of them. Ian’s time was a little over 6 hours, and he ran half the way…..the last 1/4 of the race is through ankle deep sand, so that slows everyone down…but I think you did great, and you weren’t last! Good for you!
When you are traveling 26.2 miles using only your body to cover the distance it’s not going to be easy no matter if you run or walk. You have a lot of time to think. I am proud of you too. And I’m sorry I never said it before now!
amazing!!! i kinda have the marathon bug but it’s been 8 years since i ran one. you might suprise yourself. of course, i want to do a fun one to make up for the fact i’m running 26.2 miles. hey , i’m doing fitness pal too and it’s great for the weight lost and keeping in check. let me know when you sign up and we can connect that way too! congrats!!! oh and ben, you rock! benton ran/walked the last 6 miles of my marathon (i have knee problems) and it’s only made me love him more. go bens!
You rock too!! I will let you know as soon as I get the app. Probably not til the end of Aug. My Ben absolutely loved the marathon. He can’t stop talking about running another. We’ll see. It’s kind of like child birth. Now that the pain is gone. I’m like, “That wasn’t so bad!”