This year I trained mostly just to finish a marathon. I went into it thinking I would be around 4:30....4:15 if things went well and 4:45 if things turned bad.
The buses were kind of a mess this year. We were at the park by 4:45 but had to wait quite awhile to get on a bus. We reached the top at about 6:00. Missed out on Molly's Thriller flash mob...got there just as they were finishing up. Headed to the POP lines and then it was pretty much time to take our bags to the truck. We didn't even go anywhere near the fires this year because of time.
We lined up and then ended up waiting. I guess the buses were still dropping people off at 7:00. Start time was suppose to be 6:45. But it ended up a few minutes after 7:00. Hopefully they don't let that happen again.
I was planning to meet up with Carolyn, Doug, David and Alan but could only find Alan. We started out with a plan to keep things pretty easy. Within the first mile or two he found an old missionary friend and they were really able to chat it up about the good ole days which was nice for me as I just got to listen.
Around mile 6 or 7 I saw Jennie King. She is a local runner who was running her first marathon. I said hi to her and we started talking great and decided it would be a good idea to run together. I am so happy we found each other. I think it was great for both of us! It helped her through her first marathon (actually her very first run ever of more than 13.1 miles!) And it helped me have a purpose and enjoy the day! I had planned to keep things over 9 minute miles and had not been doing that up until I met her. If I would not have slowed down I would have regretted it big time later.
So we just ran and talked and laughed and got to know each other better. We took it easy up the hills and walked through every water stop.
I was (and still am) totally impressed that she made it the whole way with the way she trained. Just a couple runs a week and never more than a half marathon. What a woman! Around mile 23 or so she wanted to do a little more walking than she had in the earlier part. I would just help her get a running motion going again, even if it were no faster than the walk and eventually she had it going again. Our slowest miles were 19-23 and then 25 & 26.
I told her that when we made that last turn we would then start seeing the finish line. Before the turn she said she wanted to start going much faster. I told her we needed to wait at least until we turned the corner or she might lose it as she was passing in front of her family. She waited until we turned but then she wanted to kick it right then. She got the biggest smile on her face and kicked it! I was hoping to wait a bit longer before a kick but I had to kick with her or get left in the dust! My Garmin says the last .20 was a 7:56 pace but the max pace was 6:50. We sped up as we approached the finish line! If we would have had to go another 10-20 feet she would have beat me! Luckily I was able to cross with her! She was on fire! I, on the other hand, felt like I was going to throw up! It was a weird feeling since I had been the one feeling good the whole way. She kicked me on that final kick!
Anyway....I am happy with the fun of running with a first timer and the friendship that was started there!
This morning (Monday) I got in on the runner's series for next year. Let's have fun again in 2015!
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