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Last year Ryan planted a seed. He started talking about me running a marathon. Kind of ironic really since he doesn’t run marathons right now. However, I ended up training for the OKC Memorial Marathon 2011 for my first marathon. I wanted to go under 4 hours and I accomplished a 3:58. This year I reserved the weekend for the marathon in case I wanted to do it. Finally, I decided I was going to do it.
As last week progressed I started watching the weather. It was going to be warm and humid. Ryan reminded me I can not do anything about the weather, but advised me to make sure I get plenty of fluids. The night before the race I was wishing it would rain and possibly bring the humidity down. We woke up in the middle of the night to a severe thunderstorm. My wish was granted however, it did not help the weather much. The morning of the race at 5:30 am it was 64 degrees and 94% humidity!
Ryan is so good to me! Before the race he figured out when he could see me and then even planned to run some of the course with me so he could get his run of the day in too. What can I say, we like to run! The map below is what he made so that he knew where to go to catch me. He even made rain proof pace cards so he could tell me if I was on pace!
I tried to start conservative which I did better than last year for sure. At mile 3 I saw Ryan. I was staying on pace, but was already starting to feel not so great. Ryan pops up at about mile 7. A little bit further I am not feeling so great. I am getting too hot and don’t feel like I am getting enough fluids. By mile 10 I was thinking I wanted to stop. Out of no where I see Ryan at about 11. That was a surprise stop that I didn’t know he was going to make. At this point I started slowing my pace down and was not feeling great. I had some highs and lows throughout. I kept telling myself, “The only limitations you have are the ones you set upon yourself. And today I will not set limitations upon myself.” It kept me going. Somewhere between mile 17 and 18 I stayed with a girl I had seen on and off all day. Her pace was about what I wanted to be going. That helped me manage until mile 20 where Ryan was to run with me.
The original plan was for him to run with me for about 2 miles. However, I asked him to finish it up with me. Once again, isn’t he a great guy! My legs where so heavy and tired I could no longer tell what pace I was going. Down hills I took advantage of and I really tried to push the last mile. Ryan ran me all the way in. He went off to the side walk when he could go no further, but I saw him continue to run next to me on the other side of the crowd. I pushed that 0.2 of a mile as hard as I could. I was in the zone.
On Sunday I completed my second marathon in 3:52! Although I did not complete it in the time I thought I could I am not upset. I did the best I could that day. I pushed and I did not give up when I wanted to. I continued for 16 more miles after I wanted to stop. AND I even beat my last years time by 6 minutes!
I am so glad that Ryan was there to cheer me on and push me! I couldn’t have done it without him…literally. haha! I am glad we both like to run!
I get chill bumps when I read your story and it makes me so proud of your endurance and determination. And Ryan sticking by your side and seeing you through this accomplishment is icing on the cake!