Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Marine Corp Marathon Race Recap

Well, I'm a marathoner! I still can't believe it! It was awesome. It was painful. It was inspiring. I was the craziest and the most amazing thing I've ever done. Wow!

The morning started early. I got up at 4:30 and got ready. Alyson was picking me up at 5 so we could get on the metro at 5:30. We bought out metro passes the day before, they were saying 30,000 people were racing with 200,000 spectators! That's alot of people!

I did some pre race posing (very important)














We got to the race course around 6:10. TONS of time to walk around, get oriented and figure it all out. We walked, warmed up, got ready, fueled up, and did the ever-needed porta potty stop. At 8am sharp the gun went off and the 10K and the Marathon started.


Alyson and I stayed together for the first 15ish miles. We didn't stop once. We saw everything. Amputees, wheelchairs, handcycles, cancer survivors, old, young (youngest is an 8th grader from my school!) It was great. The weather was amazing, the spectators were great....couldn't ask for more.

At mile 15 Alyson and I seperated. She was able to pick up her speed and I was slowing a bit. I waved her on and we did our own thing. I did not run with music. It was very peaceful. My friend Marah found me at Mile 15ish. She jumped and screamed and we hugged. It was GREAT to see her. At mile 19ish JimJim found me (Nick and Alyson's dad). That was a hard hug to recover from. I cried a bit while running and re-grouped. At mile 20 Marah caught me again (at the bridge) and ran with me for a minute or so. That was really nice to have! I called Megan at mile 21 - needed to hear her voice. I called my husband at mile 24, 25, and 26. He told me they were right in front of the finish line, at the top of the hill (what!? A HILL?) I powered up the hill to see my kids, my mom, my husband, and my inlaws screaming their heads off! Totally worth it!



I did have some tummy troubles at mile 16. Miles 16-26.2 were a walk jog. I was totally fine with that. I needed to finish. I loved every painful minute of it. I got emotional a few times thinking about how hard I've worked, my family, my friends, etc. It was great. So many amazing people around me - amputees, wheelchairs, just married groups, military........

I will do it again. Probably this one next year. It was just plain awesome!

My time was not what I thought it would be, but I don't care. 5:49:28 is the longest I've ever gone! 26.2 is the longest I've ever gone! I finished. I am a Marathoner. I feel unstopable!

10 comments:

  1. Way to go Ann!! I am so in awe of you. Thanks for posting the recap. Sounds like it was an amazing day.

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  2. Congratulations - wooohooooo!!!

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  3. Awesome job and a great race report!

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  4. Go Girl! Congrats on a successful marathon.

    -VK

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  5. You ARE unstoppable!! Congrats!!

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  6. awesome! congrats ann! you earned that medal :)

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  7. "5:49:28 is the longest I've ever gone! 26.2 is the longest I've ever gone! I finished. I am a Marathoner. I feel unstopable!" Congrats!

    --kizzy keen shoes

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