The day before the run we headed to Eugene for packet pickup. While I was there I had the great pleasure of meeting SBS from Run Like A Mother and Laura from Run Momma Run. Great ladies and very inspiring blog writers and runners. I picked up my signed copy of Run Like A Mother the book and can't help but laugh whenever I read it. I can so relate to so many things! It was a wonderful experience meeting those running skirt wearing mommas!
Race day, however, did not go off without a hitch. The night before I spent a very long time getting all of my things together that I knew I would need to take with me for before, during and after the run. I had everything laid out and ready to go. We go to the car and I realize I left my water bottles for my hydration belt in the house. Good thing we hadn't pulled out of the driveway yet. That crises was averted.
We head out to Eugene. Traffic was smooth and we made a pit stop a few miles outside of Eugene since I knew the lines for the porta-potties at the run would be long. Turns out that was a good call. We get to 5th Street Market and, only by the grace of God, find a pretty close parking spot. It's a good thing too, as you'll see a little later.
I head to the race start line and determine I better use the bathroom AGAIN. Not noticing the line that is about 200 feet long, I casually walk over to one of the stalls only to hear Ryan say, "Um, the line is over there." Yeah, that wasn't happening. Let's go to the other stalls on the other block. On my way there I ran into Spring, a high school friend. We were going to be meeting up to run together that morning, so it's a miracle that we litteraly ran into eachother before we had even spoken to eachother that morning. There were LOTS of people there.
She pointed out that there were restrooms in the building and that I should check there before waiting in line. What a blessing! There was no line at all. In and out very quickly and back to the start area for some pictures with Spring and the family. Ashley pulls out the camera that I so strategically laid out the previous night in anticipation of capturing some amazing memories the next morning. THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. I can't believe I didn't check the battery!! So, we had to rely on Spring to take a few pictures before.
We then headed out to find our pacer. Once there, I open my pack to get my iPod. You have got to be kidding me!! I didn't have my iPod!!! Did I leave it in the car? Did I leave it at home? In the backpack? Crap! 5 minutes to race time and I had to run back to the car to grab my iPod. I ran. I ran fast. Faster than I should have. Across railroad tracks and through gravel. It's not there. I tore the car apart only to find that it's not there. So I ran back. Faster.
My iPhone had no music on it so Ryan gave me his. Not ideal, but at least I didn't have to go the next 13.1 miles with only the sound of my labored breathing and feet hitting the pavement. That would have killed me.
National Anthem sung, gun fires, we're off. Spring and I running together. In the first mile I realize that my headphones are not made to skip tracks on the iPhone. Crap. I'll change the headphones - I happened to have an extra set in my pack. While fiddling with them I accidentally dropped the bag they were in. Not thinking at all that there were 1500 women hot on my heals, I turn around to pick it up. WOW. That was a HUGE mistake. I almost got trampled and almost took out other people. Not sure why I thought a little piece of material was worth risking my life. Note to self - when something falls in a race, LEAVE IT. It's not worth it.
The headphone change didn't make a difference anyhow. I still couldn't skip tracks. So, I was resigned to listening to whatever happened to come up on Ryan's '80s playlist. Great songs, but for the first half of the run, every song that played was a slow song. Not my typical high energy playlist that keeps me going. Oddly, it worked for me. I think the adrenaline that was flowing through all the other 2,500 runners spilled out onto me as well. It was an amazing feeling.
Around the half-way mark, I could see that my running partner was having some problems keeping up with our pacer who was no longer in sight. She was hurting and I felt so bad for her. We had agreed before the race that either one of us could "fly" if we wanted to. Still, I felt bad leaving her, but I knew she would understand and that she would want me to go as well - that's just the kind of person she is. So I did. I managed to catch up with our pacer and stayed right by his side for some time. I felt slow, so I decided to pick up the pace a bit. Somewhere between miles 8 and 9 I spied my family on the hillside to the left. I was so happy to see them. I knew they wouldn't be there with signs that said, "Go Mom!" or blowhorns, or anything like some of the other families had on the course, but, nonetheless, it gave me a boost of energy seeing them there cheering me on and taking pictures. They were troopers. They had to hang out for 2 hours and 16 minutes and do nothing - except walk to the next point to meet me. Troopers, I tell you.
I remember feeling really good between miles 8 and 11 and thinking, "this feels too easy." Again, it was the adrenaline. At this point, I saw people start to drop back and start walking a lot more. I began passing them and even some of the runners. I knew I only had a couple miles left and I was going to step it up. I had the energy to do it and I was so thankful for it. I don't think I ever hit a wall in the run. Mile 6 was probably the most difficult for me, but still not as bad as it could have been.
I reach mile 11 and relish in the fact that in .2 miles I was going to surpass my longest ever run. Then I see the mile 12 marker. This is where I began to get emotional. There was something huge in that number 12. The most miles I've ever run and, more importantly, the final mile of my very first half marathon. I could feel the tears begin to fill my eyes. Tears of joy and satisfaction. I wiped my face and set my eye on the finish line. There was only 1 mile - 10 minutes - between me and the biggest goal I've ever set out to accomplish.
The last mile curved off the bike path that most of the race was set on onto one of the streets that ran through downtown Eugene. The last mile was lined with spectators that were cheering for everyone that ran by. They must have known we'd need it to muster up the energy to get through that last mile. I was on a high like I've never experienced that entire last mile. So much so that the mile just flew by. There were no aches or pains, no wishing I would hurry up and reach the end. I cherished every minute of that final mile and remembered thinking to myself, "Which marathon should I do?"
It was a feeling I'll never forget, and one I hope to have many more times in my life. The Portland Half Marathon is in one month and hopefully I'll get to do that one as well, I'm registered but haven't met my fundraising goal yet. But I have my sights set on bigger things. A full marathon. Perhaps March of 2011?
