APES IS A MARATHONER!!!!

So it happened. I completed a marathon. Yes, I completed a race that was 26.2 miles, with over 30,000 people.

After months and MONTHS of training (well, except for the few months I couldn't train due to being in Physical Therapy for my sprained knees) the morning of the MARINE CORPS MARATHON arrived.

Leo and I met up at the metro, and headed to the start line festival. There we took some pix, dropped out bags off, and got in the large herd of people at the start line.

The race started at 8am, but with SO many people, we didn't even cross the start line till around 820am. Once we started....we were off! Leo went ahead and vanished into the crowd in front of me, and I ran along with my trusty Ipod. We started in Rosslyn, where it was AMAZINGLY crowded with spectators. It still didn't hit me that I was running a marathon. After Rossyln we headed over the Key Bridge and into Georgetown. The bridge was awesome because there were so many spectators lined up so it was nice to have that encouragement. Once we got onto M street, we turned left where we were able to pass others in the race that were on their way back. The route we were on was right by the water, so it was nice and calm. There was no one else on our route except us runners. That's where I met my first running group. They were an older couple who were kept pace by a younger woman (about my age). They chatted with me about my shirt (I was sponsored by O'Sullivans, a local pub, and the back of my shirt said "Follow me to OSullivan's for a Guinness") and every time I saw them afterwards during the race they kept saying "Oh look, there's the Guinness girl again!"

Once we looped around and ran back through M street, we ran down the middle of the street, with our weekend watering holes lining each side of us. It was AMAZING to turn the corner from the calm waterside path to M street that is normally PACKED with cars, this time it being packed with spectators cheering us on. What a great feeling.

I don't really remember the path after Georgetown until we got to Hains Pointe. Hains Pointe is a large park in DC that people run and cycle around (also part of the route from my first Tour de Franzia). It was a few miles to get around the park, and it wasn't home to too many spectators. BUT there was a woman with pretzels, so I grabbed some when I passed her.

One of the food stops was Oranges (I can't remember if it was before or after Hains Pointe) and I def took 2 of them. That was my FAVORITE food stop (there were 3 stops).

Back to the race...after Hains Pointe we hit ran more into the city, under bridges, down by the Tidal Basin, etc. There were PLENTY of spectators in this part, so it was easier to stay motivated (don't want anyone to catch me walking!).

Once I hit the half marathon point I thought "This is it! This is were my race starts!" I had run half marathons before, so I knew I could make it that long. But LONGER than half?? This is where I would find out if I could make it.

I got a little pep in my step at the half mark, and Felt GREAT for a few miles, but then of course I started losing momentum. This was right around mile 17 or so, right as we go to the Washington Monument. Luckily, Felipe was at that point and brought me a banana. That was the PERFECT time to get a potassium fix. So Felipe ran a little with me while I chomped on my banana and then he dropped off and was going to meet me on the other side of the loop around the monuments.

During the loop, I def had highs and lows. I felt great, but then the loop was so long. It was awesome to run past the capitol, the white house, and back around to the Washington monument. Once I got back to the monument, I met back up with Felipe and he jumped back in for a little longer.

He dropped back off right before the bridge. You have to get to the bridge by 1pm (so they could open the roads) in order to stay in pace to finish the race. If you didn't beat the bridge then you got shipped to the finish line. So my main goal was to beat the bridge. Once Felipe dropped off, I was AT THE BRIDGE!!! I ran over the bridge and that's where my emotions hit me. I started crying on the bridge because I couldn't believe I was actually making it across in time. It was the first moment in the race that I felt like I was actually going to FINISH the race!

Once over the bridge, we were in Crystal City - a few more miles left! So we ran through Crystal City, which was once again lined with spectators. The beer stop was also in CC, but I didn't stop for it. Crystal City was great, I was familiar with the roads from the Crystal City 5k Fridays I did back in April. We strolled through CC then onto where we started the race. At that point all everyone (or at least me) could think was - THIS IS WHERE WE STARTED! We're almost there!!!! I also was stoked that there were still people behind me!

Once we got past the start line, we ran through spectators the whole rest of the way. I started singing to my music (sorry to everyone around me) and started getting AWFULLY excited about finishing.

Then it happened. I was at mile 26. I had .2 miles to go before I FINISH A MARATHON! I picked up my pace, and sprinted the last little bit to the finish line. When I rounded the last bend, and saw the huge crowd at the stands, it was so uplifting. I knew my friends were waiting at the after party and not at the finish line, but I pretended everyone at the finish was there for me. I passed some people, and even though it was an uphill end, I didn't even feel the uphill. I was sprinting....and then I crossed. It took me 5hrs 30min 38sec.

Dude. I completed a marathon. 26.2 miles. On a sprained knee. I COMPLETED A MARATHON! Who woulda thought??? Def not this girl.

At the finish I got my medal, cried a little more....then limped myself to bag check. I called some of my supporters (Dad, Beaz, etc.) and then Leo to see how he did. Of course he was already at the bar...so it was time to get to the after party to celebrate.

And celebrate we did.

So there you have it. In my quest to become a runner, I became a marathoner. Now you might say "You're not a marathoner just because you did ONE marathon". Well, if you haven't run one, then you can't really talk now can ya :)

- apes -