Funny: I was running along and I see this large but short stubby BALD man (short as in 5 foot), with no shirt on and a BIG belly running past me around mile 6. As we ran, his shorts would fall just a bit showing his hairy butt to me as he took every step. ( running shorts have a back pocket located near the crest of the butt where you can put Gu which is running gel that gives you energy. It is in small packets and if you have a few of them, it will tug as you run hence showing the butt-age. I have seen it many times before). So I am running and thinking "Oh hell NO! this bald shirtless big belly man is not going to pass me up!" So I start running a bit faster. He was fast! I couldn't believe it! How can this big bowling ball of a person pass me up? Did he have wheels in his running shoes?" I let him pass me because I didn't want my ego to tire me.. I still had 20 miles to go. I saw him again at mile 23 and I kid you not, he was like chugga chugga chugga --cho cho! right past me! I was so mad and perplexed at the same time. hahahaha!
After I hit mile 13, I started to feel tired. I have completed a half marathon; half way done. I ate my running rations, drank my Cytomax but still felt tired. It got desolate. We were running outside of San Antonio in some sort of park. No was was around, just runners and all you could hear is their feet hitting the pavement and the weird sound, hard to explain, of people pushing on. I didn't make much eye contact because I knew this would be the boring part of the run and I just needed to concentrate on something. It was hilly and bland. I kept saying to myself, If I can just get to mile 20 and see John W, I will be happy. I try and break up my long runs in segments so I feel accomplished. I felt that it took a lifetime, I felt like it was a glacial period that went by. I got to mile 20 but I couldn't find him. Press on.
Mile 23 was the hardest for me. All of the sudden my left knee (my problem knee) was hurting really bad. I felt pain like never before. I started limping while running and began to go to panic mode thinking "I got this far with 3 more miles to go and I am not going to finish". So I start limping and running faster to get those last 3 miles in. The tears started to come down because of the pain and of the panic of not finishing. I thought if I bust my knee then so be it, at least I busted it trying to do something in my eyes to be worthy. My lower back started ringing in pain. It was so painful that I was doubled over as I limped and ran. My path of logic at this point was to get some inspiration. I wanted a familiar face. I knew Pat, my co-worker would be around the end of the race and I desperately tried looking for him. I couldn't find him. John W mentioned he was at mile 20 which I had past but I couldn't find him. I thought maybe he was in between miles but I still couldn't find him. All of the sudden people on the side of the road started cheering for me or maybe they had been the whole time and I was tuned out. They were yelling "You can do it!, Keep going!, Don't stop now little lady! Keep that pace! All pain now, more glory later!". I start to look at the runners with me and I see a guy running with a prosthetic leg. He was in more pain than I was; I could tell. I thought that I could push on and how thankful I am. I ran up to him and patted him on the back and said for him to keep going, dont give up. He smiled and thanked me.
Now, I am not a religious person but at these weird times in life being in pain and panic mode, I didn't know what else to do. I then thought in my head " Jesus, God, Buddha.. any higher deity in the world, please help me get through this". A few moments later the pain went away. I was shocked. I then picked up my pace. I had two more miles to go.
I knew I was close. I could tell by the way the road was lined up that the finish line was near but how near? I start to see the Alamodome where I knew the race finished. I make some turns, make some more turns and I start to see the end. As I make a final turn near the Alamodome, I see a damn hill. I believe I audibly said to my self "Are you kidding me? God Damn !@#$". I press up the cursed hill, turn the corner and I just started smiling. The big finish line, the finale, the end of the mental journey. I cross the finish line in a blur. I dont remember much. I start walking, get my medal and I realize I cant keep my balance. A medial aide helps me through. I start to feel that my socks are stuck to my toes. Meaning that maybe they have been bleeding the whole time and its stuck to my toes ..meaning more pain to come. I went straight to the medical tent and sure enough..it was gross. I will keep those details.
I saw Pat after I got out of the medical tent and after having laid on the parking lot floor of the Alamodome. It was great to see him. He had his dog with him who seemed more tired than I was. My family and I walked back to the hotel where I slept for a good 4 hours. I woke up and went to have dinner at Flemming's. They gave us champagne and a gift for completely our marathon. I have never felt more bliss in my life. I feel like I can do anything in life. Sounds silly, but everything made perfect sense, everything was OK, everything will always be OK and I felt humble. To be at peace is to do what you love and not let the little unimportant things get to you. Its really that simple. It always was.
Where's the next Marathon? :)
Here are some photos:
Boring plane
Pre Race
San Antonio:
TX
Some nerds..they even have helmets.. bleh
Alamo
Dreams
End: Tore up, messy hair.. uh
