That night we ate at one of Charleston's many restaurants. I had the world's greatest cornbread EVER! I slathered that piece of pie looking cornbread with honey and preserves, it was heaven! (This could have possibly lead to some later intestinal issues later, but we'll get to that.) So, all fueled up and ready for bed. The Holiday Inn Express was COLD!! The vent was LOUD! AND, a thunderstorm was wreaking havoc outside our window!! Hence, there was not a lot of sleeping done that night. (Maybe its just me, but it could have been pre-race nerves...)
We woke up around 6:00am on Saturday ready to race. Udi's gluten free bagels with almond butter and banana was the pre-race bill of fare. I sort of missed my peanut butter and honey made by the Original Peanut Butter Company, but Valarie makes some awesome almond butter. I went back and forth what to wear for the race because it was freezing and winds were blustering in at 20 mph! I finally settled on my High Point Funner Runner T-Shirt, Saucony Splits, Brooks arm sleeves, 2XU Compression Socks (thanks Emily!!!), an old LIVESTRONG beanie and my REV3 visor. (Valarie said a visor would keep the sun out of our eyes and sunglasses were not needed. There are points on the course where she was WRONG!!)
We walked over to the start line that was located across from the Citadel. We did the usual pre-race stand in line at the port-a-john. The winds were picking up and blowing this way and that way and I was shivering uncontrollably! After about forty-five minutes it was go time! The National Anthem was sung and the gun went off!!
The first 3-5 miles were incredibly crowded! It was like picking your way through a briar patch. Both the half-marathon and marathon went off at the same time so there were roughly 5000+ people all fighting for position. Jeremy and I thought we had started with the 3:45:00 pace group. We kept the sign in our sight, but at mile 5 I had to make what Jeremy frequently calls a "water stop". I jumped in a port-a-john (after one before the race) and hopped out. We started running again and our pace was around 7:40 minutes per mile. The 3:45:00 sign was gone and next thing I knew we were staring at the 3:30:00 sign. The miles began to tick off one by one and I was feeling pretty good about this race. The only major issue was the wind and freezing temperatures, but at least it was sunny!!
Charleston has some beautiful waterfront views and funny, cute looking colorful houses in the downtown, King St. area. Jeremy joked as we passed through downtown that he was thankful the shops were closed and Valarie was running otherwise his money might run away from him.
After about 13 miles or so, my stomach started getting that "uncomfortable" feeling. We stopped again at another port-a-john and took care of business. I noticed the 3:45:00 had caught back up with is after this stop and implored that we should back off and stay with this group. This point in the marathon was the not so scenic part of Charleston. No matter which way we turned the wind seemed like it was always in our face. I began to grow a bit weary. My head began to feel extremely hot and I ditched my beanie on a road cone. (Good-bye beanie, you lived a great life!!)
After the turn-around point, we met this amazingly fun and energetic woman named Erica. She laughed about she was drafting off of us. She has run several marathons and a few Ultras. She loves to run and could careless about her times. This is the kind of person you want out there with you. She stayed with us for a mile or two before falling off. (She returns later!!)
At mile 18 we began to see runners doubling back and at that point both Jeremy and I began to wonder where the next turnaround point was. We ran into this newly developed neighborhood with no driveways and Jeremy made a joke about how people had to walk across Egypt just to get to their houses. I had no witty retort for him. My gaze was forward and my whole body was aching. I was having trouble getting a solid air through my lungs. It was evident that I was reaching "The Wall". We ran another two miles and walked through an aid station. We were at mile 22, only 4 miles to go!! Behind us a familiar voice yelled out, "There is no walking!!!" It was the cheerful and vibrant Erica. Jeremy and I began running with her. She and Jeremy started to become a mirage in the distance as I began to hurt more and more until I eventually gave into the pain and proceeded to walk.
The next mile was complete torture. The 4:00:00 group passed me and their pacer (who was by far the coolest pacer and only one who kept his sign the entire race!! Come on Charleston, if you are going to have pacers they must keep their signs and not drop them to run their own race!!) passed me and he yelled, "Keep going Rev3!!". (I saw another Rev3 visor on course and apparently one of my teammates, Ryan Heisler, also ran it.) I tried to follow him, but my legs were done for. After battling the darkness of the wall, I finally decided that it was better to walk it in and not risk ruining my Tri season and injury than to try to force myself to run.
As fate would have it, it was my turn to help a person suffering through to the end! I met a fellow walker who was in a lot more pain than me. His name was Matt and he was falling down, hunching over and in "The Pain Cave". I picked him up and told him he was walking in with me. I did my best to give him active stretches and try to keep his mind off the impending pain running through his body. He had signed up on a whim and only put in two months of training. He, like me, was recently engaged and planning a wedding. (Could it have been missing some training during the holidays, work stress and life changing stressors that led to my breakdown?? I do not know, but do not discount them. The marathon reveals all!!)
The marathon is a curious beast. Many say it has lost its allure because of the new running boom. Many say that Ultras are the true test of one's fortitude. I do not know the answer to this question. I can say that I am proud of Jeremy as he finished his first (and he says only) marathon. I can walk today way better than I could after Shamrock. Mile 22 revealed my inner strength to move forward and think smart about my health. Yes, I did cry for a bit, but who wouldn't?!? My day was over, but the race was not finished. I was able to payback the many "angels" how have been there for me during the dark times of the 13.1 during a 70.3 and even the one who nursed me across the finish line at Shamrock four years ago.
One thing I learned is that it is a true friend who will run day in a day out with you; rain, sleet, snow, heat or whatever the weather brings. For this, I am thankful. It is now time to turn my gaze towards Tri season and what new challenges it will bring. I would like to thank Jeremy and Valarie Yoemans for simply being my friends on the road and in life. I wish everyone a friendship as strong as ours. They truly have been a great refuge this year. (And a sidenote, my thoughts were with Michael Vance and his family throughout Charleston as they faced the loss of his father.)
So, the marathon... a painful journey that true friends, the family you choose, endure together and will remember forever!
