“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if
you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving
forward.”
~MLK
Let me start out by saying that I went for it on Sunday. The Houston Marathon end result may have not
been what I was hoping for but I FINISHED.
I completed my second marathon.
Overall the weekend was great! My parents and I arrived in Houston on Friday
afternoon, checked into the Hilton Americas Houston Hotel and went right over to the
expo to pick up my number. Walking
around, I could start to feel that tightness deep in my glutes (from high
hamstring) that I had been feeling the past week. The pain that lingered after my 20-miler was
gone but during my last few taper runs I could still feel something wasn’t
right. That “something wasn’t right”
feeling terrified me and I kept wondering how long my hamstring would hold up
through 26.2 miles.
We met up with family later that night. Uncle Daryl, Aunt Debbie and my cousin Dylan
(12 years old) live in Houston. Uncle
John, BFF Barbie, and Michele had traveled down from Buffalo. My cousin Michele ran the half with my dad—her first half
marathon!
On Saturday morning I dragged my dad and Michele out for a
short 3-mile shakeout run.
I had a proud
coach moment when Michele left her headphones in the hotel room because she knew I would
say it was a “
conversation pace” run!
We
had a nice run together despite getting verbally abused by a homeless man.
I also ran into an old
Falmouth Road Race
friend who asked me if I was trying to “get the standard.”
HA!
Later that morning we all went back to the expo with
Michele. I wasn’t planning on going a
second time because I knew I needed to rest but I wanted to be with her as she
experienced her first major race expo. Plus
there were a ton of photo ops! Michele’s
attitude was a roller coaster of “I’m so excited” followed immediately by “I
don’t want to run, let’s just go get a margarita!” “I can’t wait to wear my medal.” “I hate running.” “My mom says I can do anything I put my mind
to.” “If I fall off this curb and twist
my ankle, I won’t have to run.” You get
the picture…
Saturday night I got comfortable in the recliner at Daryl
& Debbie’s house watching football while carb loading up with spaghetti and
meatballs. Perfect! After a quick stop at the local grocery for
lucky bananas and Greek yogurt, we headed back to the hotel for an early
bedtime.
Race morning everything was lining up perfectly. Of all the nights in the hotel, that was the
only night I had a good night’s sleep.
Michele showed up at my door two minutes early. We walked through the GRB and dad’s bag check
area was the only one without a line. We
walked outside towards the start. It was
cool but not freezing. A good cool. (Although at this point I realized I left my
headband in the room.) When it was time
to split to our corrals, I gave each a big hug for good luck and made my way to
Corral A. I spotted the 3:30 pace group
and got in line for a Port-a-can. Timing
couldn’t have been any better and I had 5 minutes to spare to sync up my watch
and re-tie my shoes a million times.
Standing at the start during the national anthem, I had all good
thoughts. I didn’t even feel nervous. I was just taking it all in. The gun went off and a little over two
minutes later, I crossed the start line.
My goal going into the race was a 3:30. To achieve this time, I had to run under 8:00
pace the whole way. I was prepared and
ready for this.
Mile 1- 7:56
The hardest thing in a race is not getting caught up in the
excitement of the gun going off and starting too fast! I crossed the start line just ahead of the
3:30 pace group. I actually wanted to
be behind them but I got carried to the start with the crowds before they did!
Mile 2- 7:55
The first 2 miles were BEAUTIFUL. I don’t know how the timing worked out so
great but the sun started to come out literally as I started going and the
first 2 miles we were running into these pretty, pastel pink skies. It was gorgeous.
Mile 3- 7:59
My cheering squad was hoping to be somewhere around miles 3
and 4 but no one really knew where they would end up.
I started looking around for them because if
I missed them, I probably wouldn’t see them until close to the finish!
The city of Houston isn’t really set up for
great spectating.
We always compare
races to Chicago where the Metro allowed my parents to get to 4 different spots
along the marathon course with ease.
Mile 4- 8:02
Was still focused on finding my family in the crowds…
Mile 5- 7:58
I stopped looking.
Kind of bummed that I wouldn’t see them until the end of the race. I was happy with my pace. I wanted to run pretty even splits for the first
half and if I had any oomph later in the race to see what I could do.
Mile 6- 7:46
Didn’t mean to pick up my pace—I don’t think I saw this
split on my watch so I didn’t realize even I did. Just cruising along…
Mile 7- 7:40
I saw my family! They
were awesome!
Mile 8- 7:35
The split for the half marathon route and the marathon route
was a little bit before the 8 mile mark.
It was so sad! But the excitement
from seeing my family lead to a 7:35 split and I knew I had to slow down or I
would be in big trouble.
Mile 9- 7:44
Much better…
Mile 10- 7:42
I honestly felt great physically and mentally through the
first 10 miles. There were a lot less
runners after the split from the half marathoners but it was comfortable
running and there were always people around me to try to stay with or catch up
to.
Mile 11- 7:45
The mental game really started for me around mile 11. We weren’t quite half way. I knew I was feeling good but the doubt
started. Can I run this pace until the
end? The “ifs” just turned to
“when.” When am I going to start to slow
down. When will I hit the wall? When will I start to feel my hamstring?
Mile 12- 8:08
The “whens” got to me and I really slowed down. Mile 12 also featured the first hill! We went over a bridge and it was like
WHOA! I got nervous that this would
trigger my hamstring but so far so good.
Mile 13- 7:45
Half way! I had a little
confidence boost just after passing the 13 mile mark. We hit this little turnaround and we could
see everyone behind us. I had made some
pretty good ground on the 3:30 pace group.
If I can just maintain, all will be well but the math started in my
head. If I continue this for the next 7
miles and slow down to such and such pace for the last 6.2 miles…
Mile 14- 7:50
Hill #2! This one
started on a down slope heading under an overpass and then a long, windy,
gradual uphill. By windy I mean curvy
not breezy. But breezy it was out along
the course. It was funny watching the
Houston news all weekend hearing everyone talking about the 10-12 mph winds predicted
on race day. The breeze was a factor at
some points in the race but it was NOTHING compared to the 30+ mph gusts on Cape Cod!
Mile 15- 7:54
No real memory of this mile…
Mile 16- 7:58
…or this one…
Mile 17- 7:54
I was experiencing some pain in my hip and it was getting
increasingly worse. I always walk
through water stops—it may only be 4 or 5 steps but I slow down to a walk. I feel like every time I slowed down at a
water stop, my hip was getting worse.
Mile 18- 8:14
So much pain. So much
doubt.
Mile 19- 10:20
I hobbled my way past the 30k mat (18.6 miles) and once I
crossed it I immediately started walking.
I was limping—bad. I started
swearing. I walked until the 19-mile
marker and tried running again but I only made it about 10 steps. I started crying. I knew this was it. The 3:30 pace group passed me and I cried
even more.
Side Note: I checked my Run Hou ’16 App when I started
walking and saw that Michele and my dad finished together in 2:22:29. It made me so happy to know they ran together
the whole way!
Mile 20- 16:53
Entering the park at the 20-mile mark was pretty cool and I
wished I was still running. I went
through a ton of different scenarios through my head. I knew at this point running was out of the
question. Did I want to stop at the next
medical tent and ask for a ride to the finish?
Not really. I didn’t come all the
way to Texas for 19 miles. Should I walk
to the finish? 7.2 miles was an awfully
long way. How long would that take
me? I was probably limping at about a
15-20 min/mile pace. I thought about my
clients and gym members that I tell to “never give up” every single day. I couldn’t give up. When I stopped running at the 30k I truly
felt like I did give up. Looking at the
bigger picture, giving up would have meant giving in to the SAG Wagon. Maybe I couldn’t run but I had to get to that
finish line. I wanted that finisher
mug! I texted my mom so she wouldn’t
worry and soon after I asked if she would start walking backwards on the course
to finish the last few miles with me.
Without any question or hesitation she started out to find me. Then the 3:40 pace group passed me… and the
3:50 group passed me… More tears.
Mile 21- 15:48
The Michelob Ultra Party Zone was approaching and guess who
stopped for a beer?! It tasted pretty
darn good. A couple runners asked me how
it tasted and that made me laugh. Who am
I? I don’t drink beer! And can you believe that Michele turned down
a beer on her route? Soon after at 21.7
miles I passed the 35k mat. This was
especially tough for me thinking of everyone tracking my run. I felt like so many family members, friends,
and clients have been on this journey with me for the past 16 weeks and I
didn’t want to let anyone down.
Mile 22- 16:13
By mile 22 I was SO COLD.
I stopped at a medical tent and asked for a blanket. Every medical staff member I passed in my
last 7.2 miles was great. I was thanking
all of them and letting them know that I was walking to the finish. The blanket ended up being more annoying then
good but it did block some of the wind and spectators were commenting on my
badass silver cape! The spectators, by
the way, were also wonderful in these last few miles. So many were cheering for me and encouraging
me to keep going. Runners too. I’ve always said the running community is
incredible and today my fellow runners did not disappoint.
Mile 23- 17:41
My mom found me at the 38k mark (23.6 miles). I was so happy to see her face. I honestly just wanted company. I was defeated, disappointed, bored, freezing
cold and I wanted someone to walk with.
She still didn’t really ask me any questions—she was there for me.
Mile 24- 18:15
A little while later my dad appeared! After my mom left to come find me and my dad finished eating his ice cream sandwiches, he decided he wanted to head out and
finish with me too. He brought a nice
heavy fleece jacket that I wore with my mom’s headband to warm up.
Mile 25- 17:03
The last few miles heading back into downtown Houston were
nice with bright, blue skies and a really pretty skyline.
Mile 26- 16:05
I left my mom and dad as we got further into the downtown
area and saw Uncle John and Dylan who ran along side me for a couple
blocks. John coached me from the
sidelines to a little trot—which HURT!—and kept me trotting until I crossed the
finish line!
26.2 miles – 4:36:13
Average pace – 10:32
I had so many mixed emotions after I crossed the finish
line. I was thankful I finished, happy
to be done, angry I was hurt, and disappointed I was over an hour past my goal
time. Do I celebrate? Do I cry?
Should I skip past all the photographers? Do I deserve to call myself a Houston
Marathon runner? I didn't stop my watch. I didn’t even look at
my time. I didn’t want to know.
So what actually happened with my hip? PTs at work are saying bursitis. Maybe I was changing my stride compensating
for that aggravating hamstring. Maybe
the concrete roads of Houston really were affecting my joints and muscles. Maybe it was the uneven Houston roads—I felt
like unless I was running right in the middle of the road, the roads sloped
down causing one hip to be higher than the other. Maybe I didn’t break in my shoes enough.
I was so focused on my hamstring that I was kind of ignoring
all these other aches and pains that were popping up along the route. Somewhere super early in the race I was
feeling a little twinge in my left Achilles.
That only lasted a few miles. I
want to say my hip started to hurt around mile 7 or 8 but I was thankful my
hamstring was holding up so I didn’t think anything of it.
I keep thinking what if I didn’t stop running at the 30k
mat? At that point in time, the pain was
so unbearable that I stopped. Could I
have pushed myself to the 19-mile mark?
And then a little further to 20 miles, then 21 miles…
To my family out on the course cheering for me…
To everyone tracking me at home…
To all the medical support crews checking in on me…
To all the runners that stopped to make
sure I was ok and offer me words of support and inspiration… To everyone that sent me cards, texts, emails and messages…
 |
| Post-race stop at the Houston Zoo! |
THANK YOU!
XO Run Jen Run
As Jay-Z would say, “On to the next one!”
Buffalo Marathon – Half Marathon
Buffalo, NY
May 29, 2016 6:30am
Use code BRSkiba05 for $5 off registration!
