Here we go again.....another road trip. It wouldn't be a road trip with out my camera (as most of my friends tell me). I have gotten pretty good with my SLR timer. First stop for gas Wickenburg, AZ. It also wouldn't be a trip without getting lost. The running joke is that when you get into my car you are guaranteed for an adventure. Running a little behind schedule I hopped in my car. I think it was over 100 degrees on September 30. Sweating bullets I turned over my ignition to get no response from my car. No clicking, no rrrvving. Nothing. My car battery was dead as a door nail. Not an ideal way to start a trip. Thankfully it happend in the comfort of my garage and not in the middle of the desert. This set us back about an hour, but we were on the road again by 3:30pm. Traveling to St. George really isn't the most scenic route, and somehow I managed to make a wrong turn. Apparently passing too many cacti and farming fields? Chatting? Listening to pandora? We only went about 10 miles out of the way and almost made it to Lake Pleasant off of the 303 instead of exiting highway 60. It did make for a good laugh.
(taken by self timer on gas pump)
I never planned to run 3 marathons in a years time. But, my obsessed personality had other plans. My first experience was what I would call a meh experience. Amber and I had trained so hard in hopes of qualifying for Boston, running Boston and then closing our marathon career. At least a full anyway. It's not only a grueling process of getting up before anyone would think to get up, but the time, the heat, and then doing the "day job" of being a wife, mother, and doing day to day responsibilities just plan is tough. (Husbands and friends can attest) Never mind that you are tired, exhausted and your body hurts for three months. Sure you have days of complaining, but for the most part you suck it up ALL for a race. Yes, we also choose to pay for this race. Afterall, pain isn't free.
We made our second stop in Kingman, AZ. Really just wanting to make a quick bathroom stop we somehow managed to learn the life story of a gas station employee. Did I mention creepy guys in the parking lot whistling at us in front of their cab. Ick! The checker inside was either lonely, or just really wanted someone to listen. Poor thing. We did gather she used to live in Las Vegas and ended up in Kingman and now is stuck because her familiy now lives there. I assume this was bad because she didn't really seem all too thrilled about it. You would have thought we were there for at least a half hour. This was all in a matter of about 5 minutes. About 2 hours later we were greeted by the lights of Las Vegas. It has been years since I have experienced this. After fueling up on carbs at Olive Garden, we drove down Flamingo Avenue to catch a glimpse of the night life. Both agreeing a show would have been so much fun, or even just to walk around to people watch. Unfortunately, time wasn't on our side. It was already close to midnight with about 1 hour 45 minutes to go.
(Photos via Amber through the window)
Our Vegas night was short lived and we headed to our final destination stop St George. Arriving at 1:30am. We were wiped. Stumbling, and grabbing all of my stuff in one trip I managed to drop my camera before making it out of the parking lot. I was too tired to realize what had really happened. But, I knew it couldn't be good. A dead battery, broken camera lens, what was next? Another bad race?? I couldn't stomach another one.
Mile 18 or 19 along the course
Thankfully our Marriott had comfy beds and we were able to get some sleep before the anxiety really kicked in. After our lovely free continental breakfast was headed over to the race expo. I had high hopes of the running skirt girls to have a booth out, but no such luck. Now that I am obsessed with running in their attire, I think I could be a spokesperson for them. The good news was a guy working one of the booths asked about my camera and told me that it was only a shattered filter lens. An easy fix. Yay! We browsed for a bit, got my camera fixed, then drove up part of the course into Snow Canyon. You never really do appreciate the views while running. Most of the time you are constantly trying to remember when to take a gu, drink water and looking at your garmin. Survival mode is what I like to refer it to.
I am pretty sure this was about mile 20.5 It was the last hill before rolling into the finish line. My nerves began to kick in to overtime later that afternoon. We loaded up on an late pasta lunch at Brick Oven and then managed to meet up with my sweet friend Allison who came down from Salt Lake to watch my race. Shopped a little, ate a light dinner and headed back to prepare mentally, physically, and gather all of our crap for the race. My brain seriously hurt just thinking about how much I was trying to make myself remember during the endurance of 26.2 miles. This is brought upon myself of course. The pain, stress and agony. Remember as I said earlier, I paid to do this. Who does that? Oh, yes me.
Making sure all of my loot was organized and prepared I tried to get some rest before my alarm awoke me at 4:00am. I don't think I managed to get more than an hour of sleep despite my trusty melatonin pills. They worked like a charm up until the last night. My nerves seriously got the best of me AGAIN. We met up with Amber's brother Pat and sister in law Jeanine around 5am at Worthen Park. We herded standing in line and then boarded the bus like cows onto the dreaded 20 minute ride to the top in quaint Central, UT. The worst part of the race is leading up to the start. I hate the anticipation of it, the wait, the shivering from nerves, being cold and the best part of all, port o potties. Unlike a ritual morning training run, you can wake up throw on your shoes and begin to run. The race entails a 2 hour before you start running wake up call with all the above, before you even can begin. At any rate, I did survive it all. I always do. First fuel of the morning, my peanut butter chocolate chip cliff bar.
Here we are not sure of what we are getting ourselves into, 30 minutes before start time. It looks as though we are trying to smirk a smile. Let's get excited now shall we??? The race began 6:45am. Amber and I were still in the bathroom lines, but there were hundreds of people still making there way to the start. I did become tad ancy since I like to start when the gun goes off, but thanks to chip times, it really doesn't matter until you cross the pad at the start line. Three minutes after the start took place we were off. Both Amber and I with each race agreed we would stick together unless the other one fell behind. It was slightly dusky and all I remember is hearing my music along with muffled pitter patter of feet on the black pavement. Temperatures were around 65 degrees. It was warmer than we had hoped, but we were prepared for any type of heat. That is the beauty of training in 100 degree Arizona.
(courtesy St. George website)
I was feeling pretty good for the first 7 miles. Amber and I were keeping around an 8 minute mile, just as we had planned. Mile 8 was the dreaded Veyo hill. I remember stopping at the water station, taking a gu and mentally gearing up to power up the hill. Amber and I managed to stick together and I slowly remember loosing sight of her. I kept looking behind, but I only could see a sea of numbers and people. Part of me wanted to hold back, but another part of me really wanted to see if I could obtain my bucket list of Boston. I knew if I went off course even just a few minutes I may loose that chance again. My heart was torn, and I knew the next 18 miles would be a mental challenge without my training buddy next to me. I powered up the hill and kept moving my momentum forward. That was when I met Sara. She had actually started talking to Amber and I in the very beginning of the race. We exchanged a little small talk in between half listening to our ipods, we gathered that she too was shooting for Boston. A little younger than us, she was aiming for a 3:35 qualifying time. At first the thought of that time seriously intimidated me. This would put me at having to shave 25 minutes off of my other two race times. Not impossible, but hard. However, I thought, if I could somehow keep her in sight I too could obtain my goal.
(I did buy this, but stole it off the web for blogging purposes)
Sara and I
This too was Sara's third attempt at trying to qualify. Right off the bat we had something in common. After Veyo Hill we come down into Camerron Valley. It felt slightly cooler, due to the wind. Wind is good when it is on your backside, but this was blowing right into us. She suggested we try and draft, and try and tuck behind some people which may or may not of worked. I followed her lead mile 15-19. She did most of the talking since I was really running faster than my normal comfort zone. Mile 18 hit me like a Mack truck. Negative thoughts came to my head. The why am I doing this was crossing my mind over and over again. I wanted so badly to walk, but with a big smile on her face she said come on Jenny, you have this. I couldn't believe how enthusiastic and positive she was. Just as any coach would tell you, she said, "You WANT to run and finish. Let's go!" I forced down my last salt pill, naproxen, and gu all at once. At this point I couldn't stomach any more "fake" fuel food. I was done. A this point I had taken 4 salt tablets, 4 gu gels and several cups of water. Struggling, and shuffing along, I managed to get to mile 20.5 where everyone says you can literally roll into the finish. I regained my confidence, and the downhill seriously saved me in all sorts of ways. That was when my treadmill training kicked in. I knew I didn't do 10 half mile sprints each week for nothing. I kicked my last 6 miles into an 8 minute pace. Which was not easy considering my legs felt like rubber and liquid jello. The mental game began at this point.
(courtesy St. George website)
See the volunteer with the stick of vasoline? Life saver!
At the 21 mile aid station as I was getting icy hot rubbed on by fabulous volunteers I lost Sara. Only yards ahead, it was just enough to where I didn't have the leg power to catch her. I knew she had to be in 5 minutes faster than my goal so I kept her turquoise shirt in sight as long as possible. Mile 23 there were tons of people cheering. It sent chills through my body and I began to think I really could obtain Boston. It was so close. My body was tired, I was feeling the heat, I was thirsty, you name it. I started giving myself pep talks out loud. Yelling, you can do this, you are so close! Come on, Jenny! You are going to call Doug and tell him you qualified! I am sure I sounded dilirious, but I didn't care. I needed something to motivate me. I was trying anything by this point. By mile 25 I hit another wall. Thankfully there were sprinklers and lovely people handing out wet towels to cool down our cores.
The last rounded corner I spotted my friend Allison. All I remember is her yelling, "you have this Jen!" "Run!" "Run!" My adrenaline kicked in, it was just the thing I needed. A familiar face and cheer just for me. I sprinted as fast as I could possibly could those last few yards.
After passing Allison I could hear the announcer and see the arch of balloons. The finish line was in sight! Tears filled my eyes as I looked down at my watch. I never in a million years thought I could shave 20 minutes off of my old time 3:57:45. I crossed the blue pad at 3:42:01, but my watch read 3:38.00. What seemed like it would never happen did. My dream became a reality, I made the cut and the new one at that! My hard work FINALLY paid off. Those dreadful 4:00am runs, 90 degree summer weather, hill training, half mile sprints on the treadmill, pace runs, and double workouts paid off. With 6 half marathons, 3 full marathons, I made the athletic cut into the Boston Marathon. I can't figure out what was different about this one. Was it my new racing Newton shoes? Not wearing my waterbelt? More treadmill training? Diet Coke? Or just the drive to obtain my goal.
Right after you passed through the finish we were welcomed to showers. Genius. St. George may be my favorite due to my P.R. however, it was also by far the most organized. Volunteer stations were so great. I used every aid station fully equipped with icy hot, vasoline, water, and oranges. I would highly recommend this race to anyone who wanted to do a full marathon.
Lucky for me Allison paid for me to get an ice bath and massage.
I was so happy she made the trip down from Salt Lake.
Kuddos to those volunteers. It took them nearly 3 hours to sort these bags in numerical order for all of the runners to collect. Another race behind me, another medal to add to the collection. Much like anything else you anticipate, it's sad that the entire event is over. However, now I know there will at least be one more in my future.
2013 Qualifying Times (effective September 24, 2011)
AGE GROUP
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MEN
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WOMEN
|
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18-34
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3hrs 05min 00sec
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3hrs 35min 00sec
|
35-39
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3hrs 10min 00sec
|
3hrs 40min 00sec
|
40-44
|
3hrs 15min 00sec
|
3hrs 45min 00sec
|
45-49
|
3hrs 25min 00sec
|
3hrs 55min 00sec
|
50-54
|
3hrs 30min 00sec
|
4hrs 00min 00sec
|
55-59
|
3hrs 40min 00sec
|
4hrs 10min 00sec
|
60-64
|
3hrs 55min 00sec
|
4hrs 25min 00sec
|
65-69
|
4hrs 10min 00sec
|
4hrs 40min 00sec
|
70-74
|
4hrs 25min 00sec
|
4hrs 55min 00sec
|
75-79
|
4hrs 40min 00sec
|
5hrs 10min 00sec
|
80 and over
|
4hrs 55min 00sec
|
5hrs 25min 00sec
|
Unlike previous years, an additional 59 seconds will NOT be accepted for each age group time standard.
(copied from Boston Marathon website)
None of this would have been close to possible without my support of my wonderful, amazing husband. I know he really wants me to retire due to grumpiness and me being tired all of time. My running partner and dear friend Amber helped me in ways she didn't know. If it wasn't for her I would have never gotten out of bed or have done any of those long, painful runs each week. I am sad to report there is still a marathon itch within me. Sad probably isn't the "correct" term I should use for something I have grown to love. I do continue to yearn for the challenge and there is still the individual time to beat. I once heard that if you are still able to run at any age then your P.R. is still out there....waiting. That is the beauty of an individual sport. My husband said it best and his quote for most things, "If it isn't hard than why do it? It wouldn't be worth it if it wasn't a challenge." I couldn't have said it better myself. And Cinderella did marry prince charming, after all............
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