PINK FEET

The Pink Viking Tata Warrior Princess does it again! I was given this name by my good neighbor and friend, Amy, who

also, to my surprise, became my biggest cheerleader this year for the marathon! The months and days leading to the marathon, she helped me spread the word and collect donations. She gave me motivating words when I wanted to give up. She sat with me in pain after my long distance training days. She made several 'purple' signs for the race course and actually met me a couple times during the race and ran a couple blocks with me! And she called me the Pink Viking Tata Warrior Princess with pride. How could I let her down?

The months leading to the big day, I joined a Beach Boot Camp class....the most intense workout my body has ever felt. I wanted to give it up every single time, but then every single time after class was finished, I FELT GREAT!...and my body was showing the benefits. I wasnt necessarily losing a lot of weight, but I was gaining muscle. I was gaining strength. When I ran, I was running faster and for longer than I ever had. So for two days a week, I did this boot camp among my running training.

I started getting a bit cocky as the race got closer. My mind had me convinced I would be able to finish this marathon at least 45 minutes faster than last years time. Even though, serious running training didnt start until late December. I was, after all, "experienced" since I had my first marathon last year! LOL...can I make that LOL any bigger??

This year, I ended up knowing several people that signed up for either the half, full, or the new option of a 5 person team relay. There even were a couple that signed up the very last minute, without even training. It was good to see friends get involved with such a wonderful cause! Every year, this race is getting bigger and bigger! I even got a chance to meet a couple at the Marathon Expo the 2 days before the race, which helped ease my nerves seeing my friends were nervous too!

My stomach was in knots the night before the race. I had gotten little 'quality' sleep the past couple days, just tossing and turning all night. I forced down some lasagna and bread and then headed to bed. Three thirty was very quick. This year I was lucky, living at the beach, there was a shuttle pick up only 1 block from my house...so I didnt feel as rushed as last year. It was a very cold morning, in the low 40s, so sweats had to be put on over my race clothes. It was going to end up being a high of 65, and after knowing how hot I got last year, I was determined to wear shorts and a tank no matter what. A quick oatmeal, banana, Gatorade, and water and I was off on the shuttle by 5am.

After a few exchanged texts of good luck, my plan was to meet Jimmy at the entrance of the Runner Village, however, we got lost in the crowd and never met. I walked around looking for everyone, but in a crowd of 10,000 in the dark, it is hard to find any familiar faces. My stomach was still in knots, and I realized I needed to focus on preparing myself for the race mentally. I got lots of compliments on my tutu full of pink ribbons with names from breast cancer victims. Talking about them calmed me a bit. Before I knew it, it was line up time.

The line up was a bit different this year, and a bit stressful. This year I was focusing on a finishing time, unlike last year, I just wanted to cross the line! This race is all about the Galloway training…which involves running for a set period of time, and then walking for a period of time. That time depends on how fast you want to finish. There are ‘pacers’ that carry a flag with a finish time and a group of people will follow that person and follow their ‘pace’. However, after all the people were lined up at start, no one could find the pacers!! You line up by the color of your race bib, which goes with what you put down as your ‘predicted’ finish time. So our ‘pacer’ should have been right in our color group. Turns out, we found him just a couple minutes before the gun went off, all the way up front!! I made my way up there right before the National Anthem, and then realized, I had to ‘go’ again. ..Id already gone to the porta potty 3 times…this has got to be just nerves I told myself!!

I put myself between the 5 hour and 5:15 pacer. Thinking, worse comes to worse, I just wouldnt let the 5:30 pacer ever pass me! The gun went off, and I was feeling good! I trained 1 to 1 (run a minute, walk a minute), and realized the pacers are running for a good 2-2 1/2 minutes before they walk. But I felt good and was able to not only keep up, but found myself pulling ahead. The pace group was really large, and I almost felt claustrophobic being that close to people running anyways, so I pulled ahead, and just did my own 2 to 1 run.

Crossing over the Intercoastal was beautiful! There was fog, and the sun was just coming up…it was very peaceful. They added more speakers/DJs on the course, and the bridge was one spot that was definitely an improvement…they also allowed spectators/supporters on the bridge this year too…which definitely helped on the way back, but on the way out, was a bit too crowded.

Within the first mile, I realized I was going to have a long run if I didn’t stop to pee. Kicking myself in the butt for letting this happen, I forced myself to hold it. There were lines anyway for the porta potties, no way would I let my time be wasted standing in line! This was going to be a long 26 miles!!

The time over the bridge and the first streets at the beach went by quick. I felt strong. I was running strong. I was happy, feeling I could actually make my goal!  I knew that at mile 6, (my house), I had a big group of supporters waiting for me.  I was in great spirits entering the sand and I couldn’t wait to see everyone, and show them how great I felt.

The beach is a beautiful part of the course, however, it can be tricky if the sand is not packed right. I had done training on the sand, so I felt pretty comfortable going into it. The sand was a bit loose this year….could have been the additional runners we had (a 30% increase over last year), so you cant be that upset, that we are all here to find a cure for breast cancer!! I saw my dad in the distance, and waved, and headed over to see him and friends.  A couple quick hugs, and I was off running again…until I looked to the left and saw Amy had started running with me! I pointed to the 5:00 pacer, who had passed by as I slowed down to say hi to everyone, and said I needed to keep up with him in order to finish at my goal. She told me good luck, and I was off.  I never caught back up to the 5 hour pacer.

Running the first 10 miles or so I kept finding myself looking over my shoulder for the next pacer. Making sure he wasn’t gaining on me, not wanting to be passed.  It was like I was being chased, and I had to keep ahead of him. Thinking about it now, I think all that concentration killed some of my energy.

Passing by the turn around point for the ½ marathoners, I realized my bladder wasn’t going to let me have a choice about holding ‘it’ any longer. I thought about the stories I heard of professional runners just going on themselves so they didn’t waste any time. Ok, Im not that serious of a runner here!! However, it would be another 2 more miles before I finally found an empty porta potty without a line!

At mile 8, right before we came off the beach, Donna and Tim had just caught up with me! It was pretty cool to be running with such an inspiration! (Donna’s a local newscaster here in Jax, who is also a 3 time breast cancer survivor, and the amazing woman who created the marathon! Tim is her husband who does the weather as well). Watching Donna run, I realized she is so strong. Not just her muscles, (which they are!), but her stride, her head held high, her willingness to ‘FINSISH Breast Cancer!” She was definitely ‘in the zone’ running, as Tim had a pink tambourine in his hand. He looked so comfortable, at ease running this great race, shaking the tambourine at the supporters! We came off the beach, and there was another great group of supporters…my fellow employees, American Express! They had several volunteers sign up for a Water Station. It was good to see some more familiar faces.

Finally, an empty porta potty at the next corner! Jumping in there quick, I knew the 5:15 pacer was on my tail and may pass me as I was in there. I wouldn’t allow myself to get upset. As long as the 5:30 doesn’t pass me…if they do, I will just keep up with them, I kept telling myself! I then realized, it was going to be a long time before I saw another familiar face….(mile 18 when I will be passing the Amex crew again!) I can do it, I told myself

Running through the streets of the rich Atlantic Beach houses (mile 10-13) was once again absolutely amazing! These supporters really put their money into the decorations, creating their own ‘table’ full of ice pops, napkins, drinks, asprin, chocolate, snacks. They made huge banners that drapped over the street. It is awesome and motivating to see how much time and energy they put into it.

Pacer 5:15 crept up on me and passed me at about mile 11. I was definitely down to my usual 1:1 pace that I had trained with. Disappointed, but still sticking with the theory, ‘just don’t let the 5:30 pass me.’

At about mile 14, I found myself at a pace of a girl that had a shirt on that said “1^st 26.2”…It made me smile, remembering last year, my first marathon. And then gave me a boost of energy, thinking, she was beating my time last year!

At this point, we were passed the turn around point, and heading back towards JTB…but also directly into the sun. The temps weren’t too high, but it was definitely HOT! I was glad I fought through the cold morning in my shorts and tank. At this point, I had already taken 4 baby asprin earlier in the race. Last year, I learned on course, that taking a pain med before you start cramping will help as you head towards that ‘brick wall’ at about mile 20. I figured since I was taking ‘baby’ asprin, I could up it.

I think that is when it went down hill. In combination of not eating anything but GU since breakfast (at least 4 hours ago since I left the house), and taking the asprin, and add in the heat, my stomach was shot. I slowed several times, thinking I was about to throw up on the side of the road. When nothing was coming, I kept having thoughts of just sticking my finger down my throat. But decided against it, thinking the little sodium and sugar I had in my system would just be wasted if I did. Running made the nausea worse, so I had slowed to walking 2minutes at a time if not more. Pacer 5:30 had finally passed me at about mile 17.

Everything was in a fog. I barely even recognized where I was, despite all the times I had run up and down these streets training. I couldn’t tell if I had even run back through Neptune Downtown, one of the biggest cheering stations, and something I definitely should have remembered. I started ignoring my watch, ignoring the supporters calling my name (names are on the bibs), and then realized, I was back at the Amex Crew! I couldn’t let them see me like this. I pushed through the nausea and ran hard through the water station. There were even more familiar faces than earlier. I took some pictures, and they cheered me on. I turned the corner, and spotted Maggie, a fellow employee, sitting on a truck tail gate, taking a break. I waved hi as I passed by, then stopped in my tracks and asked her for a hug. I needed something to get me through these next few miles and take my mind off my stomach. Tears came to my eyes as she wished me luck, and I was back on course.

At about mile 19, I looked up and saw Amy and her sister Diane…and a Purple sign! Amy and Diane had walked up the course from our house, to meet me and cheer me on. I had been texting Amy earlier letting her know to tell everyone I had slowed down drastically, so they weren’t expecting me sooner. It was good to see them. I got another hug, and Amy could see my pain, so ran with me for a few blocks. I felt some strength building back up. After all, she was my cheerleader, I couldn’t let her down!  I pulled ahead, said thank you and told them I would see them at the end.

Running mile 20, through the bars of Jax Beach, there were more bands out, which was good, however, the choice of music these bands played is another story. I love that there was so much entertainment on course, but honestly, hearing some punk band scream on the top of their lungs saying god knows what, is not what I need to be hearing as I am ‘hitting the brick wall’ at mile 20!

I finally made my way back to my house and saw my cheer squad again! I stopped and took pictures, and learned the news crew had filmed them!....If only I was faster! I could have been running by as they filmed!! I guess theres always next year! I got more hugs, and then me and Al were off.

Last year, Al ran a few blocks with me. It was a spur of the moment decision, and he was in jeans, and not even sneakers! This year, we had planned he would do the same, but this year, he planned ahead and had running clothes and sneakers! It was good to have someone to run with. He obviously wanted me to run faster, and all I wanted to do was sit down and cry. My stomach was churning, my feet where throbbing, and the back of my thighs were beginning to cramp. I stopped to stretch a couple times, but he kept me going. He ran a lot further than I expected, all the way up to JTB. He wanted to keep going and take me over the finish line. I contemplated it, but knew this was something I needed to do for myself, by myself. I needed to find my inner strength, and finish this race already!

JTB, like earlier in the morning, was the fastest running I had done. I was ignoring my feet that had the tingly feeling building up. My stomach had settled. Probably because I was so focused on being so close, and excited to be able to say I completed 2 marathons! I looked at my watch and realized, I could still beat last years time! I never saw Pacer 5:45 pass. So that pushed me, thinking I could finish before them.  

I knew what was ahead, right before the finish line,….the dreaded bridge. For some reason when you are at mile 25 and you turn that corner on JTB and you get the first glimpse of that bridge heading over the water, it looks so HUGE! Ive driven over it several times, and know it is not. Ive done the Savannah Bridge Run, the biggest bridge run of the south, and know this is nothing compared to that. But for some reason at mile 25, you feel like you can not tackle it. This time, I was prepared. As soon as I saw the bridge, I put my head down and kept moving. I did not look up until I knew I was at the top.

Again, there were spectators cheering for you on the bridge, which is the perfect spot, at this point of the race! It was all downhill from here! The finish line was just down the hill and around the corner! I picked up my pace, cranked up my IPOD, put a smile on my face, and crossed the line 13 minutes faster than last year! ....and one step closer to a cure! Thank you to everyone that has supported me and the fundraising efforts to help find a cure for breast cancer! Together we CAN make a difference!