My Toe Got Carrrrrrrred!

....and then I ran a marathon!

These last few weeks have a been a little hectic between school, work, and marathon-ing. School is out for the quarter and I couldn't be more excited for a nice little break.

A year ago I completed my first 1/2 marathon in San Francisco and did better than I thought and with the adrenaline running and endorphins high, I decided I was going to qualify for the Boston Marathon someday. So a few months ago I was still feeling ambitious about this and signed up for the Sacramento marathon--a supposed great race to qualify in. I didn't really take into account how time consuming training would be, but I was able to make it to at least 18 miles. The most I had ever run before this fall was 13.1, so 26.2 seemed very daunting. I was even more nervous that I had only gotten to 18 miles in my training. At this point I said that I just want to finish and I don't care if I qualify or not, but of course I really did want to qualify. I had to do it in 3 hours and 40 minutes.

Anyway, the day before the race I packed my bags and drove up to Sacramento, went to the expo, got more nervous as I saw all the people running it who were a little intimidating, and then it started raining. I was worrying about what I would wear, how I was going to carry my gummies with me, and what pace am I going to do?? Anyway, after I picked up my bib, etc. I headed to Jimmy's apartment where I would sleep that night.

(This part is painful.) I don't even want to talk about this too much, but pretty much Jimmy has a permit parking only parking lot and that office was closed to get a guest pass. He thought they never checked and then it started to rain a lot and the thought of running across the street to park it at Target didn't sound too appealing, SO regrettably I left the car in the lot.

I got ready for bed around 10, but was not sleepy. I had my alarm clock for 4:15 am to get ready and be dropped off at a hotel to be bussed to the start of the race at 5:15 am. Luckily I had an urge to read and thought that this might help me be more sleepy. I remembered a book I had in my car so I went down to get it and to my dismay the car was gone! AHHHHHH!!! I was freaking out. But, I was happy I discovered it then instead of the morning of the race! We were able to arrange with Jimmy's roommate to use his car in the morning thank goodness. The mean security guard at Jimmy's apt. complex told us to call the tow truck company to see when we can pick it up. I was pretty upset when I called but accidentally created some comic relief when I called and exclaimed "my tow got carrrred!!!" hahaha, Jim was in the other room trying not to laugh. I was laughing inside, but still to mad to laugh out loud! Anyway, instead of getting to bed early I think I finally fell asleep just before midnight. I didn't sleep very well at all because I was paranoid I would sleep in on accident. My first alarm went off and I popped right up! I've never felt more awake at 4:00 in the morning!

I got ready, woke Jimmy up, and drove to the hotel where I was to meet the bus. I decided to pay th $10 for this bus trip because you could only get dropped off 2 miles from the starting line if you go on your own, and quite frankly, I thought 26.2 miles was enough for one day! Anyway, we arrived there at 5:00 am and waited and waited and waited and waited some more! No bus! There was a huge team of people waiting along with a few others who had been dropped off too. Finally at 6:15 this team decided to take their bus they had come up with from Southern California even though they were told they could only be dropped off at 2 miles from the start. They invited all of us stragglers and so we piled on! The race started at 7:00 and there is absolutely no late starts--it would be cut off at 7:05. I was freaking out! I think I went pee like 5 times that morning while waiting because I was so nervous!

So we get on this bus. The bus driver has no idea where he is driving and after running a few red lights, almost running a car off the road, and almost hitting a light pole, we finally got closer to the race and were stopped into a parking lot of traffic. It's now 6:30 and we are stuck in traffic, 2 miles from the start! Luckily the bus had a toilet so I could pee one last time and we all piled out and decided we would run to the start! I couldn't believe that I would run 28.2 miles this day. We went about 1/4 mile and saw that they were bussing people to the start! What a miracle!!! So we all piled on another bus and arrived at the start at 6:52! Craaaazy!

I was so relieved to be there and relieved again to see how perfect the weather was--no rain and not very cold! Unfortunately I made the bad decision to wear a long sleeved shirt which later on through the race I couldn't take it any longer, unpinned my bib number while running and pinned it to my shorts and took my shirt off and tied it around my waist. I usually never wear just a sport's bra, but after seeing so many people who should be more self conscious than me wearing no shirts either, I felt okay doing it too. haha.

The race was pretty much the hardest thing I've ever done! It was tough! I felt pretty good the first 1/2, and then realized I had to do this all again?! As usual I started off at a faster pace. I just get to excited at first, but then slowed down towards the end. The last 6 miles were definitely the hardest. It seemed never-ending. Even up to the last mile was torture. My legs were tired and tightening up and I was just mentally and physically tired. Finally I got to the 26 mile mark and somehow mustered up energy to sprint into the end (which in my mind seemed like it would be a short distance, but it felt much longer than .2 miles). But I finally got to the finish line at 3 hours and 37 minutes! I QUALIFIED!!!! I was so happy to be done and to have accomplished my goal! After trying to catch my breath, grabbing my medal, and searching for water, I noticed my family trying to flag me down. I was greeted with a hug from my mom and  with an unintended kiss from Butters. I'm pretty sure the first thing I said was "I'm never doing this again!" My mom said something to the affect of "yeah right!" And she was right, a few hours later I was talking about the next marathon I would run! haha.

My legs were so tired I could hardly walk! I couldn't believe that I had just ran 26.2 miles for almost 4 hours straight without stopping!! And even more of a miracle was that I didn't have to pee once! It may sound silly but this was one of my biggest fears! If any of you know me well or even have just spent over an hour or 2 with me, you know that I always have to pee. I was blessed with a small bladder. I definitely didn't want to have to stop to pee during the race, so this was a relief! However, I did see a lot of people stop at the port-a-potties and even saw a guy stop on the side of the road and pee in some bushes! haha...So we took some pictures, and I accidentally cut infront of the enormous line to get pancakes, picked up the stupid car from the stupid towing company, went back to Jimmy's, I showered, and we went to In and Out. Delicious after marathon meal. I felt like I could have eaten 4 hamburgers that day and after looking at my garmin I realized why--it approximated that I burnt over 3,100 calories! Wow! I'm still eating to make up those calories!

Anyway, later we drove home--I slept--and I foam rolled, stretched and went to an Ugly Sweater Christmas party with Matt. I actually felt pretty okay that night, but the next morning was painful! I could hardly walk down stairs. By Wednesday I was able to work out a little bit and now I feel much better. My legs are still a little sore and I'm pretty sure one of my toe nails in going to fall off (gross!) but other than that, I feel great! I'm ready to start training for triathlons next! But a

So this is a really long post and I'm surprised if you actually read all of it. Good job if you did! ;-) For those of you skimming here are some pictures from that day!

I think this is when I started sprinting!

Almost to the finish!

Got my medal and ready to die.

So happy I saw my family!

Showing off my medal

So thirsty.

Stretching! My quads were shot!

Obviously checking out that hot harry chested man.

Merry Christmas

And again.

And again...definitely leaning against this railing to support me up!

Getting food...even though I had no appetite whatsoever!

Butters is scheming to steal my pancakes.

Ugly Sweater Galore!

I borrowed my mom's christmas pins, earings, and socks! I'm actually shocked I was able to lift my leg this high that night, but I wanted to show off the socks in this picture because they were just too great. Look closely and you will see they have hanging candy from the ankle. My mom has the best stuff, right down to the fabulous bow Matt is wearing on his fancy blazer.

P.S. I a big thank you to Jimmy for letting me stay with you and for staying up all night to drop me off and then waiting for an hour, plus going to the race! Wow! To my parents for coming and supporting and buying me In & Out and driving me home. To Matt for cooking me delicious chicken curry later that day which I gobbled right up! And to Butters for just being Butters!

The End!