TCM race report 2013

Sunday, Oct 6th

Can I just say, I love the Twin Cities Marathon.

It's the most magical race

Gorgeous scenery

Amazing architecture

Lakes

Crowd support like you've never seen

I did 26.2 today

But didn't come home with a shirt

Or medal

Nope

I was 8 minutes over cutoff time

You'd think I'd be sad, or hurt, or frustrated

But I'm not

Rules are:

If you don't make official time cut

You don't qualify for official finish SWAG

Those are the rules

I like rules that stick

But- 

Since I DID cover 26.2 miles-

Met a lot of cool people-

Took some super fun pics-

AND had an utterly positive, amazing time---
I simply must write a post

Expo and packet pick up

Race gear

Runners prep

Pre-race sign pep talks

I was determined to try to keep the 5:30 pace group in my sights 

And accidentally found myself following back behind the 5:00 group- 

Didn't realize it till a few miles in- 

Oh well-

Starting too fast, while a disaster,

Was so much fun

I mean look at them all

Annnnd

I got to SEE

Justice Alan Page (also former Viking)

Playing his tuba this year!!!

I missed him last year, on account of being too slow- 

I was so thrilled- 

I had to get a pic

I can't believe I made it in time to see him!!!

Annnnnnd 

Who should surprise me next

My family!!!!

"Surprise!!!!"

Last year I saw them first at mile 7

This year they surprised me by adding an early mile 3 stop

I was exstatic!

I should have just run that 5k and called it good- 

Because these first 3 miles were my favorite

But 

Oh snap-

I'd signed up for this thing called a marathon

On I ran

Saw my folks at mile 7

I can still see my mom jumping up and down cheering- 

My dad hollering for me through the megaphone

My son Riley ringing the cow bell

It was amazing

Glad it was too

Because the next few miles

Were hard

Mile 11 

Was unbearable

I was hot

Overheating hot

I was cold

Shivering cold

I was thirsty

So thirsty 

But when I drank

My stomach turned

Like I could wretch at any moment

It was weird

My feet swelled

Blister on the ball of my right foot

Blister on my left 

Dull ache

In the small of my back

My inconsistent training was showing

I wasn't scared

Just really aware that this was going to be a tough one

I didn't get frustrated

Just

'Here goes nothin'

Did I mention how hands down awesome the crowd support was? 

Not only were there great volunteers every step of the course

But the locals were out in full force

Making a day of it

Cheering us on

I remembered that from last year

But this year 

I needed them

They gave me the energy I was lacking

Mile by mile passed

Math was running through my head

The cutoff time, my pace, miles finished, miles left...

I ran into an elderly gentleman, 

Running his 27th marathon

He was doing math too

Unsure he'd make it to the finish in time- 

Doubting his strength

He really wanted this race

I told him he could make it

I could tell he had it in him

But he ran on with me

I knew I was holding him back

I slowed 

Had to

He went on ahead

Somehow I knew he'd make it

(And he did

My folks kept seeing him along the way

And watched him cross the finish 

Big hug from his wife

Thrilled to have met his goal)

--------

Mile 19 

Made me the happiest

I was very tense, 

My running was labored

I was melting

Fog

Drizzle 

The tiny drops on my skin made me feel like I was going numb

The sensation of your foot going to sleep 

Only it's your whole body

And it's a mirage

Because you're not

Then I turn the corner, 

To see these signs through the fog

The first cracked me up

The second egged me on

And just in time too- 

The bridge I vowed not to walk this year (I'd walked it last year) 

Was just ahead

I made it half way

I don't know what it is about that bridge

That makes me walk

But 1/2 way is progress

Off the bridge- 

And I hear the coolest

Band playing

Some jazzy catchy song about 'getting my mojo back'

They made me believe I could

I can't tell you how awesome it was to hear them play- 

Put a spring in my step 

I ran with hope

I noticed how beautiful the tree lined streets were in the fog

Mile 19 was wonderful

Just wonderful 

The rest of the race was not 

I remember it in slow motion

'Cause it was

I started to hear the sag wagon and sweeper vehicles behind me

An eerie sound

Metal on metal 

Truck steam

Trailer doors opening

The shuffle of race goods

The crowd was thinning on the street too

Only diehards left

Staying to encourage us on

I can't tell you how amazing the people were

Saw my folks

They were still in it

Loved them for That

My hips were burning

My ankles screaming

I knew if I ran I could make it

But I didn't have anything left 

I chose to walk it in

Yes chose

I chose to walk it in

Sag wagon passed

I had so worried last year about that

It wasn't dreadful

They did their thing

I did mine

Volunteers

The mighty troup of worker bees

Each doing their task

Quickly 

Easily

I started seeing race finishers

Locals who'd run it

Now

Walking back

Bright green shirts

Beautiful and happy

Many cheered us on

High five-ing us to keep going

One

Walked back to his house

Course-side

And stopped to offer aid

As we were now on our own

I say 'we' because

I was not alone

There were others 

Whose race had slowed, but not stopped

It was like we were marching to the finish

Determined 

One guy's name was Luke, 

We finally struck up a conversation

After walking it silently

You always worry

That a walker is broken 

Too much emotion or sadness is hard

But he wasn't 

I wasn't

It was his 3rd

Mine too

On we marched

Happy to know someone else wasn't quitting

We finally made it to where we could see the finish shute

Roads were back open now

Traffic bustling by

We stopped on the other side to wait for a walk light to cross

It was surreal

Ghost town

Crazy

I thought I'd choke up

Kick myself

Puddle of self loathing

Regret 

Nah

This was all I had

I knew it

You live and die on the back of your training

I knew it

A twinge settled in my throat

And then I heard it

Cheering 

Cheering?

Yes- cheering

A little boy yelling us in

"Come on! You got this! Come on! You're so close!"

"You're doing it- you're going to finish a marathon!!!!!"

His mom clapping 

He was cheering on the top of his lungs

Willing us to finish strong

I was humbled 

In awe that someone I didn't know would cheer for my feebleness

I wish I had a taken a picture 

But even now I can still see him

Standing by the barricades

Hand outstretched to 'high five' me

Happily cheering me in

(I found out later from my folks, that this family stays every year- cheering til the last marathoner comes in- absolutely amazing people- I get choked up now just thinking of it)

My parents rushed towards me

We walked the finish together 

It was done

I finished

I want to say

THE END

But I can't 

As my son and I were traveling through the airport back to New Mexico, we chatted about the experience.

I expected him to, with childlike honesty, tell me just how boring it is to watch a slow runner fail to meet the time cut off. 

But he didn't 

He was talking about next year

How it would be my youngest kiddo Molly's turn to watch me run-

What she would love 

How I'd surely be faster

Stronger 

And how cool it would be