Well, I ran my first marathon and I really don’t know what to do with myself now. This entire experience reminds me of giving birth to a child. You train and have intermittent periods of discomfort. You begin the race and you are so excited, but in a few hours you are experiencing miserable pain and just ready for it all to be over. FINALLY you cross the finish line and experience a rush of joy that makes you forget all the awfulness.
Here is the break down: miles 1-19 were awesome, miles 19.1-22.75 were miserable, and miles 22.76-26.2 were magical.
I couldn’t even see the start line from where I was lined up!
These are all the people behind me! They look nervous!
The first 19 miles were really neat. We ran over the Arkansas River; ran by the Governor’s Mansion, Central High School, and the State Capital; and we ran through the Heights. I talked with a lot of runners and met a lot of first timers like myself. After that, we entered the most flat area and I hit a brick wall. My knee started screaming at me in a way it had never screamed before. I have never felt so demoralized and beaten. I will admit, at mile 19.28 I cried like a little girl after a fellow runner named Skittles (that’s what her bib said) put her arm around me and told me to just stay positive. Thank God I was wearing my hater blockers (sunglasses), so no one else could tell. I sent a text message to my Mom and told her my knee was killing me and she said she would pray for me and told me to just keep walking. I began to walk faster and finally began to run again at mile 22.76. I got my second wind and ran the rest of the way to the glory line.
It took me 5 hours and 13 minutes, but I finished!
I was filled with so much emotion and relief. I honestly cannot believe I held myself together and didn’t begin sobbing like a little baby. I really don’t care if you think less of me for telling you how the race really went. I really wanted to lie and just say the whole thing was unbelievably awesome, but it sucked really bad for about an hour.
All that being said, I think everyone should train for and run a marathon. It made me stronger and a lot more humble. Also, I kind of feel like a beast now.
I am so proud of you!
Thanks Lyndi!
I wish I could say there are no tears in running but there are and should be! I have cried in races before…once while feeling pitiful for myself but also a few times in just joy of the accomplishment. I have one friend who is much faster than me that always stations herself in front of the finish to cheer for me and everytime it makes me want to cry from relief, excitement, and just thankfulness. I’m bummed that your knee bothered you so much. I’m sending you speedy recovery thoughts! Here’s the big question…are you going to do another one and if so have you already picked one out and signed up?!?!
Well, Lisa and I are both running the Ouachita Trail 50k on April 20th. I think I may be crazy…
You are a beast.
And I totally cried at the finish line, and I only ran half of it. I was just so happy I could stop. You’re my hero for running the full.
Great job! 🙂
Hi! I found you from Laura’s 5 by the 5th. You did great at your marathon! Too bad about your knee though. 🙁 I’m training for my first marathon in 6 weeks, and I am so nervous, but excited too! I’m sure I’ll be bawling like a baby when I cross that finish line!
Wow, amazing job! Those middle miles have been the toughest ones for me, too. But the feeling of accomplishment is incredible!
I have never done a marathon. I think it is amazing that you did it!
You made it through the whole thing…and you were honest about the process….that rocks!
Blown away and so impressed! 🙂 Way to go! Stopping by from SITS Sharefest on Twitter.
Wow! Congratulations! What a great accomplishments! Be proud! And I love the part about Skittles!
Hi Ashley! I must admit, I may or may not have been blog stalking you 🙂 I’ve been looking for fellow run-obsessed Arkansans! I ran the Little Rock Half Marathon as my 4th half, and loved every minute of it. I’ve been trying to get the courage to commit to run the FULL next year so I LOVED hearing your HONEST review! Especially where you said “but it sucked really bad for about an hour.” haha love it. Anyways, love the blog, yay for running!