Five Year Runniversary

October 7 marks my 5-year marathon running anniversary!  On October 7, 2006, I ran the Kansas City Maratnon.  Since October 7, 2006, I have run 12 marathons....about 11 more than I thought I would ever run again.  To reflect on my "runniversary" I am posting my thoughts that I compiled after running my first marathon.  Many of my Runner's Edge friends have seen this, but I thought I'd "cheat" a blog entry with a repost.  (Note:  I could not get the photos in my original document to repost, so you'll just have to imagine photos if I accidentally left a reference in.)

The Day Before
The day before the marathon I was very anxious and excited all day. I took off work so I could go to the Health and Fitness Expo to pick up my race packet and take a bus tour hosted by my coach from The Runner’s Edge, Eladio Valdez. Eladio was also the course designer. The bus tour calmed me down a lot – just being around the other anxious runners. Eladio reminded the first time marathoners that we would only have one first time and suggested carrying disposable cameras to record our journey. Lucky for me, one fit in the back pocket of my Race Ready shorts.

Race Day
I decided to wear my Runners Edge shirt to see if it would help get me some support/recognition on the course. I was so worried about parking at Crown Center that I arrived at the Crown Center parking garage at 6:00 am. Let’s just say I got rock star parking. Lots of marathoners were arriving early, so I didn’t feel too silly. I met up with the Runner’s Edge at the Atrium around 7:00 am. As Stacie, Dana, and I trekked for our final restroom stop, Eladio gave me a high-five and wished me well. Around 7:15 am we headed to the start at Pershing and Grand.

The marathon started at 7:30 am.

Mile 1: Started running with Stacie, Dana, Marcus, Heather, Jamie, and Dan from the 11:40 pace group. Jamie and I were the only two going on to do the marathon. Mile 1 went north through downtown and came back south near Union Station.

Mile 2: Ran primarily with Stacie. In front of Union Station we saw a gentleman taking a picture. Someone in the crowd said that he had done 189 marathons. The route ran up the BIG hill on the west side of the Liberty Memorial. Stacie and I leaned in, raised our arms up, and reflected on our speed session of running the steps up and down and around the memorial. The hill seemed like a piece of cake in comparison. The first aid station was at the top of the hill.

We ran the loop at the Liberty Memorial. Eladio was there with his camera at the end of the loop.

Mile 3: Stacie and I were chatting, so Mile 3 went by quickly. We went up the short but steep hill that killed us at the end of Hospital Hill. I saw one of the wheelchair competitors going up the hill and was absolutely amazed by their arm strength.

Mile 4: We had fun running down Main Street. Dana, Marcus, Stacie, and I were back together.
Stacie went ahead of me in Westport so she could PR for her ½ marathon. Dana, Marcus, and I stuck together through Mile 6. The second aid station was at Mile 4.2. I had a lot of fun running down Westport Road.

Mile 5: This mile took us through a residential, shady area on the west side of the Plaza. I began to mentally prepare for the course split on the Plaza.

Mile 6: The ½ marathon course split was on the east end of the Plaza. Stacie came from no where behind me (Latte Land pit stop I find out later), and I heard Jamie calling my name behind me (she had a Quick Trip pit stop). I waved good bye to Dan, Heather, Stacie, Dana, and Marcus, and Jamie and I headed toward Ward Parkway. With all the hustle & bustle, I forget to take my first energy gel packet at the aid station.

Mile 7: The Runners Edge shirt works!! Two Runners Edge people cheer for us on the corner of the Plaza. I recognize one is Barb Rinne. Jamie and I note how quiet the Plaza is without the traffic and the sounds of the ½ marathon crowd. We can hear the shouts of “Powerade, Water” from the Mile 8 aid station, but we first get to run west on Ward Parkway and loop back to the east once we reach Pembroke.

Mile 8: An aid station at last! I take my first Carb Boom energy gel pack. Jamie goes on ahead of me since she has a slightly faster pace. I prepare for the hill on Sunset Drive. I was proud that I ran up the entire hill. The mile ends up west of Loose Park. Very scenic mile.

Mile 9: I’m officially running alone at this point. Jamie is a small speck of pink shorts in the distance. A band is playing. The lead singer jives “Hey baby, you’re at Mile 9, but that’s okay, take yo time.” I am very comfortable at this point because I had run this course with Runner’s Edge as my 20 mile training run three weeks earlier. Halfway through Mile 9, some volunteers had Russian dance music. Very upbeat. This carried me on to Mile 10.

Mile 10: The shirt works again. A Runners Edge gal with a blonde wig comes running out with a poster that says “GO RUNNERS EDGE” and loudly bursts the words out. Spiderman (yes, really) offers me water. This aid station is a bit different…Powerade, Water, and Beer. I stuck with the Powerade and water. I run into Mr. 189 Marathons at this aid station.
Mile 11: My feet are getting sore, and I am ready for a port a pottie. I took a picture of the fountain on Ward Parkway that was between Miles 10 and 12. Most of the fountains on the route had pink water for Think Pink! Breast Cancer awareness month.

Mile 12: Another aid station, another Carb Boom energy gel. I’m excited because I know my parents, aunt, and a port-a-pottie are waiting for me at Mile 13. An energetic volunteer started pushing her hands up in the air and hooting at me and insists I do as well. Her “you go girl” gives me the energy to head east on 75th Street. As I round the corner I see my parents and aunt. My mom later told me that I looked stronger than many of the runners that had come through. I was excited because I told my parents it would take me about 2 hours and 30 minutes to get to 75th & Wornall. I was right on my estimate.  After a quick stop at the port-a-potties and I think I’m hallucinating. It’s a Runners Edge aid station! With candy orange slices! Yum!!! My favorite Runners Edge snack treat! Mr. 189 Marathons is standing to my right with the white tank top.

I reached the 13.1 check point in 2 hours 37 minutes. This is my exact time for the Hospital Hill ½ marathon on June 3. Not bad for stopping to chat with my parents for a few minutes.

Miles 14 and 15: I don’t remember a lot about Miles 14 and 15. I enjoyed running down Brookside Blvd and was sight-seeing to distract myself. Mr. 189 Marathons passed me and took a picture of the Max station at UMKC. Then I saw him take this shot and thought it was a pretty view, too:

Mile 16: There is an aid station. I take a Carb Boom energy gel and water. My stomach starts to feel a little funny, but I dismiss it. I notice Danielle from the Runners Edge is a distance behind me. This mile went from Volker on to Troost.

Mile 17: Someone offers me pretzels. I decline. This mile begins the loop on Emmanuel Cleaver II Boulevard. I can see all the people ahead me heading west as I am heading out to the east. I cheer on Runners Edge folks to distract myself from the pain in my feet and my need to use the restroom again. I pass Gates barbeque. I meet up with Danielle at the aid station around 17.5. We walk together for a while before starting to jog to the Mile 18 marker.

Mile 18: We see Jamie after we pass Mile 18 and after she passes Mile 19. The marathon is starting to get really hard for me at this point. I chat with Danielle to distract myself from the pain and my desperate need for a restroom. There is no shade – and it was getting hot. I remembered I had my camera and took a picture of the pink fountain at the turnaround on Emmanuel Cleaver II Blvd.

Mile 19: Danielle and I continue to walk and jog through Mile 19. I see a gas station at the aid station at 19.5 and ask a volunteer if there is a restroom. She told me runners had been squatting in the tall grass behind the gas station and offered me some wet wipes. In an uncharacteristic move, out of pure desperation, I used the great outdoors for my restroom facility. Afterwards, I wasn’t feeling much better. At this point I realize my issue is more of a digestive tract issue than drinking too much water. Stomach cramps start. I look over and see the police escort for the end of the race. Between the stomach cramps and seeing the end of the race 2 miles behind me, I am at a mental low. Danielle is ahead of me. I try to focus on her green shirt to keep myself moving. At this point, a race director asks me if I will be able to finish. I say “yes!” without a second thought. While I was at a mental and physical low, I never once thought of quitting. I knew I could at least walk 6 miles in 1.5 hours. I dumped ice water over my head at the aid station to keep cool. Volunteers were starting to leave the course and clean up.

Mile 20: I made it to Mile 20 in 4 hours and 10 minutes. I was excited since it took me 4 hours and 30 minutes to do the 20 mile training run.

I ended up passing the woman in the yellow shirt ahead of me in this photo as I turned the corner on to Troost – and I was walking. She was telling some family/friends that the race was getting hard. I told myself that if she started running again, I would start and keep with her. She remained behind me for rest of the race. At Mile 20.7 I took a stop at the port-a-potties. This is when I knew I was in trouble. Energy gel + Powerade + nerves + heat = Montezuma’s revenge. I came out of the port-a-potties and heard a familiar voice say “Is that Amy?” It was Lisa, my pace group leader. I was so excited to see her, but I must have looked terrible as she asked me if I was okay. I told her that I was at least going to walk the rest of the race.

Mile 21 through 22: I literally don’t remember the scenery along Gillham. I was still struggling with my mental low. This was when I realized that my expectation of going to the Disney marathon in January may be too high – but then I reminded myself that Disney was flat. I felt like I was jogging with the flu, and I discovered that I could speed walk more effectively. My legs were fine, but the jostling really upset my digestive system. I also remember wondering how the Ultramarathon Man could possibly think of ordering a pizza to eat while he ran. Stomach of steel. My thoughts were so loud and so random. A group came up behind me and I used them to help me jog up the hill from Mile 21 to 22. I made it up most of that hill. I started playing some mind games to distract myself. Run to the next sign. Run to next tree. I used my Garmin to run for 0.2 mile to practice my finish. I remembered on the bus tour that Eladio referred to a quote that if the marathon wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. I kept picturing the finish line. I kept going because I remembered Stacie was waiting for me at the finish line and I was going to be a bit later than the 5 hour time I had predicted. At the end of Mile 22 I caught back up with Danielle. These 2 miles seemed longer than the 20 miles I had already covered, but I could see Mile 23 headed downhill. I probably walked at least one mile.

Mile 23: I started jogging with Danielle. It was downhill and flat. I let Danielle go ahead, and I continued to walk and jog off and on. A volunteer with pom pons came out and cheered me about ½ way through this mile. I got a “Looking good, girl! You keep it up!” I think I walked a lot of this mile.

Mile 24: This mile took me into 18 and Vine. This area of town had more to look at, so I jogged a bit more here. I passed a younger guy with a ½ marathon bib. I asked him if he was okay. He said I had just passed his sister who was walking the ½ marathon and he was pulling her through. I thought that was really cool. A band was playing outside the Blue Room. I remembered seeing Karrin Allyson perform here a few years ago and getting her autograph. There was also a leftover cow from the Cow Parade on the right side of the street. The happy thoughts were helping.

I saw slight hill and police car at the top of the hill and stopped to walk again to save the energy I had left. I was delighted when a volunteer told me that I was to turn left before the hill peaked. A had a nice downhill speed walk. On the north side of the Jazz Museum, there was a demonstration. I later realized this was something to do with Buck O’Neill. The gentleman that had asked me if I would be able to finish the race at Mile 20 high-fived me near the Charlie Parker statue. Mile 25 was right around the corner!!!

Mile 25: When I saw the mile marker, I thought about kissing the ground. I start to jog to the overpass. At the overpass I walk to enjoy the shade. A lady I had seen stretching over a fire hydrant catches up to me. We start to jog in the shade on the left side of the road. She told me that she has done 5 marathons this year and her last one was 3 weeks ago. [2011 Note:  To think I thought she was crazy five years ago!] We both commented on how hot and draining the temperature was. A volunteer told us to head for the stop lights by the TWA building. I focused on the TWA rocket. I see Danielle turn left and realize that I am about ¼ mile from Mile 26.

Mile 26: Oh the emotions! I turned the corner and see the finish line 0.2 miles in front of me. I forget all pain and all sickness. I amazingly hear Stacie before I reach 26.1. That girl has lungs!! Then I see Jamie and her pink shorts. The DJ says “Hey Amy, Stacie’s been waiting for you! Come down to the finish!” I think I saw Renee… Everything’s a blur. I wanted to cry, but I had no tears. While a volunteer cut my chip off my shoe, I looked over and Lisa was there. I hugged Stacie. Then I realized that Heather and Dan were still there. I was so thankful that so many people from the pace group stayed to cheer me in, when I was really “running late.” I was in such a daze. I finished a marathon!!! Me!!!

It took me 5 hours and 35 minutes – about a ½ hour longer than I expected – and I beat 11 people out of the 650 that participated in the marathon. As I walked through the finishers chute, I kept wondering where the person with the medals was. It dawned on me that in my daze of crossing the finish, I was handed a postcard. Unfortunately, I won’t receive my medal until November; however, at least I have a temporary postcard medal.

After the Marathon
The marathon ended in the Freight House District. After the excitement of finishing I realized I was still feeling really ill and was ready to go home. Thankfully Stacie had her car there and drove me back to Crown Center, where she dropped me at a restroom. I managed to make it home, but I was ill for about 2 hours. Once the energy gel/Powerade was removed from system, I felt okay. I actually felt a little better than I did after Hospital Hill – just really tired. On Sunday I woke up with extremely tight quads. I had my disposable camera pictures developed and was able to sit back and really enjoy the fact that I worked so hard for the last six months and I overcame so much mentally and physically in the last hour of the marathon. It was a truly amazing experience to complete my 1st marathon in my hometown.