So, (have you noticed I tend to start all of my posts with “so”?) I am still mentally smarting from Richmond but, that does not diminish my LOVE for the Blue Ridge Marathon!! Check out my recaps from 2016 and this year. I’ve already starting mentally moving on to that race.
To say it is the most fun I have ever had while running a marathon would not be an exaggeration. Everything about the race is amazing, from the course, to the course support, to custom race shirts and medals. Literally, everything is my version of perfection.
You don’t know true bliss until you are eating gummy bears while looking at this!
Now, don’t get me wrong, the course can and will kick your ass. The full marathon has 7,430 feet of elevation change with 3,790 for the half and 2,000 for the 10K. There is no way you aren’t running/”running” up at least one mountain – unless you do the kids dash – but it is so worth it!
My second love, only recently found, is Crazy Compression socks! I have thick calves. Like, really thick. And I was always sad that I couldn’t find fun socks that would fit me. Well, I am no longer sad! These socks fit my feet and my calves perfectly and give great support without pinching.
I ❤ stripes!
Give-Away Details
Since I am an ambassador for both of my favorite things (convenient, no?), I am doing a give-away! Enter today to win one entry of any distance of the Blue Ridge Marathon race series (full, half, 10K – the double is sadly sold out – *cough cough freaks*) AND a pair of Crazy Compression socks or sleeves!
I think these are appropriate but you can pick whatever you want!
Don’t dawdle! The give-away is open until noon on November 25!
Week of the marathon, everyone was losing their ever-loving minds over the weather (cold) and I was feeling a bit cruddy (stomach) and stressed (headache on Friday that was close to migraine territory).
I caught a ride down with a woman from my running group and her husband. We went directly to the expo, shortly after it opened, and were in and out relatively quickly. It’s fairly small but they had some gear vendors, a few other races (including Blue Ridge Marathon! Sign up already and use RACEBLUERIDGE for 15% off!) They also had the most brilliant vendor there – Thomas’ English Muffins! With freshly toasted muffins for everyone! Soo goood….
After that, we headed to our hotel. We were both staying at the Holiday Inn Express that is downtown. I would not stay here again. My room was okay (other than having the filthiest carpet I have EVER seen in the room) but my friend got stuck with a room that had been recently smoked in and I had problems with a late check-out (more on that later). They went to get lunch but I was feeling gross so I went to my room, unpacked, and literally sat on the couch while watching 3 hours of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and ate peanut butter filled prezels. Don’t judge me.
A large group of us then went to dinner at Graffiato’s. It was very good! It is supposed to be a tapas type place but we all ate our own plates. I had the gnocchi and roasted beets. Mmmm (Fun fact, the “beet effect” is more pronounced when you are dehydrated. I literally thought I had a kidney rupture later on Saturday).
Saturday morning dawned quite cold but clear. It was about 25-27. I had an awesome race outfit, though, so I decided to stick with it.
Skirt from InknBurn. Shirt from my friend who did a custom decal
I did have a throwaway top and a mylar blanket to wrap around my bottom while I waited. It really wasn’t that bad. By the time I walked to the group photo and then moved to the start, I was comfortable. I did run with the blanket for the first mile but I think that was more because I was feeling a little nervous about my short shorts 😉
Mile 1 through 10 was awesome! My goal pace was 9:45-10:15 and I was around 9:30 the entire time. I saw my family at mile 9 and was really feeling great!
See you in 10 miles!
My knee was holding up and the weather was absolutely perfect for me! My only area of concern was that I knew I was behind on my nutrition. My stomach problems of the past week made me nervous. I really didn’t want to have to make a mid-race pit stop.
So good!
Mile 11 had us coming out from the very flat river portion of the course and climbing a couple of hills, the first one short but quite steep. And I felt something “go” in my back. And my back began to progressively tighten. I started rubbing it and running with my hand on my back to give some support. No dice. I then moved to a run walk plan. I was muttering out loud “It’s okay, it doesn’t matter” as I watched my pace click higher and higher. By the time I reached the long bridge at mile 15, I could hardly walk in a straight line and I couldn’t stand fully erect. I was slowly stumbling along and crying like mad. I texted my husband and told him I didn’t think I could finish. I texted my friend who was at mile 22 and told her I was screwed.
One of the big running groups in Richmond had a ton of coaches on the course and a lady with a giant apple hat (I think it was an apple) came running over and did everything she could to help me. She tried rubbing my back and basically shoved Advil down my throat. She told me to just get to medical at the other end of the bridge and they could help stretch me out so I could at least finish the race. I thanked her and kept stumbling on.
I never did see the medical tent in that section but the Advil eased the pain a bit so I could get my head on right. I had three big problems. 1. I could not run. I was having spasms so bad that the pain was radiating down both legs just walking. 2. I had to check out the hotel by 1:00 because they refused a late check-out and told me I would be charged for an extra day if I was late. 3. I had to finish the race. I already bought a quarter zip and a Christmas ornament! Oh, and 4. I was PISSED.
So, I texted my husband and told him to have my sweatshirt ready for me by the time I got to 19. I was going to walk the entire effing back half, if I had to. I gave him my room key and asked him to check out for me and then meet me at the finish (I was going so slow, he’d have plenty of time). I then let my BRF know what was going on and she said she’d meet me at mile 20.
One sad panda, let me tell you
So, my friend is totally nuts but has a heart that’s bigger than anything. She was also wearing a a pink Llama costume and had been spectating all morning. After I left my husband, I was slowly slogging to mile 20, feeling pretty miserable. I looked up and suddenly see this pink llama sprinting down the road towards me, hair akimbo and looking a bit crazy. It was the funniest, and best, thing I have ever seen! She then proceeded to walk with me for the next two miles. We chatted, made snarky comments, admired the houses. MarathonFoto got a picture of us but I won’t post it since she hates it but let me tell you, it is the BEST. We’re both smiling and trying to act like the camera isn’t there (I was feeling pretty sheepish for walking).
Mile 22 had us back to the MRTT aid station. My BRF stayed there but I think only because I hooked up with someone else from our group who was also injured and we were going to do a slow wog (walk/jog) together. I got a bit more Advil and a few more hugs and then my new partner and I slowly moved on. Somewhere in our wog, the meds kicked in and I was able to pick up the pace just a smidgen.
So, so bad
I lost my partner somewhere in mile 24 but found another friend in mile 25. By this time, my back was screaming again. My new friend was also hurt but we decided that we needed to just “finish this shit” and started our final push (big thanks to our other friend who saw us to the last corner!) Our decent down the finishing hill was 100% profanity. We were so done but we weren’t going to let the bastard get us down!
Pretty much
Official time: 5:39. Not my slowest marathon, so there’s that, but almost an hour slower than what my “C” goal was. Bah.
Overall: The race itself was great. Tons of support. Tons of spectators. Good course. I love the blanket at the finish. I have no complaints about anything to do with the race. Also, the support of my friends and family was, literally, everything. I would still be sitting on a curb somewhere without them
With me, though? That’s another story. I am supremely frustrated by my body. My training was on point. The first half of the race was perfect. I KNOW I can hit 4:30 but for some reason my body fails, yet again, to agree with me. Maybe I should stop trying to run for time and just stick to “fun” races. Maybe I should get serious and lose 30 more pounds so I’m not lugging so much around all the time. Maybe I should try something else. Maybe I should stop kidding myself.
I can’t believe race day is almost here again! Almost all of the miles are done, the gear has been checked, the weather is being stalked. Yikes!
Here’s a random hodge-podge of a mental dump….
How awesome is my race shirt?
I’m a huge Tom Petty fan so this seemed quite fitting. Seriously, 85% of my playlist will be TP. I’m pairing it with this skort from InknBurn
Kinda BA, no? Of course, it’s now supposed to be freezing at the start – which is good because I prefer cold but… whew, that’s cold! Thank goodness I bought a new pair of heavy arm warmers! They kept me cozy on my cool and drizzly 8 miler on Sunday so I am hopeful they will be enough.
See the knee strap? Yeah, that’s been bothering me for about 3 weeks now. It’s getting better but I still can’t run without it. I plan to tape the crap out of my leg (red and black skull KT tape!) and then put on the strap. Just keep it together, body!
My goals range from 4:15 (pie-in-the-sky, perfect day) to 4:45. Hell, I’d be “happy” with anything less than 5:xx – but I know I can do better than that! The trick will be staying out of my freakin’ head. I need to do my best and forget the rest!
I’m planning to follow the same nutrition as I did for Blue Ridge, since it served me well there. I’ve started my caffeine fast today and will start my NOx load tonight. It is supposed to improve your blood flow. When I’m doing a load, my veins get super big and it’s a bit freaky looking. But, if it helps…
On Race Day, I will primarily use the Isagenix AMPED line – e+shot at the start and one or two during the race, the AMPED Fuel gels, AMPED hydrate in one of my water bottles (plain water in the other), and a few other things in case I need it (fruit bar from Trader Joe’s and some peanut butter pretzels). I’ll also have some electrolyte capsules but I probably won’t need them if it is as cold as predicted. I will also have some toast with almond butter and honey in my room and then a banana at the start line.
My family will be spectating (with my son wearing a Peanut Butter and Jelly costume and handing out fruit snacks and Nutter Butters for part it!)
I will see some of my MRTT sole sisters on the course. I sure am lucky to have such a great support system. I’ll be honest, though, I will be looking for the guys with the Jim Beam again! They saved my bacon last year! 😀
Of course, my thought in the final .2 will be “don’t trip!!!”!
Unexpected Runner 