As I walked into the building I felt the warmth inside. Part
of it was simply the temperature difference from the cold outside, part of it
was the familiarity of the building (I have had an office inside for the past 2
years now), but mostly it was the friendly faces of the people inside. My
coworkers, who have become my friends over the past two years, were there,
sleep deprived and dead on their feet, to greet me and offer words of
encouragement. Brianna hugged me and said, “By the end of the day, you will be
a marathoner!”
Because I work for the city (with races and events, in
particular) I was afforded a few special privileges at the marathon. Of note
was the ride to the start line. Rather than ride a bus to the start, I piled
into the lead vehicle with 8 other people and we drove to the start. On the way
up, Aaron talked about his running strategy and commented how far the drive
was. It took all my self control not to reach over and smack him for that! I
was doing everything I could to hold back my panic about the distance and the
most seasoned marathon runner I know, the guy who is responsible for this act
of lunacy in my life is saying it’s a long way!?! If it’s a long way for him, I
know it’s going to be considerably longer for me! I find the nerves weighing in
again.
Finally, we arrive at the start line. It’s a crisp 38
degrees but the runners don’t seem to feel it. The atmosphere is charged with
energy and pumping with music. The excitement is contagious! My nerves are
still there, but I am finally starting to feel like this is something I will be
able to do. At the last second, my friend who had considered running with me
decides she isn’t prepared for the run, and she is going to ride back to the
finish line with Kami. I take off my warm pants and hand them to her before she
leaves and wander off into the mass of runners. From out of nowhere a pair of
arms is around me. It is my friend Amy! I didn’t know she was running, but
seeing her there bolsters my spirits and helps give me strength to do this! We
talk and laugh and sing along with the music until it is time to start. As we
crowd into the start line chute I think about my boss Aaron, starting with the
leaders. He is the reason I am doing this. He is an incredible runner and will
be finishing the race as I cross the halfway point.
As the sky begins to glow on the eastern horizon, the race starts
and a crush of crazy people make their way across the starting line and head
down Highway 18 toward St. George. I settle into an easy pace, knowing I have a
long way to go, and not wanting to kill myself before I ever get started. The
first miles go by easily. I have run this far plenty of times. I am prepared
for it and it feels good. I find myself enjoying the run. As I make my way down
the course my thoughts are everywhere! “It is such a beautiful day!” “St.
George has such incredible scenery!” “I am probably insane for doing this!” “I
wonder how Aaron is feeling (he was out of training with an injury for 6 weeks
but made a remarkable comeback just in time to run)?” “How many of my friends
are doing this?” “Will I ever do something like this again???” On and on it
went!
At mile seven, the course goes through Veyo. It’s a small
town but EVERYONE who lives there comes out to cheer on the runners! There is
music and food and fun. People make signs and I find myself laughing as I read
them. One sign reads, “If it was easy, I would have done it!” and I think about
how true that statement is about to become. Just south of Veyo is the first
major challenge in the marathon- Veyo hill! It is a steep climb for the first
mile, but that’s not what makes it hard. It’s hard because for 2 miles after
the steep climb, there is a more gradual, but steady continuation of uphill to
overcome. I haven’t run this stretch often, but I have run it recently. During
the Red Rock Relay, just a couple weeks before, I was lucky to run this stretch
at 2:30 in the morning. Knowing what I was in for, I began my climb. It was
tough-at the top of the steep incline, the wind was crossways and biting cold.
For the first time in 9 miles I found myself wanting out. But I had made it 9
miles already! I was on a good pace, I felt good and I was determined to keep
going.
So go I did. The next several miles passed in a blur. At 13
I was starting to really feel the ache in my muscles and stopped for some Icy
Hot on my quads. Then, at 15, it happened. I was running along when the muscles
in my calves started to ripple and cramp. I couldn’t run! I could barely walk,
but I knew I had to walk. Ahead of me I saw a tall figure I thought I
recognized. I fought through the cramping until I caught him, and sure enough,
it was Will! As soon as we were close enough he threw his arms around me and
asked how I was doing? He could tell I was hurting and passed me some salt pills.
Turd’l also passed me a piece of “magic gum” that was going to help with the
cramping. I knew it was all in my head, but it helped! Here was the support
system I would need to get me to the end of the race. Will said that as long as
I could keep with the group he was pacing I would be able to make the cutoff in
time and I would finish the race! He told Turd’l to keep me moving, no matter
what!
At 19, there is another hill to climb. Not as steep as the
one in Veyo, but by 19 you are way more tired than you were at 7! I wasn’t sure
I could do it, but Turd’l stayed with me and kept me moving. I ran through 20,
but at 21 the pain in my ankles was almost more than I could take. I wanted in
the shuttle van more than anything in that moment. In my moment of pain and
suffering, just when I thought I couldn’t take another step, 2 of the women
with Will’s group came up on either side of me. I was limping some and they
could see that I was in pain. They passed me some Advil and one put her arm
around me and walked with me (who are we kidding? She basically carried me…)
for the next half mile. When the shuttle stopped briefly to see how we were
doing, the whole crowd yelled at him to continue on because I wouldn’t be
needing a ride- I was going to finish!
As I passed the cutoff point at 23 the Advil was kicking in
and I realized I really was going to make it. I still didn’t feel good, and I
still started to cramp every time I tried to run, but the finish was in sight.
The mental game was over and I knew I could finish. I turned the corner off the
highway and onto Diagonal Street to hear a very distinct whistle. It was my
family! They were down the road waiting for me with signs and support. Seeing
them there, cheering me on and supporting me through this brought me to tears!
My sister walked the last 2 miles with me and as we walked she told me about
how they had all decided to train and run the marathon next year! It was a very
exciting and proud moment for me. I couldn’t believe that my insanity had
rubbed off onto them, but it had! As we neared the finish line, Camellia told
me to pick it up and run it in. So I did. Cramping calves forced from my mind,
I pushed myself into a run to cross the finish line. As I drew near, Aaron was
there waiting for me and ran in with me. My name was called over the loud
speaker and I knew I had made it! Smiling wide, tears in my eyes, I crossed the
finish line to a waiting group of coworkers- Kami, Dawn, Melea, Brianna,
Michelle, Nikelle, Hollis, Jess, Aaron- all there to support me, most of us in
tears! I suppose that is the other advantage of working where I do. Every
person involved with the marathon is someone I know. Someone I work with.
Someone from whom I drew support. Once the hugs and tears were under control
there, I found my family for another round of hug and tears!
Later that day as I talked with my family, my sister,
Belinda, asked me about my experience. “What do you take away from this?” she
asked. I’ve thought about it a lot since then, and my answer is this:
Running the St. George Marathon was absolutely the hardest
thing I have ever done in my life. But it is also one of the most incredible
things I have ever done. The running community is amazing. The atmosphere, the
camaraderie, the love and support- there is nothing else I have ever
experienced that is quite like it. I was carried down that course by more than
my own legs on October 5th. I was carried by the energy of the mass
of runners, by the people who believed in my ability to finish, by people who
stopped by in the days before the race to wish me luck and drop off gifts, by
my family, my friends, and by complete strangers, who saw I was hurting, who
saw I was in need and put their own pain aside to help me through. I didn’t set any records for time. In fact, I
was a lot slower than I thought I would be due to the cramping I experienced.
But I made it! And when I crossed that finish line I felt liberated, empowered,
like I could do anything! And at the end there was a powerful group waiting to
celebrate my accomplishment with me.
