The Woodlands Marathon

I didn't wear a watch for this marathon. I just wanted to see what it would be like. I had no idea how fast or slow I was going until the very end when I saw the finish line. It was SO much fun. I cruised at a very comfortable pace, chatted with other runners, high fived all the kids spectating and just had an AWESOME time. And I got a PR without even realizing it was happening.

Here are some random thoughts about the race:

• I did three things different with this marathon: I didn't carry any liquid, I wore my Marathon Maniacs shirt, and I didn't wear a watch.
• My plan was to stay just ahead of the 4:30 pacers the whole time. But I never saw them once the race started. I thought I was ahead of them...turns out I was behind them the whole time.
• Miles 1-20 felt great. At about mile 20 I started to need a little inspiration and just couldn't find it until around mile 25.
• Miles 13-18, I ran with another Marathon Maniac. We chatted and had a great time.
• The second song that played on my ipod was Cotton eye Joe. Awesome. I knew then that this was going to be a fun race.
• There were people handing out Oreo’s at miles 7 and 20. I CANNOT believe I passed that up. But they just didn’t sound good at the time. They sound good now.
• Mike is the BEST HUSBAND ever. He cut up oranges for me, Kirstin, and Melody and then showed up at miles 6, 19, and the finish line.
• Zoe and Lynn joined Mike at miles 19 and the finish.
• I saw Jen at miles 18, 19, and the finish. And Adam at the finish. I was so happy to see them!
• Jen's excitement when she saw me at mile 18 was awesome. I will never forget it. She was so happy that I was just behind the 4:30 pacers. So she knew I was getting a PR and I'm pretty sure she was way more excited about it than I was. haha! I love you Jen! By the way, that was the only glimpse of how my pace was during the race....
• Kirstin and Melody were the loudest cheerers for me at the finish.
• I cried three times: at the beginning because it’s just so awesome that I was running another marathon; at about mile 2 when a guy ran past me with one prosthetic leg; and at mile 12 when the winner lapped me and came zooming by running at a 5 minute/mile pace. That was so awesome. I think I used up about half my energy cheering for him as he passed me…then crying because it was so cool.
• I’m so proud of Kirstin. She works really hard in her training and it totally paid off on Saturday. She came in just under 4 hours. That's seriously awesomeness.
• Melody is equally as awesome. She came in at exactly the 4 hour mark. That's awesomeness too.
• I love high-fiving all the kids that are out there on the sidelines. I hope it makes some of them want to be runners someday.
• I got to sit in Lynn's hot tub after the race and it felt SO good. It completely relaxed my muscles and I was almost 100% not sore after that. I will be begging neighbors to let me use their hot tubs after my marathons from now on.

This was the night before we left for The Woodlands (two days before the race). We were making cookies for Blake as a thank you for picking up mine and Kirstin's race packets for us. Seriously Blake, you rock!

The night before the race....Zoe was 'helping' me getting my clothes and gear set out and ready.

Ready!

I think this was between miles 19 and 20.

Mike: "How are you doing?"

Me: "I feel great. I have no idea how fast I'm going. This is fun!"

Mike: "Do you need anything?"

Me: "This finish line!"

Melody and Kirstin speeding along at mile 19. Both Melody and Kirstin are from McKinney and we all do our long, Saturday runs together. Melody's family came down with her and they stayed at a hotel. But Kirstin's family couldn't make it (soccer games!) so she drove down with us and stayed at Lynn's with us. It was SO much fun! I already can't wait to make the road trip again next year!

Melody, me, Kirstin

New medals!

And a new shirt! (I ran in it this morning....love it)

At the Results Tent

Happy runner!

Kirstin, me, Zoe, Jen, and Adam discussing the race. Or something else equally as important.