Well it’s official I’m a marathoner! I finished the 31st annual Grandma’s Marathon in a chip time of 6:50:48 and 85 degree weather! Here are the humorous, and sometimes gruesome, details of my journey down the long and winding road to pain, success and victory!
My mom and I arrive at the expo to pick-up my number, get power gels (which I forgot at home and didn't realize until we had been on the road for an hour!,) and attend the all-you-can eat spaghetti dinner. At the dinner we ran into Ellen, a friend on mine from college who had been on the same study abroad trip and was who I hung out with at the triathlon a few weeks back. Both her and her boyfriend, also a CSB/SJU alum, were running tomorrow. I was starting to fell better since I knew someone who was up here and knew that this was my first marathon. I don't remember who told me this, but without a great support system you're pretty much screwed as far as finishing and being pleased with yourself goes. The closer and closer I was getting to 'go' time the more I was fully realizing how true this is. I also knew that if it weren't for my support system I probably wouldn't make it because my training had been a little, ok a lot, sub-par as far as mileage went. This was going to be about heart for me, not muscle.
We were staying with my Godparents in Silver Bay for the night and headed-up right after dinner. While we were waiting for my dad to get Up North we decided that a trip to their strip mall in Beaver Bay was in order. Well it happens to have an ice cream parlour in it, oh darn! If I can have pecan pie and beer the day before the half marathon (and survive,) I can have a scoop of ice cream the night before the marathon. We had skipped it at the spaghetti dinner anyway. So we called Dad and told him that he needed to stop; boy was he glad he did! If anyone likes ice cream more than me it's my dad! Anyway back 'home' I got everything ready for the morning and finished re-reading Ultramarathon Man for inspiration. Dean signed my copy when I met him last fall during the Endurance 50. For every major race two things always go with me irregardless of where they are: that book and Shelly, my tortoise stuffed animal I got at the Twin Cities 10 Mile last year, my first major 'goal' race.
I can't even tell you what time I got up but it was waaaaay to early for this night owl! I got ready and tried to get as much breakfast down as I could. I wasn't hungry at all but I HAD to eat, I knew it was nerves. I'm not normally someone who gets nerves or nervous, I usually embrace those situations full steam ahead. But every once and awhile the nerves get the best of me and this was one of those situations. Then we were off back down the North Shore past Split Rock Lighthouse and Gooseberry Falls into Two Harbors where I was getting dropped off.
I said a, surprisingly, tearful goodbye to my parents and go on the bus that was taking the runners to the starting point. On the bus I sat with these 3 ladies who were running their first marathons in quite awhile. Next to us were some crazy Canadians who were running about 5 marathons this year alone! Everyone wanted to know how I was doing considering that this was my first one (I had it written on my shirt per Ellen's advice,) why I was doing this, and why this marathon in particular. The shortest answer to these questions are two words: Chris & Chad, whom I'd both spoken with the night before. You see between the two of them they have completed 10 marathons, one of those being in an Ironman Triathlon. When we were all living in London we went to the London Marathon where I made them a promise: that IF I ever ran a marathon I would put the name Xtine (they had taken to calling me this) on my shirt and that my first one would be Grandma's Marathon because I grew up around it and the North Shore. In all honesty I didn't imagine that I would be running the marathon a mere 14 months later, but I can't back down out of promise. Anyway long tangent short, having all of these people be really friendly, supporting, and nice to me was definitely helping my nerves.
The starting area was your usual mayhem, people and port-a-potties everywhere! We had pretty much taken over a car dealership on the outskirts of Two Harbors, more or less in the middle of the woods just off the highway. The Air Force did a fly-by just for us which was really cool followed by the national anthem. As we were all corralled up they were blaring music which always helps me. The last 3 songs I heard before I crossed the starting line were: the Chariots of Fire theme (Love it! I think the front runners started right after this,) the Pirates of the Caribbean theme (perfect for me!,) and then the "STAR WARS Suite" but all I heard was Darth Vader's theme (how appropriate as we shuffled to our impending doom, ah I mean eternal glory for finishing the marathon.) I was off and it only took 7 min. to get over the start line!
The first mile or so was fairly solid people and was people for as far as the eye could see in front of you. I was right on pace for a 5:45 marathon for the first few miles but knew that I was pushing it a little too much. I was running with some guys for awhile who might be in trouble by the end, they seemed even less prepared than I did. Note: I was really good with strength training, cross training (biking, swimming and figure skating,) joint supplements, nutrition, and hydration coming into the marathon. A few miles into the course there is a Norwegian stubba house which my dad is obsessed with and on the lawn of that house there was a small pep band, woot woot! So when they were done playing I yelled back, "Go piccolo player!" I don't think she's ever seen someone acknowledge the instrument before. I played picc for 6 years including marching and pep band back in the day. When I'm still this energetic and in such high spirits it's hard to think about how painful and hard this process is going to be. I'm always that crazy person at the back of the pack, if not further back, that is still smiling and having fun even though I may be suffering and not have the best time ever. For me this marathon was going to be my personal record anyway so why not enjoy it?
In the Minneapolis paper a few days before the race there had been an article about a family that had 3 generations of women all running Grandma's. The Grandma's organization believes that this is the first time 3 generations have run this race. At about mile 6 the mother of this family came up on me and we chatted and ran for awhile. Evidently the daughter was up ahead and grandma was still behind us somewhere. The article had me tearing up so it was really cool to meet Anne. Funny story, I had been mistaken by someone on the sidelines farther back as being the daughter of this family.
By mile 7 or so the miles where starting to just peel off even though we still hadn't been anywhere too near the lake yet and it was starting to get warm. I was kinda counting on that nice cool lake breeze to make it a little more bearable. Before too much longer there it was, Lake Superior, and today you could see all the way across the Wisconsin with some really cool fog. It's rare to be able to see across the lake that far up. Also during this section of the run there were some kind residents who provided music for us. Like I said before nothing like a little music to keep you going. I think in a 2 mile span there were at least 3 places that had music. "Walk this Way" was the first one I think, ironically appropriate. Next was "Life is a Highway" which was my theme song from the start of the TC10 last fall, again significant to me. Lastly was John Williams' theme from The Cowboys. Now I know most of you won't know what that is but I played it in high school and had a kick ass piccolo solo (not as good as Stars and Stripes, but close.) The last time I heard it was at graduation when we played it as our final piece. Around this point we caught our first glimpse of Duluth and the Lift Bridge aka the Finish Line. Even though it was so small and far away you knew that the finish line was out there!
Mile 9 is where it starts to get a little ugly for me. As I'm coming in to the 'Pitt' Stop (yes someone had put a life-sized cardboard cut-out of Brad Pitt at the beginning of the aid station with a signs saying, "Welcome to the Pitt Stop") I noticed that my little toe was starting to get hot like I was going to get a blister; I know this because the exact same thing happened in the TC10 and didn't end well. Anyway a little quick creative first aid with some chapstick, to prevent more rubbing and cool the hot spot, and I was back on the road. I believe as I was exiting that station someone was playing Kylie Minogue, love it!
By the half-way point it was hot out! But I'd just done my second half-marathon! I knew that I had come that far and could do the rest since I was still feeling pretty good and was in great spirits. I was only about 15 min. off my last half time, so all in all I was pretty pleased with myself. My quad muscles had started giving me trouble a few miles back especially near my hip joints, but the pain and soreness would come and go. It seemed to stay at bay when I kept moving at a faster pace. Also at halfway my feet were getting hot so I stopped by first aid where they put something on the spots to prevent the blisters from forming and keep the damage to my pinky toe to a minimum (it was already starting to blister.) After a quick sit with first aid while they worked on my feet, I was all patched up and ready to do the second half of this race.
My parents were waiting for me just past halfway. They were so cute out there with their lawn chairs and camera. I found out later that they had seen EVERYONE else go by, so they'd been waiting quite awhile for me. It was fun to have someone shut out my name who knew me for once! People have been yelling all along since my name and 1st marathon were on my shirt. It just felt really good to see them there cheering me on, you see neither of them are runners at all so this is kinda a big deal for the whole family.
By mile 15 I was starting walk a lot more frequently and for long spurts. The lack of lengthy training was starting to catch-up to me and it was going to hurt. Chris told me the night before that it's suppose to hurt like hell, that's how you know it's worth it. That there are peaks and valleys all along the way mentally and emotionally, just ride them. If you're in a valley there will be another high point! I didn't think this would stick with me the way it did since I'd heard it from so many others before him. I think it had to do with the fact that he's done this before, had problems in marathons before, and he's one of my two best friends.
My parents turned up again around mile 16 or 17 where they had water for me, yeah! They walked with me towards their car. I told them that I was finishing this and that I would probably be walking most of the rest of the way. This was just something that I knew and I was perfectly alright with that. All I was after was that finishers medal because once I'd earned it and the title 'marathoner' no one could ever take that away from me!
I was still keeping a pretty good clip considering I was walking and was looking pretty good. My parents were there again at mile 19 as you entered Duluth. My dad walked with me for aways while Mom took advantage of the photo op. The thing that was starting to suck more than the sore and tired muscles and feet was that they were starting to break down the aid stations and most of them only had water left. I was getting worried, as much as the orange stuff didn't taste good it had what I needed to keep going since I was sweating so much.
The people of Duluth don't call this weekend Father's Day Weekend, it's Grandma's Weekend and they fully embrace it and all the runners. The people of Duluth come out in droves to cheer on everyone as they head into the last few miles, or so I'm told. There were only die hards left when I came through. I have to say the people who set-up hoses on ladders and had small plastic cups full of beer where some of my favorite people along the course. And yes for the record I did have one small cup of beer around mile 21 or so. There was a guy heading into 22 that was still out there handing out orange slices, heck why not at this point?
So a small beer and an orange slice later I met my parents at the bottom of Lemon Drop Hill, mile 22. This is the only real hill on the course (compared to those in Kentucky that I ran in May, this was nothing) but that far in, it was going to suck. My parents walked the hill with me. I have to admit that I was still hoofing it walking faster than my parents and passing people almost all the way until the end. For here on out it was Downtown Duluth through streets I've spent my whole life around. Now I didn't grow up anywhere near Duluth but we always seem to end up there at least yearly if not more frequently for this that and the other.
As I went 3 miles down London Rd. and Superior St. past every Duluth landmark I could image, I had to do my best to stay on course since they were starting to open the streets back up again. They were letting us finish and for that I will be eternally grateful. The mile markers and balloons were still there the whole way. I tried to stay on the street because of the black top vs. concrete (ask me about my half marathon and concrete some time,) but sometime I had to move onto the sidewalks. There were loads of finishers heading towards hotels, showers, and food along the way all shouting words of encouragement as I went along. One went so far as giving me her bottle of water! Once people figured out that I was still trying to finished they did everything in their power to get out of my way and let me go, again very appreciative.
I could tell that I was tapping into the last reserves I had. I had been trying to "run" a little every 2 miles or so, so I knew that I could run at the end of the marathon. I wanted to make sure I could still physically do it. As I was approaching the start of the 26th mile I had turned towards the lake and was passing the theater that my sister works at a lot of the time. At this point I was in full on agony and knew I was in the deepest valley I had been in yet, but I also knew that the next peak would be the last one and the best one. If I could just get over I35, around the DECC, alongside the William A. Irvin (a very cool old iron ore ship permanently docked in Duluth,) and make that one last turn...
I was right, as soon as I saw the Duluth Lift Bridge and the Finish Line it was all over!!! I had that last bitchy .2 miles to go and it was all mine! I don't know where it came from but somewhere deep down inside, in a place I didn't know existed came this energy and strength. I was full on sprinting without pain and without any control over myself. I was already balling like a baby and making these sounds of sheer agony/joy??? I was the only one in the chute and there were still people around to cheer me on but all I could see was that bridge from underneath the banner of the finish line, it never looked so good! I'm tearing up now just remembering what it felt like to go through that chute by myself with nothing in my way crying, laughing, and in complete shock over the fact that I was mere seconds away from completing marathon! I crossed that line beaming and then stopped and let out the loudest, most inhuman whale of agony, joy, pain, relief, and happiness that anyone has ever heard. I'm pretty sure I scared some of the people working in the finish area, but I didn't care. I had just finished my first marathon in less than 7 hours and that was good enough for me. I was going to crawl across that line if I had to. All I wanted was that big beautiful finisher's medal around my neck. As they placed that medal around my neck I felt like I'd just won the Olympic gold! As I looked around I heard my parents before I saw them cheering and crying with more enthusiasm than I remember them having for a long, long time. I went right over the them and hugged them over the fence and we all cried together.
I found my way out of the finishers area, but not before getting my finishers t-shirt, and we headed for the lake. They had brought my flip-flops to the finish so I got my running shoes off as fast as I could to 1) relieve my feet from the confines they'd just spent a good 7 hours in and 2) to asses the blister damage that had been done. The feet were alright but a bit sticky from the blister blockers that had melted and moved during the second half of the race. I hobbled my way down do the shores of Lake Superior because this was the world's largest ice bath after all and it was 85 degrees out! So in I went up to my waist, medal around my neck. I was making friends with some other runners also in the lake. I figure the 15-20 min. I was in there was the longest I've ever been in that lake combined in my entire life. For instance I went in up to my knees last year in Michigan but was out again after about a minute because it's so cold. It's kinda a Minnesotan thing but you go into Lake Superior annually (usually only in the childhood years, but clearly I don't follow that [see Michigan trip])whether you need to or not, but then you remember why you don't ever really want to go back in, it's that cold! I've been in a lake, waist deep again, the day after the ice went off in the spring (college crew team) and it's about that temperature; you're numb to the core for hours afterwards. Just what the doctor ordered for someone with a very high internal body temperature and inflamed muscles! My proud parents were reporting back to the grandparents and neighbor's as I stood there happy as could be not even feeling the 35 degree water.
We took some pictures with the Lift Bridge and then slowly made our way back to the car so that I could change and we could get some food. Sitting felt really good but I knew getting up was going to be a bear! Oh and it was, and getting into the car! I fell asleep in the car and slept most of the way home. I didn't realize it at the time but I probably got the worst sunburn of my life that day. Later that night I got quite a scare because all of a sudden my teeth started chattering uncontrollably and quite fiercely. I hadn't realized that my body temperature had dropped drastically because of the lake and because the sunburn was radiating so much heat, I had no clue that my core temp. was so low!!! Quite scary but I put a blanket over myself which eased the chattering a few minutes later. Up here in Minnea'snow'ta we grow up learning the signs of hypothermia and how to treat them. I absolutely slept with my duvet cover tucked in all around me that night and slept for a good long while, I had earned it!
It took me 3-4 days to walk almost normally again and stop going down stairs backwards. The sunburned turned out to be more of a problem then the swollen and sore muscles. I had to about bath in aloe for the first few days following the marathon. To this day I still have some fabulous tan lines from my running kit that day. My poor left foot was in a world of hurt since 3 massive blisters had developed: one on the outside of my heel, one on the back of my arch at the heel, and they other engulfed my pinky toe. My poor little pinky toe was 3 times it's normal size since it seemed like everything except the toenail had turned into one major blister.
It was all worth it, the sunburn, blisters, and destroyed muscles because I am now a marathoner! I can't thank those of you enough who supported me through the entire process. There were so many of you to answer to if I didn't finish, but the great news is that the thought of quitting never once crossed my mind! It was probably the hardest thing I've ever done but I knew that I would finish. I didn't even really have to talk myself in or out of anything out there. I had a back-up survival plan. Every mile of that race was assigned/dedicated to someone so if I was lacking motivation or focusing too much on the pain or the remaining task load, I would just look at who's mile it was and think of them. I never had to look at my list but I knew who's mile I was always in as a sign of respect to those who supported me the most. These 20 people or so may or may not have realized that I looked to them for strength and support. In fact this might be the first time they are aware of this. The miles are listed at the bottom.
So that's it the tale of my first marathon. I don't know if I'll ever do another one, but I haven't ruled it out ;) We'll have to see how I feel about running in general when I can finally walk again! I know what I need to do next time. I would like to do the London Marathon at some point in my life, but I definitely won't be registering for the one next April, too soon!!!
Best Wishes,
Christine
1 Me
2 Michael OC - London
3 Jimmy - London
4 Eric - CBY
5 Kellie - CBY
6 Jake - CBY
7 Veronica - CBY
8 Lindsey - London
9 Robin - London
10 Jenn Merrill - London
11 Rachel - MG
12 Mark - MG
13 James - Family
14 Keith - London
15 Kristen - MG
16 Laura - CSB/SJU
17 Laura - CSB/SJU
18 Dad
19 Mom
20 Melissa - CBY
21 Melissa - CBY
22 Chad - London
23 Chad - London
24 Chris - London
25 Chris - London
26 Me
26.2 Me
