From the Bad- What I learned- Marathon Tips

Reserve Your Room ASAP
First things first book your hotel. You will look at the race page's listing of hotels and maybe two or three will be "booked." However, when you go and call to make a reservation you are told that the rooms blocked at the race rate have been occupied. I was on the phone with on particular (large) hotel and the reservations line told me they only had 20 rooms blocked at the race rate. If you didn't have the race rate you were looking at $350 a night.

Michael and I tossed on this one. We prefer to stay at nice, relaxing hotels right near everything. When we are on a trip we don't want to waste time driving places or be uncomfortable. However, this wasn't really a vacation... it was a run and we were arriving the night before just to get the packet and a good nights rest and stayed a second night so I could rest post race. Spending $700 on a hotel just didn't seem reasonable to me. We ended up staying at an OK hotel around 5 miles from the start line and downtown. It wasn't what we were use to but.. it fit our needs. Oh, another reason to book early claim your king bed! We booked to late in the game that there were only doubles left. Maybe its not a big deal but the hubs and I like to sleep in bed together and well he cramps my style if we share a double. So we ended up sleeping in separate beds for those two nights. Not a big deal but something to keep in mind.

Lesson Learned: Hotel listings on a race site are deceiving. The sooner you book the better the deal.

Confirm with your hotel the final pick up time
Our hotel picked up as many people as they could and would shuttle them back. They were not on a schedule but based it on occupancy. You want to make sure they will be there or one their way when you finish. Find out where they will be, and ask what the shuttles will look like- they may not have the hotel brand on them. Get the hotels phone number just in case you are stranded!!!! They can call a cab for you, they can tell you where to go to meet a shuttle and how long it will take for them to get there.

Lesson Learned: Don't trust anyone with transportation. Know what's going on and take numbers down! Get a number for a taxi from the hotel before the race just in case!

Protect Your Cell Phone
Now we would made this call to the hotel if our phones hadn't been destroyed by the rain. That's right my cell phone was destroyed from running a marathon in the rain. If you don't have a fancy smancy protective cover you may want to think of ways to protect your phone. Around mile 9 it started to pour and I wrapped the phone with a plastic bag but that didn't help. Since the race I have invested in a water resistant case. The weather guys were wrong and who would have known I would have been running through a monsoon for almost 6 hours.

Lesson Learned: If you are going to have a cell phone think of ways to protect it. You may need it for things other then music and gps (like calling a cab!)

Rain Is No Joke
Speaking of weather. If there is ANY chance of rain go ahead and pack and umbrella and drop it off before the race. I know in most cases rain can be refreshing but what if it rains for hours and its cool out... trust me an umbrella can be a life saver post race.

Lesson Learned: Screw hour by hour estimates. If there is a 50% chance of rain that day be prepared for it!

Post Race- I'm talking within 30 minutes of crossing the finish line
Be prepared. Ahh, you ran your 20 mile long run and you thought you were in the clear. But how are you going to recover once you finish 26.2 miles. Again, this may depend on the weather but you need to think about how you are going to keep warm or cool down. Where are you going to go to stay warm if you cant hop on a bus right away, how will you cool down if it's 100 degrees and there isn't shade? There maybe little you can do but at least think about it. If you are like me I was so preoccupied with getting warm that I put off eating and drinking. You need to eat and drink!

Lesson Learned: Don't get preoccupied with other things (like getting the hell out of there). You need to drink, and eat remember your body needs this for recovery!


Like I said, I was so preoccupied about the race itself I never thought about bumpy endings. So those our my thoughts.

Do you have any advice?

Did you learn something you never even thought of before you ran a marathon?

 

 

The Country Music Marathon Part IIII

After Michael and I embraced I ran over to the women handing out the medals and she placed it around my neck.

It felt wonderful.
Then the rain came down.

Hard.

Harder then before.

I started to walk to exit the race area and get a drink and food but no one was there.
A stack of bagels lay under a tent.

Gatorade unattended.

The only people there were hovering together under a tent standing in front of milk.

I grabbed a bagel and asked for a chocolate milk...

I saw several runners ahead struggling with the space blankets also unattended.

Luckily, a photographer ran over when I went to rip one off.

She wrapped it around me and goes honey you should be proud and said you want to remember this let me take a picture of you.

This picture tells you a lot.

Look behind me.

Everyone was packed up.

I completed the marathon at 5:46 and the course was open until 7.

However, NO ONE was there.

I've been at other races where space blankets are torn apart and laid out for runners ahead of time.

I thought this was bizarre.

Michael eventually just hoped the fence.

I was looking forward to the "after party" but I didn't see people, I didn't hear music.

As we went to the coliseum I was going to get my medal engraved but they were packed up.
The bands gone.

The beer...gone.

 

At that point Michael and I decided to just walk to the shuttles.

The rain came down harder and I started to get really cold.

My space blanket wasn't doing much good since it was ripped off when it was pouring and was wet on the inside and out.

Once we got to the shuttles we were informed they were done running.

I told the R&R worker that couldn't be as we even checked with our hotel and they said they would run until x time.

He told us the hotel shuttles had left and we would have to walk a football field away to buy a R&R shuttle pass.

Begrudgedly, we walked to the tent.

However, the dude under it was a spectator chilling out till the rain let up.

I cringed, the Shuttle guy already left!!!!

We went back to the shuttle area.

Michael spoke with the guy again and he basically he told us we would have to LITERALLY walk two miles over some bridge to get to music row where there would be taxis.

I remember starting to zone out.

I remember grabbing Michael's arm and going I'm going to get sick.

I started to shake.

Michael saw another volunteer, an older woman and ran over to her to see if she could help us.

As I started shaking (not shivering) a gentleman came behind me and covered me with his umbrella. He told me to hop on to a bus several feet away.

He said his son was going through the same thing and I needed to get out of the rain.

So I hopped on to the bus.

The guy had to be my age, his head lay in his hands and he was shaking too.

I cant describe how I felt.

It was so scary.

The shaking was hard and I didn't have control over myself.

I almost cried.

I didn't train for this.

I was scared.

 

A minute, ten minutes, an hour later- I don't know how much later but the guy that sat across from me left.

The bus driver appeared and buckled up.

Long story short the woman Michael talked with and the bus driver had sympathy over me and drove us to our hotel- for free.

Soon as the driver turned the heat on I felt my blood start to flow.

I started to feel alive again.

Michael opened my chocolate milk and I sipped it.

A few minutes later the shaking stopped.

 

My body temperature had dropped way to fast and no one from R&R was there to help me or any of the other runners...

even though the course was still open for over an hour after I finished.

 

I am forever grateful for the photographer, bus driver and gentleman that covered me with the umbrella.

I cant believe that after 26.2 miles the only ones there to help me were not R&R employees or volutneers but random (kind) people.

 

I honestly can say running the marathon was much easier then post race experience.

It was really scary and instead of celebrating such a victory I stood in the rain shaking uncontrollably.

I expected to be sore and tired but never expected this.

Although, R&R failed me, I did not fail myself nor will I allow that bad experience to overshadow my accomplishment.

I ran a freakin' marathon! ;)

So in my next post I will write about What I learned and maybe help another runner prepare for their marathon (outside of running).

Have you ever had a bad post-race experience?

How did you handle it?

Country Music Marathon Part III

As the race began the ran came down harder. It rather burned my frail legs but hey, what can you do? The first 3 miles you went up Nashville Music Row. You really felt like a rock star. There were spectators everywhere and the scenery was amazing.

I even saw a Priest and we totally bumped it.

Right after that I saw a photag.

 Since I didn't bring a camera along I wanted to get as many photos of me as possible to remember the experience.

At this point I was still cold and I remember thinking he wont see my bibb because of the swag so I flashed him some belly.

Throughout the half marathon I just zoned out. I didn't psych myself out and think "OMG you running a marathon" I kept thinking youre just on a run. The half was a really nice route you ran through Belmont, Vanderbilt and some nice neighborhoods. People were everywhere.

Then came the half way point.

Half marathoners went right and marathoners went left. This is the only time I did got pumped up, big time.

Hundreds of people were turning to finish the race but as far as marathoners I was solo.

And then there was the lady standing at the fork.

She looked at me, picked her arms up and waved and screamed.

Oh My God Your Going To Run A Marathon, You're Going To Do It!!

And that's where I got a little emotional and I may or may not have teared up and screamed back i'm going to do it! Im going to do it!

haha.

I will always remember her.

 Here is a picture of me around the halfway point as you can see it started raining, hard again.

But I was still happy though.

 

After the split it got really boring.

 I think Rock N Roll just randomly picked some streets for us to run through.

Around mile 15 I started seeing runners again. But not many. And spectators none.

 

I have no idea what my time at that point was  as Rock N Roll did not supply course clocks.

(or at least I don't remember any)

 

Around mile 16 volunteers were giving out oranges and around mile 18 someone had crackers and cheese wiz on a silver platter. Ha. Now I am not a cheese wiz kinda girl but damn, that stuff hit the spot.

 

I wont lie I was looking forward to seeing some hashers out there.

I heard beer is unbelievably good when running a marathon but I didn't see any.

Although I did see someone giving out bacon... I passed.

 

Now, I never hit the "wall."

But around mile 19 it stopped raining and got sunny and this is where things got weird. 

I lost my concentration, I lost that zone where you don't think about anything and just run.

All of a sudden I felt the bottoms of my feet really hurting, my legs got tight and I had to take my head phones off because it was to much.

I tried stretching but at that point stretching my legs did nothing.

 My legs were bearable though.

But the bottoms of my feet pounding wet pavement really started to bother me once it stopped raining.

 

I remember thinking your just getting tired and your bored.

Go ahead and take ibuprofen since your feet hurt and just relax.

 

When I went to take out my ziplock bag of salt sticks and ibuprofen they were just a powdery mess. At that point I had only taken one salt stick and no ibuprofen.

 

In this picture you can see my clinging to my zip lock back thinking damn it!

 

 I actually like this picture for several reasons

 1. I love the American Flag behind me

2. You can see a 360 change in weather from just a few miles back

3. You can see my legs literally starting to tighten up. (Yes, I think that's cool)

 

 

 

I just kept going.

 Around mile 20 you saw the race end.

You heard music, you saw a huge coliseum and you wished you were on the other side finishing!

 

The last 6 miles sucked.

Not because of a "wall" but because it was so boring.

It was an out and back and there was course support but again no spectators, nothing to  look at.

And here is where I walked.

I must have walked the last 4 miles.

I remember thinking you're going to kick yourself for this later but at that time I told my self its not a race!

Its just a run.

Enjoy it.

So I walked.

I actually talked with two other runners one, a muscle man that was a Fitness Director at a University and the other a former marathon all star. I loved talking with them, just what I needed!

Around mile 25 I started jogging again but I didn't hear any music as I neared the finish line.

At that point it started pouring again.

And then...

 I saw Michael in the distance.

It was straight out of a movie

he was right ahead of me waiting behind the fence.

  I ran as fast as I could in the rain right to him

 threw my arms around him with exictment.

 And finished my first marathon.

 

 

 

  

 

 

 Stay tuned for the last post...The Bad

 

 

Country Music Marathon Part II

By the time we stepped outside it was pouring. I had planned on it being hot and sunny like it had been for years previous. I was dressed fine for running a marathon but for just standing around in the rain not so much. Luckily, I brought a throw away coat and put on the garbage bag. Since I was going to run with the 5 hour team we were a ways back and Michael and I huddled up with hundreds of other runners under a gas station to stay out of the rain.

 

One of the most powerful moments was when we had the moment of silence to respect Boston (which happened the week before)

 

 

As I mentioned here, my heart ached for the runners, the families and  friends.

 Its hard to describe the sadness I experienced.

Although everyone grieved this tragic event as a runner it just really struck home.

Not long after the race started.

It was so cool to see the corrals move.

 I believe it took about 30 minutes for me to get from my corral to the start line.

 I was so excited.

Michael was on the sideline and kept waving at me and giving me a thumbs up.

It was so cheesy but was so right for the moment.

Michael went a little paparazzo on me and took this photo.

Even though this picture is blurry you can see the huge smile I had on my face.

I love it because I was a truly unexplainably happy.

 

Michael stayed with my corral the entire time.

As I crossed the start line  I  heard a GO SNUGGLES!

Yes, we have corny pet names but it was just what I needed.

A giggle.

 A reminder to have fun and do it!

Country Music Marathon Part 1

Well its about damn time I wrote about my first marathon. I wish I wrote it back in April so I would remember everything but girlfriends been busy so here. I honestly didn't train much for the marathon. Back in the fall I was had took part in a 14 week training program for a half marathon and I took part in a lot of my running clubs group runs. I was high on life thanks to running and signed up for a marathon.

 

Then winter hit and I decided running sucked. I want to say I ran under 50 miles in December and January combined but I don't remember. However, I signed up for the marathon when I was in love with running and I told myself regardless come February I was hitting the pavement and I did.

 

It wasn't the easiest thing and I didn't follow any training plan I just...ran. Although, I did get a 20 miler in at 4 hours 2 weeks before the marathon with the Bird aka Miranda in Motion.

Thank Goodness.

That run made me feel really confident about the race.

 

Yep, I had a photo take of us after the 20 miler and you know what for two chicks that got up at like 4am and ran 20 miles I think we look pretty damn good. Just sayin'

 

Anyway, I was thankful for her company. I don't think I could have ran a 20 on my own. Actually, my husband and I had a back up plan just in case something happened and she couldn't run. We were going to go to the silver comet trail (boo) and he was going to ride a bike beside me. It would have worked but 1. the silver comet is flat and you overuse the same muscles 2. its much more fun running around town (literally) with a friend.

 

Fast foward two weeks later we headed to Nashville and went straight to the expo. It was well organized and there weren't any lines. It was a-wesome. I didn't see any "new" vendors but I did test out nuun and that was cool and I also bought my 26.2 sticker

(I was holding off just in case...)

Of course I took photos. It was funny all the runners just stood there holding their bibs like they were holding a diploma for a graduation picture.

Um, hello the "clock" says 2:03 and the finish line says marathon.

Is that what you would do if this happened to be real?

Hell no!

 So I struck a pose.

 

 

 

We explored the city a little and headed to dinner. I really wasn't hungry thanks to nerves but knowing I wasn't going to eat much in the morning I tried to suck it up and ate dinner.

As we sat there it started to drizzle.

Sigh.

I didn't really care.

The husband and I took off from work, drove 4 hours and well, we were invested in this run.

 So I didn't really let the "light rain bother me."

 

We headed in and I passed out around 8 that night.

 

I woke up like it was my wedding day happy, exhilarated and full of energy expect it was 3:30am.

(we didn't want to repeat Disney and miss the race!)

 

I actually wasn't nervous at all. I think, no, I know I annoyed my husband because he told me.

I was bouncing off the walls with excitement. I did my hair, makeup, put my chafing lotion on, and got buttered up with sunscreen.

I couldn't wait.

 

Around 4:30 we headed to the lobby to hop on the shuttle.

 

 

We waited awhile.

We were the first ones down there and soon as we saw the shuttle we hopped in and sat there for about 30 minutes before anyone else showed up.

As we sat in the shuttle I talked to fellow runners around us.

There was only one other person running the full and he was hoping to BQ.

It was pretty exciting to hear and I fed off his awesome vibe.

Not long after the shuttle took us to race.

The gentleman I talked to on the bus warned me that he thought it was going to rain and offered Michael and I a garbage bag. True fellowship right there.

 Mike said he didn't need one but I grabbed it.

 I figured the guy new what he was talking about.

 

As we walked towards the start the start line Rock N Roll was still setting up coffee and fruit stations.

Maybe this is the norm but I wish I had known they did that type of thing in advance.

Either way I thought that was really nice but since they weren't set up we decided to find a place we could sit and relax.

 

About 200 feet from the starting line we found a McDonolds.

We sat in the booth for some time just the two of us.

Mike kept checking the weather for rain and according to the news it wouldn't rain until 10ish.

 Sigh.

I thought that's great as I will easily knock out half the race when it does start to rain.

Wrong.

Dead wrong.

Not long after it started pouring and all the runners seeked refuge in McDonlads.

We had around 4 other people ask to sit with us and of course we said yes!

It was so much fun!

The guys that sat with us were so interesting!

One of the was from Europe and the week before he ran a full there.

 He was on a business trip in Tennessee so he decided to run the half.

How cool is that?

No lie, runners have a certain bond like no other. Its so easy to talk to complete strangers and instantly connect with them.

 

Before you knew it, it was time to line up at the corral.

 

 

 

Stay tuned for a 4 post series.

You won't want to miss out on #4 especially if you are thinking of running this race.