Me and my husband got to Pittsburgh Saturday afternoon and since it was to early to check in to our hotel, we stopped at the Expo first. We picked up my bib, shirt and bag and looked around a bit. After getting checked in to our hotel we went to Church Brew Works to eat, it was really good and the place itself was really awesome! I would definitely recommend trying it if you are in Pittsburgh.
That evening I got to meet up with my friend Heidi at the hotel - it was great seeing her (but it made the whole fact that I was running a Marathon the next day more real). I really wasn't nervous Saturday but as the day went on, it really started to hit me!
I woke up Sunday morning at about 5:15, I had everything set out so it was easy to get ready. I remember being really calm that morning (this kind of scared me) - I guess I just knew I was ready and there was no turning back.
Right Before Leaving for the Marathon.
The night before me and Heidi planned on meeting each other that morning to walk to our corrals. Trying to find where your corral is can be so confusing and overwhelming, especially since there is a time limit and people are going every which way. We ended up finding corral B with no problem but, realized we had to go further down to get to C and D.
Me and Heidi before heading to our Corrals.
After saying goodbye to Heidi and my Husband - I headed into my corral and pretty much just stayed near the 9:30min/mile pacer before the run started. I was nervous that I would have trouble keeping a slow but decent pace at the beginning, since last year it was pretty congested the first 2 miles. This year I had no problems, I stayed to the right most of the time and passed when I needed to.
The first 12 miles were pretty easy and I made sure I got water at each fluid stop. Mile 12 is when the Marathoners start to split from the Half Marathoners - and I remember being (a little) jealous of the Half Marathoners when the announcer said to them - "you are almost done"! Once we split I was in unknown territory (I did the Half last year).
The start of mile 12 was a pretty big hill, to be honest a lot of the Marathon course was pretty hilly. It also started to get pretty hot after mile 14, which thankfully the volunteers were handing out towels soaked in ice water and they had the fire hydrants spraying water - which I took advantage of that! My biggest highlight on the course was seeing the Greyhounds from the rescue, they were really cute and were watching us all run by (they also had really cute signs).
Around mile 17 I was at a water station (still feeling pretty good) and by chance my friend Todd found me. What are the chances of finding someone you know during such a large Marathon?! - I didn't realize then but I was very lucky I found him, because I needed that support those last few miles.
I was feeling okay till about mile 22/23 then things started to go downhill pretty fast! I started getting tired and hot - I was running but honestly, I think I could of walked faster. I also got a nasty blister on my toe, which popped and hurt SO bad (it also did something to my toenail)! I started running with a limp and it didn't help that those last few miles of the course, parts are downhill. My toes already hurt, and slamming them against the end of my shoe didn't help.
Me and Todd kept talking which helped keep my mind occupied and I would say to him I am going to run to that stoplight and then walk and then run to that sign (I think I would of been okay if it wasn't for the excruciating pain in my foot). Everyone who was around me looked like they were feeling like crap too - I guess we all hit the "wall" together! It was getting harder to stop and walk at water stations too, my legs would lock up/cramp and it was hard to get moving again, so I tried not to walk anymore.
Once we hit that last mile, I was beyond done - so I picked up the pace. I am not sure what got into me but nothing hurt, I had energy I didn't know I had - my adrenaline was through the roof! I did the last mile at around an 8:40 pace - even Todd was trying to keep up with me.
Me and Todd around Mile 25.
Seeing the finish line was the most amazing thing ever - and crossing it and knowing I just completed a Marathon felt great!! I finished in 4:51:34 - which was better then I expected (I figured a little over 5 hours). After finding my Husband, we walked back to the hotel (which hurt really bad) - I even had a police officer ask if I was okay haha!
After running I said I would never run another Marathon - after a few days I realized I probably will run another one, someday! It was an amazing experience that for me was every emotion you can think of - 26.2 miles is no joke and I have a new respect for those who run Marathons. Honestly though, I will probably stick with the 5k's, 10k's and Half's for now! :]
-Jamie
