My one and (probably) only marathon
Never say never, right? But I’m pretty darn sure…
On October 22nd, I ran the Marine Corps Marathon. I didn’t hate it, but honestly, I didn’t love it either. I’m still on the fence about doing another 26.2, but it certainly won’t be any time soon. Tomorrow marks 1 month since the race, and I’ve run exactly 6 miles. Total. I’m fully burnt out, though I hope to get back on the road soon. I just really needed a break from the intense routines and constantly planning my workouts/routes.
The race itself was an amazing experience. I cried at least 4 times during the race, including the finish, and with the exception of during the Blue Mile I’m honestly really not sure why I was crying, besides just being overwhelmed. The Marine Corps Marathon is an excellent marathon for a first-timer; everything is very well-organized, well-communicated, and, (with the exception of two hellish miles) there’s tons of crowd support the entire way.
I had a goal in mind for time, and I missed it by just under an hour. I was pretty upset when I realized I had fallen off pace after about mile 16, but I heard later from a lot of other runners that the sun and high temps (one runner says it hit 90 degrees on the highway, which was miles 20–22-ish) really threw everyone off.
The day before the race, I did a shakeout run with the Marine Corps Marathon & 10K Club Facebook group. We did a 3.8-mile run around the mall, and some of the veteran runners showed us key spots along the course, including bathrooms and where some of the turns were. It was fun to put faces with some of the names I’d been seeing on Facebook for months. The group is really active and full of folks with great advice, and a great sense of humor, so if you’re thinking of running MCM, I highly suggest joining it!
My parents came in to town that afternoon and we met up with some family, had an early dinner and went to bed. I woke up at 5, got dressed and was out the door having eaten breakfast downstairs by 6 when the metro opened. I had to change trains, but I’m familiar enough with the DC Metro from living there for 5 years that it was relatively low-stress. I knew this race was big, but I didn’t really absorb the scale until exciting the Pentagon metro, where the mile-ish walk to the start line was a slow slog of thousands of runners. The race had just over 20,000 finishers, though I heard numbers ranging from 24,000 to 26,000 who started.
I ended up stopping before bag check (though I didn’t check anything) to use the bathroom, which took FOREVER. I wasn’t convinced the lines later on would be shorter, but I was disappointed because I didn’t even get to hear the famous Howitzer fire to signal the start of the race. But, I’m glad I went to the bathroom because there wasn’t really another opportunity along the course that wouldn’t have taken forever, and frankly had I stopped I’m not sure I’d have started again! Once that was all taken care of, I made my way over to the start and started with the second to last wave, and we were off!
I wish I could remember each mile in detail, but honestly I don’t.
I know I was a little slower than I’d like to have been for the first mile, but almost all the hills on the course are in those first two miles, so I figured I’d be able to regain some of that pace along the downhill and flatter parts of the course. We ran through Arlington, then crossed the Key Bridge into Georgetown and ran down M street towards Rock Creek Parkway. My parents and Husband met me for the first time around mile 6 or so, right before we turned and headed into Rock Creek Park. My pace here was solid, but still hadn’t really made up the time that I had been planning to coming down the hills from Georgetown. The best part was that my husband and dad went out and found the BIGGEST balloons I had ever seen — and it was amazing, I could spot them from 50 yards back on the course and make sure I was on the right side for sweaty, happy hugs!
We then ran basically an out-and-back through Rock Creek Park, which I wasn’t a huge fan of, but as least there was a good amount of shade. Somewhere around Mile 7 I dug into my first gel. I alternated water with gatorade at each water stop; I was worried I was going to over-hydrate, but with the later heat I actually was just fine. I’m not entirely sure I fueled enough, though. I planned to fuel at 6, 12, 18 and 22 if needed, but I also took some snacks from folks along the course, which sort of threw me off and by mile 18 it was all out the window.
I digress. We left Rock Creek Parkway to head back into DC and towards Haines Point. My friends Becky and Elice came down and I saw them just before Haines Point, which was a real treat! Becky encouraged our group of friends to start running initially back in college, starting with the MCM 10K in 2012. She and I did a half marathon together in 2013, and have run on and off together since. We live in different states, but I’m hoping to do some more running with her in the future! Elice ran the MCM 10K with us a few years back as well, and I hope we get to do more events together as well!
We then headed out to Haines point, which is the location of the Wear Blue Mile, or the Blue Mile. This particular stretch of the course is really tough, but it’s important. Along this mile, Wear Blue Run to Remember places posters of fallen servicemen and women, starting with World War II and along the mile getting closer to current day. The last portion of the mile, family members of fallen heroes line the course holding American Flags high and cheering for you. I have no idea how anyone could have gotten through there without sobbing; I certainly was sniffling along the entire time.
Turning back towards DC along the backside of Haines Point, I was pleasantly surprised to find my sorority sister, Aileen handing out water at mile 14. I nearly didn’t see her, but happened to take a cup from the Marine in front of her and she called out to me! It was so lovely to see a friendly face out there; when I ran the Nike Women’s Half in DC in 2013, we ran out on Haines point and it was dead silent, and really boring. I threw down two 14-minute miles out there during that race.
Finally, the highlight of the race arrived, the 4–5 mile stretch that circles the Washington, DC Mall, heading up the northern side, turning in front of the Capital Building and then running back along the southern side. The crowd energy here is just amazing; I can’t even describe it! And, getting to enjoy the sightseeing is really something in itself. It really helped me push to get to mile 20, and to “Beat The Bridge.” I also saw my family and friends here twice, which was a major boost.
The Marine Corps Marathon has certain course cut-offs that have to be accomplished by particular points in the day. Runners must reach these points, or are swept up or redirected and are not official finishers. The most major of these is at mile 20, which is the 14th st. bridge. Runners who “Beat the Bridge” can all but guarantee they’ll finish (though this year, they added another cut-off at mile 22, but it was generous). The DC Batalá drummers are here, too, which is my favorite on-course entertainment!
By this point, I knew my pace had fallen off so much that I wasn’t going to make my 5-hour goal. I decided to just go for the best time I could. I was walking more than I had planned; in hindsight, the walking made me walk even more, so I wish I’d have kept pushing harder, but mentally I was already drained. Perhaps (PERHAPS!) if I do another one, I’ll know this for the future.
So, when I got onto the bridge, I was relieved, knowing that even though I wasn’t going to beat my “A Goal” of 5 hours, I was still going to finish my first marathon. I’ve run 6.2 miles loads of times, I thought. I can finish this.
Holy crap, were those next few miles HARD. First of all, there is NO shade on the bridge, nor the 1.5 miles of unprotected, burning hot highway that follows. I felt like I was being cooked alive, and my feet really started to give out on me then. The bottoms of my feet were so sore, it was hard to even walk by the end of the race.
All that kept me going was not wanting to disappoint my friends and my family, and to finish for PFC George Howell, who was KIA in Iraq in 2010. Through Team TAPs, I ran in his honor and I had been in touch with his wife in the days leading up to the race. As much as this whole thing sucked, I know that our service men and women deal with physical and mental hardships every day, and sacrifice so much for us. I had to finish.
We trudged all the way back into Virginia, where the final 5 miles of the race wind around through Crystal City and finally to the Pentagon. Crystal City, like the Mall, had incredible course support; people were handing out goldfish, beer, jolly ranchers, and so many other snacks. My fueling plan went right out the window and I basically took myself on a food tour of the Crystal City Streets.
We finally turned back towards the Pentagon, past where we started, and headed towards the Marine Corps War Memorial, AKA the MCM Finish line. On this final 1.5 mile stretch, I chatted with Phil, who was a member of the MCM Facebook group, too. We basically spent 20 minutes complaining about everything about the race, marathons and our bodies. It was so cathartic.
I fully planned to run the last .2 miles one we hit mile 26, but I was afraid I wasn’t going to make it (that was definitely all mental). So, I walked a little further, and I finally saw the bottom of the Marine Corps War Memorial hill. It was here I decided SCREW IT, and I started running. Most folks around me were despondent, which made it really difficult to push. Half cheering for them, half convincing myself, I started encouraging everyone around me and finally made it to the top of that hill and across the line, where I promptly burst into tears.
“I’m never doing that again,” I said aloud to myself, then again at the snack tent, and then again to my family when I finally found them. My dad and husband took bets on when I’d change my mind. So far, one month later, I’m still not quite ready to think about doing that again. Right now, half marathons and 10-milers sound pretty darn great to me!
