my first marathon---St. Jude Do's & Dont's (Read 590 times)

ok so I have accomplished another goal on my to do list.... 1. Do a TRI(Done-have done several) 2. Do a Half Ironman(done May 2006) 3. Do a Marathon( Done Dec 1, 2007) Ok.. so I'm not the best runner, I do more of a light jog. But I can walk with the best of them. I did the training program, but know I need to kick it up a notch for my next one. I'm going to loose some more weight so I can run longer and stronger. The first part of the race was good. Felt comfortable and was able to keep the 14 min pace according to my polar watch. Stayed that way from 3-18, with only one bathroom break at McD's... Got to the split and noticed nobody ahead of me, and no one behind me. So I kept moving. Marker 18 grabbed some water and powerade (which was glad of having) it was 67 degrees at least... in Memphis for Dec. Heading towards mile 19 a lovely police officer comes and let's me know that I'm moving to slow and that I'll have to resume the rest of the race on the sidewalk.. and off he goes. So I travel some more, and then the race director at mile 20 gives me a map and says that no support will be offered.. Great... so here I am with 6.2 more miles to go and I have no fluids. I stop at a gas station (b/c I'm getting dehydrated) and they were nice enough to give me a bottled water. I keep going, drinking small sips b/c I'm afraid to run out... I'm done at mile 23 with the water. I remember seeing a gas station at mile 25 from when I did the first half... so I run in and they are nice and give me a large glass of the cold water. At this point I'm so thirsty that I can't even feel my throat being wet... This has to be a bad sign. I then leave and push my little blistered feet and run the rest of it... So lesson learned. Finsih line at 7 hours and 9 mins.... 1. Take fluid for second half of race 2. Take cell phone in case of emergency 3. DO NOT QUIT.... I'm ready to train next year for another one....

Congrats on running your first!!! How your legs feeling now? I hope to do a tri sometime! Tinman version though.

Congratulations on finishing your first marathon and sticking it out despite not having support! That takes a lot of courage! Now you know what to expect so next one will be easier.

Congrats on your first of what will hopefully be many more!

CONGRATULATIONS!!! What an amazing accomplishment! You should be so proud of yourself!

Great job and way to stick with it to the end!!