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| go! St. Louis Marathon Race Report (Read 448 times) |
Hi-Ya!! |
posted: 4/7/2008 at 10:26 PM
modified: 4/7/2008 at 11:07 PM |
Five long months in the making and it’s finally over! I wrote a very long, lengthy and rambling race report for my BLOG, if you're interested. This is the condensed (slightly less sappy) version.
Sunday morning's temperature was in the low 40s, but it was supposed to warm up to almost 70 degrees and sunny by noon. Perfect running weather. It was an amazing site to see the huge American flag hanging over Market Street with the old Capital Building and the Arch downtown St. Louis. I walked up to the starting line with Abby (from TNT) and my friend Julie (running the half marathon), with just enough time to snap a couple pictures before we were off!
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The first six miles were fantastic and flew by. We were all so chatty and excited and having a blast. The race course took us through the historic Soulard neighborhood, where Julie and I had both recently lived. We circled a park near the Anheuser Busch Brewery and headed back towards downtown. The sun was just starting to come up and we were warming up nicely. I couldn’t believe all the people out there cheering the runners on. And so many of them specifically cheered for Abby and I because we were wearing the Team in Training shirt. "Go Team!"
At mile 6 I spied my personal cheering crew of my fiance, his mom and my best friend. About a mile later I saw my mom, which made me so happy that she was there, even though I’m sure she has no clue why her other-wise sane daughter would decide to do something as crazy as run a marathon.
With about 4 miles to go before the half marathoners turned around and headed back towards the finish line we started seeing the other runners coming back down, getting closer to their goal of 13.1. So, we cheered…loudly! We tried to give a shout-out to every single TNT runner we saw, with plenty more cheering for everyone else. And this just made it so much better for us. At one point I looked at Abby and said, "Do I dare say it? I’m having so much fun!"
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We saw my mom again at Mile 10, who snapped some really great pictures of just how happy and excited we were.
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After that, the half marathoners left us and the crowd thinned out dramatically. I couldn’t believe the difference as we entered Forest Park to emptiness and silence. It was about this point when I realized just how much farther and longer we had to go. Immediately I felt pretty drained and tired. This is also the part of the course that I know the best – and I know it’s really HILLY. But there was good news too: (1) we had paced ourselves very well and we were still exactly on track for our goal, which means we didn’t go out too fast (which I was terrified of doing); (2) Abby’s best friend just booked her wedding ceremony and reception venue, which turned out to be somewhere along the race course. She was going to be there waiting to surprise Abby with the news. How cute is that? and (3) we were still together and having fun.
Forest Park is one of my absolute favorite places in the city. It’s HUGE at 1,293 acres (approx. 500 acres larger than Central Park) and has amazing monuments, historic buildings, wildlife, waterways and landscapes. I love running in the park and know it well; this was home turf. This was about the time when other runners started talking to us. We were passed by an older gentlemen who said he was working on completing his 50 states marathon, fulfilling his Missouri requirement, and had previously run with TNT. He told us how much it meant to him and what an amazing experience it was. We also ran with a lady who said she was a leukemia survivor and was featured in one of the TNT pamphlets. She thanked us for doing what we were doing. Unbelievable!
When we got to the Forest Park Visitor’s Center, Abby’s friend was waiting there to tell her that’s where the wedding would be. Just down the road we met up with TNT coach Michelle, who told us how wonderful we were doing – as if we didn’t know it!! We got out of the park just to go up a massive hill that runs along the Washington University campus. There were a bunch of kids at one corner saying that their High 5’s were super-powered for extra speed. I made sure to give them all a High 5, just in case they were right.
We were at mile 16, Clayton was next. We were approached from behind by a red mini-van full of Abby supporters. Team Abby had signs, music, horns, and more excitement than we could have hoped for. They sped off as we topped a hill and then saw my mom and Anna waiting for us. What an amazing site to see that little blonde smiling and clapping for me this time. Mom pushed her in the wheelchair along-side us for a while and told us she’d see us at the finish line. As I looked away and back to the course, there was DF again, waiting and smiling. I cannot express how amazing our support crews were. We were never too far from friends and family though the whole course.
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The next few miles of the race (17-21) were perhaps the most painful. Abby and I both started to hurt. Our training runs never felt this bad, it must be all the hills. There was a guy ahead of us that stopped running to take pictures of every hill we ran because he said people didn't believe him that this course is so hard and hilly. I believe you!
As we entered Forest Park again Abby said her knees were hurting her too bad to keep running. She wanted to walk a while and told me to just keep going. I didn’t want to go without her, but I knew if the roles were reversed, I would want her to keep running. So I ran.
It was a lonely last couple miles to the end. Luckily there was a lot of TNT support to help me along. Once I got close to that big American flag again, I saw my friends Jacquie and Heather. Heather ran beside me for a block or two until I made that final turn into the corral of spectators and saw the finish line.
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Rounding the corner at the finish.
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What an unbelievable feeling!! I was all alone. Everyone there was cheering for ME. I was laughing and crying. I saw my mom as tears poured down my face. I crossed the finish line in 4:53:21.
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My medal and finisher's cap.
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My proud coach.
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I'm a Beeliever, in Memory of Ryan Douglas Brown
(June 29, 2000 - July 10, 2005)
MTA - sorry the pictures are so ginormous. No idea how to fix them.
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posted: 4/7/2008 at 10:38 PM |
WHAT AN AWESOME RR Sara!!!! Sounds like you had an AMAZING first marathon!! Congrats hun to you and Abby!! WTG!
GREAT pictures!! |
Your toughness is made up of equal parts persistence and experience. You don't so much outrun your opponents as outlast and outsmart them, and the toughest opponent of all is the one inside your head." - Joe Henderson
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| view log Bif! Bam! Pow! |
posted: 4/7/2008 at 10:39 PM |
Awesome awesome awesome awesome  |
Beware the Pink Boxing Gloves of DOOM!
"It's not enough to bash in heads, you've got to bash in minds" - Captain Hammer
2008 Goals New PR's in 5K 10K HM, M What now?
I failed the 12 minute run in 11th grade... |
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posted: 4/8/2008 at 12:00 AM |
| I think I clicked on Racing about a thousand times today, and I must say your reports were worth the wait. Multiple missions accomplished with a smile, it just doesn't get better than that. Just awesome. |
Ed
Tuesday Good Times 5K series in Lowell, MA (So sad it's over)
2008: HTFU and BQ at BayState Marathon
Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy |
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posted: 4/8/2008 at 12:05 AM |
Pictures in race reports make me happy. I blame illiteracy.
Great report and great race. Pictures can't be too big.  |
E-mail: JakeKnight2002@aol.com
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posted: 4/8/2008 at 12:54 AM |
YEAH Sara!!! I love your report, it sounds like such a great experience for you. Did you run the whole way? Look at all that energy finishing- you look awesome!!
How are you feeling today?
Nice ring btw  |
Shaunna
Working my way down from 167 lbs to 147 pounds.
Currently 164 lbs.
All I want for Christmas is my two good knees . . . |
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mommyontherun |
posted: 4/8/2008 at 12:56 AM |
| Wow! You did an amazing job!!!!! I did the half in St. Louis this weekend. It was my first and it was hard. I couldn't imagine doing the whole marathon. I admire your dedication to running and your causes. I loved the pictures! I was so focused on not passing out (just kidding), that I forgot to take in some of the sites. I was able to relive some of the course through your pictures. Great Job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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| view log Runs With Snowplows |
posted: 4/8/2008 at 1:20 AM |
Girl, you make me so proud...that smile in every photo really makes it look so easy, but I know you were hurting and HTFUing in those last miles. You did great and I hope to run a marathon with you in the future.
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Kirsten
• Ladies Locker Room •
.: 2008 Goals :.
• Run 1500 miles
• October 5 - 1st marathon - Milwaukee Lakefront - in my home state of WI
• PRs: 5k ~ 15k ~ 25k
• 1st trail race |
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posted: 4/8/2008 at 1:36 AM |
Race report and pics were worth the wait! Me likes the cute fiance taking pics!
Congrats, you smiling marathoner! How do you look so cute after running 26.2?
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But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Is. 40:31)
Mile by Mile |
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| view log Girls on an AK Beach |
posted: 4/8/2008 at 4:00 AM |
| I love the way you smile through what I know is a tough distance...even at mile 21! Great job |
Run like you are on fire!
5K goal 24:00 or less (PR 24:34)
10K goal 50:00 or less (PR 52:45)
HM goal 1:55:00 or less (PR 2:03:02)
Marathon Goal...Victoria Marathon 2008 (PR 4:33:23) |
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:D |
posted: 4/8/2008 at 5:23 AM |
| Quote from rockenmamof5 on 4/7/2008 at 10:38 PM: WHAT AN AWESOME RR Sara!!!! Sounds like you had an AMAZING first marathon!! Congrats hun to you and Abby!! WTG!
GREAT pictures!!
Ditto!!!
Thanks so much for posting this, Sara, and I had already read the account on your blog - it was worth reading twice
I loved the smile on your face in all those pictures - you are awesome
Congratulations! |
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away...(unkown)
Unus Dies Procul A Vicis
• Go With The Flow
• Thyroid Support Group |
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| view log Sup! |
posted: 4/8/2008 at 6:10 AM |
| Awesome race and awesome RacePicsReport. You look great in all of the pictures. What's next ? |
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posted: 4/8/2008 at 7:55 AM |
| YAY!!! well done the pictures make it all that more exciting for us reading. THANK YoU! |
| Apuesto a que... |
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