Hi guys, can't post on runningahead on my phone but can on FB.

Stomach Issues

Friday night and other girls were all having wine, mozzarella and tomatoes, pizza, eating M&Ms later, etc..  I stuck with this standard spaghetti and water, snacked on fruit, said, "Didn't want to risk any stomach issues." The girl who was going to run all 8:20 miles is allergic to glutton so she couldn't eat much. I told her I was surprised she didn't bring her own food with (that is what Paula Radcliffe does who is also allergic to glutton). Just wine and salad would make me sick. Apparently I could of/should of just stayed quiet, because "they all told me they'd done it before their long runs." And they really tried getting me to drink, but I just thought that was dumb. Well fast girl was in the med-tent with stomach issues at mile 6 and the other California girl had a 10 minute bathroom stop, 4:47 finish. And they both blew off as a bad day but I know better.

Friday I could feel burn/stiffness in the drive and I knew I had screwed up. My back had went into a spasm last week and I rushed to my 2nd favorite chiropractor and Thursday he talked me into letting him graston the hamstring. He had done some work before Fargo, but I was really clear to him then "KEEP IT LIGHT". I get on my stomache and before I know he is working it with the big bad stick.. I stop him, he thinks it will be fine. I don't know what he was thinking, and I blame myself for not reminding him this needs to be LIGHT.  I was doing okay in the race, but I saw fast girl at mile 9, I stopped to walk with her, make sure she was okay. When I returned to running it has really stiffened up. To sum it up, I ran 14 miles with a  hamstring tight as hell and the quads and calves feeling fine. It was a "this sucks kind of hard running" and a "live to run another day" kind of run. I know most of us have had a race day like this, I don't think anyone but a marathon runner would understand what kind of experience this is.

I think the hamstring would have got me no matter what though. I should have give myself more recovery time after Fargo Half and done a two week taper. Would have been still rested, not stale, but healthier. Don't worry.. I'm not beating myself up over it, compared to last year's 4:41 the run was much better.

Panic Attack 

Fast girl  later said she was had a panic attack in the race. Then she said, "I don't know if you're nervousness on Friday made me freak out or if it was my stomach'.  I can say with 100% certainty I didn't cause her 4:30 finish.

Trent

Mile 15 Trent comes running up to me. He said that his calve blew so we walked/talked for awhile. I just got bored walking, and started running again. He is VERY nice guy, and so glad he finished. Ran into the some other RAers later, and I don't think anyone had a great day. All very nice and I wish I could have spent more time with them, but my group hadn't eaten yet and I didn't want to loose them.

Running Partner

She said the run got hard, she was under trained, finished in 4:41 and happy.

Finish

I HATE that last mile in the race. There are so many turns and you can't see the finish-line until you are there. The Twin Cities finish is so much better, the last .5 mile are all down hill and you can see the finish.

I was really proud of my attitude in this race, never let any of it get me down and I promise you some funny race pictures. I am TIRED now, and my hamstring is stiff and miserable. I am considering switching to Mankato half, just as I can't phantom running a hilly course all by myself, and the half is FAST, but I am open to finding a better fall marathon to run.

Yeah, really, Bugs. What were you thinking??

Honestly, I think she had some kind of gall trying to blame you for her crappy race? Good grief, grow up. I would've had a hard time staying nice at that point.

Glad you're ok. Switching to the half might not be a bad idea.