Notes
Let me just say that my goal was a 3:25:00, I am happy to have finished and end up with a BQ but that was not what this was about. I know I am capable of better.
I tried really hard in the couple weeks leading up to this to stay calm and look at it as it was just for fun and really just not stress out about anything. I did really well, the only time I felt stressed was Friday evening getting packed and ready to leave the next more. This led to a poor night of sleep. Saturday was great as far as traveling and staying laid back. Relaxed in the hotel had an early dinner and tried to go to bed early. I think lights out around 9. No joke I don't think I got one full hour of sleep. Between bathroom trips and pipes making weird noises all night and people above the room walking around, there was just not a chance to sleep. So 4:45 I couldn't take it anymore and got up and showered.
Getting to the start went well and the people and energy there was great, I was feeling really good. We start, the sun is out and its promising to stay out and get warm. Fine, the first couple of miles were smooth, felt really good, still calm and just enjoying looking around and the pace felt easy. Continued this way for the first 8, they felt easy. I would get wrapped up a bit in the crowds but looking at my splits I don't think it was too much. Somewhere mile 8 I was losing Lance and he waved me on. I looked back a couple of times and then had to say I am okay and can do this on my own. So when I made that decision I didn't look back again. I felt kind of lost. For a mile I just really was trying to find my grove again. I found it talked with a couple people and then by mile 11 I felt I was starting to fade. The heat and lack of sleep just started to get to me a bit. Head down and move your feet is what I told myself. I would have a good half mile and then one that I would feel was a struggle. I would come into a crowd and get some energy from that feel good again. This continued for a while. Mile 14 I was having less good and more struggle but continued to be on pace. Somewhere mile 15/16 was the hill and I wanted to quit, really just wanted to cry and be done. I pushed with whatever I could find to make this hill, walking was not an option if I walked here I was done. I made it. At the top I was filled with such a sense of accomplishment and relief that I had a couple really good miles after that. Mile 19 I was fading hard. The heat was getting to me, everything hurt, I was exhausted. From this point on I thought I was in a living hell. The pain was something out of this world and to know I could stop it if I just stopped. A little before mile 22 I walked. That was the end. I stopped drank water and walked. I found a little something and ran again and said just make it to the next aid station. I just tried to make one point to the next. I was talking out loud "Alicia move your fucking legs!" yup swearing at myself out loud. Walk , run, walk, run. I see the 3:30 pacer go by and tried to visualize myself being attached to him and just hang on, couldn't do it. Shortly after I am running again and see Eric, I yell to him to run and he did and then within seconds I was walking again. At mile 25 I realized I had a good amount of time to try to make the 3:35mark to qualify. I said I can run this last 1.2miles. Nope, started walking again. at 25.6 I ran and anything that was left came out, not much but it was enough, crossed the finished and was dizzy, lightheaded, wanted to puke, couldn't talk right, medics caught me and walked me around.
The course was nice it all kind of blurred because I had tunnel vision to try to focus and just move but some parts were just great. Running by the drummers was awesome, feeling the drums pounding through me while running was such a cool feeling. I definitely fed off the energy of the crowds when I could. I would definitely run this course again.