This was an amazing race. It was crazy and it was hard as can be! I am happy to report that I made my goal!
I really thought I'd be able to do it in 4:48, but I was only 10 minutes off so that was ok.
Here's a Message from Nike:
… Even with a new course for 2008 and a few additional hills, you rocked it out there! … In total, over 20,000 runners toed the start line and included participants from all 50 states, 25 countries, 5,000 Team in Training runners, 1,089 brave (and brilliant) men and 400 5-time or “legacy” runners. … You and thousands of others ran not only conquered the Nike Women’s Marathon, but also helped raise over $18 million to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!
This course is one that they say you will not get a PR time. It's hard. It's hilly. But I did it!
Start time was 7:a.m. We were there when it was still dark out. We were 2 blocks away from the start line. It took us 13 minutes to finally get to the start. It was starting to get lighter by the time we started, but it was still a little foggy.
We had chips on our shoes so that we could have an accurate time for us. So the clock time said it was 13 minutes by the time we got to the start.
The weather was a bit chilly. 2 days before it was really warm low 80's. The day before we went for a quick 20 minute run and it was windy and cold, but then warmed up to high 70's. Race day it was overcast and cool. This was actually good for me. I over heat if it's too warm out.
For 2 miles we were sardines. It was hard getting around people. You had to be careful not to trip over dropped clothing. One lady fell right in front of us. It was a little nerve racking. We were averaging almost a 13 minute mile for the first 2 miles.
We had a few hills around mile 4 and then we just kept going up and down! There was a really long hill in the Presidio area that was lined with all the different team posters. They were so great to see. They had inspiring messages and portraits of those they were honoring. I ran by our team poster and smiled!
All along the coarse there were choirs, bands, djs, cheerleaders, bagpipes, etc. It was great. Even though I had my ipod, it was nice to run by those spots, and there were many.
I had my name on my shirt. I can't even tell you how happy I was that I did that. It was so uplifting, encouraging, and motivating to have someone look you in the eye, call you by name, and talk to you.
We ran 5 miles in Golden Gate Park. I think our course map said it was suppose to be less, but by that point I couldn't really remember what that map had said! My son, Keyan, ran all 5 miles with me. I had my one bathroom stop in the park. Thankfully there was no wait at all. They were well prepared! There were so many porta-potties!
Once I left the park I had a few miles down the Great Highway and then we went downhill to Lake Merced. We went around Lake Merced (which seemed to be a really long slow incline). Next, it was back uphill to the highway, then back to the park for the finish.
I had started the race with my hydration belt. At mile 16 I left it with my family. Nearly every aid station past that point I stopped and took 1 glass of Gatorade and 1 glass of water. I also did what they told us not to do and that was eat something while racing that you haven't eaten before while running, but I was so HUNGRY! Some lady gave me some licorice. I had a Ghirardelli chocolate, and a Luna bar. I was lucky. I seemed to fair OK eating those. I think there was no thinking straight at that point!!!
My coach was there at 1.5 miles left to go. I looked at my watch and asked, "can I make it to the finish in 10 minutes?" He kind of cringed. I said, "can I do it in 12 minutes?" He said, "12 minutes, yes, you can do it in 12 minutes."
He ran me in until I had .2 left to go. I wanted to pick it up a little, because I wasn't sure the exact seconds that I needed to be in by to make it before 5 hours. But I was spent. I wasn't able to pick it up at all, so I just kept going one foot in front of the other until I hit that red (pink) carpet!
I really thought I'd be able to do it in 4:48, but I was only 10 minutes off so that was ok.
Here's a Message from Nike:
… Even with a new course for 2008 and a few additional hills, you rocked it out there! … In total, over 20,000 runners toed the start line and included participants from all 50 states, 25 countries, 5,000 Team in Training runners, 1,089 brave (and brilliant) men and 400 5-time or “legacy” runners. … You and thousands of others ran not only conquered the Nike Women’s Marathon, but also helped raise over $18 million to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!
This course is one that they say you will not get a PR time. It's hard. It's hilly. But I did it!
Start time was 7:a.m. We were there when it was still dark out. We were 2 blocks away from the start line. It took us 13 minutes to finally get to the start. It was starting to get lighter by the time we started, but it was still a little foggy.
We had chips on our shoes so that we could have an accurate time for us. So the clock time said it was 13 minutes by the time we got to the start.
The weather was a bit chilly. 2 days before it was really warm low 80's. The day before we went for a quick 20 minute run and it was windy and cold, but then warmed up to high 70's. Race day it was overcast and cool. This was actually good for me. I over heat if it's too warm out.
For 2 miles we were sardines. It was hard getting around people. You had to be careful not to trip over dropped clothing. One lady fell right in front of us. It was a little nerve racking. We were averaging almost a 13 minute mile for the first 2 miles.
We had a few hills around mile 4 and then we just kept going up and down! There was a really long hill in the Presidio area that was lined with all the different team posters. They were so great to see. They had inspiring messages and portraits of those they were honoring. I ran by our team poster and smiled!
All along the coarse there were choirs, bands, djs, cheerleaders, bagpipes, etc. It was great. Even though I had my ipod, it was nice to run by those spots, and there were many.
I had my name on my shirt. I can't even tell you how happy I was that I did that. It was so uplifting, encouraging, and motivating to have someone look you in the eye, call you by name, and talk to you.
We ran 5 miles in Golden Gate Park. I think our course map said it was suppose to be less, but by that point I couldn't really remember what that map had said! My son, Keyan, ran all 5 miles with me. I had my one bathroom stop in the park. Thankfully there was no wait at all. They were well prepared! There were so many porta-potties!
Once I left the park I had a few miles down the Great Highway and then we went downhill to Lake Merced. We went around Lake Merced (which seemed to be a really long slow incline). Next, it was back uphill to the highway, then back to the park for the finish.
I had started the race with my hydration belt. At mile 16 I left it with my family. Nearly every aid station past that point I stopped and took 1 glass of Gatorade and 1 glass of water. I also did what they told us not to do and that was eat something while racing that you haven't eaten before while running, but I was so HUNGRY! Some lady gave me some licorice. I had a Ghirardelli chocolate, and a Luna bar. I was lucky. I seemed to fair OK eating those. I think there was no thinking straight at that point!!!
My coach was there at 1.5 miles left to go. I looked at my watch and asked, "can I make it to the finish in 10 minutes?" He kind of cringed. I said, "can I do it in 12 minutes?" He said, "12 minutes, yes, you can do it in 12 minutes."
He ran me in until I had .2 left to go. I wanted to pick it up a little, because I wasn't sure the exact seconds that I needed to be in by to make it before 5 hours. But I was spent. I wasn't able to pick it up at all, so I just kept going one foot in front of the other until I hit that red (pink) carpet!
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