The 8th Marathon

Marathon #8 is done ... my finishing chip time was 5:44:00 and my splits 10k 1:14, 21.1 2:33 AND 30k 3:50 ...
So here's my race report ...

I started the race toward the back as usual. There was a 5 hour pace bunny who TOOK OFF like no tomorrow right away! I mean TOOK OFF! (My DS and DH were at the 20.5K water station and said the 5:00 bunny was at least 15 mins ahead of the 4:45 bunny at that point - someone said they heard her say that she didn't want to be the 5 hour bunny ... I say if you want to run a faster time don't be a slow bunny )

So waiting for the gun to go off I was chatting with 2 women - Heather and Kate. Heather was doing her first marathon. We were chatting and we started off together with the 4:45 bunny. After about 7K I started to feel funny being with the 4:45 bunny even tho' she was doing a slower pace to start with so I held back. (I've NEVER been able to do a 5:00 finish let alone a 4:45 so this was likely not a good idea) My pace was good and I was having a good run. I got to the 20.5K mark and got hugs and kisses from DS and DH and my best friend in the whole world who joined us in Ottawa. It was a VERY hot day ... I swear it hit 28C (80F)

I hit the 1/2 way mark right on pace at 2:30. I had passed Heather and Kate earlier when they were at a toilet stop and they passed me just after the 1/2 way point. At around 23K my calves cramped so I took a walk break.

Up ahead I see Heather and Kate hugging and I thought to myself ... this isn't a good sign.

As I get closer I ask what was going on. Heather says she's sending Kate on ahead as she (heather) was having some stomach issues. She asked if she could hang with me for a while. I said YES and told Kate that I'd get Heather across the finish line.

Well we started off walking for around 1/2K then I asked if she wanted to try running. We did but her stomach was really off. I told Heather not to worry ... I walk at a pretty fast clip and if we walked the 2nd 1/2 not to worry.

Heather was pretty nervous and not feeling particularly positive. She admitted that she thought about dropping out at the 1/2 way point. I told her that I would get her across the finish line if I had to drag her.

So we carried on ... I was singing and chatting and talking to the volunteers and trying to keep Heather out of her head. She asked if I was okay with walking and I said that I'd done this before and that it meant a great deal more to me helping someone else achieve their dream. And I asked her, "Do you know what they call the last person to cross the finish line?" She said she didn't. I told her "they call them a marathoner, just like the first person"

We passed 30K and were in the thick of the 1/2 marathoners who started 3 hours after the full marathoners. As we neared 34K we picked up another woman who was having a bad run for her 3rd marathon. We finished the race the together the 3 of us.

At around 37K Heather started to falter at bit so I took her hand and started talking about what the finish line was going to feel like and how it wasn't too far to go. And I sang that song from the 80's "Ain't nothing going to break our stride, ain't nothing going to slow us down, oh no, we've got to keep on moving."

As we hit the 40K mark I said to her, "Heather do you see that sign? Do you know what it means?" And she said "what?" I replied "You're crossing that finish line ... there is absolutely nothing that can happen to stop it now." and I started pointing her out to the crowd lining the way and saying "This is her first marathon!" Then the crowd would cheer very loudly for her.

We walked pretty much the whole second 1/2 until the 300M mark and then we ran across the finish line together holding hands. She was soooooooooo thrilled. As we made it across she kept saying "I couldn't have done it without you" I said "Yes you could and did ... I didn't get you her your legs did"

Just past the finish line we saw my DH, DS and best friend and I brought her over to meet them. She cried and said "I couldn't have done this without her."

So ... not a PB but worth every step! And the best part is ... my recovery time will be less!

~ Shirley