Marine Corps Half Marathon - 10/04/08

Starting a good week or so before this race, I began to panic every time I thought about it. I was still having ITB issues (i.e. pain) and was really beginning to doubt if I could do this at all. My friend, Jayne, was going to be running with me and that calmed me down considerably. She had run a marathon last year, and is excellent at keeping a steady pace.

I told her my goals for this race:
1. Finish
2. Finish running without further injury
3. Finish in under 3 hours, if possible

As the race day got closer, both #2 and #3 looked out of reach. So, going in, I was looking at #1 only.

It was a great morning! The humidity was high (95%), but the temperature was low (60º). We arrived at the race site before dawn to pick up our timing chips. We ran into quite a few people we knew from our Saturday morning training group. There was a Navy band playing, and Marines and ROTC everywhere. We all lined up behind the starting line as dawn broke over the city. Then the Marine Color Guard came forward and the Navy Band played our National Anthem.

When the cannon went off, I attempted my normal scared rabbit bolt to the start. Jayne had me WALK with her to the start line, then run. She had figured out paces for each mile to achieve all 3 of my goals. Her goal was only to finish uninjured. She truly does not care about time.

Early on, we ran past the Maxwell House plant here in town. They were roasting the beans this morning, and the delicious aroma of fresh brewed coffee filled the downtown area. This is one of the things I have always loved about Jacksonville, and one of my earliest childhood memories – the smell of roasting coffee early in the morning. I still love that.

This morning’s run was 2 races: a 5K and a ½ marathon. Both groups started out together. Then at about 1.5 miles, the half-marathoners turned to run over a bridge, while the 5K’ers ran straight ahead. Running the 5K was a group of Marines in full fatigues who were singing the whole way. Jayne and I ran with them to our turn off point. That was fun!

Jayne, Me, and TJ near the turn-off point

I have to admit here that it was annoying watching peeps bolt past us early on. But, I let it go. I wanted to finish this race, not burn out. We went up and over 2 bridges (Main Street and the dreaded Acosta) - no problem at all! Then down through neighborhoods along the River. The sun was now up and the temperature was rapidly increasing towards the 80’s. At about mile 5.5, we started passing peeps who were now walking. That was cool. At mile 9, we passed a few more who had taken off fast earlier that morning. I never saw them again. I don't know if they finished or not. I hope so.

Then came mile 9.66 - I felt my first wave of fatigue. And, more surprisingly, dizziness and nausea. That was really strange. And, my right leg went from an annoying mild pain to a nagging moderate pain. And, I started feeling compensation pain in my lower back. Crud.

But, I kept on going until mile 11, where I just wanted to quit with every fiber of my being. Soon after that point, our course took us up and over a pedestrian bridge. Uggh! By mile 12.5, I was close to having a complete meltdown. Seriously. I was dizzy, light-headed, nauseated, and my heart was racing (new symptom). And, my right leg was now at an excruciating pain level. I. Was. Done.

I do not know how I actually finished (and ran through the finish line, no less). Looking back, I do know now that a big part of my problem was simple dehydration. After the race, I inhaled a liter of water and started feeling much better. I have to learn how to manage water intake better. I realize now that I only took a cup of water at one of the stations (mile 10) - and most of that ended up on my shirt.

Anyway, it's done and I am happy with it. Below is an email from Jayne who kept all our stats. It is easy to tell by the times where I lost it.

"Hi Linda,

I hope you are feeling well. I enjoyed running with you today!

Mile Proposed Pace Actual Pace
1 ….. 15 ........ .13:44
2 ….. 15 …….......13:33
3 …… 14.5 ……....13:52
4 ….. 14 …….......13:18
5 ….. 13.5 ……....13:46
6 ….. 13 …….......13:53
7 ….. 13 …….......13:16
8 ….. 13 …….......13:46
9 ….. 13 …….......14:03
10 …. 13 …….......13:46
11 …. 13 …….......14:22
12 …. 13.5 ……....15:19
13 …. 14 …….......14:43
0.1 …. 1.4 …….....1.11
--- ---- -------
13.1...178.9 min. 182:40 min.

Our standard training pace for this distance would be 13.1 x 15:30 = 203:03 minutes, so we ran a good race...well done!

See you soon,

Jayne"


This is a place I didn’t think I would ever get to. A year ago, I was worried about being able to complete a 5K. Many, many people along the way have helped me get here. They must be mentioned. There is my family who has always supported me (even when questioning my sanity). And friends. Many friends. In particular, there is Michele, who ran a marathon a little over a year ago, and inspired me to even attempt this. There is Ken, an excellent marathon runner and coach, who took the time to design an 18-week training schedule for me and has always patiently answered all of my questions and concerns. There is my Saturday morning marathon training group. We all have shared our mistakes and successes each Saturday morning as we have increased our mileage together. And there is Jayne, my friend for many many years. We had lost touch a few years ago and then literally ran back into each other while crossing the Main Street bridge during the River Run last March. We’ve been running together ever since.


On the way back to the car after the race, Jayne said, “In a few months, you will be running double of what you did today. Can you imagine that?”

Honestly? No, I cannot begin to imagine that.