St. George Marathon

Mine & Jamie's First Marathon! 

We got into the Lottery for the St. George Marathon. After very long several months of training we ran together on Saturday, Oct. 1st, 2011. Saturday morning we woke up at 4:30 am (mind you, you can't sleep the night before anyways) and Jared drove us into the city and dropped us off to load the bus. We waited about a half an hour to load the bus. Waiting in line to get on the bus felt so intiminating. I just kept over hearing people saying this is my 5th marathon or I've been doing this for 20 years and haven't missed one. I just felt like a little girl with a bunch of grown ups trying to play the part. Once we loaded the school bus we drove 23 miles up the canyon where the race would start. The busses were running late so they actually made our bus go 3 to a seat. Mind you me and Jamie were a smaller compared to other people so a 6'6 guy seeked us out and sat with us. We enjoyed our conversation with our friendly giant taking up the whole seat. 

We got off the bus and went to go find the bathrooms one last time. The lines were too long so we had to find a spot behind the shade trees. Jamie was too embarrassed at first until we wondered off in the trees and passed several women popping a squat. There is no shame. 

We found our pace leader of our goal of 3:45 and we got behind them to follow for the race. At 6:45 the gun went off and the race started. Moments after you hear the most amazing sound of 7800 runners hitting the pavement. I just thought hearing all the shoes was a very chilling sound and it gets your adrenaline pumping. The racing experience is just so much fun. I believe this is what get runners to keep running for this high! 

The first 7 miles went by in a flash and then at mile 7 they like to give you a mile or more just straight up hill. It was rough! Everything went well though and we kept running. At about mile 12 or 13 my feet really started hurting but kept going (when i finally took my shoes off I had blood blisters all down my feet, very ugly)...Everyone talks about hitting the wall, I didn't feel I couldn't go on anymore but at mile 17 things got harder and then at 21 I thought if I just keep running I will be done sooner. At about mile 21 we stopped to get water and Jamie need something for her legs and we got seperated. The last five miles were very lonely and emotionally. Every time I started to think about crossing the finish line I would almost cry. At mile 23 you are out of the canyon and now you are running in the city. It it really encouraging to have people along the streets cheering you on and all the little kids just want to slap everyones hands. 

Well finally after 26.2 miles and 3:34:17 I crossed the finish line. I was able to finish 8th in my aged group and actually got a little plaque for being in the top ten! I ran the entire thing and was even able to give it my best across the finish line. They put a medal on me and then you walk through showers. All I wanted to do at this point was to cry. Finishing the marathon was just so emotional and I feel like I honestly could say that this was the hardest thing that I could ever do on my own. Yes I trained a lot with my sister but in the end its all up to my mind and body to finish what you want. 

When we signed up for the marathon our goal was to finish around 4 hours or so. A month or so before Jamie kept saying she wanted to qualify for the Boston marathon and I thought she was crazy. I didn't feel my training had gone good enough and I didn't think I could finish in 3:40. Well to my astonishment we actually both qualified for the Boston Marathon on our first try! This was the cherry on top of it all. 

I don't have very good pictures from after the race because I felt as good as you could running for that long but after I felt awful. My stomach hurt so bad and I couldn't even really eat. So that makes for really bad pictures. 

My family was really sweet and Jared, Eric (Jamie's husband), Landon, Rylee, Mom, Jacquelyn, and Jess & Kyle came to cheer us on. They had beautiful flowers and Jared gave me a large cookie with frosting. It was delicious once I could eat it. 

-PS Jared balled when he say me cross the finish line and when he gave me a hug. I just held on to him and cried. I wish I would have felt better after the race so I could have enjoyed it more but it was truly an amazing experience!