January 9th - Marathon #4

Together, just the two of us.  It hasn't happened since our honeymoon, well excluding when we went to have newborn babies.  We stayed in a sketchy hotel, and ate Subway for dinner.  Some things never change, always and forever frugal and fabulous.  The sketchy hotel was selected because of the distance from the start/finish line, a very important detail when you happen to be the one running 26.2 miles.

After a gourmet Subway dinner, pre marathon meal of champion (not!), we devoured overpriced 3 musketeer vending machine candy bars.  They were chilled.  The simple things in life.  

Outfit specifically chosen to decrease chances of chub rub, and toenail loss.  Niginxa and nitro for some pre race energy chugging.  And pink socks and sports bra, because awesomeness.  

There was this hot guy cheering on at mile 10, and it was the highlight of the race.  

Then at mile 15.5 things went crampy.  Literally.  Right calf cramp halted the pace, I had to walk jog from mile 16 -17 to try and ease the cramp.  Then at mile 18 they had some gel, I've never tried that gel, but figured the electrolytes would be good for the cramp.  Let me tell you as a gel virgin, well it tastes like a thick, nasty, raspberry flavored snot rocket.  I shot it in, and swallowed it down.  Then almost vomited.  Seriously.  So.freaking.disgusting.  

Somewhere along the cheering route, Paul posted a picture of a "pit stop" for him, parked in a fancy driveway.  Typical, and so very "classy."  When you gotta go, you gotta go, I guess.

If you are not going to be the winner of the marathon, well then you might as well place 100 in your age group, because that is about almost as cool as 1st.  This was my slowest marathon to date, but this course was hilly, the rain was torrential, and I've changed a lot from my former marathon self…mainly adding on 15 pounds.  But I finished, finished injury free, and felt so damn empowered.  This mama of 4, full time NP, and wife of 10 years did something for her.  And it felt so.very.good.

Finish line glory.  It poured buckets, complete with thunder and lightening from mile 20 till the finish.  I felt unstoppable, and swore that if they cancelled the race because of thunder and lightening when I had just 6 miles to go I'd be forever disappointed.  I tell you, you get a bit crazy in your thoughts, wanting to continue running after 20 miles, in the pouring rain, thunder and lightening for 6 more miles just to say you finished the race.  I admit, I'm a nut.  Nothing new, carry on.  Anyway, my shoes were filled with water, so much that when I took them off I dumped water out of them.

Shortly after this photo we rushed back to the hotel so I could meet the check out time extension.  I was motivated to run a certain time so that I'd have time to get back to the hotel and shower before the 3 hour ride back home.  The car ride home, I lived the queen life in my husbands fancy car - those heated seats were amazing.

The huge, ridiculous medal.  Screams Mississippi, and I adore it.

Evidence of a busy day: a 50,059 step day.  Impressive.  I laughed in the care because my watch is set to say MOVE! if I haven't moved in 15 minutes.  While driving home from the marathon, with a step count of 48K this watch kept encouraging me to run.  I think by a step count of 20K it should start saying "you are amazing," and then 30K should say "check to make sure your heart is still working," 40K "you deserve a nap" and 50K "you might as well eat a cake."  But alas, it still just said MOVE!

 Post marathon snugs with my kiddos.

 Hartley trying to snag my Panera salad.

Huge shout out to my main man for the endless morning spent solo daddying so I could pursue long runs to make this happen.  Team effort this goal was, and I'm so thankful to have such an understanding guy to support me every painful step of the way.  He truly gets my crazy running mentality.  So thankful that our love story started on the track.