Sunday, October 5, 2008

We did it!

(due to the nonstop rain, and the fact that I couldn't find Brandis at the finish with the 6500 other runners and their families, this is the only picture I got. But hopefully I'll be able to snag some online soon enough!)

I can't believe it's over, but I actually finished myfirst marathon and LIVED! It was quite an adventure. My time was FAR from great, but all things considered, I LOVED it!

The day started by Brandis and I walking to the bus stop at 3:45am (St. George time, which is actually 2:45 our time). We rode the bus up to the starting line where we got out of the bus and froze almost instantly. We found a good place to attempt to hide from the wind and about 20 minutes later it started pouring (well, it was a constant drizzle, then pouring, then drizzle). Luckily they were handing out black garbage bags, so we tried to warm ourselves up with those as best we could. We had a two and a half hour wait until the race started so we made some friends while we all sat and froze together.

When the race started, most everyone was still wearing their garbage bags, it was quite a sight to see, and not at all how I pictured the start of a big marathon. It was pitch black, super windy and there were 6,500 people all squished together wearing black trash bags.

So here's how it went:

mile 1- amazing! a mile has never gone by so fast
mile 2-wow...another mile...
mile 3- can't feel my face through the cold and the rain- body feels good
mile 4- drop my trash bag, the rain starts penetrating my pants and sweatshirt
mile 5- drop my sweatshirt- rain starts penetrating my long sleeve t-shirt. pants are so heavy from the rain that I can't get them to stay up.
mile 6- left earbud on my headphones stops working due to the downpour! my ipod keeps chiming as if in warning that it's going to die! please don't die!!!!!
mile 7- freaking out because I can't find Brandis in the crowd around me. I know the big hill is coming
mile 8- OH MY GOSH...I HAVE TO RUN UP THAT?!!?!?!?!?!? then... "I'm never running another marathon again." I probably could have WALKED faster than I was running up this hill!
mile 9- dropped long sleeve t-shirt and my darn pants that kept falling off
mile 10- FREEZING. should have kept my clothes on. Can't feel any part of my body!
mile 11- the end of the killer hill, life seems bliss at this point!
mile 12- did I mention i was COLD??????
mile 13- this is the halfway point, i felt great! I couldn't believe it! took my first 45 second walking break
mile 14- great! my legs are frozen numb, I decided to take advantage of it and run as hard as I could for a couple miles. why not...I couldn't feel a thing.
mile 15- started trying to figure out when the next marathon is that I could sign up for.
mile 16-17- OW!!!!!! the downhill actually hurts worse than the uphill!
mile 18- took my second 45 second walking break. ate a banana (i HATE bananas...but it has NEVER tasted so good!)
mile 19- left earbud comes back to life, yay! but it's still raining (yes...it rained for 24.5 out of 26.2 miles)
mile 20- 22- people started appearing on the sides of the roads to cheer. i'm easily overcome by emotions and this got me all choked up!
mile 23- took my third and final 45 second walking break. called my mom to tell her I'd be done in 30 mins or so. my phone died before we could talk. awesome! no idea how or where to find her at the end.
mile 24-25- more people, more emotions, can't believe I'm almost done and I'm still alive!
mile 26- the street is PACKED with people on both sides of the road. They are cheering, holding signs, playing music, screaming, clapping, kids giving high 5's the whole way down, people handing out washcloths to wipe your face. COOLEST FEELING EVER!
26.2 - complete overwhelming emotion as I crossed the finish line. This was the first time the tears actually made it out of my eyes (not from pain, believe it or not, but overwhelming accomplishment). Got my big ol' medal then ate a giant ice cream sandwich in the freezing cold. wearing nothing but soaking wet short spandex and a paper thin tank top. wow...did i mention cold? very cold!?!?

My time was 4:37:56 and 70% of everyone who ran finished ahead of me, but since it was my first one, I'm trying not to let that get to me. I'm just dang proud to have met my goal of finishing alive!

PS- I can't walk today :)

PF Changs Rock N Roll Marathon is January 18th, 2009...
anyone? anyone?!!?!?!?

24 comments:

The Craigs said...

Tarah- You got one proud mom and dad. You can do anything you put your mind to. We love you! I just wish Maddux and I could have been at the finish line waiting for you. (darn rain) Next time. Ok

DKAZ said...

I love it! I loved it! I loved every detail and mile. I'm so proud of you. I feel like I did it myself just because I threatened to run with you so many times-jk. What an awesome accomplishment!!!

Beth Curtis said...

wow, congratulations! What an accomplishment. You are a ROCKSTAR!

Lauren said...

I am so proud, impressed, amazed... You are an inspiration.

Kasey said...

Reading this blog makes me want to throw up........

Kasey said...

PS Mom says I'm proud of you :)

Megan said...

congrats tarah! i am so impressed as well. it's great that you set that goal so long ago and you did it!

Brandis said...

I'm dying laughing because I TOTALLY understand everything you talked about. And I agree, the best tasting banana I've EVER eaten was at mile 18 despite the fact that I peeled & ate it with gloves on that I picked up off the side of the road at about mile 13 or 14 and put on in an attempt to be able to use my frozen, paralyzed fingers again. I'm so sad that we couldn't find each other at the finish line but I'm SO proud of you and I couldn't have asked for a better running partner!!

Brandis said...

PS I cried & ate ice cream at the finish line too, and PF Chang's, are you KIDDING ME?!?! :) (well, maybe the half...)

Marisa and Rob said...

Good Job!!! Congratulations! :)

JoEllen said...

Holy Cow....! Congrats!!

Theurer Family said...

Okay, I'm a big nerd, because I have to confess that I even got a little teary eyed just reading about it. I'm almost inspired to run one myself. It really is an amazing accomplishment! Way to go!

Meagan said...

Congrats!! I think that is awesome... I could never do that. Glad you are still alive. And I hope you can walk soon :)

Matt and Jayna said...

Congratulations Tarah! That is one marathon story. How awful that it was raining and freezing cold! That definitely would make it harder to run, especially coming from AZ. You are awesome!

Anonymous said...

Tarah,
You probably don't know me because we never really talked, but I'm from the ward. I was blog hopping, and came across yours. Congratulations on the marathon. I'm becoming inspired to run and wan to run a marathon like you just did. Not sure 2 months is enough to prepare, given I'm totally out of shape. But maybe I could join you for the PF Chang one?!

kell-bell said...

Way to go!! That is awesome that you did it, and in pouring rain no less!

Anonymous said...

You and Brandis are absolutely amazing! congratulations on the accomplishment of a lifetime.
Kris Edwards (Brandis' Mom)

Brandis said...

For the love of Pete, please take that ticker off now. It still makes me nervous! :)

Ryan & Keri said...

Tarah, I'm so proud of you. What an accomplishment! Your time is AWESOME!!! You did the unthinkable and tackled such a great feat!!! Way to go. And thanks for sharing it with us. I prayed for you a lot.

Carrie said...

Tarah you did so awesome!! And i TOTALLY get choked up at the finish line! (even though im just watching runners come in!) I always make sure to wear drk sunglasses! And omg sometimes little kids will jump in and run that last stretch with their Dads.... I Lose it everytime! Im a Sucker. Good JOb though!!! you did great!!

Mark and Mel said...

I'm amazed Tarah! You inspire me! How is everything going? I haven't chatted with you in forever!

The Bellyakers... said...

You go girl!!! You are a-mazing!!

Camber Wilson said...

All I've got to say is your nuts!!! I can't believe you want to do it again. LOL!!! I would say I'm in, but, I'm going to start with a half marothon... then I let you know... :) You and Brandis are my idols though... although I still think you guys are a little crazy... And I still can't stop laughing about Brandis refering to you as her Wilson (From Cast Away). Congratulations!!!

Taryn Gray said...

I think i would die after mile 4. Congrats you made it sound fun, even though I coudl imagine you shivering in the cold. way to Go!