Saturday night I slept terrible –
Dreaming of oversleeping… waking up every hour to make sure I was only dreaming…
laying there waiting for the alarm to go off… basically really great rest.
But I got up at 5am and headed to the start at 6am. This is the fourth time I’ve run this race and every year it’s chaotic. So many runners in a small area with very few volunteers and even less signage so I wanted to get there early.
I was there really early… like they were just setting up the gates practically.
Thanks to Jessica and Whitney for saying hi; sorry if I butchered your names.
{Since I was there early and up close to the front, I got a picture of Kara and Shalane who were running the half for fun.}
Right before the race started at 7am Kristin found me and we took off together. I had planned on running around 3:30 and felt fine for the first couple miles. It was good running weather: cool and misty, sorta rainy. We started with a 7:58 and kept the miles below 8.
And then we hit the hills around mile 6 and I started sucking wind already. The hills completely worked me over. Janae met up with us which gave me a boost but man, I struggled just to keep up with her and Kristin. I wanted to chat and enjoy the convo, but I could barely keep pace.
I swear this course got hillier since I’ve been here last – it’s not me. definitely the course.
We split from HRG around mile 11 when she headed to the finish and we headed out to no man’s land. probably the saddest part of my life was running away from the finish.
We passed the halfway point in 1:45-6, I can’t remember and at 14ish Kristin super politely said that she was gonna go ahead. I told her to get the heck outta here 
I was already slowing down and she was looking strong.
{See ya!}
Miles 15-18 were really a struggle: my pace slowed and every incline spanked me. I fought to keep my head in it and not give up which meant battling a lot of inner dialogue:
“You might as well walk up this hill, you’re going so slow.”
“If 8:10 feels this hard, you might as well take it easy and runs 9s, you’re so far off pace.”
{At least my mascara was running hard}
But I didn’t let myself give up. It wasn’t a great physical performance, but I fought the mental battle as best I could. The last 10 miles were so dang tough, but isn’t that what makes the marathon irresistible in the first place?
I finished in 3:34:24, 8:10 pace, 80th overall. positive split for the win!
It was a slower finish than I wanted, but it happens. Not every race is a great one, and there’s always another one.
I’m not sure if I was just physically tired, if I wasn’t ready for the hills, or just didn’t show up ready to race, but I definitely think I was dehydrated. I was drinking 2-3 cups of water and Nuun at every aid station and still felt thirsty.
{The Tiffany necklaces}
Even though it was a tough race and not really fun in the moment, I’m incredibly grateful that I was able to run it. It wasn’t even on my calendar until recently so thanks to yurbuds and fitfluential for making it happen!
Twitter
Facebook
{ 80 comments… read them below or add one }
I have been “hiding in the woods” and quietly reading your blog for months now – I think you’re clever and brilliant and you inspire me to become a better runner every day! Amazing job on the marathon even though you may have been disappointed – you’re a gracious sport and I’m proud of you. xo
SR- it’s race recaps like these that make you such a great blog to follow if u run on a daily basis or in spurts like my butt.
I’m working on it.
You totally keep I real.
Post a pic of the Tiffany bling
i actually havent opened the tiffany box yet. i dont even know why. weird, huh.
Totally weird gf- did ya finally open it??
nope still havent. its in a drawer somewhere. do you want it?
I am glad you wrote this post, because sometimes when slow runners like myself read speedy blogs it’s hard to imagine running being hard for you.
But running is hard, awesome and totally crazy.
Way to break through the mental race. Isn’t it crazy the thoughts that go through your mind when you run?
I know we’re never supposed to speak ill of Nuun, calorie-free miracle that it is, but after running this race, I don’t think it’s a product that’s very well-suited to marathon racing. I had similar problems with dehydration/mental fatigue in this race. While I should’ve thought about the different electrolyte beverage thing and how that was going to change my fueling, it still seems pretty stupid to serve sugar and calorie-free anything to someone in the midst of racing a damn marathon… so chin up. There’s plenty of other races.
well they did have gatorade as well and i would grab any of the three. personally id rather take in calories through gels so the nuun works great for me.
I was never offered Gatorade at any of the aid stations which could’ve been a volunteer thing.
Wait, does everyone who finishes get s Tiffany necklace????
yep! local firemen dress up in tuxedos and hand them out on silver platters. seriously.
This race is one of my “I gotta do it!” races. One of these years I will do it. I will be keeping in mind the crowds and lack of signage & volunteers & will show up early.
oh me oh my! Just looked up my marathon photos from Chicago and guess who is creeping in my finish line photos?!?! Yep, you! I’m wearing a pink shirt, #5374, must have finished a second in front of you and probably ruined all of your photos. Wish I had known you were right behind me, I would have said hi!
Love your blog
Shauna
Runners at every level and pace have those races. It is what we do with the mental dialogue that is important. Typically, I would have listened to the slow down/walk voices. But I am learning to override them and kick my own ass to the finish.
The Kidless Kronicles
Oh man, I’ve been there too. Not for 26.2 miles but I still know how much your mind can work against you.
Great job giving it everything even though you weren’t feeling it.
P.S I’d like to see the necklace since I totally forgot to check it out this morning.
I saw you before the race, and I passed you and Kristin at about mile 3! I didn’t want to seem like a creeper so I didn’t say anything, but I just wanted you to know that it was so cool to actually see you in person! I ran the half in 1:35, and am excited to try to run the full next year
congrats on an awesome time!!
Great job! I’ve heard mixed things about this race from the hills to the “perks”running out…living in flat Florida I might die on those hills!
That’s still a great time considering you just ran a marathon two weeks ago. You’re amazing girl!
I’m sorry you didn’t have the race you wanted, but reading this and simply picturing the mental and physical battle you must have went through for the last 10 miles was really , and I mean really, inspiring to me. Thanks for this.
I just wanted to say that I really loved this post. I think of you as this indestructible runner, and it was so nice to hear that even you have super hard races. Thanks for keeping it real.
SR, I think I am most inspired by you when you admit that you’re human, try your best, and keep your sense of humor and camera phone handy at all times. So pretty much, you inspire me every day. Thank you and congrats. Done. Check. Next.
I love that you’re keepin it real. Running can be challenging, even for speedy runners like you! I’m proud of you for not giving up.
props to you mi amiga for hangin’ in there & great job on the positive split!! you gave it everything you had just like you do in all your races. I’m not a fan of hilly 26.2′s anymore. Do you think it was hillier than Red Rock?
Congrats on #36 chica!! xoxo
no, not hillier than red rock. that was insane.
It’s the tough marathons that make marathoning so much fun. Yeah it totally sucks when you’re doing it but after you finish you can really appreciate the mental toughness it took to hang in there and finish. Hard races make us better runners!
Congrats on another race!
Props to you for completing the marathon! I hope to complete one someday, but I’m just now starting my journey as a runner, so that won’t be happening anytime soon. Congratulations, again!
WHATEVS! You still look totally hot with that mascara!!
Dang. Good for you. I totally would have caved to the inner voice.
I was running a marathon last year and a local “competitor” (ie, we finish near each other in races quite often) dropped out at mile 20. I totally used that as license to slow the heck down. After the race I was wondering why I did that…I’m a mental push ever even when the persuasive voice whispering in my ear is my own! What a wimp!
Congratulations on another marathon finish and the mental fortitude to finish.
And when are you running RnR New Orleans?! Flat and fast!
Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t you just run Chicago one week ago?? No wonder those hills were spanking you! I ran my personal best marathon (3:36, yay!) the same day you did Chicago and can’t imagine running another one a week later. You’re very inspiring, and a smidge crazy
Please open the little blue box and show me the necklace!!! My dream is to run with my sister and get my hands on my precious! One race still on my race bucket list
Nike was my first marathon – let’s just say I came in wayyy after you! Wasn’t thrilled with my time (think we were too conservative in the first half), but hey I finished! Also a very emotional race as my running partner’s childhood friend lost her battle to cancer Wednesday prior to the race. We ran for those who can’t and in memory of those we lost.
Did you see the Team Victorious gals? I was part of that group – amazing women raising money for cancer. Niketown closed for an hour on Saturday morning for a private shopping event – incredible!
i didnt see them but thats so cool that you ran for something so much bigger than yourself. congrats, you marathoner!!
The only reason I was able to power through this (my first marathon!) is because it was basically in my backyard and I had run every part of at least twice at some point or another. But it was crazy tough. And running past the finish line is awful.
Congrats on finishing another! I don’t know how you do it, I currently can’t even think of running more than 3 miles ever again.
Well you ran this race over an hour faster than I did, so I’m impressed. This was my first full marathon and that course was tough, even going downhill hurt at the end. Oh, and maybe I’m not the brightest, but everything about this race seemed so confusing and chaotic. Good work though! I hope you’re doing RnR AZ in January!
Hey. 8:10 pace while running up and down hills is still faster than my net-downhill marathon pace!
Great recap and it was great to see that you didn’t give up completely and just run super slowly
Great job on the race even though it felt like a tough one. I did the half and it was my first NWM race — that hill at mile 6 is pretty killer!
Had I known you were there I would have made it a point to look for you (quiet fan of your blog!). It was my first time running the Nike half. While the hills did suck, and it was crowded from start to finish, I would totally do it again – loved the energy + excitement. I also ran SJ RnR Half the week prior. I have to admit you kind of inspired me to at least try back-to-back races. Surprisingly, felt better/stronger at Nike – hills and all!
Congrats on getting through another 26.2!
congrats on doing back to back races, its fun, right?
Congrats on killing that race. I’m pretty sure there’s nowhere in So Cal that can adequately prep you for 26.2 in the city. My old roommate actually took 3rd overall in the full. My mind was totally blown. I can’t imagine placing in a marathon–but in SF?! Crazy.
It’s still a fantastic finish!
I’ve lost my running mojo too and runs these past few weeks are plain sucky. I’m slow (for no reason I can pinpoint) and it’s depressing. Can someone here send me love and prayers?
Nice to meet you! and congrats on another marathon! The hills were killer but I somehow managed to PR?! Come to New Orleans for the RnR – scenic, flat & fast!
that is awesome, girl, congrats!!
Oh friend, you have such a positive outlook. You are truly amazing and an inspiration to sooooo many. That “slow” time is darn fast. And heck you just ran a great race 7 days earlier. It was an honor running with you. I hope we get to do it again soon!
I just finished the HM, and those hills. One after the other, non stop. Once you hit mile 6, I don’t even remember flats anymore…. I died on the hills….
I can barely keep the pace you held in this race for THREE miles! you are an outstanding athlete! great job yet again. You have great perspective on running and I always love to read your recaps. Congrats on another marathon!
I had a race like that two weeks ago at the Wineglass marathon. I just didn’t have it and my running partner did. She dominated the race and I was just psyched to complete it. Luckily, I had a redemption race on Saturday and feel way better.
It looks like you at least had fun getting to see and run with people!
Great run; congrats!!! What a fun marathon to run…wish I could have been there with all my girlfriends who were running as well (instead I got pregnant and moved to Australia so had to back out of the San Fran plans).
Maybe next year
Still a great run! Way to push through the mental toughness of the race at the end. You rock!
The best accomplishment is that you overcame the mental part of this race. Congrats on finishing…and you’re right…there’s always another race to PR at.
I think you did great! I would have done it for the Tiffanys…yes I can be bribed.
1) your slow speeds smoke my fast speeds 2) how the heck have you not opened the box yet?! 3) It’s so refreshing to hear people talk about how hard running is, makes me feel normal while huffing and puffing!
Great race!
Great post!
And, even with your mascara running – you look amazing! I always look like crap after a run – any run!!
I hope your legs are recovered and ready to go again. I’m sure you are already gearing up for the next big race!
Thanks for talking about the mental game of running and hanging tough. I am getting back after a baby and for me, it is ALL mental. Expecially since my body (feels good at a pace my lungs can’t handle). Someone else already said this, but it helps me (as a “slow” runner) to hear that even “fast” runners have hard days too.
Just wondering why you wear make-up for marathons? I tried it for one and found that a mix between the sweat and the make-up made me break out
two words: PROFESSIONAL PHOTOS.
i always think that i wanna feel good and look cute while running, why not? beast mode it and run hard like a man and look cute like a girl. i dont think they’re mutually exclusive so i make sure to do my hair and makeup, put on a skirt and then go to town on the race bc it makes me feel good. and when you feel good, its all good.
I feel the same way as you SR! I am a competitive tennis player. and I LOVE tennis outfits. I own 50 little frilly tennis dresses. and I fix up my hair and make-up for matches beacuse it makes me feel good. but that doesnt mean I play tennis “like a girl”. i go out there and play like a beast. all while looking cute and feminine too!
I remember a match i had last year wearing my new pink Nike tennis dress. and i overheard my opponents boyfriend say to her, “oh look at this little tart all cute in her little dress. you are going to kill her.” ha! I beat her 6-0, 6-0. and when i was finished this little tart in her little dress politely curtsied to the d-wad who told me i was gonna get killed.
when you feel good its all good. amen, girl!
LOVES IT.
That’s an awesome story! I don’t know you, but it made my day.
Awesome finish!! I honestly cannot even imagine running there. I was there 2 weeks ago and those hills were absolute killers! The fact that you can still knock out a 3:34 marathon on crazy hills makes you my hero!
Great race, I hope to see you at a race one day, accept you’ll be sprinting past me
Nice job sticking it out even though it didn’t feel good. I hear the mental battle is as hard as the physical with marathons and I’m about to find out for myself this weekend with my first full!
I love that you ran with Kristin / Stuftmama – she and you are my two fav running blogs! You guys looked so cute in your matching aqua.
Have a good week
she is so rad, super nice and fun to talk to.
Congratulations on finishing strong! I was near the finish line cheering you on…. and wow, did I feel like a weirdo, shouting “Go Skinny Runner”, like a weird, weight obsessed spectator. Ha!
If you want to try hills again, consider the Oakland Marathon on March 24! Oakland is where it’s at
http://www.oaklandmarathon.com/
Way to push through!! The mascara comment almost made me spit out soup!
Congrats on #36! Amazing you can run that speed and a hilly route! I just ran my #1, loved it and am ready for more! Thanks for your inspiration — you helped me get my sub-4:00 finish!
congrats, that is awesome! you are a marathoner!!
Wow, I think the firemen and the Tiffany necklace make this race totally worth the pain! Haha! Great job
Bummer that you had a tough race, but, yeah, like you said. They happen. And hey, even on your off-day you BQ’d
Congrats on finishing another marathon SR! So amazing! I found this post so interesting and would love to read more about that mental toughness we have to dig deep to find sometimes when it gets rough out there. When I read this line, “If 8:10 feels this hard, you might as well take it easy and runs 9s, you’re so far off pace” I realized how my mental “game” is so different – if something feels too hard, I always back off and take it easy and just try to finish (probably why my half marathon time is closer to your marathon PR than your half marathon PR
. I’m so fascinated by why and how we runners push ourselves – is it an inherent personality trait or something that is learned?? I wonder if there is a Runner’s Psychology magazine or website LOL. But seriously, I definitely think your readers would love to hear more in depth about the mental part of running for you – what drives you, inspires you, makes you keep pushing when everything says to stop. Ok, you know what I mean. Congrats again!
Congrats on the race! It’s always harder to run in the rain after a bad sleep.
BTW, you have great skin!
Just sayin…
Sorry to hear this was a tough one for you, but nice to know I wasn’t the only one! I only did the half and the course kicked my ASS! It was one of the toughest races I’ve had. I was fighting some fierce mental battles as well. I just felt…off. So, on to the next better one for both of us.
congrats on a competitive finish time and for mentally and physically pushing through when it didn’t feel great.
…and the mascara comment was the best part of the whole post.
I just wanted to say that even though you felt like this wasn;t your best race, you are a HUGE inspiration to so many. I read your blog every day and love it and your not going to have a perfect preformance every time. I’m sorry if you felt bummed about it but you are awesome and you looks adorable our sopping wet white outfit:) Plus even on your worst day, your still kicking most people’s asses so no worries
I ran the full too! The hills totally worked me, but the last 8 miles were the worst for me! I’m glad I wasn’t the only one strugglinh mentally at that point.
First of all, love your blog! I ran the half marathon on Sunday. It was actually my first half ever! Those hills were no joke. Props to you for doing the full and finishing with an awesome time. Do you think you’ll go to DC for the half next year?
Thanks Pam! I would love to do the half in DC.
I wish I had seen you in real life at the NWM. This was my 4th year running it too and I agree the # of peeps is insane! This time I started at the very last corral just to avoid being super crowded. Also, just as an FYI for your readers my cash was stolen out of my wallet while it was at bag check. I reported it to Nike who said they’re investigating and will get back to me, but lesson learned. Other than that major bummer I also decided I liked the finisher shirt and the double sided necklace.
So, this may have already been mentioned… But I love that on a past NWM recap you said you wouldn’t do it again, aaaaand ya did.
That is some good motivation to me. For someone such as yourself to say you won’t do a certain course again, but then do it anyway, helps me remember that I will never struggle alone AND I can make it if I’ll just try.
Thanks SR. You, RER, HRM, and HRG opened my eyes to running, and keep my legs moving!
Totally gonna get my T&Co. some day.
its definitely a hard course and i definitely struggled! its also expensive and not the most well-run race, but the Tiffany necklace at the finish is a pretty sweet perk
{ 2 trackbacks }