The emotion of finishing a marathon
STG Marathon
I've often wondered what goes on in someone's mind that makes the completion of a marathon so emotional for some. After my first one, all I thought about was my time I ran and how my legs hurt. I couldn't figure out why it just felt like any other run or race.
After missing the past two years of St George due to injury, I had a lot of concerns going into the race. I wanted the trip to Japan so much. Being a little slower in workouts, I worried about how fast I could still run the race. My goals were to win the trip to Japan, set the 45-49 age group record, break 2:23:00, and be top 5. After getting the first three goals, I was so excited and felt some of the sense of accomplishment that these marathoners I had observed felt. I hugged Adrienne just after finishing and felt a rush of emotion for completing three of the four goals I had set in my mind for years. When I realized I would be going with Aaron Fletcher (recently a BYU steeplechaser) and Nicole Lyons (a BYU grad that I've been coaching), I felt even more excited. I've never gone with BYU teammates to Japan before.
I slept very little the night before. I took half a sleeping pill at 8:00pm. I tried going to bed around 9:30. It didn't work very well. I just worried about if I would perform well enough to get the trip to Japan. I fell asleep on and off, but felt like I was awake most of the night. When my alarm went off, I jumped right out of bed so excited that the night was over and it was race day. Somehow, I lacked any worry about not sleeping and was just ready to get to the start line and get underway. Putting on my shoes was a great motivation since a few family members had put words, pictures, and logos on them for me.
At the start, there was the usual looking around with everyone wondering who showed up and whether their training was good. Some were worried about their training while others were thinking of how well everything has gone. After a short time, the conversation all turned to Jon's, Dan's, and my shoes. We all had the Vaporfly 4% shoes. They are the shoes that were used in the attempt for the first sub 2 hour marathon. The final time was 2:25. Most think it was due to the drafting they had throughout the run, but the shoes also got a lot of attention.
Dan, who joined us for a long run a few weeks ago, asked me about my pace. I told him I wanted to break 2:23. He liked that plan and asked I he could run with me. I told him I had the paces all figured out. Since he didn't keep up well during our pickup in the long run, I didn't think he would stay with me much longer than half way.
With about 5 minutes until the start, I thought I needed one more pee break before the race. The potties were all full with lines, but I saw a corner where someone was peeing. I figured that would be fine. I walked over there and as he finished, a lady squatted down and went. I'd never seen that before, but figured if I was going to do it, there is no reason she shouldn't be able to.
In the start area, I met the Japanese runners and had some simple conversation mixing Japanese and English. Jon, Aaron, and a group of other runners all started together. I did about half a mile with Aaron, then they picked it up. I stuck to the pace other than being about 10 seconds quick for the first mile. After that, Dan and four others ran together with me while 6 others went on ahead. We stuck to the pace through mile 7, then hit the uphills. We passed one of the runners and stayed in 6th and 7th the rest of the day. Dan and I chatted most of the way about all kinds of things. A lot of our discussion was trying to figure out who was leading and whether that was Fritz in front of us or not. Finally, at mile 22 I asked someone if BYU was winning. He said, "They are!" So, I realized Jon and Aaron were leading and I really wanted to be in third, but didn't see how that could happen. Either way, I found some excitement and motivation realizing how close we were to the finish and that I would probably be going to Japan with a friend.
With 2 miles to go, I realized Dan was feeling better than me. He told me he was planning on finishing with me, but I said that if he is feeling good, he should finish strong and get his best time. He ended up going about 20 seconds faster than me over those two miles.
With Rebecca at the 1.4 mile to go mark, like she's done before, I got some added motivation again. She was there with Simon and Nadja. I could hear Rebecca from a long way away. I'd been thinking about all the people that motivate me throughout the race. It was a special thing that so many of the family was out there watching. The final two miles were my second fastest final two miles of the St George Marathon out of the 7 times I've run the race. It was a great day for what I wanted.
After the race, some friends that wore their predicted split times on a wristband asked me about mine. When I showed them my band, it had people's names for each mile instead of split times. I would think about a specific person for each mile for inspiration and motivation. I'm so thankful for all the family and friend support over the years. This wristband didn't really give anything back to them, but it was a great reminder to me of how wonderful people in my life are. So, thank you everyone that is on the wristband. No, I'm not going to say who made the cut or not. If you like me, then just assume I did have you on it and you inspired me!
Now, that Japan is happening again, I invited Orie, hoping that he and Rebecca could come. He was so excited about going and plans were underway, but he has missed too much work already this year and decided he'd better not. However, Rebecca still could and we had such a great visit last time. Since Adrienne couldn't make it this time and they are only letting us bring one guest, I'll be off with Rebecca again.
I've often wondered what goes on in someone's mind that makes the completion of a marathon so emotional for some. After my first one, all I thought about was my time I ran and how my legs hurt. I couldn't figure out why it just felt like any other run or race.
After missing the past two years of St George due to injury, I had a lot of concerns going into the race. I wanted the trip to Japan so much. Being a little slower in workouts, I worried about how fast I could still run the race. My goals were to win the trip to Japan, set the 45-49 age group record, break 2:23:00, and be top 5. After getting the first three goals, I was so excited and felt some of the sense of accomplishment that these marathoners I had observed felt. I hugged Adrienne just after finishing and felt a rush of emotion for completing three of the four goals I had set in my mind for years. When I realized I would be going with Aaron Fletcher (recently a BYU steeplechaser) and Nicole Lyons (a BYU grad that I've been coaching), I felt even more excited. I've never gone with BYU teammates to Japan before.
I slept very little the night before. I took half a sleeping pill at 8:00pm. I tried going to bed around 9:30. It didn't work very well. I just worried about if I would perform well enough to get the trip to Japan. I fell asleep on and off, but felt like I was awake most of the night. When my alarm went off, I jumped right out of bed so excited that the night was over and it was race day. Somehow, I lacked any worry about not sleeping and was just ready to get to the start line and get underway. Putting on my shoes was a great motivation since a few family members had put words, pictures, and logos on them for me.
At the start, there was the usual looking around with everyone wondering who showed up and whether their training was good. Some were worried about their training while others were thinking of how well everything has gone. After a short time, the conversation all turned to Jon's, Dan's, and my shoes. We all had the Vaporfly 4% shoes. They are the shoes that were used in the attempt for the first sub 2 hour marathon. The final time was 2:25. Most think it was due to the drafting they had throughout the run, but the shoes also got a lot of attention.
Dan, who joined us for a long run a few weeks ago, asked me about my pace. I told him I wanted to break 2:23. He liked that plan and asked I he could run with me. I told him I had the paces all figured out. Since he didn't keep up well during our pickup in the long run, I didn't think he would stay with me much longer than half way.
With about 5 minutes until the start, I thought I needed one more pee break before the race. The potties were all full with lines, but I saw a corner where someone was peeing. I figured that would be fine. I walked over there and as he finished, a lady squatted down and went. I'd never seen that before, but figured if I was going to do it, there is no reason she shouldn't be able to.
In the start area, I met the Japanese runners and had some simple conversation mixing Japanese and English. Jon, Aaron, and a group of other runners all started together. I did about half a mile with Aaron, then they picked it up. I stuck to the pace other than being about 10 seconds quick for the first mile. After that, Dan and four others ran together with me while 6 others went on ahead. We stuck to the pace through mile 7, then hit the uphills. We passed one of the runners and stayed in 6th and 7th the rest of the day. Dan and I chatted most of the way about all kinds of things. A lot of our discussion was trying to figure out who was leading and whether that was Fritz in front of us or not. Finally, at mile 22 I asked someone if BYU was winning. He said, "They are!" So, I realized Jon and Aaron were leading and I really wanted to be in third, but didn't see how that could happen. Either way, I found some excitement and motivation realizing how close we were to the finish and that I would probably be going to Japan with a friend.
With 2 miles to go, I realized Dan was feeling better than me. He told me he was planning on finishing with me, but I said that if he is feeling good, he should finish strong and get his best time. He ended up going about 20 seconds faster than me over those two miles.
With Rebecca at the 1.4 mile to go mark, like she's done before, I got some added motivation again. She was there with Simon and Nadja. I could hear Rebecca from a long way away. I'd been thinking about all the people that motivate me throughout the race. It was a special thing that so many of the family was out there watching. The final two miles were my second fastest final two miles of the St George Marathon out of the 7 times I've run the race. It was a great day for what I wanted.
After the race, some friends that wore their predicted split times on a wristband asked me about mine. When I showed them my band, it had people's names for each mile instead of split times. I would think about a specific person for each mile for inspiration and motivation. I'm so thankful for all the family and friend support over the years. This wristband didn't really give anything back to them, but it was a great reminder to me of how wonderful people in my life are. So, thank you everyone that is on the wristband. No, I'm not going to say who made the cut or not. If you like me, then just assume I did have you on it and you inspired me!
Now, that Japan is happening again, I invited Orie, hoping that he and Rebecca could come. He was so excited about going and plans were underway, but he has missed too much work already this year and decided he'd better not. However, Rebecca still could and we had such a great visit last time. Since Adrienne couldn't make it this time and they are only letting us bring one guest, I'll be off with Rebecca again.
Great start.
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