Last Chance Marathon

It's true, I ran a marathon today, it's 11:30 pm and I'm still up and I haven't had a nap. Amazing! We're making it till midnight, then sleeping in tomorrow. It will be the first time in about six or seven years that we've missed the local Resolution Run. On the other hand, it's the first time I've ever closed out a year with a marathon.

And what a marathon it was! Remember how I said it was a double out and back on trail? Well, about 75 feet of trail was covered by a slide, so the course was rerouted. We had a seven-ish mile out and back that ran us on trail and through town - on the same course as the 15K we ran in October. Then back to the park, where we had to run down to the entrance and around the arches leading into the park. Back to the trail and out to the south for a six mile out and back. We ran up to the spot where the trail was blocked by caution tape, then turned around and went back to the park. Another run down and around the arches and back out on the first out and back. Back to the park. Arches. Repeat the six mile out and back. It was a tough course - some long gradual up hills, a variety of terrains from asphalt, concrete, gravel and dirt, to a long boardwalk over the bay. There were some sections with stunning views, some sections through downtown Fairhaven (an older section of Bellingham) and through beautiful forest. There was also a block or two down an alley - not so pretty. Those last six miles were tough - I was really tired, had trouble lifting my feet and my back, between my shoulder blades, was sore (I think from carrying my water bottle, I haven't used it since Seattle). There was a long downward switch back, then a short section of road, then...a killer hill. A killer walk-up-it-hill.

But you want to know what was great about those last six? Rob and Eric joined us. They ran out with us and they were goofy. Rob was leap-frogging over the bollards. Eric was telling lame jokes. One time Rob started dancing to Hotel California and was being so silly about it that I couldn't run - I was laughing too hard. Then, on our way back, we saw Patch and Steve coming down the switchback to meet us. They ran the last two miles in with us (and of course, things got even goofier). Eric carried my waterbottle for me those last six miles. They all dropped off when we reached the park and left us to do those damned arches again. As we crossed the finish line, Margaret did a cartwheel!

Final time: 6:03. We were the last ones on the course. A handful of runners waited for us and cheered us in. I'm pleased with our time - it was a tough course. And the race director told us pre-race that the actual mileage would be 26.8. My Garmin worked great - mine recorded 26.09 and Eric's picked up 26.01. We figure we lost the signal a couple times in the woods. We had a couple long splits - once when we stopped at the car so Margaret could change her shoes - her ITB was killing her, so she wanted to switch from her trail shoes to her regular running shoes, and second when we walked the entire boardwalk and stopped at the restrooms. We just needed a little break right there (about mile 18). So for the 26.09 that the Garmin showed, my average pace was 13:56. My average hr for the whole thing was 145. Not bad at all.

One of the best things is how good I've felt ever since. After the other three marathons, I felt kind of sick to my stomach and head-achey well into the evening. Today I used S-caps and drank about 24 ounces of water and I feel great. It's the first time I've been able to eat after a marathon. The bad news is I picked up a few blisters - one large on the side of my foot, just where I had it in Portland, and smaller ones on the toes again. Bummer.

I did it! Four marathons from October 1 to December 31. Now I'll have a two month break from marathoning, then pick up the next four from March to June. Summer off from marathons again, because my heart can't handle the heat, and then...some fall marathons. Only one has been decided for sure. My birthday is Tuesday and for my present I am getting entry to the Nike Women's Marathon! So far, Margaret and I are going, but we are inviting all the women we run with and we're calling it a ROAD TRIP! Pretty nice, huh?

One last thing. I succumbed to peer pressure yesterday. Jenny and Jane talked me into one loop of the Capital Peak Fat Ass - 17 miles. Trails. Mud. Maybe snow. 2500 foot elevation gain. The website says "No awards. No t-shirt. No aid, no frills and no whining". I'm feeling a little intimidated but I've got enthusiastic buddies who say they will get me through it - and enthusiastic supporters in Eric, Steve and Rob. So - I'm in. Stay tuned.