To start at the beginning…

We got to Nashville on Friday night and caught up, hung out and relaxed for about an hour before setting our alarms for 3:30 and heading to bed.

We got up at 3:30 on Sat. and got ready for the run. I wore tight black capris and a running t-shirt. We had to be at the Titans stadium at 5 am to get on a shuttle that took us to then start line – at Vanderbilt University.

We got to the starting line and checked in, grabbed a banana and got set. With over 35,,000 people, it was a zoo! To create some order they had corals – set by your estimated finish time- for you to start in. The boys, Brady, Dan and Jesse started in number 4, while Emily and I started in 20. I didn’t really know the best place to start, but this seemed like it was fine. We were with the pacers for a 5:30 marathon and 2:30 half marathon. I wanted to finish before that, but we stayed there.

My goal going into the race was to be faster than 10 minute miles. When I run anywhere from 4-6 miles I run less than 9 minute miles, so I thought this would be a reasonable goal.

Emily and I started running together but around the second mile we split up – I have a hard time alternating my pace and I can’t walk then run at all. Since we both had ipods, I waved goodbye. I was shocked to see how many people were walking in the second mile! It made running hard because I was constantly dodging them.

I kept up my pace, dodging the walkers and passing many people. I realized around the 3rd mile that I should have started up a few corals with people who had a more similar pace to mine – but I felt great passing people all the time. I think that was good for my confidence and kept me going strong.

Over time I passed the 5:00 marathon pacer and then the 4:45. When I caught up to the 2:00 half-marathon pacer, I was doing well for me.

Around the 8th mile I thought, this is easy – I just have 5 miles left so I can start counting down instead of up.

I continued to pass people and shave seconds/minutes off my average pace and around mile 10 I decided to pick it up a little more. Then I got to the part where the marathoners split from the halfers and I thought, I have got this – the sign said 1.8 miles to go! I sped up a little bit more then I spotted doom. A huge, long, gradual incline that lasted at least 1/2 a mile. With less than 1.5 miles to go I thought I was going to die. I kept watching my watch and I was so determined to meet my goal that I just kept pushing myself. I pushed myself through the torture until I reached the finish line at 2:08. It felt so good to be done!

There were thousands of people walking around, but luckily Brady was waiting for me at the end of the chute – otherwise we never would have found each other. The finish line was crazy and with the heat (and I think the huge hill at then end, who puts a huge hill at the end of a 13 mile run???) people were passing out and dehydrated. Myself included – I did not pass out but I had to sit down more than a few times because I thought I was going to. I was soooooo dizzy and shakey. I know it was because I didn’t drink anything the entire run – not a good decision.

While my time was not great for my age group – I was happy. I met my goal and I finished and I got a medal ( I know everyone gets one!). I have a few tips for those of you who are running your race in the next few weeks. I will post them next.

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