I’m just jotting down some things to remember for race day (and for the days leading up to it, so I can get used to a routine). These are mostly just personal reminders, but feel free to use them yourself!

Breakfast: 1/2 whole wheat bagel, spread with peanut butter and topped with sliced-up banana

[coming soon!]

Power-walkers. Oh my.

No joke, the power-walkers intimidate me. They keep the same pace (or faster!) that I do, but they’re doing that hip-shimmy walk thing. I’m going to have to locate my copy of Running To Win and paste a little bit of what George Sheehan has to say on the subject. Suffice it to say - he’s right.

I’m glad I did the full marathon this year

As poorly-prepared as I was for this race, I’m really glad that I stuck with it and ran the whole thing. I’m too stubborn for my own good sometimes, but this time, I’m glad I didn’t listen when my friends and family suggested that I switch races and run the half with K. Sure, it hurt. Sure, I was tired. But backing out just isn’t something I do - go big or go home!*

*I am fully prepared to eat these words after my 70.3 in July.

Everybody loves orange slices

Especially after hills. The good people at the Seventh Presbyterian Church on Madison had big Tupperware containers full of delicious orange slices waiting for the marathoners right after that climb. Super nice of them. 

Hills? What hills?

Dear cousin,

Next time we run a race together and I whine about the hills, please humor me and say they were brutal. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when you said “Yeah, where was that big hill you told me about?”

Love,
me
 

Vaseline DOES grow on trees

Courtesy of the extra-thoughtful race organizers, there were a few trees along the course with Vaseline posters tied to them. Just when I was starting to feel the inside of my right arm start to rub against my shirt in a not-so-pleasant way, I discovered one of these trees. The timing could not have been better, and I made it through the race without any chafing. Next time, I’ll remember to put some extra Body Glide in that spot, but I’m glad my oversight wasn’t a problem in this case. Thanks, race organizers!

We’re all in this thing together

My fellow marathoners were great motivation, too. I had a “race buddy” - a total stranger who was pretty much on pace with me for the entire 26.2. Every time I slowed down and wanted to quit, she was there saying “Come on, you’re rocking this thing!” and every time she dropped back to walk, I’d jog back to where she was and tell her what a great job she was doing and to keep it up. I have no idea who she was, but she kept me running! Thanks, anonymous marathon girl.

Hooray for marathon spectators!

One thing I love about the Flying Pig is that the spectators are extra nice. I got a lot of high-fives, a lot of cheers, some orange slices, some candy, and of course, those two free beers. Even during the parts of the race where there shouldn’t have been spectators (such as the stretch of blocked-off highway we ran on for a bit), there were little clusters of people waving and cheering. So sweet.

Hooray for low bib numbers!

This is the first race I’ve ever run with a three-digit bib number. Wearing #133 made me feel pretty special. While I’m aware that I got the number because I was one of the first people to register for the event, I like to think it’s because I’m one of the coolest people who ran this race.