I mostly trained for a half marathon, decided on race morning to run a full, had a great weekend away with my friends, made some new friends, and have now fully recovered.
Lengthy version:
In August. several of my friends registered for the Coastal Delaware Running Festival's marathon. My summer was kind of crazy. I couldn't make a commitment. Knee pain, child who wouldn't potty train but wanted to go to preschool, sick dad, other family deaths, etc. At the reception following my dad's funeral, one of my friends asked if I was ready to register for CoDel. I jokingly reminded her his body wasn't even cold yet, and registered for the half a few days later. I figured it would be a fun weekend away with my friends.
My half marathon training went well last winter. I did most of my long runs with my friends who were training for the full. I debated switching to the full a few times, but I got sick. I missed a long run, did another one, had a good run, debated switching to the full, and got sick. Lather, rinse, repeat. I was sick four times during training. (Thanks for that, preschool. How my daughter remained unscathed is beyond me. It reminded me of my first year teaching elementary school. I was sick constantly.) I went on vacation during the end of the training period and ran maybe twice in the three weeks before the half? I was glad I'd decided against the full.
My friends picked me up Saturday morning to leave for the race. Rainy, drizzly, cool day - perfect for a road trip including stops at Starbucks, Panera, and the outlets. Columbia and Under Armour? Yes please! During the road trip, we realized one of our friends had decided a few days earlier not to run anything at CoDel. Some fast and furious texting and emailing ensued, and by the time we arrived at packet pick-up, we had permission to get our friend's packet. (We figured she'd want the nice shirt and pint glass.)
After settling into our lodging that evening, we looked at the course maps and logistics for the day. We quickly learned that half and full runners of similar paces wouldn't be running together at all. What's a girl to do? Paint her nails, of course. Paint and ponder.
 |
| Pic was actually on race morning. Black coffee and a second coat of polish. Go time! |
Cue Sunday morning. The four of us who had traveled to Delaware together loaded up our hydration packs with the essentials (water, gu, and chocolate covered coffee beans), loaded ourselves into the minivan, and headed to the start line. I was wearing my friend's full marathon bib, and carried my half marathon bib in my pack. You just never know what you're gonna do. I'd decided that if I made it to 20, I'd finish. If not, I'd hop on the stragglers bus and call it a training run. Not sure what it would be a training run for. Life lessons maybe?
My longest training run was 11 miles. This was my 11th full marathon. I started hurting around 11 miles. Interesting chain of events. I wasn't running as a bandit, it was more of an unofficial transfer IMO. Heck, I sure wasn't placing.
I could have turned around at the half turnaround point, but why?
 |
| I was only supposed to see 13 mile markers that day. Oops! |
It was fun running with my friends, it was a beautiful course, the event was well organized, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Except I'd train, probably. Training is the un-fun part of distance running. Events are way more fun than long training runs.
There was a nice stretch of the race in Cape Henlopen State Park, which I have fond memories of visiting with my dad when I was in my late teens / early 20s. Great packed gravel path in the park, easy on the ol' knees. Another nice stretch of the race was along a paved multi-use path bordering several neighborhoods, totally protected from vehicular traffic. My only complaint with the course was a mile or two right near the end of the course, when we were on a road with an inescapable camber.
Somewhere around mile 23ish, there was a hair salon on the course that worked an alpha and an omega into the signage. I was sure I was in my own personal omega right then. It had to be a sign.
 |
| Make it stop! End race, end! photo credit |
Then I ate. This piggy cookie sums up most of my dietary choices for the 72 hours following the race. Fat, sugar, and salt. All of it,. All the yums.
 |
| I think there's still cookie crumbs in my friend's minivan. |
 |
| You only live once, so make it count, even if it black coffee is needed to enjoy the one life you life. |
Let's talk about poor life choices. I don't regret my unplanned marathon one bit. I guess it's a questionable life choice. Any stories to share of your poor and/or questionable life choices?
