Not doing a marathon before, I wasn't sure which pace line to get in. I went into the 10:00 line. It was 7:45am and it was chilly waiting for the start.
After the American Anthem, they played I got a feeling just before the start.
After the gun went off, it took me a minute to pass the start line.
I started off too fast. I slowed down before the first water stop.
When I got to the 1st mile marker, it read 10:20.
My plan was to walk at the water stops and drink water and run under 150 bpms and pick it up after mile 20.
After passing mile 7, I could see the bridge I need to run over. Everything is going well.
When I passed mile 12, the lead vehicle passed me and so did the leader. He was close to being done and I had another loop to do.
When I took a right over a bridge, Jenifer, Ryan and Krista were there cheering me on. While I was going over the bridge, Krista ran with me cheering me on. It was great seeing them.
Now the second loop. Nutrition is going perfect and legs are still feeling good.
Going over the bridge again, I passed mile marker 18.
My legs started to hurt.
I kept running and kept walking at aid stations.
I hit the wall when I passed mile 21.
I started to fartlek between the caution cones. After running down a hill, I walked between cones and when I started to run again, I saw the 1 mile to go sign. Yes!
I picked up the pace and just before the finish, Jenifer, Ryan and Krista were there cheering me on. I took a left and it was .2 miles to go.
I finished!
I had a hard time walking so the medics checked me out. I was OK.
The Baystate marathon was the hardest race that I've ever done. Luckily I took Monday off to recover.
