This race was a scheduling nightmare. Normally my mother takes me to the race abd sees me on the course. Lee and the kids also meet me on the course and eventually pick me up at the finish. This time it was different. Two weeks before the race, Lee decided she wants to do the 1/2 marathon. The whole winter I begged her to train. Now 2 weeks before? Well, when she said that, I told her she needs to go run 6 miles. If she can't do that, then there is nothing to discuss. No problem of course for her. She did it.
The new and revised schedule: Jim, who also was running the 1/2, would pick us up at 6am. Lee's mom would get to our house at 6 as well to take care of kids. Gotta make sure to bring Jessie's car seat in. Can't forget. Gotta take car out of the garage too for later.
So far so good. Jim's here and Eva's here. Forcase: The storm is coming but will hit after 12pm and might miss us since it's going to south of us. Found parking, flushable bathrooms and the SunRiseTri tent. BS'ed a little and met Vinny. Vinny would be waiting at mile 9/10 and bring Lee in and me too.
Went to race start and used the porta-potti's again. Lines getting bigger. Walked a little and talked. Lee and I are running for Friends of Karen and went for a group picture. Hopefully there will be support for us, especially Lee.
Twenty minutes to start. Lee and Jim back on line for porta-potties. Lee learned her lesson from the Quantum Feet 5K where during the race, she asked an old couple to use their bathroom - Never give up a chance to pee. I used the porta-tree next to the porta-bush.
The race started and right away my left calf started hurting. Here I was worried about my knee and my calf started? I decided to just continue and let things handle themselves.
The first 2 miles I ran with a guy from SunRiseTri. He remembered me from a group ride last year (my first) and from not being able to stick to me during a tri (jumpstart).
On the Jericho Tpke, I saw 2 things. The first was a woman saw her daughters run and decided to take their picture with her phone. So, she started running backwards and these 2 women, meanwhile, were in my way. I also saw a woman duck into a burgerking or something for a clean bathroom.
Saw my mom at the W2 and took a hand towel from her. The split sucked as usual. Here you are running with a few thousand people and then it's 4 of you.
The guy in front of me got some Oranges from his family and offered anyone who wants. Took a few slices which you're not supposed to do but hey.
I was wondering about hydrating during the race and gels. Didn't want to much. Wanted to do enough. I was trying to drink a little every other aid station. I also decided on a gel every 10 miles. Suddenly, I felt water sloshing in my stomach. OHOH! The oranges helped tho.
In previous years, the Wantagh Pkwy was a mind numbing experience. This year was the first time that I felt good. I was calculating how much to go, when's the turn around, how many to each exit etc. Got to the turn around at 16.5 and still felt ok. Saw Lochlan (sp?) and his daughter on the other side ahead of me. At 1 point I saw 2 asian guys turn at the 16 mile instead of the 16.5 and a woman who blindly followed. We all called to them but they ignored us. The woman had music on and didn't hear. The other 2 I went to tell them and they told me they actually ran extra and that's why they cut short. Whatever. Their dishonesty, not mine.
Passed the 18 mile danger zone. This was where my knee blew up last year. Approcahed the 21 mile, no-man zone. In training, my longest run was 21 miles so anything after this is no-man zone. Suddenly the Wantagh run is almost over.
I was looking for Vinny but didn't see him but that's ok. I felt good. Didn't walk yet and not going to start yet. Never saw Vinny. The rain started getting hard at mile 24. Mile 25 was really bad. Windy, big drops and fast rain. Got to 26 mile and actually felt good. Slowly started running hard and before I knew it, I was sprinting to the finish. Heard my name being called, pronounced correctly and crossed the finish line where this woman stopped me dead-cold. I just went from 60 to zer0, in less than a second.
The woman gave me my medal, had trouble putting if it over my head. Guy gave me a mylar blanket and I was still trying to breathe. Actually, I was stlll panting. Heart rate was WAAAAAAYYYYY up there. Walked over to the next tent to get my LI Marathon cooler with special gift and food. When I got there, I stood on the side and started slowing my heartrate. I can usually do that right away but it took about 20 seconds. The guy who gave me the blanket came in to check up on me again and to offer the medical tent. I was OK tho.
At mile 18, I knew I was doing well. Ended up PRing. Beat my previous best by almost 8 minutes.
Didn't see Lee and the kids so I walked to the SunRiseTri tent. This was our meeting point. As I walked there, I saw a black mini-van turn in front of me and park. Had a feeling it was my guys. Anwyay, the tent was GONE but my guys where there in that van.
I was cold. Shivering. Couldn't get warm even with the heater on me. Drenched too. Got home and Lee had to help me undress to get in to the shower. Took 10 minutes under the hot water to start feeling normal enough to actually use soap.
Went out to eat later to celebrate Lee's birthday and still had some shivers.
The next day legs were sore. Hamstrings, adductors, calves all sore. Stairs are stairs tho better now.
Lee: Turns out she ran the whole way. She followed this woman for the first 9 miles and then had to drop to a slower time. Saw my mom at the W2. She saw Vinny but her didn't run her in. I assume either he was busy bringing other people in or didn't recognize her. Still she felt good so who cares.
I found this link on mapmyrun.com. It maps the run nicely.
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