My first marathon is my most memorable for several reasons. I trained hard with my good college friend, Skye. We trained through snow, rain, and ice. I picked the Wenatchee marathon and talked her into it. My goal was to qualify for Boston, a lifelong goal.
I was only a sophomore in college; take that into consideration as you read. I was young!!
Wenatchee is a small city in Washington. It wasn’t the best pick for a first marathon; we had to run the same loop twice, and in a marathon that isn’t fun, especially for your first.
Yes that’s me running with no shoes, instead I decided they fit better on my hands. Why you ask?? I don’t have any plausible reason, and I honestly can’t tell you what was going through my head. This is why it’s my most memorable marathon.
In the background of the picture, the young man walking away was my savior and friend, Joe. My mom repeatedly tells everyone he saved my life, and maybe he did.
This race is a great example of what not to do at a marathon: faint, collapse, suffer from dehydration, and go out completely way to FAST!! Hey, I learned from my mistakes. I ended up in the hospital after fainting 3 or so times, collapsing a number of times, and went into seizures at the finish (I don’t remember the last 6 miles of the race, but I was told I was a completely different person and combative). I made a doctor crash on his bike, and I was apparently pushing, hitting, and running away from anyone who tried to help me (please don’t judge me I was in a different state of mind). So we now know not to mess with me when I am running. 🙂
Joe met me at mile 20 after he had done the 1/2. I left Skye around mile 14, after stopping for a quick pee break. She was smart and slowed the pace down. We had started way to fast. Me, I decided to go faster and do 6 minute miles.
By mile 20, I was feeling those 6 minute miles. Â I told Joe I didn’t think I could make it. He handed me an orange and started to run with me. He told me I was going pretty fast and maybe I should walk a little bit. I said “No. I can’t walk” or something to that affect. A minute later I hit the ground, and after that I don’t remember a thing. So from here on out, I am telling the story from everyone else’s perspective.
After I came to it again, Joe tried to get me to stop, but I would take off sprinting; he would try to catch me. At one point a doctor on a bike, was trying to get me to stop. I pushed him away and told him “I hate doctors”, “didn’t want his help” and started to run again. I collapsed in his bike path, and the poor doctor went over his handle bars. He gave up on me. Joe asked him “What do I do with her?” The doctor said, “Just stick with her.”
I am surprised no one at the aid station made me stop. I know I was combative, but seriously. At mile 22 I took my shoes off and ran the rest of the way barefoot; on pavement and gravel. What are the affects of doing so, well here take a look, Warning: NOT PRETTY….
And this was after the doctor cleaned them up. They were cut and bruised on the bottom really bad, and I had several blisters and nerve damage. So don’t try barefoot running for the first time while running a marathon.
Joe followed orders and stuck with me until the end. Skye caught up to me, and Joe tried to convince me to run with her, but I took off sprinting again, only to collapse yet again. This explained why I had grass, rocks, and twigs in my hair after the race.
I kept telling Joe, I had to qualify for Boston, and kept asking if we were going to make it. I was determined to finish. Determination isn’t bad under normal circumstances, but I bet everyone was wishing I wasn’t so determined. He said he had never seen this side of me, and it forever changed how he saw me. I wasn’t “sweet old Bry” anymore.
After 6 long miles with Joe, he finally said the finish line was close, and I took off sprinting toward the finish, Joe stayed behind.
As you can see Joe looks relieved the race is over, and I can’t blame him. Once I crossed the finish line, I collapsed and went into seizures. I was combative as they tried to wheel me to the ambulance; imagine that. Â I was in the hospital for a couple of hours, because they had to run test and put two IV’s in. After that I was bandaged up and set to go. Just like that.
All things considered, it was a great first race. I received my finishers metal, t-shirt, 4th place overall (not bad considering), and a nice hospital bill. And I lived to tell the story. This was my first marathon racing experience, in a nutshell. I learned that water is important to drink at aid stations, that shoes work wonders, friends are angels, blisters suck, and 6 minute miles for you first marathon isn’t a good idea.
Oh and I missed qualifying for Boston by only 2 minutes, all things considered, not to shabby.
What were some of your most memorable races? or What were some of your races that didn’t go so well?