Luckily, Josh, Leslye and I did not take the same plane to the Dallas Marathon. They were delayed so I went and got our race packets
(and this very Leslye shirt for her)
and then wandered around some.
Like many cities in the US, the downtown is for working, so it was a bit deserted! I did love the quotes in Thanksgiving Square:
and these guys spreading holiday cheer on Main Street:
L & J arrived in time for a nice dinner at Fedora in 1 Art Center and we went back to do our pre-race prep. Leslye and I realized that we brought the same top to wear so we became the double mint twins. (it’s green)
We landed on a 6:00 am wake up and headed out to the start.
As I mentioned in my blog post a few weeks ago, I was in need of inspiration for this run as it was the latest in the season I have ever done a marathon (5 extra weeks after NYC and 2 of those were spent on vacation – not running!) I compiled a list of 26.2 people to think of and honor in my run. These are people who have inspired me or my friends this year. I was not sure how well I would do with this exercise but I decided to give it a go!
L and I decided to run together and keep each other in check (we both have a tendency to start fast). We were smart and fairly conservative (for us!) we chatted up the Clif Bar pacer, Chris. At age 41, he was running his 106th marathon. Makes me look like a slacker at #35!!
Our goal was to aim for 8:00 minute/mile for the first half and we started well on that goal. The first mile was a bit of a cluster due to a large half marathon and relay segment. After mile one, we were pretty evenly paced (except for a 7:32 mile 4-oops!)
I shared my list and stories with L. as we ran. (I wrote the names on a band and scotch taped it to keep it dry and taped it on- it worked! Not pretty but effective.)
Here goes:
1. I started with Ivonne, my friend that I ran with in NYC who is blind but has done more in her athletic (and non-athletic) life than 99% of people including marathons, triathlons, climbing Kilamanjaro, graduating w/a Math degree from Stanford, an MBA and much more. She gives me the courage to start and inspires me in so many ways.
2. Marie is my “engine” (a story for another day!). She is an amazing friend and an amazing runner. She is a great pacer, too- like a metronome. I thought of the many times she paced me and kept me in check and the many good times we have had running together in races and in Central Park.
3. Rasko, Scott & Roger, my friends from NYC who I ran with for many years. Rasko is also a spot on pacer so I tried to channel him, too.
4. Napa ladies/2007 Chicago ladies- my friends Kim, Molly, Rhys, Stacy, Wendy and I took a few trips to Napa to run half marathons and Kim, Rhys and Stacy helped me from quitting the inferno that was the 2007 Chicago marathon. These ladies are amazing for more reasons than I could think about in one mile but I was glad to have them along with us for the run!
5. Achilles runners/Lauren’s father/son team- I have run many races in NYC with Achilles runners. Despite a variety of disabilities, these runners get it done and inspire me. Lauren also suggested something that inspired her- watching a man and his middle aged son with cerebral palsy enjoy a run on a warm day in NJ. This story is a reminder to be grateful for every healthy run.
6. Stacy ran 12 half marathons in 2012 with 3 PRs and ended the season with a PR marathon. I channeled her strength and fortitude from an early mile!
(Some of the race course was slippery and I got into a pile up at a water station. Luckily, I escaped with minor scrapes!)
7. Kelly Chin is a dear friend who is also an Olympic trials marathoner and local NYC race champion. However, she is so modest you’d never know it. She is also a tough competitor and a hard worker. She was also with me the whole way!
8. Amber is a sub 3 hour marathoner, Kona-qualified Ironman triathlete and new mama. I picked mile 8 because I remembered the strength and fun with which Amber ran by us (while we spectated) in this mile in NYC in 2009.
9. Theresa W is a door person in my apartment building and new runner. She also lost 85+ lbs and has kept it off. How is that for motivating?
10. Scott L is a runner in my Chicago running group who at 41 kicked butt. I am 41 now so I want to be like Scott!
11. Dawn and Jason (also friends from my Chicago running group) “adopted” mile 11. Dawn recently ran a PR in Chicago and Jason won his first marathon after moving to Boston. How cool is that?
(My friend and former colleague, Casi, jumped in for a bit at mile 11. I have not seen her in over 10 years- thank you Facebook! That was very cool!)
12. Lissy is a friend from NYC who is experiencing similar running injuries/issue to the ones I had for a few years. I know she will overcome them as I did, but she reminded me when I was in NYC to be grateful for my healthy running.
13. Candice and Megan are two friends on opposite coasts who both found out this year that they have breast cancer. Candice is an amazing marathoner and Ironman triathlete. She ran Philly in 3:29 before getting surgery. Megan is a new mom with so much spunk and spirit and the world’s most positive attitude. Leslye and I both were reminded to be grateful for our health!
(we got to the half marathon split in 1:45 and change- 8:02 pace -right on target!)
14. Kelli and Kim are friends who had babies in the last few years and also ran personal best marathons with negative splits. I figured this was a good time to think of them! (didn’t work exactly as planned, but I tried!!)
(Leslye and I split up with her pushing to stay at our 8:00 pace and me dialing it back a bit)
15. Andrea V. Is a friend from college who I ran into at many races post college and developed a running bond with. She and her husband Michael turned the tragic loss of their daughter into an opportunity to spread her joy to other kids by founding the not for profit organization Alexandra’s Playground. Truly inspiring and motivating for Mile 15!
16. Andrea W. is a running friend from NYC who has suffered many set backs due to injury but always comes back strong. Her strength kept me going as the going started feeling tough.
17. Athena NYC is my NYC women’s running team. These amazing women have so many amazing accomplishments among them, just thinking of some made this mile fly by!
18. TTAU and Boston Bound are my Chicago running club and former training group. Again, so many amazing people and runners. This mile also flew.
19. Steve T is a man I ran 2 Achilles marathons with who lost a leg due to a congenital illness (similar to the Texas cheerleader who Susannah nominated on my blog). He had a cool running prosthetic after starting to run with his walking leg with a piece of tire rubber attached to the bottom. When we lapped Rick (a man with cerebral palsy who propels himself backward with one foot), he said “see I have it easy”. I used that as a mantra for this mile.
20. My “nieces”. Lisa and Susannah both suggested running a mile for my honorary nieces as I inspire the next generation to run and stay fit. (thank you both- that made me feel like a million bucks!) The going got harder here so I reminded myself that these young ladies were counting on me.
(20 mile split 2:42.59- 8:09 pace)
21. Quasim/Hamdani family- I recently lost a former colleague and friend. He was one of the most calm, patient people I know. This is usually my hardest mile (and I needed to remain calm) so I dedicated it to him, and his wife and 2 daughters, whom he loved so much.
22. Leslye and Josh were the only folks on this list who were with me in person. Their love and strong connection inspires me so 22 was for them.
(I caught back up to Leslye at this point and we ran together. She stopped to stretch and pushed me to keep on….)
23. Kristen Armstrong’s post (and Christie Wellington’s quote) inspired this list. I love reading her blog and since I was in TX, I dedicated a mile to her, too.
24. Whitney is my ultramarathon guru (Kristy is the original one, too!) I thought of them in this late mile because they would just be getting started. This did not make the mile go by faster but it did make me smile!
25. Olivia is a good friend, amazing science guru and newer runner. I had the pleasure of pacing her in her 2nd marathon to a huge PR. I made her run mile 25-26 like a bat out of hell. I tried to channel that here (not with much luck, however! I did run OK.)
26-26.2. Me! Olivia suggested that I inspire her (aw, shucks!) so I thought of that as I kicked in in the last .2
I enjoyed this exercise – no pun intended! At a few points, I read all of the names again to stay positive. It really helped.
I finished in 3:36.36 (8:16 pace). I was shooting for 3:30-3:40 so I am pleased with that and it is my best marathon since Boston in 2007. It caps off a great running comeback year for me. Dallas was fun and had good crowd support and other than the start being a cluster due to having a big half and relay, I would recommend it. (The new course is NOT downhill in the end though – I think the people are confused!) They had nice finisher tech shirts from New Balance, a fun post party and L and I got hats for being in the top 100 women!
I hope you enjoyed this recap – it is different than my usual. I do think that this is a cool way to motivate yourself during a race. I recommend giving it a try!
Some photos:
