Adirondack Distance Festival Marathon Recap, Part II

Schroon Lake

Race Day!

I woke up feeling fine, not exactly refreshed, but fine. I did not feel nervous, which I thought was weird. I don't think that it really sunk in that I was finally running a full marathon until I was at the start line.

We left the inn at 7:10, plenty of time to stop and get a bite to eat for breakfast. We found a Stewart's and I was impressed! They had all sorts of breakfast stuff! I grabbed a sausage egg and cheese breakfast sandwich, because that is what I always eat. I meant to bring a bagel and peanut butter but I forgot. I only managed a few bites but I knew if I went off with nothing but my Huma Energy Gels I would regret it later.

We got to the town of Schroon with about an hour of time to spare, it was very easy to pick up my bib and shirt. The shirt was... interesting. The small was too baggy but I think the extra small will be too small. Oh well. I don't run races for the shirts.

Go Me!

We met up with my parents and friends and my wonderful sister made me the most amazing sign! We had time for a few quick pictures, good luck wishes, and then it was time to go!

And I'm off!

I lined up next to the 4:30 pace group. My intentions were to start slower than them but keep them in my sights and catch up slowly after the first few miles. That did not happen. I started with them and stayed with them for half of the race. I felt great running with them, I really thought I could keep that up for the entire race. (Dun, dun, duuuun!)

I spent the first few miles getting to know the pacers and others aiming for 4:30. In retrospect I talked to much. The pacers were pretty amazing, one lady who was pacing this race as a training run had eight children. EIGHT. I find that insane incredible.

The course heads north out of Schroon Lake and across a creek before coming back down to the east shore. It was absolutely beautiful but extremely hilly. I felt good going up all but the very last big one around mile 12. I told the pacer I needed to slow down for the hill but I'd see them at the bottom. I tried but I was never able to catch back up. I am pretty proud I stayed strong for that long, but I ended up burning out after. I used the bathroom (the only time I had to for the entire race) and then it was like a switch and I couldn't keep up the pace. I started alternating walking .1 miles running .9.

All along the route there were groups of people scattered either sitting and cheer us as we went by or doing some kind of performance. I loved the drums set up twice around the course - I think they were the same people, I was completely mystified as to how they got to the other side of the lake. One woman made me feel kind of awkward. I can't remember what she called herself but she was "dancing" back and forth in the road with wind chimes singing a song I can't quite remember. But it was funny and it gave me a boost.

I kept my run walk strategy up until I made it to the Word of Life Bible Camp. I was already hurting quite a bit at that point so that combined with the incredibly supportive counselors that were out jumping, singing, and cheering the runners on put me pretty close to crying. Even though I wasn't feeling great, I think this is my favorite part of the marathon. The only thing I regret is that I did not even see the giant cross shaped climbing wall that I heard so much about. There is apparently a small Jesus statue on top and I joked that if I had enough energy I would sprint over, climb up and give the tiny Jesus a little boop on the head.

Partway through the camp I ended up catching up to another runner who was also walking at that point and I asked if I could join her. Her name was Francine and this was also her first marathon. As we were heading out of the camp I found a sprinkler and completely soaked myself. I realized after that that was a pretty bad idea when I was wearing a white shirt but the relief I felt made it so worth it.

At first we tried to run as much as we could and just walk when we needed it but that pretty quickly became walk up hills and on flats and just run down any hills. We were both hurting and wondering why we picked such a difficult marathon as our firsts.

As we were nearing mile 20 we ended up seeing an early bird marathoner who was on his 49th state! He didn't seem to be in the best of moods but he kept on moving. I think that is so inspirational and I hope one day to be on my way through the 50 states.

It was also around mile 20 that we met a guy, Tim, who was walk/running it in same as us. He asked if he could stick with us, which was great! The more the merrier! This was Tim's 5th marathon and it was also his birthday! Very awesome. If I had had the energy I would have sung Happy Birthday to him but I was struggling to just put one foot in front of the other and breathe at the same time.

We walked a LOT in the miles 20 through 25 but we chatted and it went by fairly quick. Ok, no it didn't it dragged, I was not happy. The course was in full sun at that point and I couldn't take in water fast enough. I was taking a water and a Gatorade at every aid station and filled up my water bottle multiple times. I'll admit I was getting a little concerned about dehydration.

Eventually we caught sight of the 25 mile marker. That gave me some energy. I was almost done! It was a little after that that I saw my mom. I was a little out of it and actually had trouble recognizing her. She was cheering for me and I was just like...Mom? Oh, MOM! I ran over and gave her a quick (yucky) hug and introduced her to my running-mates. She took my picture and ran with us a bit.

Now that we were so close we decided we could run the rest of the way in. Tim had said he couldn't run anymore but I told him there was no way we were not all running in together. Right at the last turn another friend was waiting for me and once again I had trouble recognizing her. I was pretty out of it. However, now we could see the finish! We picked up the pace and I saw Evan and my sister and made some AWESOME faces for the camera.

Almost there!

The three of us running it in to the finish! I was so happy!

Woo!

This was a whoop of joy, not pain, I swear!

I did it! I completed my first marathon. I got a little emotional, but no crying. I congratulated Francine and Tim and we traded contact info. I then went off to find my family. Husband found me first and took some pictures and gave me a hug. I found the rest of the group in some shade and immediately plopped down. Since I had been guzzling water the entire run and still didn't have to use the ladies room, I got a little worried and drank a bunch more water. I completely skipped the food and beer tent and opted to have some of the snacks that my support team had brought with them.

I eventually got up and we went down to the lake so I could soak my feet. It felt amazing! The only problem that it was down a huge hill and I seriously doubted that I could make it. In the picture below I had a death grip on Husband's hand and I was putting all the weight I could on it.

Don't let go!

We hung out for a little while by the lake, enjoying the weather and cheering on the other runners and then it was time to say our goodbyes and head home. We parted ways with the Dutcher's but decided to meet back up with my parents and sister for dinner in Lake George. We stopped at the Adirondack Pub and Brewery. I had two beers, I can't remember what they were (shame on me) but they were good. We ordered fried cheese curds (amazing) for an appetizer and I ended up getting a salad for dinner but because my entire body was so uncomfortable I didn't really have much of an appetite. It was still nice to sit and talk with my family. They were so supportive and wonderful throughout my training and race. I am very lucky to have them.

After the race I caught myself wondering if I hadn't met up with Francine, what would have happened. I'd like to think that I would have kept up the .9/.1 strategy and possibly come in closer to my goal time... However I truly think I might have quit if I was still going it solo from miles 20-25. Having people out there with me that I could talk to saved me. In the last few miles I hurt so badly, I just wanted to lay down on the side of the road and have someone scoop me up. I am so grateful that I met Francine and Tim out there. I hope they feel the same!

And now I just have to leave you all with my favorite picture from the entire event.

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Adirondack Distance Festival Marathon Recap, Part I

Lake Abanakee

Results: 5:31:19  

Place: 228

Division Place: 24

Pace: 12:39

Welp, I ran a marathon and didn't cry at the end. I guess it’s time to move on to ULTRAS. Haha, just kidding. I won’t do that until next year!

This weekend was amazing. I missed my goal time by an hour, but that is OK. It was my first marathon and so of course I made some newby mistakes. What matters to me is that my family and friends were there to cheer me on and I met some amazing people out there who helped me get to the finish.

I've decided to copy a lot of other bloggers out there and break this recap up into two posts. The day before definitely deserves to be recorded.

Saturday:

I woke up fairly early because I had to take the dogs to the kennel and head down to Amherst, MA to meet Evan before continuing on to Lake Abanakee. I gave my packing list a triple once-over to be sure I wasn't forgetting anything and popped the dogs in the car to take them to the kennel right when it opened (9AM).

Somehow once I was on my way to Amherst my GPS and I had a bit of a disconnect and it ended up taking me out through Keene, NH. My one hour and forty five minute drive turned into a two and a half hour drive. The detour through Keene plus all of the small town parades and fairs I managed to drive through made me pretty irritated. I finally made it to Evan where he took over driving for a bit and we made it to the Adirondacks around 3:50. No time to check out the expo before meeting up with my family.

The cabin!

We spent the evening with our long time friends the Dutchers at their beautiful cabin on a water-access only point on Lake Abanakee. They built the cabin themselves, bringing all the materials needed over using a tiny little boat!

I wasn't cooperating for a picture

We went for a beautiful sunset boat ride before having a huge pasta dinner. It was take out from the Gourmet Cafe in Lake George and it was delicious. We had a few beers and some wine (I tried REALLY hard to keep it to a few!) and my mom brought her famous Apple Betty to enjoy by the camp fire. With all of the bad luck we've had with the weather in the Adirondacks, it was wonderful to finally have a perfect "dock day". Since we still had a 40 minute drive that night to get to the inn, we decided to head back a little after nine.

Wonderful Fire

We spent the night at the Panther Mountain Inn in Chestertown. It was a nice enough place. Clean, friendly... unfortunately they have a bar attached to the inn and while we couldn't hear what was happening in the bar, we could hear the drunks outside in the parking lot VERY clearly. There was this one woman who would not shut up. She woke me up by yelling goodbye to someone and so I thought this disruption would be short lived and she'd go away... no. She stayed outside smoking and yelling at everyone. DARLENE DARLENE! I am not sure how long it was but I came very close to going out there and tackling her. I figured I wouldn't get away with it so I toughed it out and tried to sleep. She finally went away and I got a few decent hours of sleep.

You already know how I did so I don't really know how to end this on a cliff hanger so... Stay tuned for part II!

*Thanks to my sister who provided me with all these pictures... even though she doesn't know that!*

The List

The list is changing.

It is now an incomplete list of all of the marathons I want to run. It is incomplete. I can't pick 50+ marathons all at once, but it will grow and change and hopefully slowly I will be able to check those races off. If you know of an awesome race that I should do, let me know so I can add it!