The Race

Seven weeks ago I had a bad run. My training group was scheduled for twelve miles that Saturday, and it was a chilly, rainy morning in DC. Rhonda, Nicole, and I met up at our usual spot, a parking lot in front of the Capitol. We headed toward the Washington Monument, then the Lincoln Memorial, then across the bridge toward Arlington and on to Iwo Jima. (There's nothing like running in DC!)

At Iwo Jima: little did I know what pain was to come ...

At this point I was feeling good. But somewhere between there and Nats Stadium, I started feeling sluggish. By the time we made it through the Southwest Waterfront and were heading back around to East Capitol Street, we hit a hill and I felt exhausted. My legs were achy and my stomach hurt and I couldn't run anymore. So I began to walk. I had to walk the rest of the way. And even walking was a struggle. This was for about the final two miles. A run that would normally take me around two hours and fifteen minutes took me about four. Poor Rhonda and Nicole were patient and pushed me to keep going, but for the first time I didn't want to hear it. Somehow I made it to the car and collapsed in the driver's seat. At home I took a hot bath and went to bed, and I stayed in bed all day.

I'd never had a run like that. I ran thirteen miles in the spring and felt fine (sore and tired, of course, but fine). It was so discouraging and really worried me that I might not be able to do the half marathon I was scheduled to do a few weeks from then. The following week I was extra careful about what I ate and drank in the days leading up to Saturday's long run. I went to bed early. I woke up early to give myself plenty of time to eat and prepare. And to my relief, I had a good run. The next three weeks we did nine, fourteen, and eleven, and I felt great for all of them. My bad run gave me a scare, but it didn't defeat me.

Rhonda and Ori (seasoned runners) told me that everyone has bad runs now and then. Sometimes there's no perceptible explanation. Looking back, I think I was probably getting sick before the run but I just didn't know it. I'm so thankful it seems that it was an anomaly for me.

Fast forward to Friday, November 11, the day before the race. My friends and I drove to Richmond Friday morning so we could pick up our race packets and bibs. If you've done a race before, you know the drill, but this was all new to me. Packet pick-up was at a huge running/fitness expo with all kinds of vendors and giveaways. First we collected our bibs (with safety pins to attach them); then we wandered through the booths on the way to get our bags and shirts. 

With Rhonda and Rita at the expo

Dick's Sporting Goods had created a huge banner with
the names of all the runners; found mine!

We didn't stay long; we were getting hungry and decided to head toward the hotel and find somewhere to eat a late lunch.

Across from the hotel we found a Mexican restaurant that had good reviews, so we ate there, and then we decided to pamper ourselves a bit and get manicures and pedicures at a nearby spa. (Harvey asked if a pedicure was supposed to help with endurance for the race; sure, why not?) We stopped by the grocery store to get some breakfast food before settling in for the night at the hotel. Nicole and Ori had driven separately, and after they arrived, we all got together and made our plan for getting to the race in the morning. Our start time was 7:48 a.m., so we planned to leave at 6:45. I went to bed around 10:30.

At 5:30 my alarm went off, and I got up to prepare for the race. I dressed, ate a banana and bagel with peanut butter, and had coffee. We left on time, and though we hit race traffic downtown, we still got parked by around 7. 

My feeble attempt at a bib selfie, en route to the race

We sat in the car for 15-20 minutes to avoid the cold, and then we got out and walked to the starting line. Runners start the race in waves based on estimated completion times, so we found the sign for our assigned group (HB) and waited in the cold (high 30s F) for our turn. 

Ready to run!

With Nicole, Rhonda, and Rita pre-race, trying to stay warm

Soon the National Anthem blared over the speakers (first time in a long time that it was meant to commence a sporting event that I was not just watching but actually participating in!). Around 7:30, we began to inch forward as the groups ahead of us gradually made their way toward the starting line. Our excitement built as we moved and the announcer called out the groups ahead of us in two-minute increments: Group F ... Group G ... Group HA ... Group HB! We were off! Fingers and toes freezing, but happy to finally be running.

During my training, I never kept track of my own mileage or time; I simply kept up with my friends, who used GPS to pace and monitor. I expected to do the same during the race, but I knew that if we got separated, as long as I kept up with the designated pacer for my group (who carried a sign), I would know I was keeping the right pace. Plus there were markers for each mile so I'd know how far I'd come and how far I had to go.

The first three miles we all stayed pretty close together. After that, Rita and Rhonda moved ahead, followed by Ori and me, and then Nicole. At mile four, Ori and I began our run-walk routine that we had used in training (five minutes run, one minute walk). We kept this up until about the last two miles, when we knew we could run it out.

After the first mile or two, the sun came out, and both the weather and the course were perfect. The course started in downtown Richmond, then turned through the nearby historic neighborhoods. The leaves on the tree-lined streets were brilliant, the homes beautiful. Crowds of spectators cheered us on with clever signs and shouts of encouragement. Volunteers all along the way offered us fuel (from goo to gummy bears) and hydration (from Powerade to beer). I stuck with my own water and granola bar to get me through, since I wasn't sure how my body would respond to something new.

Ori was a great running companion; I was grateful she stayed with me when she could have shot ahead at any time. When we reached the final two miles or so, amid the cheering of the crowds, it hit me that I was actually going to complete a half marathon, something I'd been training for and anticipating for months. I got emotional and shed a few tears, but then the adrenaline took over and I focused on finishing strong. I headed down a steep hill, turned a corner, and crossed the finish line.

My first stop, immediately after the finish line, was to get my medal. Volunteers were giving them to each finisher, and I almost accidentally grabbed the full marathon medal (oops!). Then I was given a ball cap and a fleece blanket. Next, photographers snapped photos. Then we approached the food tent. I was surprised how much food was available. It was all sort of a blur, but I remember bananas, granola bars, bagels, and pizza. My hands were getting full at this point, and in juggling all my giveaways and food, I accidentally got pizza sauce on my medal (oops again!). Ori and I, who finished together, found a spot in the grass to sit and stretch. Eventually we located Nicole, Rita, and Rhonda; we took a few pictures and headed back to the car. 

With Ori, donning our medals, elated to have finished

The whole crew post-race: Me, Rita, Nicole, Rhonda, and Ori

We arrived back at the hotel around 11:45, and we all got cleaned up and packed up for the trip home. We found a hole-in-the-wall Thai restaurant for lunch and reveled in our accomplishment as we ate our warm, sweet, and spicy dishes and discussed our next races. Then it was back to DC!

I've run for exercise for many years, but never more than a couple miles at a time and never with the intention to race. That all changed last spring, when Rhonda, a friend from church, invited me to train with her and Ori for the half. Throughout the training, my friends never expressed any doubt that I could do it, and their confidence became my confidence. I could never have done the race without my friends, and I could never have done it without Harvey, who selflessly kept our four to five kids Saturday mornings for hours at at time while I trained, and who encouraged me and celebrated every accomplishment along the way.

In training for and running the race, Isaiah 40:31 has become more meaningful to me: "They who wait on the Lord will renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." I know what it feels like to run and be weary, and I know what it feels like to run with strength and endurance. I know that with the help of friends and the Lord, I can complete a half marathon and not faint. So now I'm asking myself another question: can I do a full?