We made a last minute decision to go up on Thursday afternoon, prior to the Saturday morning event. I just didn't want to feel rushed at all leading up to an event like this when I had no idea what it would feel like to actually run 26.2 miles. In training for this, I ran 20 miles twice, felt great after each of those runs, but that additional 6.2 of unknown was a little daunting for me.
Kyley and I on the ferry headed to the expo
We stayed on the outskirts of Savannah Thursday night, to save some money on the hotel and to make driving a little easier. Had a great nights sleep on Thursday night, woke up Friday morning and headed into the historic section of Savannah to park the car and head over to the convention center on the ferry to pick up my packet and head into the expo. I could hardly contain the excitement.I LOVE EXPOs. I can't deny it, the energy, the fun of seeing all of the different products and race promotions, the other people excited about running their first or 30th half or full marathon. I just love these events (although I must admit we ran into one vendor that was just rude, but I didn't let her spoil my overall excitement.)
The Rock n Roll race organizers did an awesome job of packet/shirt/swag pick up. Everyone was moving right along and I decided, after I saw the shirt, that I really wished I'd requested another size and who knew, they had an option to swap out sizes in that area as well. Very well organized, very friendly.
Then we walked into the Brooks gear area, some great gear and very well displayed, then into the remainder of the expo. I found some great deals, some toe socks which I'm going to try and get use to after this weekends toe issues, and even some new sunglasses (wahooo!)
After the expo, we spent the afternoon walking around, we ate lunch and just enjoyed the atmosphere. A quick trip to Target, we checked into the hotel downtown (strategically a few blocks from the start and the finish) and started planning dinner. I finished the day off with a wonderful plate of spaghetti and early to bed. Everything was laid out for the next morning, strategy was set for where I would see my mom and Ky and how everything would go down. Or so I thought....
I drifted off to sleep around 8:30 or 9 pm, I really can't remember which, I didn't wake up at all until around 2 am (very normal for me these days) then again at 3:30 but I was making myself go back to sleep, the alarm on my iPad was set for 5 am. At 6:20 am, I rolled over and looked at the time and jumped out of bed! I quickly woke everyone up and had to calm myself down that I still had an hour and a half until the start of the race which was an easy 15 minute walk from my hotel room. I ate my bagel and we were ready to go. I was very thankful that I had everything laid out the night before.
The start line for the race....wahoo!
We made it to the edge of my coral with plenty of time and stood in line for the porta potties, talked a bit. I actually ran into someone I know from my business networking organization, he's 6'8", kind of hard to miss. Got into my coral and chatted with some other folks, one lady was running her first half marathon and it was so much fun encouraging her. The race started and they really moved the corals along very quickly.I started out way to fast, but I felt good. I kept telling myself, slow down, slow down, but continually got caught up in the crowd. I had a friend about 7 corals behind me, 10 years younger and much faster than me, I figured she would catch me around mile 2, but she caught me around mile 3. I told her to run on, as I caught myself trying to match her pace, but knowing there was no way I could maintain that. An unforseen potty stop at mile 5 (very rare for me, I think I may have overhydrated) took 4 minutes of my time, but I was still clipping the miles along very nicely. My heart rate monitor was driving me nuts spinning around my chest, so I handed it off to Ky at mile 7, I was so glad to see her and my mom, I was worried I wouldn't be able to find them in the crowd. They made posters for me after the start of the race, I was so glad to get to see them at that point, as I knew the next time I saw them would be at the finish line.
Overall, the course was a great. The start took us through a depressed area of Savannah, but the locals were fabulous out there cheering us on. So many kids giving us high-fives and just yelling for us to keep going. The half marathoners headed in for the finish at mile 11 (I was able to see a father send off what looked like his daughter or son and a friend as he went to the finish line and they soldiered on for the full) and the full marathoners went onto a highway. I knew we were going on the highway for a portion, but I neglected to pay attention that we would also be coming back to the finish on the highway. (insert mental head slap and strategy setting for my return) As I'm plugging along on the highway, here come the Full Marathon leaders, it was cool to get to cheer them along. Once we got off the highway, we headed to Savannah State University which was beautiful and then into another just gorgeous neighborhood. That portion was well shaded as the sun was rising and so were the temps.
I started mentally been preparing myself for that return jaunt on the highway to the finish line. I was being very cautious, chatting with a 30 year old who was completing her 14th marathon, her 1st in her birthday month of doing a marathon every weekend. Her overall goal is to do a marathon in each state, and she's doing Ragnar Key West in January (I had serious runner envy at this point) we ran together and walked together a few times after pacing together at mile 16. I checked my cell at mile 18 and had a furry of encouraging texts from my friends and family that were so encouraging to just keep moving forward. I was pacing myself trying to make sure I had reserves once I passed that 20 mile mark. Then at mile 23.....the Garmin died!!!!! UGH! I felt good, but the Garmin dying really tripped me up a bit.
The final miles came into sight, I passed a few more runners (that felt good) and really felt great about my finish. I pumped into high gear for the final stretch and felt marvelous crossing that finish line!!!!
We walked around Forsyth Park (the finish area) and after purchasing some shirts, headed back to the hotel for a shower and some rest. I made reservations at Lady and Sons restaurant for my celebratory dinner and we walked downtown and looked in a couple of shops also. It was so much fun seeing other runners out and about with their medals on and shirts. I have to admit, I was really pleased that I was walking normal, my legs felt great, my feet were healing from the nasty blisters on my big toes (hello toe socks that I will be getting to know very well), I just felt great!
So, excellent experience. I feel like I could have absolutely ran harder and gotten a better time, but for my first full marathon, I'm happy with my 5:40 finish. I learned so much in training for this race about proper fueling leading up to a run like this, proper hydration, and just to keep focused on the main thing. There were so many things that could have distracted me, but honestly so many times during that almost 6 hour run I was so thankful to God for legs that kept going, for feet that didn't fail me, for volunteers handing out water, Gatorade, GU, etc. Just so thankful that He provided excellent weather, great people for me to chat with, wonderful songs for the 10 miles I actually put my headphones in my ears.
I'm happy with my training plan, ecstatic with my support crew, and just overall blessed to have had such a great first marathon experience. I truly can't wait to run another one and push my body a bit more, January will be the next one so I've got some time to tweak a few things.
