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<span style="color:#000000;">RICHMOND MARATHON</span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;">I wasn’t going to write a RR because this is a plain description of pain. But JohnnyB didn’t take that well and made me write it. So there.</span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;">We drove to Batmomm’s house on Friday after work and got there around 9pm.</span> <span style="color:#000000;">Race morning, Jen, who was volunteering, picked me up so I didn’t have to go too early with Batmomm (she had training group plans). Alemma was staying at her house and came along.</span><br><span style="color:#000000;">We parked close to the finish and went to the host hotel for Jen to check in and get her volunteer stuff.</span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;">We were all relaxed and feeling very well for the race. Since Alemma and I ran Marine Corps 2 weeks ago, we didn’t feel any pressure about Richmond. We were there for the fun and to qualify and join the Marathon Maniacs club.</span><br><span style="color:#000000;">Jen had to start her day, so we gave hugs and Alemma and I walked to the start.</span><br><span style="color:#000000;">It was chilly and a little breezy, but we knew we were dressed right on the spot to run. I also had on my back a sign I made to honor the Marine Corps 232nd B-day, part of the celebration organized by OrangeShorts’ thread.</span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;"><img alt="" src="http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q112/ty71/Richmond006.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"></span><br><br><br><span style="color:#000000;">We did a short warm up and unfortunately couldn’t find Batmomm.</span><br><span style="color:#000000;">I told Alemma to go get a PR, but she is stubborn and stayed with me. Then I revealed my little secret: I wanted a PR (which she could take me to, at her slow pace).</span><br><span style="color:#000000;">My body felt absolutely fresh and ready for it.</span><br><span style="color:#000000;">We both commented on how cold and numb our feet were and I dreaded the moment when I would be able to feel it. Cold and my foot injury are not a good combo.</span><br><span style="color:#000000;">We were at a very nice pace, having to hold back to stay over 10:00mm. We agreed that so far, that was the flattest course we had both run (the previous 3 were a little more rolling).</span><br><span style="color:#000000;">We were on pace for a 4:40, comfortably speaking.</span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;">The foot numbness went away and at 4 ½ miles, I had a sudden sharp pain on my foot. It hurt so bad (like never before) that I told Alemma that I had to stop. We tried to walk it off, but it got worse. I couldn’t bear weight on it. And had to sit down and take my shoe off. “How bad?”, she asked. “I think I broke it”, I replied already picturing the DNF. “Can you keep going?”, “nope, I can’t even walk”</span><br><span style="color:#000000;">At that time, Batmomm passed us with her group and we exchanged quick words, and she asked: “Are you going to make it?” “I don’t think so.” It was a bummer b/c I didn't want to DNF on her first M. But I couldn't consider going ahead.</span><br><span style="color:#000000;">I massaged my foot a lot to try to get some relieve to walk to the next aid station. I insisted for Alemma to go, but she waited (stubborn!). When I got up, to my surprise, the pain had subsided and I had a little comfortable soreness. I told her. Pain is gone, we gotta go. She gave me “the look”, but off we went. We did catch up pretty quickly. It was a very comfortable run.</span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;">Around mile 9, it was a honor to share a few strides with legendary marathon maniac Larry Macon and chat a bit about starting the road he’s been on for 591 marathons, if I am not mistaken. Alemma will correct me if I am wrong…</span><br><span style="color:#000000;">But when we hit mile 10, a few rolling hills started and my foot pain got bad. I had to limp running downhill and Alemma kept asking people on the sidelines and running of the course to see if she could get me Ibuprofen. Nothing. At the half mark, I saw my DH and DD along with Batmomm’s family. I could only say: I need pain meds please.</span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;"><img alt="" src="http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q112/ty71/Richmond001.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"></span><br><span style="color:#000000;">At mile 15, I had a side stitch and tried to walk it off with not luck. I really insisted that Alemma needed to go away and catch up with her time. My bad ending experience with a side stitch in VCM made me very cautious at this time. I took the HRM off to relieve pressure and felt improvement.</span><br><span style="color:#000000;">Like 5 minutes later, I see Alemma running back! WTF!!!! WTF are you doing here?, I yelled at her... "I forgot to give you a hug"... OMG, that going me going in tears...</span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;">So, now it was just the foot and the long ass windy boring bridge at mile 16. I tried to draft, but could’t keep up, falling back from sudden bad twinges on my foot. The Lee Bridge sucks.</span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;">My mind was shut. I expected to see DH at mile 17 with the meds, but he wasn’t there. So I cried. That made me tired and I had to suck it up. I kept trying to hold not to cry, but my foot was just hurting. Plain hurting. I walked a ton and kept going. At mile 19, DH finally gave me the Ibuprofen and my DD ran along with me for a few yards. She was in heaven, running a marathon with mommy (she loves saying marathon, BTW</span> <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span></span> <span style="color:#000000;">). I needed to finish that one for her.</span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;">The meds took the edge of the pain off, but it was too late and I couldn’t get comfortable. Oh well. But I felt wonderful compared to before and just kept going.</span><br><span style="color:#000000;">Batmomm, who was having a bad ITBS flare up, kept exchanging places and misery with me. We wouldn’t talk much, we both just needed to keep going. As long as the other one wasn’t bleeding to death, we would pass. That’s what we needed to do and we both knew the silent deal on that one.</span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;">After passing mile 20, a marine with a big ass IM tattoo on his calf passed me and said: “Thanks, mom!” He caught me off guard. I even forgot the sign on my back.</span><br><span style="color:#000000;">That moment made me remember that there are tougher things in life than finishing a painful marathon. Looking at that man. I thought of what he may have gone through being a marine, about how he would tough it out in my situation. I kept going and thinking: I have to think like a marine.</span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;">At mile 24, I saw Jen. I didn’t recognize her, although she was very close. She got close to me and asked how I was doing. “It is so much pain” and I started to cry again. She replied: You look so strong, you are almost there. It’s a lot of downhills now.</span><br><span style="color:#000000;">I plugged along and loved the end of the course. I big ass huge downhill. So, I collected my anger and sprinted to the end. That felt good. My face certainly did not show that.</span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;"><img alt="" src="http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q112/ty71/Richmond003.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"></span><br><br><br><br><span style="color:#000000;">I met DH, DD and Alemma and went to the med tent to get my foot taped.</span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;">Alemma, Ty and Batmomm</span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;"><img alt="" src="http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q112/ty71/Richmond004.jpg" style="border:0px solid;">After</span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;">After meeting Jen, Batmomm, her DH and DSs and getting to say a quick hello to mykemp1971 (WHO HAD AN AWESOME PR, YAY! ) we went to a brewery and I finally had food and beer.</span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;">My foot hurts, my abs are sore from the long side stitch. My legs are fresh and I am really not tired, but I need to heal…I can’t run for now. I have important miles ahead of me in the next few months. We will see.</span><br><span style="color:#000000;">Oh, my chip time was something like 4:54: xx, not a PR by any means…</span><br><span style="color:#000000;">But at least Alemma and I accomplished our Marathon Maniacs goal and we are happy with that.</span>
