MARATHON!

After 4 months of training (see previous entry in January to see all the training completed), Jenn, her dad, and I finally had the marathon before us. As the marathon was on a Sunday, Jenn scheduled an extra long weekend and I took off Monday to give time to recover and drive back to NC. Friday after school Jenn and I drove half way to Pittsburgh and stayed the night at a nice Hampton Inn. It was a good way to break up the 7+ hour drive and give us time to relax and rest for the upcoming events.

We arrived on Saturday morning in Pittsburgh and waited for Jenn's parents to arrive. Unfortunately my sister was not there as she recently moved to Canton, OH and was sick the previous day. My grandparents did make it though which was a really great surprise for us.

Once Jenn's parents made it to Pittsburgh we took the T into the city to get to the Expo and pick up our race packets. It was a pretty nice expo with the usual things-shoes, clothes, fuel packs, energy bars/gels/drinks, etc. For our race packet, we did get a nice bag and moisture wicking shirt along with lots of coupons. The shirt was definitely a bonus for us. When we looked around enough, we headed back to my parents' house and relaxed with great company and a great pre-race dinner of chicken on the grill, spaghetti, and burgers.

The race was scheduled to start at 7:30 on Sunday morning, so we caught the T to go into town at 6:15. The people on the T were very much unlike most of the passengers you usually see on the Pittsburgh T. Almost everyone was in good shape. It makes sense as the runners would be the only ones going into town at 6:15, but it was still a bit strange. We made it to the starting line a little after 7:00 and couldn't move up further than about the 5:20:00 grouping. So we would have to make up the time during the run.

When the race started, it took us almost 7 minutes to pass the starting line. Jenn, her dad, and I stayed together during the first mile or so. It was incredibly humid and slow moving during that first mile and so it took us about 11 minutes. Within that first mile, I was sweating like crazy (usually it take 2-2 1/2 miles). So luckily around mile 2 1/2 in the marathon it began to rain which was actually very refreshing. Unfortunately it did not stop raining. The whole time.

The marathon was long (obviously). The memorable moments were running around PNC Park and Heinz Field, running across bridges, running through Station Square, the Southside, Oakland, and back to the Convention Center. After the first mile, I was able to keep up a steady 9 minute mile pace for the next 10 miles or so. Around mile 10, my right hand was half swollen and pruned from the rain and sweat. Around mile 16, my legs died on me, not wanting to be lifted more than a few inches off the ground on every step. Around mile 18, my feet started REALLY hurting from being wet for 3 hours (and running 18 miles). At about mile 20, my band-aids covering my nipples came off (due to the water), so my nipples were once again rubbed raw. I was very proud of myself though. I only stopped jogging briefly to use the bathroom once and walked for a few seconds three times near the end to get water. My half-marathon time was 2:02 and my final time was 4:15, which is an average of 9:45 minute miles. I am pleased enough with my times and my effort to be satisfied to never run another marathon again.

Jenn and her dad had a little rougher time racing. Around mile 10, Jenn's dad was getting dehydrated and cramping up really bad. Jenn stayed with him the whole race, making sure he didn't overdo it. She said they walked a lot on the second half of the race, but they both completed the marathon, which is a feat in itself. Their time was 5:20. Jenn dad is thinking about signing up for another marathon to "redeem" himself. Ridiculous.

The afternoon after the marathon, Jenn, my mom, and I went over to Drew and Brie's new house they had closed on a few days earlier. I know they are both very pleased with the deal they got on their house, as they should be. It is a great house all around. We look forward to visiting again when they have all their furniture and everything set up.

That evening, we had friends Dan, Sarah, Drew, and Brie over to my parents' house for dinner and games. It was a lot of fun catching up. It made me miss the days after senior year when the crew would hang out nearly every day and just play games and goof around.

Overall, we had a very nice trip to PA for the marathon. A little soreness in the legs. My nipples and underarms were rubbed raw from the dampness. I got a black toe. But I also got a marathon medal, so it was worth it.

Now Jenn and I plan on running shorter races. Focusing on building up our 5k speeds and also running some 10ks and half marathons. My goal is to get a less than 23 minute 5k by the end of the summer.

Me, Jenn, and her dad before the marathon

The moms on a bridge around the half mile mark watching the Pittsburgh runners

The beautiful weather at Station Square (around mile 9 or 10)

The marathoners