It was a perfect first marathon.
This year, I decided to sign up again, to see if I could run the race on my own. I do the majority of my training runs solo anyway, other than some long runs. This meant that I had to change my focus.
The question for last year's race was:
The question for this year's race was:
Heavy stuff.
My training was far from perfect, but I managed to get in 60 out of 71 scheduled runs. Last year I did 66 of them. My pace was up to 1 minute per mile slower than last year on about half the runs.
I would like to, but it's probably not the reason.
My longest training run this year was a 22 miler, which I did on my own, on the only day I forgot my earbuds. After that run, I felt like I could likely handle the race...more or less...hopefully.
My taper was 2 weeks long this year, as opposed to 3 weeks last year, so my taper tantrums were limited to general agitation and one big freakout.
FREAKOUT REENACTMENT:
The week before the marathon Christy asked me what my bib number was. When I looked it up I got a very disturbing message:
So I did what any sane person would do, and I tried again. Over and over.
I decided to email the race coordinator to make sure that I was, indeed, registered.
That really was not comforting.
I posted my query to their facebook page and spent the next 4 hours compulsively searching the website again, and combing through my Active.com profile (since I registered through them). Right as I was going to bed I got a message from their page letting me know that I had clicked a button that made me not searchable by name when I registered.
However, I was indeed registered. I sent them a heartfelt thank you.
And scene.
Fast forward to race weekend, and TriGuy and I drove down to Portland. Everything went pretty smoothly. After an early dinner we went straight to bed.
Unfortunately, I kept dreaming that I couldn't get to the starting line on time.
I was very relieved to wake up.
I got up and started preparing my breakfast. That was a breeze because after last year's panic over a lack of hot water, TriGuy had bought me the perfect gift.
Guaranteed to make your race morning prep 80% less stressful!
As I was prepping, I was already getting texts from Christy and her friends that they were making their way to the start.
I grabbed TriGuy and hurried my way down to the street. Luckily Christy and I were in the same corral and got to start together. There were corrals A through H. We were in G.
It's the little things.
Christy and I chatted with a couple of ladies right behind us. One of them told us she kept toilet paper in her bra. I suddenly realized that I had forgotten my emergency toilet paper that I always put in my shorts pocket. The lady graciously offered to "spare a square" for Christy and I.
We graciously declined.
And then, a mere 16 minutes after the first corral started the race, we were off!
Stay tuned!! The rest of the race review is in the works!
UPCOMING POSTS: PORTLAND MARATHON PART 2, MARATHON AFTERMATH, VOLUNTEERING AT BEAT THE BLERCH, DEVICE REVIEW
