Again, it's been one week...Though this time last week "it" was all over. I'd crossed the second finish line. Though not without a few interesting & exciting experiences first.
When I realized that posting anywhere close to last Sunday (like that night, Monday, or Tuesday, or even Wednesday) it made sense to post one week later respectively.
I'd gotten to sleep last Saturday night shortly after figuring out what time I needed to be awake in order to get to packet pick-up on time. That was the first time I'd ever needed to pick up my "packet" the same day as the event for which I'd registered.
I'd actually thought I'd be able to get to Saturday's packet pick-up right in the nick of time, then I realized time differences had my logistics as toast & I didn't have a chance. Once I finished driving from one state to the next (about three & a half hours later), I headed inside where I'd be sleeping for the night (another Airbnb house), showered, & prepared to figure out my early morning's logistics.
Just like Saturday morning, it would be important to wake & rise about two hours before I needed to leave, which was another forty-five or so minutes prior to the marathon's start time. Two hours because I needed to actually
get up, including typical morning rituals like brushing my teeth & other bathroom necessities (although showering happened prior to sleeping). Then get my laptop geared up in so that I could play each warming up video. (
This one first, then
this one.) This was vital as I'd "religiously" utilized each of these videos daily (okay, once on the brink of marathon weekend there was about a week-long time period when daily was more like every-other-day, although the "on days" were the days I'd be training to run as I completely considered the videos to be my running "warm-up" so there's full disclosure on that) since weeks before I'd actually begun my actual running training (since I was still figuring out about
this at that time.
With each video taking half an hour to complete, an hour would be gone. Then, factoring in changing my clothes & making certain that everything I'd need in order to arrive at the start line ready & "on time" was in place as much as it could be. On Sunday this wasn't as much as possible as it was on Saturday since part of this was safety pinning my running bib to my running skirt. Setting aside ample minutes to pack up the car & make certain each item I'd brought in the previous night had been taken back out of the house was a final reason for such an early wake up time.
Both mornings, as I'd managed to secure "local" Airbnb housing, I had a half hour drive to where I'd be parking for the day. The only difference on Sunday was that there was a shuttle leaving every fifteen minutes from a location a mile down the road since there wasn't sufficient location parking for participants. As I was participating in the challenge (running in both the Saturday & Sunday marathons)
& I'd registered in a way that I won back my entry fee, I was asked to arrive early to be included in the respective photos commemorating these achievements.
Incidentally, as I'd been quite thrilled upon realizing that the Saturday marathon began at 7 a.m. & not 7:30 a.m. (because it meant a greater chance of arriving at Saturday packet pick-up for the Sunday marathon before their close up time - yes, we've already discussed this "fail" - as well as I'd be finishing the marathon a half hour earlier in the day since I began running it a half hour sooner, & with weather & sunshine "conditions", this could only be favorable. The latter "pro"
did work out ultimately, unlike the former one. 😊
At the same time, however, I had also thought that the Sunday marathon began at 7:30 a.m. The photos had been taken by 7:25, & we
were right. next. to. the. start. line. I'm still shaking my head. I hustled butt into that starting section. It was vacant. I felt a prank coming on. Fortunately for me, a volunteer stopped on by & explained about the [well posted 😂] 8 a.m. start. (When you drive nine hours to run a marathon, then drive another four hours to run another across that state's border the next morning...There's only
so much that your brain can process & keep organized - even with well displayed & located signage... 😏)
Then I stupidly lined myself up in the 10K pacing section, which was set to begin about fifteen minutes after the start for the marathon & half marathon. Yes, that's right; I was on a roll for not setting myself up very well last Sunday morning. With ten minutes till the National Anthem, I figured it all out & got myself into the actual correct place for where I belonged. 😎 As there were only pacers for five hours & the six & a half hour cut-off, I stood nearby that very clogged section.
Unlike the marathon on Saturday, where the half marathon didn't cut away from the marathon until the 12.9 mile mark, the half marathon on Sunday cut away around the seven mile mark.
I got extremely lucky & it was completely happenchance. When I turned left along with the other marathon participants (as the half marathoners proceeded on forward), about a half dozen of us marathoners who'd opted to participate in both the Saturday, as well as the Sunday marathon, were all together. A few of them were purposefully running together. I realized (& potentially helped some of them realize) that we were all of a kind when I openly asked if we'd be seeing the half marathoners again before we finished. I explained that, being from out-of-state & getting multiple emails from both marathons, it was too much to keep straight. A Marathon Maniac was among our group & knew the answer: We'd see them again, though it would be in passing, as in they'd be running in the opposite direction. Nice.
And so I dropped back from my, maybe ten paces lead, to just in front of this line-up of two-in-one-weekend marathoners. A small conversation among us led our group for at least a mile. Then the Maniac dropped back to join another runner or two. I did well to pace with several from that original break-away group until I
just. couldn't. handle. it. anymore. I kept to a reasonable & rewarding pace for miles beyond a plausible expectation (had I had one) & kept to that concept of staying with whichever runners were nearest me as long as I could maintain their pace.
I believe there were two colleges that we ran through or around. The first one was a short section, although it began with a hill that knocked me back a little bit more than I'd have preferred. The second one was more memorable as it lasted longer (probably at least a mile) & I paced right behind a female runner & right in front of a male runner. A few runners caught up to our trio & passed us while on that campus & a few runners were also passed by us on that campus.
The biggest non-running related bummer of that portion of the marathon was that, at the water station immediately preceding the entry onto that campus I heard a snippet of a song. I believed it was Frank Sinatra or Perry Como, though it's likely to have been one of their contemporaries. The line of the song & lyrics in general sang clean & of innocent beauty. These words - this tune is what stayed with me the most while along the streets of that university's campus. I thought for certain I'd remember those key words that ran through my mind for those many minutes (as I didn't have my phone with me to run my well-used Sound Hound app back at that entrance water station) after I completed the marathon in so that I could record, or properly note what song it was; that didn't happen.
This is the song that I heard next as I rounded a bend into a generous cheering section, of which there were many. This bend came shortly after I received a dandelion necklace from a couple of young girls, likely five & six years old or so. I'd given each of them a high-five. (I
love giving out high-fives along running courses just about as much as I
love the color blue; it gives me such a thrill.) Their brother was standing there alongside them too, as well as their mother, who thanked me by name (as it was printed on my bib number) for stopping up enough to hand out their high-fives. I made sure to pause enough to kindly & specifically ask the brother, "Where's yours?" as, unlike the girls, he didn't actually have his hand up as I naturally passed; though he did offer it once I inquired.
I'd given them their high-fives just before running up one of those hills that looks like a high at its base. Then, as soon as the pedestrian is a few strides in, there's not really a hill, rather more an optical illusion, & the hill's been crested. This was also just before running around that campus where I'd picked up the mystery tune in my ear. It was after I'd headed back down the hill that the little girls called to me from their side of the street (the opposite side now) holding out their handmade necklace. I put it on immediately as their wasn't much else I could do with it. I was impressed with its sturdiness; it didn't crumble or tear at all. And it fit over the brim of my ball cap that I wore to shield the sun from my fair-skinned face & top of my head. The girls cheered.
That made it all the better.
Ironically, as I finished that hill a few houses further down that residential road & rounded the course's bend, a mother stood at the edge of her driveway more watching her rambunctious toddler son a bit further back in her driveway. As I quickly thanked her for coming out to cheer us she turned toward me &, very sincerely, admired my dandelion necklace. As I was already a pace or two beyond her, & the necklace wasn't in a position to be simply unwrapped back off my neckline & back over my ball cap, I couldn't just hand it off to her (though I'd have liked to since I could earnestly hear in her voice of her interest in it & I
certainly didn't need the necklace). Rather, all I
could do was quickly explain that it was a few neighbor girls of hers from right up the road & that, should she walk the course backwards a bit & see them at their curb's edge, they'd surely make her a necklace as well. I don't think this woman was in a position to attempt this as I could hear in her sigh enough of an emotional crumble.
The "bacon station" came around the corner next. The section was awkward because, as I approached it, the five hour pacer & his "contingency" passed me. The cheering entourage just prior to those handing out bacon had
this song blaring from the speakers. So, there I was, about to be passed by a dozen plus runners (because I wasn't maintaining a five hour pace, though I did try for a bit) & I all I could concentrate on, at least for a solid ten seconds, 😂 was not bothering to jump up in the air when they sang "Shout!" as I would if I were on a dance floor. 😏 This same cheering contingency knew the five hour pacer, who sort of jumped around & celebrated along to the song. And there was only so much space in this stretch of roadway for everyone. Fortunately, we all got through efficiently enough & continued onward.
The "bacon station" came around the corner next. According to the marathon's website, the station is at the halfway point. This makes sense since the young girls handed me my dandelion necklace at about Mile 11. So, as I managed my way alongside these "five hour" runners, I decided to grab for a piece of bacon. After all, I
was hungry too. As always, I had my Camelbak on my backside, so, even with having eaten this chewy, sugary, salty slice of bacon, I was able to wash it down by drinking more water from my Camelbak. Then came the little girl sitting on the curbside with her family in the driveway. She sat with a metal mixing bowl in her lap. The bowl contained orange slices.
I told that little girl I loved her as I scooped out an orange slice, which happened to fall right down to the pavement less than a foot below. As I snatched it back up I said, "I'll still eat it." As, while I continued running along, I shook off what dirt I could & then shoved the thin slice in my mouth, ripping the peel away from the fibers. It served as a great follow-up to the slice of bacon.
I noticed a few of the nearby runners fumbling through plastic bags. Eager to eat a little bit more, though knowing that these bags contained industrialized, processed products, & not real running energy, I perked up after a few paces more upon noticing a gentleman holding something out which resembled a quarter of an orange. Sweet. (Both literally & figuratively!) As I wore my prescription sunglasses, a very old prescription at that, & I naturally cannot see too far away, I called out to the man, "Is that fruit?" He stumbled for a moment & then quickly acknowledged that, yes, indeed, it was fruit. I eagerly & excitedly exclaimed as I reached to snatch it from his outstretched hand, "I'll totally eat that!" "I can't see far away." I added to explain why I questioned him as I had.
I felt empowered. That was a lot of orange I now got to enjoy. And I was well beyond the halfway point of the marathon as all of these snacks encompassed at least a mile or so of [cheering] terrain.
As much as I'd taken a concrete moment to focus, during my starting strides of the marathon, to not necessarily consider having, just the previous day, also run 26.2 miles, & instead to stay with those runners immediately in front of me as best as I could, for as absolutely long as I could, it was at this point, around Mile 17 when I next considered my pending feat. And I managed to drop it & let it go just as quickly realizing that I had no pain. And, unless I considered it, which I didn't, I wasn't even aware that I'd run an entire marathon the previous day; I didn't
feel as if I had. So...I cleared my head &
just. kept. running. After all, at this point along the course, I concretely had less than ten miles left to run in order to complete my "weekend task" of running 52.4 miles.
At the next bend in the course a stereo turned over to its next tune, Prince singing
this song. All I got to enjoy while a volunteer raised her cow bell & smiled enthusiastically to me while shaking it while others nearby cheered likewise, was, "I was dreamin' when I wrote this; Forgive me if it goes astray..."
Also all along these miles a volunteer would be on or next to his bicycle. It was funny at first since I'd not see him pedal away or show up at his next spot. At first I commented to him, "It's de ja vu." I also readily noticed his presence as he closely resembled a friend of mine, all the way down to his wide smile. And that friend was one who knew I was out there running these back-to-back marathons, so it was kind of a fun "double" to have. As the mileage got down to the wire, this pedaling volunteer showed up more & more. And I would see him pedal into position a time or two, so his original "ghostliness" subsided.
I'd heard much about the few "intense" hills along the course. The first were those I encountered at the point where I'd met those girls who eagerly handed me my dandelion necklace (which, at this point along the course, I still wore). The other hill was one that was said to end with popsicles; they called it "Popsicle Hill". I was to learn these were what had been known as "hug sticks" in my younger years. Around Mile 16 or Mile 17 I'd inquired with the bicycling volunteer on where to anticipate this final hill. He quickly guessed & shared what he could. Then he checked up with accurate sources & caught up with me a mile or so later. I'd finish running through the local park where we were & then run through another park. It would be shortly after that park where I'd encounter this infamous hill.
When I eventually noticed a hill, that appeared to last for about five or six residences, I inquired with a few locals standing off to the side cheering us along, if this was "the hill". The response I received was that it was the hill & it ended at the next cross street. It had begun at the library. I had seen a library sign (the typical, universal one, blue background, side view of a person holding a book in white) a bit back, just prior to a water station - where I did have my Camelbak filled for a second time. However, I'd not noticed the section of mileage to be a hill, gradual or not. Apparently it was. And so yes, I crested "Popsicle Hill" grateful to know that I'd well achieved those hills which the marathon committee deemed as such. Volunteers got into place with the hug stick popsicles. I called out for the cherry flavor. They weren't sure if the red was cherry; I assured them that whatever the red flavor was would suit me just fine. At that point a volunteer on the other side of the road offered me a second hug stick. I eagerly accepted. And, just as when I'd received that fruit which I couldn't see from a distance miles prior & there'd been a particular drop box for the orange's remaining peel, at just the right distance up ahead a sole volunteer prepared opening up a simple thirteen gallon trash bag as each of us runners finished off our hug stick & approached him; he'd hold open the bag as if he were a kid at a neighbor's front door on Halloween. My confidence was high enough that I told him about how, as long as I kept to my current pace, I'd PR. He listened & nodded. And off I continued with less than four miles to go.
I held nothing back. I had some squeamish feeling in a few of my toes. I pushed back against that negativity. The weather was wonderful & all that I'd backed off because of bodily concern & weather conditions the day before no longer existed. Course cameras appeared. They must have been dedicated to the half marathoners before & then moved along to the end of the marathon course. This was the last point where I passed by a stereo with an audible song erupting from its speakers. Taylor Swift sang
this song.
Although the last stretch before turning into the finish was alongside a highway, next up was a short residential section. We'd already passed by the Mile 25 marker, which, as soon as a passerby considers it, 0.2 miles has been completed, which means that only one mile remains. It was during these strides that we passed by houses, which is likely where two little boys, about five and eight years old, must have lived. They kept on the street riding their own bicycles even though right there on the course I ran & so did a young woman at least ten years my junior. She was a stride or so in front of me & immediately behind the second boys' back bicycle tire. My maternal instinct kicked in & I called out, "Kid, watch!" He did pedal a bit to the side. She moved a bit to the other side, away, too. She & I ran somewhat alongside one another as we passed by a house or two. I quickly apologized explaining that I realized she could get herself out of the way too. She smiled a bit, with some remaining energy & said, "It's okay."
I happened to speed up a bit upon hearing some great inaudible music up ahead where we were to meet back up to the highway. I figured we must be down to just about a half mile remaining. Another course camera appeared back in the middle of the street from the sideline. I received many cheers as I rounded onto the highway.
I immediately felt the young woman nearby. She leaned in, though she didn't touch me. She simply encouraged me saying, "Come on." while smiling. We both went for it. There was one police maintained intersection which remained. She slowed up, walking again, instantly.
This time I ran over to her, briefly placing my palm on her backside & said, "Come on! Let's go! I'm gonna PR!" She took off & I've not seen her since. That's glorification.
I rounded the final bend & realized there was approximately 100 meters left. That's due to my track & field days. It was a comparable 100 meter dash. I also was able to make out the clock's time. As much as I like doing things in 5s, I prefer not to do anything with 6s. I also knew that my chip time & the clock weren't
that far off of one another. And another thing I've learned over the years: If you can read the time clock, it's still gonna take approximately half a minute to pass underneath it. And so it was.
I knew if I could pull out my sprint, even though the clock read something about a minute under my PR, I could beat that time (a time which included a six 😞). There were two female runners also running for the finish line's timing mat. They were likely able to hear me cry out, "I don't want to see the six!" And I crossed that finish line, full sprint on, before the clock's minute rolled over. Yeeessssss!
Immediately I remembered to turn off my wrist time tracker,
this one, the same one which I've previously noted. It's still doing very well for me. Another runner who'd already finished, & I believe both of the weekend's marathons at that, presented me with both my finisher's medal & the additional one I was awarded for also having finished both of the weekend's marathons. She further asked me where "my people" were. I simply responded, "I am my people." She quickly ushered her daughter into position to take post finish line photos of me & text them my way as my phone sat a few booths away at bag check.
Although finishing up later in the day has its downfalls (the chicken booth had "sold out" & already closed up), there were ample orange slices & apples. There were also ample bottles of chilled chocolate milk atop the table. A recycling compartment sat next to a compost receptacle. I was in high Heaven.
Enroute to this second marathon from the first one the previous evening I'd found myself craving
this. I've not had chocolate almond milk in about seven or eight years & suddenly this massive craving. I spent much of the drive (since I'd no one to talk to or call between 5 & 7 p.m. on a Saturday evening) considering the logistics of finding a store in a town where I'd not been before to local said half gallon of milk & how, if I did attain this half gallon, I'd adjust the contents of my cooler in so that the milk could keep & so could the remainder of my uneaten perishables. The closer I got to my destination, not only was I simply worn out (& also realizing with the location's time difference, same day packet pick-up wasn't going to happen), I knew I'd be losing sleep (which I'd already lost more than I liked the previous night) trying to track down this craving. So I didn't.
As I worked on the research or the same-day packet pick-up, I read that there'd be chocolate milk at the finish. This warmed my heart & added to my answered prayers. All I'd need to do was make it to the finish line & indulge. And that I did do. As runners continued to pass under the final time clock I continued to drink chocolate milk. Some say this can be dangerous. Apparently between my craving & my dehydration, my body processed it fine; I felt nothing negative from the reward.
Another reward I enjoyed was noticing a young man, likely post baccalaureate age, approaching the snack table with a few folks. I recognized him as a runner who I'd paced with for a few highway miles somewhere between Mile 17 & Mile 21. He was another runner, who, had I not focused on staying relatively steady alongside, I'd not have succeeded as I had. He'd run a bit, then drop back to a walk. This is why we worked well [unofficially] together. He encouraged me to keep up to what he was achieving; I was encouraging him to keep at running & not linger back so much.
When I noticed him at the finish I inquired checking that he'd not
just finished. As I thought he'd passed me once & for all, all of those miles back. His mother was one of the people with him & she confirmed that no, he'd already finished & had just come back out to encourage her over the finish line. So I quickly shared with him of my PR & that I felt he should know as he'd had a small something to do with my having achieved it. He smiled & nodded slightly as only a young man of that age could & understanding of my compliment.
Another finisher who passed on through while I downed a few 16 ounce containers of chocolate milk, a female runner likely a few years my senior, who couldn't get her phone's camera app to comply. I volunteered mine as I'd visited bag check at this point. Also, even though I had those few photos the earlier runner's daughter had texted to me, I wished for one or two taken directly with my camera phone. And so this recent finisher & I worked together to take photos of each other with the finisher's banner above our heads & without the time clock which was above the banner, as well as angling so as not to have the sun's beams directly behind us, interrupting the image; we did well.
I'd been encouraged to check out the chicken tent booth & went to do so. Despite the negative news of its unavailability, I instead had the pleasure of being stopped by a male volunteer who found my two-marathons-in-one-weekend accomplishment to be 'out of this world' quite remarkable. It was a lovely conversation where I explained that I'd properly trained & focused as necessary. I also explained how I'd not really felt it all that day throughout the second marathon that I'd actually completed another one the prior day. He was still, generally speaking, very much quite impressed; I did not disregard this & I fully recognized that, had I not walked over to where the chicken would've been served from, this gentleman wouldn't have noticed me to approach me & tell me as such. God is good.
And, as I should've, a few apples & bottles of chocolate milk were added to that bag I'd retrieved from the bag check booth before I left the premises.
With all of this under my belt for that day, & therefore too, last weekend, it simply wasn't possible to digest & reflect upon all of it last Sunday evening. I had another Airbnb house to check into & sleep to be had. Monday morning would present what now seemed as a quite short car ride back (at five & a half hours) to where I call my hometown & where I'd need to be dropping off the rental car without accruing an extra days fee before 6 p.m.
And that I did too.
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Last Sunday I wrote about the Mother's Day gift I prepared for my mother this year & how our non-traditional celebration of the Day turned out well. We'd headed to the one of the many local theaters in our city.
...Mom has now received her surprise Mother's Day gift, a non-tangible one, just yesterday. I even managed to coordinate with my brother. I checked with him to learn if he'd be with Mom on Mother's Day. That's when I learned that she & Dad planned to be in his hometown, with his family, which meant that, to gift her with an experience, rather than an item, it would need to be scheduled for a weekend other than Mother's. Day. Weekend.
Unlike her sister a year & fifteen days before her, she showed up during the month before she was due shortly after 1 a.m. on a Saturday morning. And then their household had four birthdays - all to be celebrated during the month of February! 😍🎂
Back in the day of cassette tapes I had 
In catching up on some
not-so-new-releases, I discovered 
It's Valentine's weekend. Even though the date falls in the middle of the week. Typically these things get their unofficial celebration the Saturday beforehand.