White Rock Marathon Recap

I really should have posted this last week but since we’re in the midst of finals at school I decided to wait on it a bit. I still have one more final which I should be studying for right now but I’m feeling kind of unmotivated to study right now honestly.

So I started training for the Half Marathon portion of the White Rock Marathon in September.  Before that the longest I had ever run was a 10K.  Training for this pretty much took over my life because I wasn’t honestly sure that I could do it.  So I made training for this a huge priority.  Absolutely no regrets- this was kind of the most awesome thing that I’ve ever done!!!!

My brother is a pretty accomplished athlete- he’s done just about everything: half and full marathons, triathlons, etc…  He’s also been a personal trainer and he and my sister-in-law also happen to be my Chiropractors!  So when I decided I wanted to do this he was the first person I talked to about a training plan.  Between the two of us we made a plan work with my schedule and I got busy running.

My only regret from training was that I didn’t go in for regular adjustments. My knee started giving me major problems about a month before the race and I iced, rested and kinesio taped it.  What I should have done was go in for an adjustment- I went right after the race and my knee pain was immediately gone and hasn’t hurt since.  Something to keep in mind for the next go round!

I followed my training plan and I was pretty much good to go for the race- just really really nervous!  Plus the forecast looked horrible- rain, rain, and more rain.

I headed to the expo the day before to pick up my race packet.  I’ve only done one other race with an expo so it was really cool to get to walk around and check things out.  And hellooooo… free stuff!!

Ideas for future races…

Bought a few things…

Just a note- I had never tried that brand of kinesio tape before so I thought I’d give it a try cause it’s pink and all.  Don’t waste your money- it sucks. It started peeling off before I even got to the race!  The Kinesio Tex Gold is the best brand- go for this one if you need some kinesio tape!

And I absolutely love this headband. How can you possibly go wrong with a sparkly headband?!  It’s a sweaty band.  I  have three others in varying widths and they are the ONLY headbands that do not slide right off of my head when working out. I highly recommend them!!

Then I headed home to relax for the rest of the day! 

Race Day…

I tried to pack my bag the night before and get my stuff ready for the next day but I was so nervous that I forgot a major item that I needed.  Fuel.  And I didn’t notice that I didn’t have anything until I got to the race.  I found a larabar in my glove box so that’s all I had for fuel the whole race.  Major fail.

Race day there was a torrential downpour.  I don’t mean sprinkling.  Or drizzling.  Or even raining.  I mean serious gully washing going on here.  But I’m cheap and I paid a $100 entry fee for this race so I was going to run it rain or shine.

And rain it did. 

It was actually clear when I lined up in my corral and when the race started. Then around mile 2 it started pouring.  And it poured the whole rest of the race. 

I had a rain jacket so it wasn’t too bad until mile 5 then I just kind of was over the rain and just wanted to be done with the race at that point.  Did I also mention that the temperature was falling the entire race?  We started out somewhere in the upper 40’s and it was barely hanging out at 40 by the end of the race.  No joke my lips and toes were blue by the end of the race!

It.  Was.  Miserable.

I just focused on the finish line the whole time.  Finishing was my goal and I was going to finish.  I was slow finishing with 3:04:28 but I finished!  And I also ran the whole thing! (I only walked through water stations since I’m not coordinated enough to run and sip at the same time!)

The course was awesome.  I will definitely be running it again next year- hopefully it will be dry!  There were just a few slight inclines- not really anything I would consider a hill.  We started at Fair Park and went through Dallas and some really pretty residential areas in Highland Park.  There weren’t many people out because of the weather.  But there were lots and lots of water stations.  I didn’t need all of them, but I tried to alternate water with some Gatorade hoping the Gatorade would at least give me some carbs since I had forgotten my fuel.  

My brother and sister-in-law were at mile 6 but I didn’t see them unfortunately.  Around mile 8 I started getting bored and I was tired of my music.  Around mile 10 I was feeling cranky and cold and wet and I was just really really really ready to be finished.

At mile 12 our course met up with the Marathon course so I found a new surge of energy and at 13 we rounded a corner and I could hear the crowd and was starting to see the finish line.  As soon as I saw it I could NOT stop smiling!  And as soon as I crossed it I totally started crying!  I had dreamed of that moment for months and it was finally there.  I ran a half marathon y’all!!!!!!

And Laura was there to meet me after I finished!  She brought me snacks and took a few pics for me! (see my blue lips?!) Thanks for coming Laura!!!!

After that I headed to see my brother for an adjustment and he got my knees all fixed up and I went home and CRASHED.  I was exhausted y’all!  And p.s. calf sleeves totally rock- my calves were not a bit sore the next day!

Sorry that this turned into a monster post, hopefully you made it all the way through!!!