Fox Cities Marathon Race Recap. . . . . . .Bring on the PR's.

Well, it has been tough finding the time to finally update you on my PR! I did it! I broke 4 hours with 9 minutes to spare! Despite feeling like total crap since the race, I'm thrilled with my race and my new PR. I knew I could do it, but I didn't know how hard it actually would be to have that 9 minute cushion.

On Saturday, Angie picked me up and we had our traditional Jimmy John's Subs for lunch whish is a pre-race tradition.

After lunch, we headed to The Fox Cities to get our race packets and check out the wellness expo.  It's always fun to see what kind of new running gear we could spend our money on and also get into the spirit of the pending race.  This race expo had a booth I've never seen at a race expo before.  I'm not one to pass up a good opportunity to try something new. . . . . . . but I probably won't be taking this hobby up any time soon. . .. . I just don't have the upper body strength to do this.

Let's just say I don't see this as my next "workout" plan.

After the Expo, we hit up the Appleton Mall quick to do a little shopping.  When I say little, I mean little.  I could normally spend the entire weekend shopping in Appleton, however walking around a mall shopping is not my idea of resting and prepping for a race, so we kept it minimal.  We were fortunate to have a place to crash Saturday night.  We made a spaghetti dinner for my friend, her husband and their three (very well behaved) children.  It was awesome to spend time with them and also great to have a nice place to sleep before the race. . . . not to mention curb side service to the start line!  After dinner (and the kids went to bed) we watched the first episode of "orange is the new black" . . . . I'm looking forward to watching a few more episodes when I have time.  (Thanks for the new show to get addicted to Jenny!).

I normally don't sleep the best before a race.  I'm nervous about the run, getting up early and just making sure everything is in order so I don't forget anything.  I slept pretty good though and woke up refreshed and ready for the race.  I was pretty excited until I had to stand out in the 34 degree weather waiting for the race to start.  I was thankful for wearing some sweats to take off before we started running.  We anxiously awaited the start in our corral.  Once the race started we were off. . . . and then we were slowed down. ... . . bottle neck at the start line!  Once we hit the start line, I weaseled my way around other runners to get some clear space to take off and go!

FREAKING BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR  -but no complaints from us!

As you'll see on my splits below, I started very strong. The weather was chilly (down right nipply actually) so the fact that I couldn't feel my the toes on my left foot was a little concerning to me. I knew they would warm up, but I didn't want to have issues with my toes. I only had about 25 miles on my shoes prior to the start of this marathon, so I was a little nervous about the fit right when I started. Once my feet warmed up (about 2 miles in) I was fine and I was feeling great. It felt easy to keep my pace. I'm always a little nervous to start strong and keep my pace fast because it's hard to tell what I'll feel like at mile 10, 15, and most importantly 20-26.2 . . . . which I learned during this race can be super hard. My last marathon was an overall decline in elevation, so I can honestly say I never really hit "the wall" and felt like I just couldn't keep going. This race was different. I hit the wall at mile 20 and really wanted the race to be over. Of course, I'm no quitter and I knew that the better I kept my pace, the sooner I'd be done and enjoying some chocolate milk and a banana and whatever else was at the finish line.

Around mile 5.5, my best friend Devon came out to the course to cheer me on!  She lives about a block away so I told her my ETA when I found out where the course was going.  It was pretty exciting to see my first fan of the day!  She even snapped a good photo!  It's funny to me that I look so short in this photo!

Not sure how to make this one smaller. . . . .look how short I am compared to my other pace companions!  (Bad-Ass huh?)


Shortly after that, my Aunt Krista and Uncle Jeff were waiting to cheer me on!  they live directly on the race course so they came outside to see me fly by!  My Aunt Krista made me the first sign anybody has ever made for me for a race!  I never even thought to expect a sign, but knowing my Aunt. . . . I'm not surprised at all.  (She's the fun creative aunt who always has activities and games for the kids around).  It was an awesome surprise!  I don't see them often, so it was a bummer I couldn't stop to chat. . . . but I had a PR to chase after!

My first sign ever. . . . and obviously my Aunt pays attention to my blog!  She's so good with the details! :)

I knew to expect Devon and my Aunt and Uncle by their homes, so after that, my excitement of race fans was over until the finish line, where Steve and Jackson would be waiting.  I kept my pace as long as I could which looking back at my splits, I'm pretty impressed with my ability to run sub 9's for 14 miles. 

Angie read reviews that this course was "flat" . . . .which is totally relative.  Grandma's is an overall decline and I could tell Fox Cities Marathon was not!  the middle miles were hard because the excitement of the start of the race was over but the end was nowhere in sight.  It felt long and slightly monotonous.  I knew I had a long way to go before I got my PR.

The elevation looks fairly accurate to how it felt. . . slower longer inclines which are pretty tough I think.

We ran through 7 cities. . . which sounds insane for one run, but we did it!

Nothing like taking a nice little jog through 7 cities at one shot!

So, here are my splits.  As I  mentioned before, I started strong and slowed towards the end.  I feel like my first14 were really good.  I ran strong, felt good and fueled well.  After that, right around the incline, things started to taper for me.  It wasn't bad by any means, but I wasn't feeling as strong as I had on the first 14 miles.  I tend to wonder if I should run like most people and take it down a notch to start and then finish stronger. . . but then I feel like I might not meet my potential.  I guess there is only one way to find out. . . . keep running marathons and tyring different strategies.

That's a whole lotta miles.

After a LONG 26.2 (the last 6 were the worst) I was excited to see my little buddy and Steve!  The welcomed me to the finish line!  I was pretty tired, but we chatted for a while and I shared my post-run food with them . . . . it was tough for me to eat anyway!  Jackson was so excited to see my medal. . . he said "You WON Mommy!"  Regardless of the fact that I came in 286 out of 978 for all Full Marathoners (which I'm actually stoked about) I'm a winner in his eyes. . . and I couldn't be more excited to show him my dedication.  Some day he'll be able to understand the work that goes into marathoning (I can only hope) and he'll still be as proud of me as he was this day!

Another GREAT Race for my BRB & myself!  Looking forward to the next adventure.

After Angie finished & had an AMAZING 13 minute PR  (Go ANGIE!), we walked around a little, ate some food (not much because I had severe stomach cramping from the GU packs) and then we walked a few blocks to Angie's Car.  We enjoyed the drive home, thrilled with our race results and excited about making future plans for the next run.

Lucky for me, Angie was driving so I got to kick my feet up. . . . NICE!



I have to say, I know what it's like to be sore after a run.  I was sore after Grandma's Marathon, but certainly not the worst I've ever felt after a long run.  I felt worse after the Cellcom 1/2 Marathon I did last year but that was simply because the heat was atrocious and I was totally dehydrated.  I woke up Monday morning with in insane amount of pain.  The muscle aches were not anything to "work through" with a little movement.  Any time I sat down for more than 5 or 10 minutes, I could hardly move when I got up.  I got a few comments at the office about my goofy walk.  I don't care though. . . . I ran hard and really left it all out on the course.  I ran my best and felt great about my efforts!  I haven't run since Sunday and I'm still sore, although at a managable level of discomfort now.  I'm hoping to get through an insanity video with my sister this weekend while I'm away for a cousin's wedding!  I'll let you know if I survive!

Despite my soreness, I managed to wear these babies on Monday!  I have long pants, so flats just aren't an option!  (Short Girl Problems!)

Somebody that I work with put a bug in my ear about doing the Phoenix Rock & Roll Marathon in January. . . . . . I travel to AZ for work, so this is doable, but I'm not real sure I can run in AZ heat. . . it would be 60's or 70's in January, so that would still be hot for me. . . . . I'm contemplating. . . but otherwise I'll hold out for Grandma's again & hopefully . . . . . . . (really hoping) to get a BQ (boston qualifier). . . . I have my sights set on that, but I'm not sure it will be the next marathon, or a ways down the road!  Time will tell, but for now, I'm thrilled with my 21 minute PR and breaking my goal of 4 hours by 9 minutes!  I'd call that success! 

Looks like I need to do another 5k & 10k soon to have more accurate PR's for my current pace.

--I have to close by saying thanks. . . . thanks to Angie for being the BEST RUNNING BUDDY ever and for developing all of our training plans, thanks to Steve for making it possible for me to get all of my running in, thanks to all my friends and family for supporting me through my running adventures and listening to all my great stories, thanks to Rhianna for some great music to get me through this last Marathon . . . . . and thanks to all of the race fans that shouted words of encouragement when it probably looked like I wanted to pass out!  Running is truly such a rewarding sport!