Things that most definitely rocked in my first marathon experience:
1. The weather was perfection. 50 degrees at the start maybe 70 with a cool breeze by the end.
2. Having a connection with John McCain at the start, he gave me the his signature thumbs up.
3. Beating the compression pants off the Ironman Madison guy at mile 24.
4. The people at mile 17 that gave me orange slices, half a banana and pretzels - I'd gladly give a kidney to any of them.
5. Running with Dean Karnaze ultraman legend from mile 9 to mile 10.
6. Seeing Sonja Wieck at mile 3.
7. Not having to stop to pee.
8. Making friends with green beaded necklace guy, purple stripe lady from Seattle, and the yeller from Floor-ida.
9. Seeing a guy in a banana suit and Elvis Presley (he's alive and kicking in AZ).
10. Red short/black tank lady that helped pace me at the end.
11. Being the first person to use a port-a-potty pre-race.
12. The early morning comedy routine provided by the lost/bickering bus drivers. "Who's on First?" ("Right on 3rd, left on Adams, left on 4th, right on Madison!")
13. Having an awesome first half of the race.
14. Finishing.
15. Finishing reallyreally close to my goal time of 4:00.00 (official time 4:07.27).
16. Jerry waiting for me at the end with a big sweaty/salty kiss.
17. The couple at mile 21 with Twizzlers. I *heart* you.
18. A L-O-N-G, hot post race shower.
19. Thousands of helpful, smiling volunteers.
Things that most certainly did NOT:
1. Not having enough fuel and bonking at mile 13.
2. Lady at mile 17 that peed behind the concrete barrier, about 100 people saw her hiney.
3. The smell under the 202 bridge.
4. Not being able to sleep the night before the race.
5. Guys peeing all over the freaking place.
6. Blisters.
7. Belly dancers that gave a whole new meaning to the term. (what IS it with belly dancers showing up at all the races I run?)
All in all it was a great experience and I can't wait to do it again.
13 comments:
Oooooh, sooooo awesome. This is not good enough, I want to chat.
But nevertheless, re:
2a. The REAL John McCain or the die cute John McCain like Nicole's Rack-a-bama? I would like to get the thumbs up from the real John. Cool.
6a. Is going to make Nicole misty-eyed and green with envy.
3a./8a./10a./17a. You will remember these people forever and talk about them (with those exact discriptions) like they are your best friends. I love that.
13a./14a. FANFREAKINGTASTIC!
15a. Even more FANTREASKINGTASTICER. That's just amazing.
5b. Boys are yucky.
6b. Bummer. But now you're a pro.
WHHHAAAATTT?!?
You saw McCain AND SONJA?
Holy Smokes! What a small world! So now my friend's sister-in-law who I know only through blogging has seen my athletic hero at a marathon in a state that neither of them live in.
Weird.
Your time is so awesome, Sara, and I can only hope and pray that I can rock my first 26.2 in similar fashion (except maybe with less buttcrack viewing;)
Rock on, girlfriend!
You CRACK me up! You are sooo right, I was right there at Mile 3. Did I cheer for you? I hope that I did! Hard to miss me in the green trakkers shirt!
I saw Dean when I was cheering at mile 18 and I was so stoked too! His hair is really curly.
Wow girl! Way to go with your first marathon, sounds like you learned some things that you can change for next time (and go under 4)!!!
My friend Randi finished in 4:07, here is her blog:
http://ironstrand.blogspot.com/
Sonja commented on your blog. HOLY. CRAP.
ALSO TOO! WAY TO GO!! I am so proud/jealous of you! I'm glad you had such an awesome experience, and that your list of negatives is relatively minimal. I hear ya on the man-pee-ers though. It's like running a race makes exposing yourself in public totally ok.
BUT I digress. CONGRATS!!! Love ya!
Yay Sara! I was wondering how your race went. Your time is amazing! Congrats!
You rock. I'm jealous, but not doing anything about it. There. I admitted it. I'm a couch potato. And you just ran your first 26.2 in just over 4 hours. Fan-freakin-tastic. Also too? You rock. Some more.
P.S. I'm not sure the sweaty/salty kiss would have made my "good" list. Ew. A high-five, fist-bump "I'm really proud of you" would have sufficed for me. Maybe a "not completely awful" list would have been a good addition to this blog.
But then, I guess that's why YOU'RE married to my brother.
If you continue training you can come to OKC and do our full. BEST FAN BASE EVER!!! (and we're here too!)
I will cheer and loudly!
Way to go...so proud of you! You kicked 26.2's butt!
Yes indeedy - John McCain in the flesh! AND Sarah Palin was in town later that week for some political mumbo jumbo, also too, but I didn't see her.
sara, you saw Johnny Mac in the flesh? And Dean and Sonja (WHOCOMMENTEDONYOURBLOGOHMYGOODNESS).
I can't believe you're even cavorting with us regular folk anymore!
What a fantastic list! I'm so proud of you and I think you kick butt even if you don't have one anymore.
Love you girlie!
Sara, that is beyond extraorindary! I am in awe of yet ANOTHER thing that you do!
Sara, that is beyond extraorindary! I am in awe of yet ANOTHER thing that you do!
That's a lot of peeing. I always wondered what people do in races like that. I'm super proud of you. I'm especially proud that you enjoyed it. Or worried about you, one or the other:) Do people seriously stand by in races and give orange slices to strangers or are the official volunteers?
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