My First Marathon - Richmond Marathon 16 Nov 2013

                                                            

The group in front turned left, “This is it” Coach Maggi said, and as we turned, there it was, downhill in quarter of mile the big finish line gate. We crossed the 26 mile sign. “Yes, we did it” said Brian. Fist-bump. “Yes we did”.  Coach Maggi smiled “You did it”, and let us go forward to feel the glory of first marathon finish. I clinched my fists, put my hands up in air, grunted “YES” and crossed the finish line. I saw multiple cameras capturing the moment and I felt like a SUPERSTAR after 5:04:04 hrs.

Part I – To the Starting Line

I was already up or say I couldn’t sleep. So as soon as alarm went off at 5 AM, I ran to dryer, hoping my running shorts are dried and team T-shirt not botched by fabric colors. It took me some time to put the bib (7997) in right place on T-shirt, which was now adorned with round pink “1^st marathon” sticker, ‘Cowboy up’ tattoo, and pink/black ribbons in honor of Larry. The bagel  breakfast was quick and surprisingly everything else was quick to found and arranged. And, before leaving, just like on any other important event, selfish me turned to God and my Mom, pleaded “ Please, please. Make everything fine today”.

 When I stepped out it was already drizzling. I ran towards my car and threw my running belt, 2 bananas and clear bag in passenger seat. I was glad when GPS displayed 6:30 target time, as MTT gathering was only starting at 7. The interstate drive was quick and I reached the Exit just on time. It started pouring now, and  huge traffic moving dead slow appeared at the exit. In another 15 minutes my anxiety levels climbed a level as my car moved just .2 miles.

It was already 6:50 by the time I took a wrong turn (my awesome route sense) and had to park in paid parking instead of the free parking available for MTT. In the lift, I was hoping MTT photo session to be delayed. It was already 7, so I ran to nearest revolving door, and with all effort tried to push it. It didn’t budge. The kind lady standing next to door sheepishly said “Yeah, few other people also tried. Its locked I suppose”. I just ran to other door trying to identify other familiar faces but couldn't, which simply meant everyone else was at the MTT gathering. “Dude, what you doing” I looked up and asked. Probably there was a smirk, which I couldn't see due to cloud cover. The time I reach capitol it was already 7:15. Tammy gave me a sweet hug and told “Yes, it’s done” and added some consolation “ Many people missed it due to rain”. So no more pre-run rituals, my anxiety climbed one more level. The rain nearly stopped now so like Hulk Hogan, I tore the plastic bag I was wearing to save from rain. “You were there for the photos?” Dawn asked, walking to starting point. “No, I missed that” looking at the clear bag in her hand, and remembering my forgotten clear bag and pre-race bananas in the car. By this time, even my anxiety felt sympathetic. The half marathoners were in starting line, and I was now seeing familiar faces – Pink Nation members, Coaches waiting for marathon line-up. And, I started to feel better. I crunched on power bar, emptied the water bottle and stood in potty line. I was glad to see Pat there, we hugged and shared good vibes. My anxiety levels were back to normal now. I was assigned in Wave 6, which was the last wave. I didn't go to the front and waited in back for wave to move forward, as I wanted to start slow. I didn't know how slow, but slow.

                                                                      

Part II - The first half - The company you keep

I always start awkward and it takes some time to relax. I also learnt that I like to smile, laugh and hear people say things during runs but not necessarily talk a lot (Probably my brain’s idea of conserving energy-selfish runner). So I followed coach Maggi and couple of PinkNation, who were spreading lots of positive vibes for half-a-mile. Then more boisterous Pink Souls arrived along with Tammy and Chris. Tammy had just finished MCM in a Dunkin Donut costume, so I was sure she knew the trick to finish, so I tagged along. Running with lively Pinks, give you big advantage – feel the energy and forget the time. So now my pace was better without any effort. I saw Tina and Jane, like always they were enjoying the run and on race day it looked even more so. They made it a point to thank every volunteer, policeman, spectator and encourage runners alongside them. Somehow, most of the long training runs I ran alongside or following them. As we reach Monument Avenue, I saw Barb running with her group. I just  love Barb so much, she is the first person I talked to on first day of MTT, and in her own way she made me comfortable as a part of PinkNation. Gosh, I still remember how awkward I was on first day. I ran along with her through the historic district, which is an experience in itself. Historic buildings alongside tree covered paths in fall season absorb you with its serenity.

I caught up with Tina and Jane again around mile 5, with their energy it was easy for me to run along the familiar path for next few miles across river road bridge and Pony Pasture, which we did multiple times in long runs. It is the most awesome view of picturesque James river flowing slowly, but alas, it’s a marathon and I needed to move on. The steep downhill to pony pasture around mile 8 was not so good for legs but high for moral with some awesome cheers and the mile 8 sign. The next two miles were through Pony pasture, running alongside James river, which is treat for sore legs. Flat course, where I ran my best 5K couple of months back. Tina and Jane looking great at this point, I had to try hard to match pace.

As we near mile 10, my anxiety levels once again started rising , as during long training runs this is where my knees buckled and made me walk or stop completely, and this time it was the start of steep hill. I treaded carefully, but nothing, another few steps, still nothing. A good sign, so I ran the hill and saw mile marker 10. Another good sign and good time for a selfie with mile marker. The SAG was just around the next corner, good time for a quick snack, atleast that’s what I thought. I took out Power Bar and took a bite, it was hard as if straight out of hours in freezer. With water cup in one, and my stone bar in another, I kept walking and chomping, patiently watching other runners passing by, and some of them yelling ‘Looking good!’, ‘You OK?’. By the time I gulped the last piece of the bar after two minutes with aching jaws, most of the crowd I was running along earlier were far ahead and I couldn't see Tina or Jane. “Time to increase your pace” I thought, and started running. I have this crazy habit, whenever I want to totally focus on my run, I tilt my head a little forward, fix my eyes on road and if I have, lower my hat. It’s like getting the tunnel vision and run, probably not a good idea on training runs with traffic on road, but race day is special occasion. By the time I caught up with Tina and Jane, who were running at optimum pace by then, it was already mile 12. At this time I was feeling really good, and even the course was familiar and to my liking. I maintained my pace and reached mile marker 13.1, I looked at my watch it was less than 2:30, which was really good, “5:30 is really possible now” I thought (the only time before I finished half marathon distance before 2:30 was Patrick Henry Half marathon at 2:24). I asked a gentleman standing next to big timer to take a picture of me at mile marker.

                                                                       

Part III - Half turns 20 – The mind games

I planned to maintained the same pace till Lee Bridge. Along the way, I grabbed half banana and a big candy from RRRC SAG and saw both coach Mikes pep-talking and running alongside runners. At the mile marker 15, I saw coach Judy, cheerful as always, she yelled “Looking good. The next SAG is just after the bridge”, and then I mistook a cheering coach (think Saturday team) for a finisher and yelled “ You already done. Wow”, and he yelled back “I am the Coach”, I sheepishly grinned and changed my gear.

On the bridge, someone yelled “You look strong”, it was Cori, PinkNation team mate, I ran my first half marathon with in Lynchburg, I smiled and yelled back.  The Lee bridge is flat and long (1/2 mile or more), I saw few people walking and had strong urge to do so, but was afraid of coaches watching, so chomped on a Gu Gel and kept running. At the end of Lee bridge, Coach John was running back towards bridge, I waved at him. He asked “ How you feel”, “Good” I said. “You look good, the SAG is just around the corner”, He ran back to find any souls need pickup, I moved forward. It was junk food SAG I chomped on few pretzel and cookie pieces and gulped Gu gel. The salt tasted much better at this point.

I saw Mark Buckland taking photos around 16.5, just like I saw him doing for last 6 months and heard about him doing that for last so many years. Getting to know him during colonial 200 and MTT are highlights of my short running career. I can’t imagine having his dedication. He ran 8K in the morning and now capturing memories for all of us. And, like I rehearsed so many times, I put my hands up and smiled.

As I reached mile 17 marker, even though I was pacing good, my overall energy levels were dipping and my legs strated their sobbing ritual. So to distract my mind I took couple of pictures, and started talking to other runners and yelling back to cheering spectators. I saw a lady, running with 4 bib numbers in her first Richmond marathon. She told that her friends ditched her, so she removed their timer chips and running for all of them. We ran together for few minutes, then I saw coach Hein. She has this amazing effect on people, it’s like hit by energy bolt and you just power up. My legs were already pacing up, when I heard “ You look amazing”, and then she shouted at the group of spectators, pointing me “ He is the man”, and then they all yelled back “Yeah. He is the man”. I grinned, ear to ear, and ran. The path looked pretty familiar now, it was the home stretch to sportsbacker stadium. I saw Maria, who told that she is updating her marathon status live online and has a battery in her left hand connected to the phone. I was just amazed. The mile marker 19 was just before the hill and I remembered that Jen planned for a PinkNation SAG near stadium which is just .5 miles now. I took another selfie and ran the hill. As I near the PinkNation SAG, Jen was standing with the camera, so I put up a big smile and posed. I picked few pretzels, orange slices and ran.

Few more minutes and mile marker 20 was in front, and it was much less than 4 hours I always predicted. With so much happening positively, I really felt good. I still had doubts on my finish, “but if I would it’s definitely going to be awesome”, I thought.

Part IV - The critical 5 before the last – Body over mind.

And all of sudden I was  in uncharted territory. I haD discussed it so many times, thought about it more often. I never ran more than 20 before. I didn’t know how my body going to react and once more anxiety levels rose. At this point, my revolting body, especially legs found a crack. Just as I was ready to give up, I saw a pink banner atop Bellevue arch, I couldn’t read it from far but the design look familiar. After few tired steps I could see PinkNation banner with ‘CowBoy Up’, I stopped, admired and clicked the picture. Then I saw coach Linton who said “You look good.” I remember this route clearly as coach Blair explained it to me, couple of weeks back to take tangents. I felt a lot better, even though my body I revolting, everything else still favored me. I knew I could finish it now, even if I have to walk. And then I saw coach Blair himself, who like always made me believe, l can easily crack it. So I paced myself through the curves of Bellevue. The autumn trees, yellow fallen leaves on curvy roads made it scenic run for next one mile. I was definitely tired, but  it was still mind over body.

Out of Bellevue, nearing mile 22 my mind was slowly giving up. I heard, “Hey KaSH”. It was Alex, even though he looked tired, he was still his cheerful self. If its college, he would be named the cool guy. He is one of more boisterous member of PinkNation and thanks to him, I got a chance to experience Colonial 200. I just walked through next SAG as Alex passed me. I was really tired and wanted to just walk, I saw Alex getting farther and farther. It took another minute for me to chomp on my energy gel and get my engines on throttle. I definitely needed company at that point, so I picked up pace to catch Alex, but it was getting tougher. Then I saw someone running from right side after a bathroom break towards Alex. It was Brian. So now I have two runners I knew, running in some distance from me.  I picked up my pace, my legs cried, but it was too late for them. By the time I caught up with Brian and Alex near mile 23, they were walking. That was good for me, I needed this break. We walked for a minute or two, then Alex asked us to move on. I was really trying to match pace with Brian, as he is much faster than me. I asked a spectator to take my picture at mile 23 before running.

It was fun running with Brian, as just like me, it was his first marathon. We saw a banner at mile 23.1 which said “FUN 5K starts here”. In a way, it was encouraging, but annoying too. We talked and ran at good pace for another mile. I knew there is a outside chance that I could still finish before 5 hrs mark in my first. And then at the SAG at mile 24, I had this weird thought “If I finish my  first before 5 what I will target for Charleston in Jan. I am anyway going to pass 5:30 by big margin”, and Brian was fine with that, so we started walking and we saw coach Judy. And Brian said the most funny thing to coach Judy “I was running too, it’s just that whenever I met you on the course, I was walking” as this happened for the third time. We walked for few more minutes and at the corner of Grace saw Coach Judy who yelled “Run Guys”, and without a second glance, we just started running. Just before the mile marker, we saw coach Maggi again, who gladly took our picture at marker 25.

Part V - The final mile – Crushing it !!!

So now we had coach Maggi running with us and all the pressure was gone. So posing for professional cameras was not an issue. We saw Mark Buckland again with the camera and posed. By this time I got rid of my cap and set my hair, in preparation of finish line cameras. I had some gas left in my tank but I did not know when it’s going to finish- now or after few steps. Coach Maggi continuously talking with us, even though most of my replies were ‘Hmmm’ or ‘Yeeeeah’ or ligher or stronger versions of them.

“After the corner it’s all easy downhill.  Just next corner” Coach Maggi’s pep-talk was really working for last mile, as I was still running. I glanced towards Brian and he was matching Coach Maggi’s pace. I looked at my Garmin, 25.5 already done so finish must be near I thought, but  couldn’t see it due to the corner. I saw Coach Hein running few yards ahead mumbling something to a couple of runners trying to match her pace. My mind though was just angry with me now and throwing expletives of all kind “You know you going to finish now, you could just walk. Don’t show off”, probably my legs sending SOS, but I was still running. 

 Part VI - The Moment

The group in front turned left, “This is it” Coach Maggi said, and my heart skipped a beat; downhill in quarter of mile was a big finish line gate. A part of me wanted to savior the moment but I couldn't stop, and now my mind, body, legs just pushing me forward. We crossed the 26 mile sign. “Yes, we did it” said Brian. Fist-bump. “Yes we did” said I.  Coach Maggi smiled “You did it”, and let us go forward to feel the glory of first marathon finish.  I looked up at heavens and mumbled “Thank You Mom”. I clinched my fists, put my hands up in air, grunted “YES” and crossed the finish line. I saw multiple cameras capturing the moment and I felt like a SUPERSTAR.

Part VII - The After

I know, I should have stopped at being SUPERSTAR, but then the joy I felt was not just for that moment. The moment I got your medal, the pain was gone. It took some time for me understand, "I finished a marathon. Its special. I am going to remember it forever."

Between beer, pizza and more finisher photos, there was a lot of fist-pumping, hugging, congratulating and meeting happy faces I was so habitual of seeing every Sunday and probably for last time till next MTT.

By the time I said good bye to the brown island with my medal, my legs were ready to kill me. It took half hour in hot water tub and heavy lunch, just to get them moving. It was painful for another two days, but it was good pain (yes, I said it) bordering on amazing for first day. That night I slept early with my medal rolled in my hand, and it was the best sleep I had in days.

FINISH