It had already been an amazing weekend with both
Friday and
Saturday filled with good times and good running friends. I still had half the weekend to go, I hadn't even run the marathon yet! Thankfully I was able to get a great sleep on Saturday night and although that 3:45 am alarm came quickly I felt good when I woke up.
My morning was pretty uneventful, which was surprising because I was worried I might be nervous. But I wasn't. I'd spent so much time wondering and worrying about this race in the weeks prior that I had none left for race day. Phew! My pre-race breakfast of 2 eggs over easy, turkey meatballs and leftover veggie stir fry was delicious and after a last look around to make sure I had everything, I headed out to meet up with Solana and her family.
On the drive in Solana gave me her "Believe I can" ring to wear for the day to give me a bit of extra inspiration and I gladly put it on since I knew it would help...
When we got to Queen Elizabeth Park I started to get excited and maybe a touch nervous. We picked a spot to get settled and hung out for a bit. We were early enough to see Solana's mom and our other friends doing the half but then we would have almost an hour to wait for the marathon to start. So what else would good running bloggers do? Take pictures of course!
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| My running ladies: Leana, Krista, me and Solana |
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| And some new ones too! Me, Monique, Solana, Jess and Candice |
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| Solana, Me and Jackie! |
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I even got to hang out with Russ from
my Goofy team! |
It was a really nice way to lead up to gun time. We visited, warmed up a bit, people-watched and of course, used the bathrooms. Thanks BMO for providing such lovely bathrooms! I grabbed one last selfie before I had to get ready for real and send my backpack back to the car with Solana's husband.
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Now is that the face of a confident
marathoner, or what? |
I waited on the sidelines until my brown corral moved it's way up and chatted with a few other runners. Before I knew it, brown had caught up and I found Alanna in the crowd. We chatted a bit as we continued moving toward the start and then suddenly it was our turn to go!
I was super nervous about the start of the marathon course because I had read that the first 4-5km were a bit up and down before you had a chance to find your rhythm. Looking at the elevation profile I thought the first 15km looked like they could be kind of difficult but I was pleased to find that the hills didn't seem too big at the start and it wasn't hard to settle in. Phew! First big concern behind me.
Everything continued on pretty good for the first while. My biggest goal for the day was to go easy and not risk aggravating my calf injury or accumulating any new injuries. I thought a lot about my breathing and keeping an easy stride. It was such a pretty morning too, it wasn't too hard to just sit back and enjoy the run. By 9:00 am however, it was already scorching hot and that was just a little bit crazy.
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| Somewhere in the beginning, feeling good |
I was familiar with most of this course so I liked that I could count off in my head whereabouts we were. But on the same hand, that made me get nervous as we neared my second big concern of the race: Camosun hill. The BIG hill on the marathon course and I was dreading it. It was definitely long but luckily I had a walk break fall right before we started up and I just put it into autopilot and chugged along. I ran alongside a guy in a full plush Barney costume and I thought that at least I didn't have it as bad as that guy - before I knew it we had climbed the hill and I was thrilled!
We wound our way over to UBC from there and this was a really pretty part of the course. This is a horrible picture but this guy was dressed up as Will Ferrel doing the infamous "More cowbell!" skit from Saturday Night Live and man, this guy made me smile for several miles beyond...
I was happy to reach UBC because I knew that we had a super long downhill portion coming up (Scotiabank Half Marathon anyone?). I typically love downhill but with my calf injury hills had become a bit tougher. I was worried it might bug me and was so thankful when I turned down NW Marine Drive and found I could open it up a little. It was awesome. I felt like I was flying, strong and steady, all the way down to the beachfront at the bottom. It was a real confidence booster just before the halfway mark.

I broke down at this point and visited the honey bucket (which I have only ever done at one other race) but I figured 21 more km was a long ways to go when you had to, well, go. It was somewhere around here that I had taken a look at my phone and saw that Solana had dropped and would be waiting for me somewhere along the course. I was sad she had to drop but it was awesome to know she was there waiting and it definitely helped get through the Kitsilano stretch of the course which was flat but in full sun and hot, hot, hot. This was where I started to get tired.
Just after 26km I met up with Solana and it was such a welcome sight. I wanted to stop and hear all about her race but I had to keep moving. I took an extra walk break for a quick visit and she made sure I was good, had everything I needed and gave me some encouragement.
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Solana snapped this one as I approached
her around the 26km mark |
Until now I had been feeling really good. I was definitely getting tired but none of my injury aches or pains had bothered me at all. I was shocked. I was starting to feel tight in my hip flexors and bum but I couldn't believe that my calf and hamstring were feeling fine. I was so happy. Tired, but happy. Next up, my third big concern of the day: Burrard Street Bridge.
I love running over bridges. However, I don't love running up the approach of a bridge 30km into a marathon! I knew it was going to be tough so I dialled up my tried and true hill climbing song - So Whatcha Want by Beastie Boys - and trudged on up knowing there was a glorious km or more of slight downhill waiting for me on the other side. There were some great spectators right at the end of the bridge and this was my first cry of the marathon. They were happy and proud tears though so it was okay.
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I'm pretty sure there are some tears
behind those snazzy Maui Jim glasses! |
As if it hadn't already been scenic, this is where the course really got beautiful. After the bridge we ran along the waterfront and even though I've seen it a million times, just could not get over how lovely our city is.

I knew that I had what would be the toughest part of the race coming up soon. My fourth big concern of the day: the seawall. Probably the most beautiful but it was the last 10km of the course and from what everyone had told me this can be the hardest. I don't really remember from Disney since I think I was delirious the whole way but I was worried that if anything, this would be where I'd start to unravel. I knew I had to stay focused and just get 'er done.
Thankfully Solana popped up right at the start of the seawall and conveniently, right as I was filling my face with jelly beans and candy from the last water station. She jogged along for a sec to make sure I was okay and off I went.
The seawall is perfectly flat and just so unbelievably beautiful so that definitely helped in the last stretch of the race. But I was tired. Not in any pain, but tired. Muscles were stiff, some were sore and I could tell I was getting a little blister on my left foot. I repeated a few of my favorite songs through this stretch and tried to get lost in the scenery. I was reminded so much of Disney because this was where there were times where I couldn't see a single person around me who was actually running. There was a whole lot of zombie walking going on but I felt good to be keeping my pace. Slow is still a pace, right?
The landmarks around the seawall are a bit deceiving and seem closer than they are. With every corner I kept thinking that I had to be getting close to the finish but it was always just a few more turns. I pretty much lost it when I ran through the Canuck Place mile and every motivational sign made me bawl. The guy at the water station kept saying, "It's okay, you're almost there" but little did he know I was just feeling overwhelmed by my emotions. The sign that really got me was the one that said "You're stronger than you think" and it took me quite awhile to catch my breath and stop crying.
Thinking back to this sign made me laugh and that definitely helped me get focused again...
By this point I was somewhere around 39km and I knew I only had about 20 mins left to go. I started to text my husband and my friends to let them know where I was. I could almost taste the finish line. But, I still had my last big concern of the race to get through: the finish chute. Doesn't typically seem like a concern but I remember from last year the final stretch turns off Georgia and onto Pender and has the slightest uphill to it. I remember it sucking after 21km so I was worried it would suck even more after 42.

I was so tired by the time I made the final turn I had no choice but to crank my best running song and just grind it out. I knew where Hubs would be but just couldn't spot him and because my music was blaring I didn't hear Solana and Jillian screaming at me either. I had my eyes on the finish line and just wanted to get there.
And I did. 4:59:36. Awesome.
I was so happy. So happy to have finished, so happy to be feeling good and so happy to have taken 80 mins off my last marathon time. My injury didn't bug me and I think I ran a good race, a smart race. Most importantly, I realized as soon as I was done that I'll be okay for Run for Water. It might not be pretty but this marathon proved to me that I'm going to be able to do it. Success!
It took me awhile to meet up with Mike and everyone else but eventually I did and didn't waste any time diving into my snack bag and ripping into the chips...
We hung around for a bit while I caught my breath and stretched. We had a chance to catch up on each other's stories and find out about how everyone else had done. It was a tough day out there for everyone but it ended up being a great day and I don't think that goofy smile left my face for hours.
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The boys and I enjoying
the post-race snacks |
The day was tough but just such an amazing one for me. I had spent so much time in the past few months worrying about having been injured and whether I'd be able to make it through any serious distance on my modified training. It was such a relief to find that my body not just survived the distance but did absolutely fine with it. Yes I was tired and yes, more training would have obviously helped but I ran a smart race and got through it with flying colors. I was elated.
However, I really need to stop picking marathons that end up with crazy heat waves on race day! First Disney and now Vancouver! Ray Zahab watch out, I'm going to run the Sahara next! Uh no, definitely not. But running my longest races in such challenging conditions has really shown me that I guess I am stronger than I think. I've used positive thoughts and mental focus to get me through tough things before and it really seems to have prepared me for marathon running too.
There are so many amazing stories from Sunday and I had the chance to spend some wonderful time with both old and new running friends. While some of my friends reached their goals and others had to put their goals on hold for another day, every single one of you was with me for every mile of that marathon and I just want to say thanks for being there and helping me get through it. Training is a huge part of it but not a single step would have been possible without the support and encouragement from my friends and family. Thanks guys, I love you.
Believe I can? You bet! And I did.