Big Sur 2026

 At some point last year, I entered a whole bunch of lotteries for races. Tokyo, Sydney, and Big Sur. I was unsuccessful in Tokyo and Sydney, but as luck would have it, got into Big Sur. In November, I booked flights and hotels and started to train somewhat lackadaisically in January.

With intensified training in February and March, including running a record 177 miles in March, I suddenly found myself at the airport getting ready to fly to CA. My dad, a California aficionado and marathon tolerator (that is apparently not a real word, please stay with me here), accompanied me.

Naturally, we missed our connecting flight to Monterey in Denver after a teeny tiny storm in Baltimore. Our adventure expanded with a random overnight at a Hampton Inn near the Denver airport. Luckily we were rebooked on a flight to Monterey the next morning (stopping in SFO, because why not get more airline lines while we were at it?). So, plenty of time to get my bib, since the expo was open until 6.

When we finally landed in Monterey, it was a little bit rainy and the airport was a tiny regional one. We got right into a taxi and headed for the hotel where they informed us that despite the fact that we could (in fact, had to) pay for all 3 nights, they did not, in fact, have any rooms available at the moment. Fantastic! Let’s go straight to the expo!

The expo was a bit of a walk away - we joked that we took the “scenic” route that included a dead possum AND  dead seagull. The flora and fauna route! The expo was at the Monterey conference center and it was very well organized. I got my bib right away, lingered in a fairly small merchandise area where I spent too much money on a hat and shirt but restrained myself from buying 3 $30 stuffed sea otters for my kids. Probably the best part of the expo? It was dog friendly! We saw several pups walking around, including one who wore a sweatshirt. 

Then we wandered back through Monterey, stopping to get lunch, which included a burger for my dad (and a large plate of French fries for me) and then a stop at chipotle for the essential pre-race burrito.

I was already starting to get a little nervous. People really like to talk about how hard Big Sur is. And it’s a fairly small race in comparison to Marine Corps or New York, but Monterey is not a big town and it seemed like everyone was there to run. How do I still feel imposter syndrome with running sometimes? Unclear to me. Do I feel like I don’t look the part (what would help with that, I wonder?)? Am I not fast enough? I don’t know - it will still nip at my heels until suddenly it doesn’t. 

Anyway. We went back to the hotel and checked into very lovely and spacious rooms. Since I usually share a queen bed with 1-3 kids at any given time, the king bed just for me seemed quite luxurious! If only I didn’t have to get up at 3am for the next two days….

That night, my dad and I walked down to cannery row, which is apparently very famous because of John Steinbeck’s book, which alas I have not read, so that fame meant nothing to me. I got to talk to my oldest daughter on the walk and “took” her on the walk with me via FaceTime. Maybe someday soon I will get to take her back. We saw seals on rocks, the ocean, lots of crazy shops. Then we overshot our restaurant and had to turn around (why wouldn’t I want to walk 7 miles the day before a marathon?). Our dinner reservation was at a restaurant overlooking the water and included one of my very best friends and her son, who drove out with their whole family to watch the race! We had a really nice dinner (I was a little nervous about what to eat but the portions were small which was actually perfect for me), with her son looking out at the boats and pointing out to all of us that it was the Coast Guard (I’m not sure we believed him but then when we left, there were Coast guard signs everywhere, let that be a lesson to all of us to just listen to kids). They gave us a ride back to our hotel, which saved my legs and also it was getting cold!

I lay out my race gear and went to bed at 8:30. I had to be on a bus by 3:45 and while I was reassured that it was “walking distance” from the hotel, the expo was also “walking distance” and took a long time. I was awake by 2:45. I got dressed and got a coffee and did a final gear check (here is where the difference between mom spectator and dad spectator became very clear - my dad slept in. My mom would have been up with me, getting the coffee, walking me to the bus. No criticism, but it made me appreciate her even more when I had to get my own coffee!). I gave myself a pep talk in the bathroom mirror. The taper period had made me feel weirdly unprepared. More pep talk.

It was raining lightly when I headed out and immediately found other runners to walk with- the bus was walking distance, a mere 5 minute away (highly recommend the Hilton garden inn for this race!!). I ended up walking with a woman named Laura would had done Big Sur the year before. There were school buses and coach buses and we joked that the coach buses were for the elite runners: “here we are!” I cried. Then we did actually get on a coach bus, which was much nicer than riding a school bus for an hour up the hills. We were some of the last people on the bus when we approached and one of the organizers asked if we were together - sure! we said. Why not become new best friends?

We got on the bus and Laura continued to share tips of Big Sur with the people around us. She said it was so beautiful that she didn’t even notice the hills. She told us about the Grizzlies, a group who have done the race every year since it started and how one of them views a race as a whole life cycle: you are born at the starting line, there are ups and downs in your life (that was a beautiful thought although now I’m realizing that makes the finish line…..death??). She told us how she read a story online about a guy doing it for the first time and saying he was nervous and the guy next to him on  the bus gave him a sharpie and said, “write this on your arm: you get to be here.” I mean, could I have asked for a better new best friend?

I also found myself sitting directly behind someone else from Rockville. How is the world so small?

It was completely dark as we rode up to the start, on the same road that we would run down later. I knew there was ocean out there but we couldn’t see it. You could just see the long trail of buses before and behind you. Cell service faded. 

We got to the starting area and got off the buses. There were only 3 corrals, each very well organized and equipped with porta potties. Laura was in a different corral so we gave each other a huge hug and parted ways. There was over an hour to go before the start, so I used the bathroom, ate a banana, used the bathroom again chatted with people. Everyone who had done it before confirmed it was the most beautiful race they had ever done. And that it was hard but that the hills weren’t too bad. I ended up checking a bag, which I never do, but they made the process so easy and I figure I might want my old old old pants back at the end. I talked to people in the bag line, where I finally admitted to two people that this would be my 30th marathon. It was one of their first and I was so excited for them. What a gift, that first marathon! You never know how it will change your life. I don’t think I ever could have foreseen myself running Big Sur 18 years after my first marathon.

After doing some of the larger races, the starting line for this felt downright small, which was fun. I was in the first corral and we started right on time. We ran through the woods - I’m told they are redwoods. How amazing and beautiful! It was still raining lightly, but it wasn’t too cold. They had announced that the 2 hour barrier had been broken in the London marathon earlier that morning and that it was some of the most favorable wind conditions that this marathon had ever had. Do you need more to pump yourself up??

I started running without headphones, because they wanted you to, and also to see if I could do it for the first hour. I did end up using my headphones but not until after the first hour. I started out way too fast (a special talent of mine) but it was a little bit downhill (actually the beginning is WAY downhill and a little scary since it was rainy and no one wanted to fall) and in the woods, and so beautiful. I didn’t realize that the first 5-6 miles were all in the woods. I kept waiting for the ocean. There were people outside camping areas cheering but other than that, it was pretty quiet. I found myself by the 3:50 pace group and hung with them to try to slow myself down because I really was going out too fast.

Then at some point around mile 6, we turned and there was the Pacific Ocean. The man next to me muttered, “well that doesn’t suck!” Which earned him a guffaw from me.

I was thinking around this time several things: I did not really have a goal for this marathon other than to try to do it in under 4 hours and I had in my head that it was going to be really hard. So I was in that place of weird “maybe everyone exaggerated and I will go really fast” and “oh my gosh I’m going to finish in 5 hours,” so what should my other goals be? There was no cell service, so I didn’t get any of the videos and messages that people were sending me to propel me forward. It was just me and my own thoughts. 

But damn….it really WAS exceptionally beautiful. You know how some of these things can be overhyped? This was not overhyped. There is not enough hype. So I focused on just enjoying the views and allowed myself to put my headphones in. At some point, I saw animals in the water and because I had read that people can see orcas, I immediately decided that’s what they must be, so I excitedly started to babble about WHALES to the guy next to me, who clearly thought I was wrong but who cares? I’ve decided they were definitely orcas haha.

Then we got to mile 9. Mile 9 started downhill and then it started a 2 mile incline which I believe I people refer to as hurricane hill. I lost the pace group. I waited for the 4 hour group to overtake me. The tricky part was that it didn’t actually look that steep. But suddenly my pace slowed and I was huffing and puffing and trying to enjoy the cows in the distance along the course and telling myself that I would still be happy to do the race even if I finished in 4 and a half hours. It was a little early to hit a wall, but there it was.

And then I smashed through it at mile 12. 

At mile 12, you could hear the grand piano music from the guy playing the piano at the halfway point. I took out my headphones. There was a spectacular downhill with these green mountains covered in succulents (at least I think they were? Let me have my orcas and succulents please). And then you run across the Bixby Bridge and the piano music is just echoing out over the ocean and people are stopping to take pictures and you just feel like there is no where else in the world. This is the only place, this is the only thing happening, the only thing that could and should be happening.

After that, I found my other goal. I wanted to feel that good for the rest of the race. If I finished in under 4 or more, I just wanted to feel good. And I did! I took pictures, I clapped along with the entertainment. And I ran! There were rolling hills for the last 6-7 miles but it just felt….good. Really good. Around mile 20, I rediscovered the 3:50 pace group. They were still a little ahead of me, so I just told myself that I would stay close and try to get in just after 3:50. I stopped for a strawberry at mile 23, one of the hallmarks of the course. It was the most delicious strawberry I have ever eaten, but it was also hard to eat and run so sadly I didn’t eat the whole thing. I would like another strawberry now please.

At this point, I was pretty sure that I would finish under 4 hours and I was starting to think I might even get in right with the 3:50 group. There were some hills even right at the end (someone had told me it was a net downhill, it felt like a lie), but I still felt just…good. Happy. At some points during the race, my cell service came on and my headphones would blast me with a series of encouraging messages which made me smile. 

At the end, you sort of just turn a corner after mile 26 and the finish line is not only within sight, but seems easily obtainable. I find that often you can see it and it feels so far away. I saw the 3:50 pacers and passed them! THEN I saw my own cheer squad - my dad and my friend and her family, with signs, right there by the finish line and I think the only word to describe it is elation. I have never had so many people waiting right at the finish line, it was absolutely one of the most special moments I have ever experienced, especially when the announcer at the finish line said “there’s Sarah, she found all her friends!” And then something like “head to the finish line Sarah!” It was a moment I wish I could keep in a bottle and open up because it was so exciting and energizing and wonderful.

It was easy to find everyone at the finish line, after getting my medal and my post race snacks (which included chocolate milk, which I wholeheartedly believe should be offered at the end of every marathon). We took pictures and I showed the kids my medal, then we went to the gear check which was insanely easy and well organized. I think I need to do more of the “smaller” races because it was really refreshing not to have to wait in line for every single thing.

One of the best parts was that I still felt so GOOD. I was so happy with my time (3:48:56). My legs were…just happy. I was not hurting. I was with my dad and my friends. It was amazing. 

We went out to lunch and my friend gave us a ride back to our hotel. I took a shower and lay down and called my daughters (they were not really very interested in the race but wanted to see my hotel room again). Then…my dad and I decided we wanted to see the ocean again so we ended up walking probably another 5 miles. Still feeling good! Just mildly sleepy, as evidenced by the fact that when we got back to the hotel, I went to sleep at 7:30. Only to get up again at 3:15 to catch a 5am flight home.

So.

Big Sur is big fun. I felt like it was a once in a lifetime opportunity, which considering how expensive it was to get to CA, perhaps it was. But maybe not. I’d like to see the piano player on the bridge again. There is a special program called Boston to Big Sur, where you run Boston the week before then head to Big Sur (talk about expensive!!). But maybe…..someday?

Marine Corps Marathon 2025

 Marine Corps Marathon 2025 almost didn't happen. After running 2024 less than a year after having baby #3, my body was pretty beat up. I thought maybe retirement from marathons was imminent. I didn't even register until a friend teasingly mentioned that she had registered and she needed someone to do it with her. Somehow, I found myself justifying a nearly $300 registration fee. Somehow, I convinced myself that I would find the time to train. And somehow, I did.

Race morning was cold but beautiful. I went down to the start on the metro with my friend. It was insanely crowded and the metro almost had a major fail by not opening the gates and letting everyone through at Pentagon...but they did it. It was fun to chat with my friend and think about my first marathon almost 20 years ago (!!) and how far I've come. It was fun to imagine doing it for the first time. What a gift she had. A marathon for the first time! And what a gift for me - a marathon for the 28th (29th?) time.

When we got out into the chilly morning air, we walked the mile plus to the startline. Thankfully we didn't have to wait too long for a portapotty and we made our way to the starting corrals. I was remembering how years ago they had people jump out of airplanes and parachute in....why not do that for the 50th? What year was that and why did they do it? I have no idea.

The race started at 7:20 this year - almost a full hour earlier than in the past, and there was oddly no 50k. Why not? I hadn't paid enough attention to understand either choice. But we were there, I had a 50k under my belt, and I had run a 19 mile training run for this race. Would it be enough?

I have been functioning on interrupted sleep for more than 2 years so I knew my time wouldn't be a PR. I considered that I might even go well into 4 hours and made peace with it. I stayed around the 4:05 pace group at the starting line, and enjoyed having a friend around to chat with. 

When the race started, we quickly separated and I was on my own. As we all were - your loved ones can carry you, but only so far. In a marathon, you have to carry yourself. 

The crowds were phenomenal at Rosslyn - great big cheering walls, all the way up the first hills. It was amazing, exhilerating. Will I ever get over the joy of a marathon? I hope the answer is no. 

I was acutely aware of running every mile for the first few miles. I couldn't seem to get into a groove, and yet it didn't bother me. It just felt like it would be a very, very long race. I was using the NRC app and could tell that my pace was not blistering but it was not as slow as I perhaps should have been. But I couldn't help myself. The crowds were so great. The signs were so creative. The people around me were crushing it. I hadn't quite found a groove but I hadn't lost it either. I knew a friend was waiting at Spout Run Parkway, cheering for her husband. But where was Spout Run Parkway? I couldn't remember. It didn't matter.

Somewhere around Hains Point, I realized that I had looked at the map and somehow skipped mile 13 in my head. How did I do that? Did I suddenly forget how to count? Perhaps. Oh well, reaching halfway felt significant and I found a bit more of the groove. We made it out of Hain's Point and out to the National Mall. And even with a government shutdown and a tyrant in office, the National Mall remains a special, almost sacred place to run. How many people get to run those streets in their lifetime, with thousands of people cheering them on (by name, thank you very much to my t-shirt)? 

I ran under the bridges of the city thinking of my mom. When she and I did the Cherry Blossom 10 miler together so many years ago, she had let out a whoop to hear the echo and I remember being so embarassed. How young and foolish I was! I let out a whoop under several bridges in her honor. 

By the time I reached the bridge, I was feeling...well, really good actually. There's a certain point in every marathon where I feel like I don't know if I will make it, and then there's a turning point where I realize that yes, I will make it. What an amazing feeling. To have that happen on the bridge - well that was a unique gift. I still remember getting there in the first marathon and thinking where the heck are we and having people just fall down near me like flies. But I was still tired. I made it through Crystal City, my headphones dying (stupid wireless headphones) and I was without headphones for the last 3-4 miles. No music to push me through but honestly I couldn't hear my music for most of the race - that's how great the crowds were. I remember going through mile 21, 22, 23....5 miles to go, 4, 3...by the time I got to mile 24 and 25 I knew it was almost over. I made it up the final hill somehow and over the finish line, arms out. I finally mustered the courage to take a selfie with the marine who gave me my medal. 

The finish was a bit of a blur - I spoke to Grandpa Bill, who had a tshirt that his grandkids had made him (I'm pretty sure Grandpa Bill beat me). What an inspiration and what a nice guy, who let me in front of him to get my commemorative blanket. How are people still so nice and happy after running 26.2 miles? Let me tell you - because it's the best thing in the world.

Juice

I know that I am delinquent in a Boston Marathon post (which was lifechanging and amazing and my favorite marathon EVER).

However, because this is my blog and my space and my time (wow, can you tell I am stressed out?), I am choosing to write about my decision to do a juice cleanse. I can think of a lot of reasons to say why I'm doing this - it's healthy, it rests your colon (??), it resets your body so that you crave only healthy food...but let's face it. The one and only reason why I am doing this is because in less than 3 months, over 150 sets of eyes will be on me and I will be paying a photographer thousands of dollars to take endless pictures of me.

SO now that we've all gotten over the fact that I am being shallow and silly, let's focus on the fact that I have already consumed 2 bottles of juice today and NO coffee.

I received a prep email that told me to cut out meat, alcohol, sugar, caffeine, etc to get ready for my cleanse. Of course, I received this email when I placed the order and not two days before the cleanse started. So while this was in the back of my mind, I chose to prep for my juice cleanse with a beer and 2 ice cream sandwiches. I figured that I wouldn't be eating a lot of calories for the next few days, so why not?

The juices arrived yesterday in a big cooler box. As I pulled them out and set them up in the fridge, I honestly sat there and thought, wow these just look delicious. This will be so fun. And then I ate an ice cream sandwich.

I woke up this morning and proudly skipped my coffee. I was all like, take that stimulants! I had a cup of hot water with lemon. Like an 98 year old grandma. I was really killing it for about 20 minutes, thinking about how I essentially don't need to eat because I am just a machine. Then I realized that the water with lemon was actually making me hungry. Like, craving a bowl of sugar cereal hungry.

But I persevered and packed up my juices for the day in a little cooler that the company had sent me and went off to work. I pulled out juice number one - a mix of celery, kale, spinach, green apple and...some other stuff. I was ready for my breakfast. I was hungry. I was pumped up. I am choosing health!

I was disappointed. Actually, I was gagging. Did I mention that I am not a fan of green juice? I guess a part of me assumed that when I paid $XXX (you don't even want to know) to do a juice cleanse, I would automatically start liking it. I thought maybe when I paid $XXX for juice, they would add unicorn powder to make it taste good. I just assumed that if millions of other people can do this, I could handle it without gagging.

So now I am on to juice #2 and am milking that as much as possible, since it is a fruit juice (mango pineapple coconut and they keep insisting that there is apple in this shit, but I am not tasting it) and #3 is another green one (shudder).

I'm determined to finish it (this juice or the cleanse? Not clear right now), but I'm not sure this is sustainable for someone like me. I'm already starting a list of foods that I want to eat when I'm done. Is this normal?

Intense Training

The Boston Marathon training plan that I've been following is pretty hard core. Yesterday I woke up at 5 to fit in 8 miles before work. I'm definitely not averse to getting up early to get a run in, but usually I don't do more than 5 miles when I need to be in the office before 9am. I was running in the dark yesterday, alternating between outside and the treadmill so that I could focus on speed, and I was thinking to myself, "why am I doing this?" So far in January I have run over 70 miles and it's only January 15!

This might be hard to believe but I usually don't run this much. I run for fun and so far, it's really worked for me. I still like running. I've completed 11 marathons, more than half of them under 4 hours, and qualified for Boston. Of course, I've had fantasies that I am perhaps a professional runner hiding underneath a normal person's body, and following training plans like this will ultimately lead me to marathon glory and world domination. But in reality, I think that following a training plan like this, running over 150 miles a month for 3.5 months, will probably just lead me to burn out.

But in response to my question of "Why am I doing this?" my brain immediately fired back at me: "because it's Boston." I'm not training for just any race. I'm going to run the Boston marathon and surely that merits trying a new training plan, budgeting for a massage every month, and getting up a little extra early every few days to fit in a 10 miler before work. However, I do think that I have to be careful to listen to my body and not get carried away. It's Boston but Boston is one piece of my life, one (very important) marathon in what will hopefully be hundreds of marathons throughout my life. Maybe if I tell myself in writing, it's ok to stretch and do some yoga on a day when you're supposed to run 10 miles, it will make it a little easier to do?

Ok better go run 10 miles now...

Here's to 2014

2013 was absolutely one of my best years yet, particularly, but not only, in running. I qualified for the Boston marathon and ran 3 marathons in under 4 hours. I completed a new race - the Richmond Marathon, and managed to stay injury free all year. I focused on stretching, massage, and nutrition and saw the benefits.

I also got engaged! My fiance has been to every marathon except one and has even starting doing 5k races with me. Now we just have to figure out how to incorporate running into our wedding...

So 2013 was a year of promises - a year of qualifying, engagements - a year of promises. 2014 will be the year that things HAPPEN. I will be running Boston on April 21 and getting married on September 12. That's only two days out of the whole year, but in the meantime, I'll be training and we'll be planning. My resolution for this year is to live in the moment, to live positively in the moment. I will try not to get bogged down by the insane training schedule that I'm following for Boston and I will try not to turn into a stressed out bridezilla during wedding planning. I want to try to enjoy every moment, to look at things without judgement, and to see how beautiful everything can be. This is a momentous year for me - I feel like the luckiest woman in the world. I get to run the race of my dreams and I get to marry the man of my dreams.

September on the calendar that my mom made me for Christmas! It's the fiance and me at the Flying Pig Marathon!       

Confirmation: I'm going to Boston!

Boston Training:
December 30: 5 miles on the treadmill
December 31: 7+ miles - 4 miles outside, 3 miles at marathon pace on the treadmill (8:13 min miles)
January 1: am switching Thursday's workout for today and will do another 7-8 miles, some outside, and 5k on the treadmill at marathon pace

BOSTON BOUND

I can’t believe that I actually get to write this…I will be running the 2014 Boston Marathon!!!!!!!!!!!

Registration opened on September 9^th, but for the first week, it was only open to runners who had beat the qualifying time by 5-20 minutes. I was unbelievably happy with my qualifying time (as we Boston Marathoners call it, BQ) of 3:31:25, a full 3 minutes and 35 seconds faster than I needed, but I was really nervous that the race would fill up before I could get in. When registration opened for all qualifiers on Monday the 16^th, I immediately registered. But of course, I didn’t find out if I got in. Registration was not first come first served, but rather continued to be based on qualifying time. Registration closed on the 20^th, but runners still didn’t find out what the cut off would be. Did 10,000 people beat the qualifying time by 4:30 minutes? Or were there a lot of “squeakers” who barely made the cut off time? I didn’t know and I was trying not to worry. I consoled myself – if I didn’t get in, I would register for BOTH the DC rock’n’roll marathon and the Flying Pig Marathon. But of course…how would that compare to Boston? It would be heartbreaking to qualify and STILL not be fast enough to get in.

Boston Athletic Association announced that it would accept/reject runners on Wednesday, September 25. So I woke up at 6:30am and immediately started checking my email. Nothing. All morning long, I could do nothing but hit refresh on my email and check my credit card account – a pending charge was a good sign. If it went away, I probably would not be getting the email that I wanted.

After waiting all morning, I decided to go for a lunchtime run. It was a beautiful day and I managed to forget about registration for a little while…until I got back to the gym where I immediately checked my email. The top email was my ACCEPTANCE email!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Within 2 hours, I had my flight and hotel booked and I had announced to everyone that I know (and some people that I don’t!) that I, MarathonMennone, had accomplished the dream. I ran, I qualified, I registered. I was accepted. I am in.

There’s no way around it – the 2014 Boston Marathon will be bittersweet. Our hearts will be solemn as we stand at the starting line and I know that we will all be looking over our shoulders as we cross the finish line. Not because we’re afraid, but rather to acknowledge those who didn’t make it across in 2013.

Where to go from here?

I'm still processing Sunday's race. I'm trying to figure out how it happened - how do you go from running 26.2 miles in 3 hours and 44 minutes to in just over 3 and a half hours? What was it that pushed me to accomplishing this major goal? How did I cruise for so long without feeling sick, anxious, pained, tired?

There's probably a number of reasons contributing to success. First, this was, after all my 10th marathon. There has to be something said for running so many of these - I'm used to the starting line, used to water stations, used to working my way through crowds, used to pace groups, used to cheering crowds. I have my race shirt with my name on it. I know how many GUs I should eat. I know that if I drink gatorade at every aid station, I'll feel sick and so I have to alternate with water. So of course having previous experience helped.

I also started doing more stretching and massage therapy, something that I really haven't done too much of. I started doing yoga more seriously a while ago and I'm sure that contributed to my breaking 4 hours. Maybe more stretching and massages helped me not feel too sore 24 miles in? Maybe the stretching is strengthening muscles that I wasn't working before? I'm not sure and I don't want to assign 100% credit to stretching just yet. Let's see how I'm doing after a few more months.

The week before the race, I tried really hard to eat well. I didn't eat a lot of carbs, so that I could carbo-load the day before the race. I ate a pint of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries or raspberries every morning for a week. I know that a lot of berries have anti-inflammatory properties and of course, they're just plain good for you. Did that necessarily help me cut 30 seconds off my pace time? I can't say for sure, but I do know that I'll be eating a lot more berries in the future. On the day before race day, I ate carbs but didn't go crazy - an english muffin and raisin bran for breakfast, a SMALL bowl of pasta with bread and salad for lunch, and my burrito for dinner of course. It was lots of carbs but not so much food that I felt gross. I drank a lot of water, but didn't feel bloated on race day.

And of course, I have to give a lot of credit to the Flying Pig Marathon. It is such a well-organized race. The volunteers are fabulous, there are water stops at EVERY MILE, the crowds are everywhere. The course isn't too crowded and the pace groups were friendly and fun. It is somehow my favorite race, which is surprising considering that I never thought I would go to Ohio, let alone go several years in a row.

There are a lot of contributing factors to my qualifying for Boston. I have a wonderful support system of family and loved ones. I have a mom who works at a running store and who can send me cool running gear. But now my question is - what next? What are my long term running goals?

It would make sense to turn to 50 and 100 mile races. Conquering a new distance would be a logical next step. However, I'm not sure if I'll ever be a serious ultra-marathoner. As much as I enjoy the 24 hour races, I think my distance is the marathon. I love the big marathons and the small marathons. I'm a big fan of the distance - it just works for me.

I want to run the Boston marathon. But it's looking more and more like there's no possible way that I could get in for 2014. Runners are all alike - we all want to be there for 2014. I anticipate that Boston will sell out with the runners who have qualified with 15, 10 minutes to spare (not 3). But if I can't do Boston, what can I do?

Perhaps New York. The NYC marathon has even stricter qualifying times than Boston. For Boston, I need 3:35:00. For NYC, I would need to run in 3:10:00 or less. (For Boston times click here.  For NYC click here). So maybe a new qualifying time is a goal? That would certainly take me quite a few more marathons to do. I've come to the realization that doing well in marathons isn't something that happens overnight. It's a process that takes years and years, which is a good thing since I plan on running for the rest of my life.

Maybe I'll become a pacer. Maybe I'll lead runners in marathons to their goal. Or maybe I'll become a pacer for visually impaired runners. Achilles International is a foundation that I would love to work with one day.

Who knows what will be next? For now, I have to make it through the 24 hour race and then see if I can get into Boston when registration opens in September. One step at a time, just like running a marathon.

BOSTON QUALIFIER!

3:31:24!!!!!!!!!!

I love running so, so, so much!

Yesterday, I ran the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati, OH. First of all, I can't say enough good things about this marathon. It is extremely well organized, the volunteers are fabulous, the course is lined with spectators, and the medal is hard core awesome. Plus, you really can't beat a race that has a pig with wings as its official mascot! There is a reason why I have now done this race twice!

Last year, I beat my personal best by 5 minutes at the Pig. This year...I somehow managed to top it.

I was extremely anxious before the race. I almost didn't think that I wanted to do it. I was sore, my knee was pulling a little bit, I wasn't sure if I had trained enough after my last marathon in March. But I had made poor boyfriend come all the way to Cincinnati and there was no way that I was going to miss the fun of the Pig. I read the newest issue of Runner's World on the plane and was incredibly inspired by the story of Bret Dunlap. What really stuck out to me was his determination in finishing the Disney Marathon, even after a huge setback at mile 8. If he could finish, so could I.

I figured as long as I finished in under 4 hours I'd be thrilled. Then I revised that and thought...under 5 would be fine. I really, really wasn't feeling super confident going into it. I'm not really sure why. What I think happened is that I started doing a lot more stretching and I did a bit of massage therapy a week before the race. When you start stretching, I think you suddenly become a lot more aware of your body. You become aware of the twinge in your lower back, whereas before you might have felt merely tired. Maybe after you become better at stretching and after you get more massages, stuff like that doesn't really phase you. That twinge in my lower back completely freaked me out.

So when I took off at the starting line, I was just happy that it wasn't raining. The local news was predicting a "soggy start" and instead we got a beautiful sunrise and perfect, perfect running weather. They started on time and boyfriend made it out to the starting line with me. I wasn't feeling queasy at all (sometimes the early morning starts make it hard for me to eat). I had on some KT tape, my compression socks, and my shirt with my name on it. I was in marathon mode, but barely. I just wanted to have a good time. I found a friend at the starting line who was doing the half and we joked around until the start.

Off we went! I was in the second corral (or pigpen, as they call it) and so I didn't have to maneuver around many people to find myself a bubble to run in. As it happens, my bubble was near the 1:45 pace group for the half marathon (which was incredibly close to the 3:30:00 pace group for the full). Although I thought it was a little crazy, I decided to hang out near the 1:45 group for a while just for fun. Their pace was working for me, the guys leading the group were friendly but not too chatty (they liked to get the crowds going for the group, which was fun) and I figured that I could get a good start on the race before I slowed down at the end.

When we split from the half marathoners, I found myself trailing the 3:30:00 group. By this point (around mile 11), I almost got a bit misty eyed as I thought to myself "this could be it! I could qualify!" but I quickly reminded myself that there was no way that I could maintain this pace. MAYBE, maybe I could hang with the 3:35:00 group if I tried really hard. But 3:30:00?? No way. That was almost an 8 minute mile pace throughout. But again, the pace was working for me. The leaders were nice but unobtrusive. There wasn't a huge crowd with them. So I hung out by them. I didn't stress if I lost them at water stations and I didn't sprint to keep up with them, but I had the balloons on their pace sign in sight for almost the whole marathon. After mile 11, I thought I would stick with them until mile 16. Then I thought, maybe until mile 18. Then suddenly, it was mile 21. Mile 22. I had them in sight pretty much until mile 25 and then I was starting my slow down.

 Of course, by mile 25, I knew that I had it. Even if I did the last mile in 14 minutes, I would hit the qualifying time!! But I didn't want to do 3:35:00. I wanted to do better! I kept plowing forward, going as fast as I could without hurting and without exhausting the last of my reserves. The crowds lined the streets starting more than half a mile from the finish. I started pointing to my name on my shirt, encouraging the crowds to cheer for me. AND THEY DID! Imagine running for more than 5 minutes with people screaming your name, encouraging you onward!!! It was incredibly, incredibly exhilarating!

As I headed up towards the Finish Swine (pig humor, gotta love it) I saw the time - under 3:35:00 by more than 3 minutes! There were far fewer people at the finish line than usual. They announced the name of the guy finishing ahead of me and I vaguely wondered if they would say my name - I don't even remember now. I remember shaking the hand of one of the race organizers (I'd seen him on the news in the morning before heading out to the start) and one of the volunteers, upon seeing my face, asked if I was ok.

Was I ok??? I was amazing! Happy tears came to my eyes as I realized what in the world had just happened. I still don't really know what happened. I wandered around grabbing food, water, and trying to get as many people as possible from MarathonFoto to take my picture. I fondled my medal, fiercely proud of it and not wanting to take it off, EVER. I found boyfriend waiting for me right at the end of the chute where runners can meet their families and after some valiant kisses (he didn't even acknowledge how stinky I must have been...and wet and gross. The rain had started 5 miles before I finished) he told me my official time - 3:31:24!!

I was able to walk back to the hotel, didn't need to sit down, wasn't hurting too bad, wasn't nauseous, wasn't bloody, wasn't ANYTHING except exuberant!

I still don't really know what to do with myself. It seems like there needs to be something that happens now - a parade perhaps? A champagne toast to me? But then again, I don't really need anything else at this point. I am still in disbelief that I have ever run so fast for so long. Some of my splits were under 8 minute miles - how did that happen?? I don't really know. I'm sure I'll be analyzing it in future blog posts, but for now, I just have to say that I am so thankful and happy with yesterday's events. I feel so fortunate to have running as a part of my life and I'm so lucky to have friends, family, and a wonderful boyfriend who will support me every step of the way.

I love the Flying Pig Marathon and I love running! Hopefully, this marathoner is headed to Boston in 2014!!!

Hacking Minutes

On Sunday, I'll do marathon #10 - the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati! After a successful race last year, I'm feeling anxious about having another good run.

Last year, I did the DC Rock n Roll in March (just like this year) and I hacked off a ridiculous 10 minutes from my PR - from 3:59 to 3:49 (notice I say hack and not shaved. It wasn't a shave - it was a ridiculous chopping of minutes that I fear I can never repeat!). Then I went to the Pig, just to have fun, and cut off another 4 minutes, from 3:49 to 3:44.

This year, I started off by finishing Rock n Roll in 3:44:47 - almost a full minute faster than the 2012 Pig (3:45:39). Can I still cut some time? Maybe the adrenaline of a new race won't be as strong this year. Last year's conditions were absolutely perfect - it was sunny, a little warmer than usual, and a gorgeous day. Of course, things didn't go off without a hitch - I didn't eat my typical dinner, a mariachi band was playing until 1am outside the hotel for Cinco de Mayo...and things still went well.

It's impossible to know how things will go, but I just keep reminding myself as always - the city is shutting down so that I can go for a run. I need to cherish the time that I have on the street, even as I try to make that time just a little bit shorter.

Running: mental or physical?

Marathon #10 is on its way...in less than 2 weeks, I'll do the Flying Pig Marathon for the second year in a row in Cincinnati, Ohio! I'm both excited and nervous - with the DC marathon only a little over a month away, I haven't been doing super long training runs. The longest I've done since the March 16 marathon is just over 10 miles. Will this help me or hurt me? Will I feel too tired in the race or would I have burned out with longer training runs? I just don't know.

Running marathons goes beyond your physical endurance. I've done it 9 times now and although it has gotten a bit easier, running for that long can really get to your head. Running is definitely a mental sport. For someone like me, who isn't running to win the whole event, I am my own competition. It's rough when the only person you can trash talk is yourself.

Right now, I'm overwhelmed by different thoughts. I'm inspired to dedicate my race to the victims of the Boston Marathon attacks; will this dedication be what carries me to a Boston qualifying time? Will the lack of 21 mile training runs in the last 4 weeks overpower my dedication to do well? Will the stretching that I've been doing backfire (the bad thing about stretching is that you are much more AWARE of the aches and pains) or will it propel me forward to victory against myself? Will it finally rain on the day of one of my marathons, a terrible event that I've somehow managed to dodge so far?

The truth is, I can't control my race. What's funny about races is that even if you train for weeks and weeks, you can still have a crappy day. As much as I want to qualify for Boston, I know that what I really care about is having fun and enjoying having a city shut down for me to run its streets with its residents cheering me on. The people who support their runners are the ones who keep us sane in an insane, crazy sport.

Our Hearts are in Boston

I've been trying to make sense of a senseless situation. Yesterday, after excitedly watching my colleague's progress online for three hours, I emerged from a short meeting to hear someone say, "there were explosions at the Boston Marathon." Words and horrible pictures have been spinning in my head ever since.

Everyone that I know in Boston is safe. But that doesn't make me feel better about yesterday's events. As a marathon runner, I feel part of a larger running community. This hits too close to home. Finish lines are supposed to be the place where you feel relief, euphoria, joy. It's supposed to be the place where you can stop running, take a deep breath, celebrate, and be with your family. Thinking of my own family waiting for me at countless finish lines takes my breath away.

As runners, we are constantly reminded that we are human. Injuries, black toenails, lost toenails, soreness, cuts, bruises, endless pairs of sneakers remind us of our humanity every day. But at the end of a marathon, a runner should feel invincible. At the finish line, we should feel like nothing can get us down or stop us. 

The only thing that I can think of to do is: keep running. We will run through the hurt, we will run through our tears. With each run, we will get stronger and at some point, someday, we will again feel that after 26.2 miles, we are untouchable. Runners are a funny group of people; we don't quit.

Our hearts are in Boston today, but I know that our feet are firmly on the ground, taking the next step forward and running, running, running. We will pause to solemnly lower our heads and pray for those who we lost. But we will never stop running.

Praying for Boston

I'm sending all my thoughts and prayers to the runners of the Boston Marathon. My coworker is safe and so are my friends in Boston.

Love to Boston - we will NEVER STOP RUNNING.

Today is the Boston Marathon

Today is the Boston Marathon. Obviously, I am not there. I am sitting here writing a blog post. One of my coworkers is running and I am living vicariously through him. Guess what? It's not enough. I want Boston for myself!

It's been a long time since I updated my blog. Since then, I've done the DC Rock n Roll Marathon (March 16) and finished strong in 3:44:47 - only a few seconds off my PR. I didn't look at my watch for the first half of the marathon - it was fun to just run and enjoy myself. For a while now, I've been really unfocused on Boston. It seems so far off, even though it's less than 10 minutes now. In case you were wondering, 10 minutes seems like a LOT when you're doing 26.2 miles!

I have the Flying Pig Marathon coming up on May 5 and then Richmond in November. In the meantime, I'll do the Back on My Feet 20in24 in July. There's lots of running going on, but the big question for me is, how do I knock off those 10 minutes?

Well, I am taking some calculated steps to try. I met with a yoga instructor/fitness guru one-on-one a few weeks ago. She worked with me on stretching and gave me some good advice on how to stay strong (some hints: I need to strengthen my hip abducters, ie the insides of my thighs. Those don't get worked when you run, oddly enough. However, if they're weak, you can blow your knee). I learned that I actually have a tight back and a tight butt, but my hamstrings are relatively loose. I've also been instructed to do a strength workout (yoga, weights, etc) once a week. I'm also going to get monthly massages and I'm even going to go see a sports massage therapist - a big deal for me, since I usually only go for the prissy spa setting, where you might have a plush robe, but the massage probably isn't doing as much as it could.

Some of these may seem like common sense to some runners. For me, it helps to have someone tell me to do this. I'm not a great stretcher. I probably never will be. If given the choice between running and weight training, I will pick running every time. So it was incredibly helpful for me to do this.

I've also been doing more speedwork. For me, this is anything from going out to the soccer fields by my house to doing an occasional fartlek (you should have seen boyfriend's face when I told him I was going out to do these!).

Will all of this lead to Boston? I really can't say. It all depends on the day, the weather, my shoes, my hair....you can train and train and train and never be able to tell what will happen on race day. And today's a great day for a run!

What nonsense is this!

So I was thinking about my last blog post (Marine Corps Marathon 2012) and it was a downer!!  Seriously, could I have been more negative?  Stopped caring at mile 20?  Who is that girl?

It's not MarathonMennone.

Am I always going to feel awesome after a race?  No.  Am I going to be the kind of person who gets crazy with time?  No!  But I will try my darndest to qualify for Boston, because I take myself seriously and I care about what I do. 

I'm not sure why I was so mopey with this race.  Maybe because of the weather forecasts?  Maybe I put too much pressure on myself for my time?  I can't figure it out.  I trained well and I actually did great.  So I think tonight I should open up a bottle of wine and toast myself!  Buy some of the pictures from the event (which actually turned out pretty good)!  And then sign up for another race!

I've been plotting my races for the next few years...I think 2013 will include the DC Rock n Roll in March, the Flying Pig in May, the BOMF 20in24 in July, and the Richmond in November.  Cheering/volunteering at the Marine Corps.  2014 should kick off with the Goofy Challenge in Disney and probably DC Rock n Roll again...and Marine Corps.  Marine Corps happens for me on even years (2008, 2010, 2012, 2014...).  Maybe 2014 will be the year that I do the JFK 50 mile race?

MarathonMennone does not give up!!  And I do NOT MOPE.  I RUN.

And I think I want to run the Las Vegas Marathon in December...

Marine Corps Marathon 2012

I'm sure you're on the edge of your chair, wanting to know if I qualified for Boston, so I will go ahead and answer that question: no.  I ran with the 3:35 pace group for 20 miles and then lost them at a water stop.  We didn't stop at water stations and I have a tough time drinking water from a cup while running (something to practice?).  After 20 miles, I just didn't feel like sprinting to catch up.  So I finished in 3:44:39 - a new PR.

I learned from this marathon - I do not like running with a pace group.  I found it to be very stressful!  Watching balloons bouncing from the sign made me feel dizzy and while I was fine with the pace, I was anxious about keeping up.  I really do enjoy running on my own.  In all of the official race photos, you can see me running with the pace group.  And I'm not smiling at all!! I forgot one of my own rules for a while - have fun!

By mile 20, I didn't really care about Boston.  I wanted it to be fun again.  I will have to work on new fun tactics for my next race...suggestions welcomed!

Countdown to Marathon #8

The Marine Corps Marathon is in less than 48 hours.  I am beyond pumped up.  In fact, I'm at the point of anxious, which is weird.  It's unusual for me to stress about a race and I have a feeling that it has something to do with my expectations for time.  Now that I've thrown it out there, I won't necessarily take it back, but I don't really enjoy putting this kind of pressure on myself.  Races are for fun, not for time!!

I went and picked up my packet yesterday, the first day of the expo.  It was relatively empty (relatively with 30,000 participants) and of course extremely well organized.  I went by myself and was in and out fairly quickly, although I did browse the booths and bought some presents for myself :)  But I kept feeling so anxious and I was trying to identify why as I waited to arrive while riding on the metro.  Did I think they would suddenly decide not to give me a bib?  Would they take one look at me and think, "you're not a runner?"  Would I fall on the metro escalator and bump my head?

But none of these make any sense to me, not even in my current state.  However, the expo did help to calm my nerves (temporarily).  I love going and seeing people.  I'm always amazed at all of the different kinds of people who run marathons.  People may not initially realize this but marathons don't separate, divide, or judge.  They bring us together. 

For example....some of you may have heard about the little hurricane that might be coming through.  If you go on the Facebook page for the marathon, everyone is hopeful, supportive, and encouraging.  No one is saying that the fast people should run and everyone else should give up.  When a newbie posts something about their fears, they are greeted with overwhelming positive feedback. 

I love running because every time I do a race, I find a new community and a temporary family.  We're all in it together and that is one of the reasons why I race. 

I may never qualify for Boston but I'm trying not to care.  After all, that's not why I started running and it's still not why I run. 

I can't wait for Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!

Recap: Hershey Half Marathon 2012

Yesterday (how was it only yesterday??) I completed the Hershey Half Marathon in 1:50:33.  In general, it went by quickly and was fun.  I had some stomach issues, feeling kind of nauseous during the whole race, which wasn't super fun.  I also had to keep reminding myself not to go all out, since the Marine Corps is my main event this season.  The course was pretty hilly as well, so that part wasn't great.  So why do I describe it as fun?  I mean, it was a race through an amusement park with chocolate, chocolate themed mascots, and a trip to the Hershey spa for a chocolate massage afterwards.  How could it NOT be fun?

However, I'm doubting the wisdom of doing 2 big races 2 weeks in a row.  There are a few things to consider if you're thinking about doing this.  First, I have serious guilt issues with racing.  Typically, I have someone there with me and often they aren't running.  I dragged my mom to this race even though she's coming to the Marine Corps in DC this weekend.  Yes, she wanted to come and be with me, but at what point is it not fair to do this to loved ones?  She had to eat a crappy dinner at a local restaurant, stay in a crappy hotel, and wait outside in the chilly weather at the start line and yet I'm the one who gets a medal?

Second, I am worried about my time for the Marine Corps, although I don't think this race will affect it too much.  I was generally using this as a training run and did have to tell myself several times to slow it down.  So I think I am in good shape for 26.2 miles, especially since this race felt...short.  Yes, I was tired afterwards, but we went straight to the car and I've been fine since.  The only concern is the slightly still upset stomach that is lingering. 

But I felt stressed running this, almost like I was cheating on the Marine Corps Marathon.  I kept thinking, "if anything is going to go wrong, PLEASE let it happen today and not next week!"  That is not a great feeling.

I think I'd be fine doing something like the Goofy challenge in the Disney Marathon (for those of you who don't know, that is a half marathon on Saturday and a full marathon on Sunday).  And maybe if I keep doing this, I won't feel so anxious.  But I think I might prefer to space these out just a TINY bit more in the future....

Haha, I say this now.

Pain

Yesterday, I went to my eye dr, who told me that I must have a "high threshold for pain," because I've managed to scratch my cornea so badly and am still downplaying it.  I wanted to tell her, "well that's because I run marathons..." but thought better of it.

Then today, I was looking at some pics that on the Marine Corps Marathon facebook page and noticed a sign that said, "pain feels better than regret."

And of course, you've probably picked up on my current mantra: "what distinguishes marathoners is their willingness and capacity for pain."

Pain is a weird subject.  It's natural to feel averse to pain because, well, it's painful.  There has to be a point where it's bad to ignore pain, because your body feels pain in general to alert you to something bad.  But sometimes pain can lead you to glory.  Sometimes working through pain leads us to run farther than we ever thought possible, to try something that we never thought we could achieve, or to succeed when we thought it was impossible.  One of the most important parts of marathon running is learning to love pain, to savor it, to work through it. 

And then ultimately, forget all about it so that you can do it all over again!

The only thing standing between me and the Marine Corps Marathon is...the Hershey Half Marathon!  So excited to have a relaxing run this weekend and go to the marvelous spa with my mom.  And then...OORAH!

MarathonMennone's Race Day Tips

On a recent long run, I was thinking about how many races I've done in the past 4 years.  I'm on to marathon #8, but I've also done several half marathons, 10 milers, 5 milers, 10ks, and 5ks.  Sometimes race prep has been as easy as walking 3 blocks to the start from my apartment and sometimes it has involved a plane ride, a taxi ride, a hotel room, and dinner in a strange place.  So I can confidently say that I have come up with strategies that help me through each race.  Maybe these seem obvious, or maybe they will be the ah-ha! moment that someone needs to propel them through a race.

So without further ado....MARATHON MENNONE'S RACE DAY TIPS!

1. Poop before you leave the house.  I know this might seem a bit dramatic, especially since this is my number 1 tip.  Do.not.forget.this.one.  Whether you're staying at home or spending the night in a hotel, spend enough time at home to get in a good poop.  You do NOT want to run a race clenching your butt and hoping for a miracle. And no matter how small your race is, there will be lines at the porta potties.  And even if you are the first person to use it, porta potties stink.  You just can't avoid it.  POOP and POOP OFTEN before you leave your house.
2. Eat enough.  Eat a big meal the night before (this facilitates number 1) and make sure to eat enough on the morning of the race.  Nerves will kick in and you will NOT want to eat, so it's important to be mindful of how much you're eating.  I usually eat a bagel or a cliff bar, and then munch a banana on my way to the race course (for a long race).  And coffee.  Always coffee (see tip #1).
3. Get everything together the night before a race.  This one seems obvious, but panic sets in quickly when you're less than 2 hours away from running 26.2 miles.  I'm not super meticulous about this, but I always have my clothes (usually with the bib already pinned to the shirt), shoes, and GU piled up the night before.
4. Take extra GU.  Or whatever it is you use for energy, take more than you think you need.  I've dropped GU, had it explode while running, and given it to fellow runners.  I've also been handed GU at an aid station, only to realize that I hate the flavor.  I'd rather finish a race with an extra packet than not have enough.
5. Have fun!  The first marathon I did, I think I looked straight ahead the whole time.  I was terrified to look at spectators.  I'm not sure why.  It can be very intimidating - surely they're clapping for someone else.  I thought they must be judging me for going slowly.  But after a few, I realized that people will cheer for ANYONE, especially the people who say thank you or high five them back.
6. Don't take food from strangers.  There will be people handing out food, beer, snacks, GU on the course.  Bless them.  I both love them and don't.  I am personally paranoid about what people might do to food.  However, I am always happy to get a tissue or a popsicle stick of vaseline.  This will be your call, but ultimately, I've made the "better safe than sorry" choice for this one.
7. Take a buddy.  My race buddy is usually my mom or my boyfriend.  I almost never check a bag on race day.  To be honest, the last thing I want to do after I run 26.2 miles is wait in line to get my flip flops or my cell phone.  This usually means that I have to beg to use a stranger's cell phone at the finish line area to find my family, but trust me, it's worth it.  And my buddy always waits with me at the start, allowing me to wear a coat if it's cold, keeping water close by, and keeping me calm.  Which leads me to...
8. Don't drink the kool-aid.  There will be people all around at the start line and probably half of them are really ready for the race.  People will say really stupid stuff like, "it's going to be so hot today!  They said we could drop out if we wanted to!"  "I did a 20 mile training run last week, I am SO ready to kick this race's butt!"  "Yeah, I'm planning on doing this one in under 3 hours."  Or, my personal favorite, people love to ask "have you SEEN the elevation charts on the hills???  They are going to be killer!!"  (My response to anyone mentioning or asking hills is always, ALWAYS: "Nah, I heard they're really small," even if I have not even looked at the race course.  Why get upset or stressed?  You still have to run them).  Don't let these people get in your head.  You don't care how many miles they ran to train.  Who cares if they think it will be hot?  This is your race, not theirs.
9. Have a mantra.  It should be short enough that you can remember it and enough meaning to kepe you going when things really start to hurt.  My mantra right now is "what distinguishes marathoners is their willingness and capacity for pain."  I even got it on a t-shirt for the Marine Corps (haha I am a dork).  But in the middle of a run, it's usually shortened to: "willingness and capacity for pain."  It keeps me focused on what makes me different from the rest of the world and why it's worth it to be hurting so much at the moment.
10. Put your name somewhere.  On a t-shirt, on your bib, write it on your arm.  People WILL cheer for you, especially if they can figure out your name.   If you forget to do this,  hopefully you have a common name like Sarah.  I've found other runners named Sarah with t-shirts in the past and I just run near them and pretend that everyone magically knows my name :)
11. Take some Advil before the race starts.  Everything you read says "don't take painkillers while you train."  I totally agree.  But on race day, I'm taking 2-3 Advil before the race even starts.  And then at least 2-3 when it's over!!
12. Use KT tape.  I have been incredibly lucky this race season (commence knocking on wood until Marine Corps Marathon is over...) and haven't had any serious injuries or pain.  But on race day, I'm going to put some KT tape on my knee and my achilles.  Even if you haven't been hurting all season, if you have anything that might flare up, take precautions.  You'll be going faster on race day (trust me, adrenaline will kick in!) and something will start to hurt.
13. If this is your first race, stop and drink your water at the water stations.  At least slow to a walk.  You cannot drink from a paper cup and run without coughing, spitting, or choking.  It will go up your nose or down your shirt.  It will be more stressful to go through a water station like this than it is to walk for 15 seconds to drink the water and move on. 
14. Don't be afraid to use the medical tents on the course.  I have a very slow marathon time from 2011, but I finished the race because I stopped and had them tie up my knee at mile 13.  Did I have an old injury?  Nope. It just was causing me major pain that day.  I used to think that those tents were for emergencies only and if you stopped, they would make you leave the course.  Not true!  The people were really nice, supportive and helpful!
15. Plan what you'll eat later in the day.  You won't want to cook and ordering a pizza might seem like a good idea, but you probably won't be able to eat as much as you think.  Have a lot of healthy snacks at home so that you can relax, unwind, and recharge easily!!
16. Enjoy the glory!  Wear your medal WHEREVER YOU GO on race day!!!  YOU DESERVE IT!

Boston or Bust!...or...not.

The Marine Corps Marathon is a mere 27 days away.  I am beyond excited to run my 8th marathon in 4 years and to run it in Washington, DC.  I am so excited to do another 26.2, my 3rd this year alone.  And so far, in the back of my mind, all I keep thinking about is how I'm only 10 minutes and 39 seconds away from qualifying for Boston.

For the first time ever, I am seriously considering running with a pace group.  Pace groups, for those of you who are not familiar, are led by insane runners who can not only finish at a certain time (like say 3:35:00), but can also lead a group of ambitious wannabes the whole time.  They usually carry balloons or something on a stick so that they are easy to find for the whole race.  They usually talk their group through the tough parts, the parts where normal runners don't want to talk, let alone make jokes or offer advice.  They pretty much guarantee that if you stick with them, you'll finish at your goal time.

Every once in a while in a previous race, I'd tag behind a pace group or two if I came across them.  But I've never really wanted to join one before.  I'm sure you may have noticed this, but I'm not a super social runner.  I don't necessarily want to have to talk to other runners when I'm in the middle of a grueling race.  But maybe it would help?  Maybe if I'm really in pain, it will help to know the name of the person in pain next to me?

I still haven't really decided if I'm going to do it.  A big part of me wonders if it will be too much added pressure.  What if I can't keep up?  What if I run with them for the first 20 miles and then just lose it for the last 6 and totally tank?  Could this actually lead to my worst time instead of my best?  What if we don't finish in 3:35:00 - what if we're 30 seconds over and I STILL don't qualify for Boston?

And then I have to ask...who cares?  Who cares if I qualify for Boston?  I mean, sure it would be great.  But when it comes down to it, there has to be a balance between enjoying the race and striving for excellence.  How to find that balance?  Does it include a pace group?  Does it include taking the week before the race off...or doing a half marathon in Hershey (hint, it should include a half marathon in Hershey, since that's what I'm doing).

No matter what happens, I just want to finish marathon #8.  And then, I want to make it to marathon #80.  I want my race pictures to still have me giving the thumbs up or dancing on the course.  Because if running has taught me anything, it's that a good time is nice, but having fun is ultimately what makes you remember a race.