My First Marathon

I woke up at 4 am - an hour before my alarm was set to go off. I was in and out of slumber that last hour but jumped out of bed at 5 on the dot. I suppose I was a little anxious. I got downtown at about 6:45 and headed to the back of the art museum where the other Phillyfitters would be. Everyone was in good spirits, sharing last minute advice and encouragement with each other. We got to the starting area just before 8 am. I met a mother/daughter team while waiting to start from Lancaster who were running the half-marathon. The marathoners and half-marathoners were interspersed within each other at the start - so needless to say it was a bit crowded. The weather was perfect, about 40 degrees at the start and mostly cloudy but dry.

I didn't cross the starting line until 8:15 am and almost immediately began to feel the lactic acid buildup in my shins. I knew the feeling would pass by mile 3 and fortunately, having my name on my singlet distracted me from the pain because of the spectators cheering on my name. Just before we hit mile 2 a man in a powder blue tuxedo and another dressed in drag with a red dress, lipstick, hat and purse ran past me. I love people with personality and humor like that. While to most people, the thought of pushing your body to run 26.2 miles isn't fun, to those of us who, it has to be fun. Otherwise, why else do it?

4.5 miles in I got a call from Jenna saying she, PJ, and Beth were at Independence Hall, which was about the 5 mile mark. I was so excited when I spotted them as I was running up 6th Street. They were ready with cameras, pretzels, gatorade, candy, vaseline, signs and cheers. I was still feeling fine at this point but seeing them made me feel even better. As I headed down Chestnut street the next few miles it was packed with people on both sides. Every few steps, someone was shouting my name and I made a point to look at them, smile, and give a thumbs up.

When we made a right turn onto 34th street, I noticed there was a bit of an incline. We ran past fraternity and sorority houses at Drexel (or is it Penn?) and I wondered if the frats guys had even been to sleep yet. At this point, I felt that uncomfortable feeling on the instep of my left foot again. This was about 8 miles into the marathon and I knew i'd just have to ignore the blister that was going to form, pop, and rub off all in the course of the run.

Just past mile 9 as I was about to head up a not so nice hill to Memorial Hall in the park, Jenna, PJ, and Beth were there again - cheering, holding up signs, giving me pretzels. I didn't know when i'd see them again, so it was a nice surprise. I was still feeling fine at this point but with my foot starting to hurt, I told Jenna I was probably going to need her to run me in at the end. On I went up what was going to be the biggest climb in the marathon (in my mind anyway), and at the top of the hill, Stan and Carole, two of the coaches from phillyfit were there blowing their whistles with their big foam hands cheering on all the runners. I had on my phillyfit singlet so it was easy for them to spot me, as they screamed my name. It was a nice treat to have at the top of the hill.

The next few miles were lonely in the park. No crowds. Just quiet runners. There was a shooting pain traveling up my leg everytime I landed on my left foot. In the park is where the marathoners were seperated from the half-marathoners. I thought to myself how nice it would be to ony have two miles left as oppossed to the 15 miles I still had to run. But, I had to press on, and again, around mile 12 or so was the dynamic cheering crew of Jenna, PJ, and Beth. Besides my foot pain and shin discomfort in the beginning, I was actually feeling great and ran a steady and comfortable pace for the first half of the marathon.

When we came down West River Drive and began to head around the art museum, large crowds had gathered to catch the marathon winners. Yes, it's humbling when you're only halfway through and someone is about to finish - but then again, i'm not a Kenyan. As I started down Kelly Drive, heading towards Manayunk, two more Phillyfit coaches, Stephanie and Diana were there to cheer me on. And just a few hundred meters past them I ran into my head coach Patrick, who ran a few steps with me, telling me I looked good, to keep up the relaxed pace and just run this race mentally from here on out.

During this whole time, I was getting numerous text messages from people - Kelly, Jim, Dana, Dan, Whitney - you'd be surprised at how much a few words from someone who is thinking of you remotely while you're doing this thing really helps. I ran the 15 and 21 miler training runs without any walk breaks and was feeling comfortable up until this point. But for some reason, when I approached mile 15, my legs started to tighten and my stride became more of a shuffle. The more I shuffled, the more my right hip and lower back started to throb. It's too early to be feeling this, I thought to myself. I still had 11 miles to go.

My mother was at mile 17 with my refreshments, so I pulled over to the side to stretch as I refueled. I was tired and hurting, but still in good spirits. She asked if I was going to be able to do this and I said absolutely. There was no way I wasn't going to finish this thing. As we passed Falls Bridge and strolled down the ramp into Manayunk, a runner came up to me and said "your shirt has been inspiration to me for the past 4 miles". The back of my shirt had a "No Whining" message on it. It made me smile.

Manayunk was crazy - the spectators were huge here in getting us through miles 19 - 22. I was running out of energy and the course was either uphill or downhill these several miles - so I adopted a run-walk strategy. People were still shouting my name and I knew Jessi, my goddaughter Katie, and Dave were at Shurs Lane and Main street. I was running past them initially but signaled to them that i'd stop when I was coming back on the downhill. When I got to the turn around on Main Street, someone else shouted "Nicole" and I gave my thumbs up and a smile. He shouted my name again and I realized it was my friend Andrew. I wasn't expecting to see him there so it was a very welcome surprise at a crucial turning point in the race. The dreaded 20 mile mark when you'd start what they call the second part of the race, which is the final 10K.

Everytime I saw someone I knew, that adrenaline rush carried me for several hundred meters following, and seeing Andrew there at that time helped me get back to Jessi and the gang at mile 21. I stopped to chat with them, eat swedish fish, and stretch. I was in pain, but it didn't matter - I just couldn't stop smiling. My almost 7 year old goddaughter Katie grabbed my hand to run a little ways with me - and she actually started pulling me along! It was a precious moment for me and I think a future marathoner was born in that moment in Katie. So I hugged her goodbye and told her i'd see her at the finish line.

As I left Manayunk, the exit ramp back to Kelly Drive kicked my butt and I had to slow to a walk again. When I got off the ramp, my mother was there again for the last bit of encouragement she could give me. Now, on Kelly Drive, I was at mile 22 and I only had 2.5 more miles to go before I would catch up with my cousin Natalia and friend Jamie. I had just missed them when I passed the art museum at the half way mark and they had waited all this time to see me. This was some of the longest miles of my life at this point. Mentally, I kept going - I couldn't give up. But physically, my legs just didn't want to go anymore. I'd start a light, stiff jog and pure exhaustion would set in and i'd have to slow to a walk. Everytime I tried to start running again it would take a few steps for me to get my legs under me. This was as entirely new sensation for me. I didn't quite know what to make of it.

I came across the cheering trio of PJ, Jenna, and Beth again - and Jenna was dressed in her running gear, ready to run me in. I was concerned that I still hadn't seen my cousin and Jamie and was looking forward to seeing them for the last 10 miles. Just as I said this I looked across the street, and there they were! They stood around for hours waiting to see me, Jamie and my cousin with her 8 month old daughter. I was so happy to see them and they fed me the swedish fish I requested. I was so overwhelmed with all the support I was receiving and despite my exhaustion and pain, I was in incredibly high spirits. At this point I wasn't even going to finish for myself, but for everyone else out there who was pulling for me. I had to do it for them.

Jenna started running by my side - only 1.5 miles left to go, then i'd be crossing that finish line. This was by far the most difficult stretch for me - to know you're so close but to feel like you're body just might not make it. Jenna shared her words of encouragement which was crucial, but still, I had to take two more walking breaks in this last stretch. A few hundred meters before the finish line, another of our coaches, Sue started yelling my name. I looked at her and knew I had to finish strong. So I started running again, picking up the pace with each step. People were shouting my name left and right - I couldn't stop smiling from ear to ear. I looked to my left and my co-worker Susanne was there to cheer me onto the finish. Jenna pulled out and ran behind the crowd, still yelling at me to finish strong. I kicked into high gear and sprinted to the finish line - throwing my arms up in the air as I crossed the finish line. I did it!! I made it!!! I just couldn't stop smiling!

I am truly overwhelmed by the support so many people gave me through emails, text messages, in person, and being there along the route. I really, truly, don't know if I could have gotten through this without all of you. I don't know what i've done to deserve so many incredibly wonderful friends. I didn't finish this marathon - WE finished this marathon together. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.