Savannah Rock'N'Roll Marathon
Nov 3, 2012
After twenty-two months of running...two 5Ks, a 10K, and six half marathons...I am finally able to add a marathon to my list of races that have been completed!! Woohoo!! And after four months of hard work and dedication, the day finally arrived.
So thankful that I got to experience this with my besties who were crazy enough to make this commitment with me.
Had a fabulous time shopping at the Expo! The RNR Expos know how to do it right. And this one was extremely organized! We got our 26.2 stickers, and some shopped like it was going out of style. :)
We had a wonderful dinner that night at Corleone's Italian Restaurant. Mmm...mmm...Went back to the hotel and chilled. I don't think any of us got any sleep that night. I'm not gonna lie...The nerves had started to set in a little that day, for a couple of us. I wasn't worried about the distance, but was more worried about running a race that I could be proud of...and have no regrets later. After unexpectedly setting a new sub2:00 PR at Talladega just a few weeks before, my original plan to "just finish" was no longer my only goal. I started doing a lot of calculating to see what kind of pace would get me under 5:00 and to possibly a 4:30 even.
So on race morning, we're standing in the corral waiting to start, and I look over at my girlfriends and say, "Are we really doing this?!" It was so surreal. I was so giddy to finally experience what I had been training for! The only thing I was worried about was controlling my pace so I could make it to the finish line. I knew my friend Marla and Angie had trained at a much faster pace. They have both been running for 25 years! And I really wanted to run this with them. But I also knew I had to run my own race, and had prepared myself to split off from them, if necessary.
I started out running with Angie and Marla, which was so much fun. Took a very quick potty break at 9.5 miles. We ended up running the first 12 miles together, keeping about a 9:45/
pace, which was way fast for me for a marathon. Once we split off from the half marathoners, we hit the freeway and Marla and Angie sped up. I started to get my pace under control and slacked off a little.
I looked ahead and saw an endless freeway, so I made the choice to put my earbuds in and get my music going to get me through this part. The freeway
was the most desolate and hot part of the entire run, and I felt very alone
out there. No water stations, no spectators, nothing!
Around mile 17, I got a little choked up and had to really fight back the emotions. I had been warned of this beforehand. The spectactors were absolutely AMAZING in Savannah! I have never high-fived so many people in my life. I zigzagged all over the course returning the love and high-fiving little kids. The spectators were all so happy to be there and really showed the love to us runners. And it started getting to me at that point. I was also thinking ahead of how sweet it was going to be to cross that finish line....and I had to stop all the daydreaming. It just wasn't helping me keep my emotions in check.
Started getting a stitch in my side at mile 19. Had to walk that off
for a minute, so I made friends with a Marine who was struggling with
cramping. It was his first marathon. He had run two halfs and had been running for 18 yrs. We shared our stories quick-like, and then I picked the pace back up and moved on. From mile 19 on, I was really
counting it down. Keep in mind, I had only trained up to 20. So 21 and on
was a new distance for me. Woot!
At mile 23, the pain set in...from the waist down. I started getting really sore. But I never had any problems mentally. I was getting really excited to finish and kept telling myself "only 3 more miles...that's your neighborhood, Michelle! You've got this!" The farther the distance, the more excited I got.
Mile 25, my playlist decided I should hear "Hurts So Good," which I thought was pretty appropriate. And then I started seeing tons of cameramen. I hope they got good pictures because I was beaming and acting crazy! Really hogged the camera, so I apologize for any other runners around me. :) And finally, I caught a glimpse of all the spectators at the finish line, and I was living that moment I have waited on for so long. I puffed my chest out a little and those tired legs I thought I had wanted to go a little faster. The crowd was really cheering me on as I ran past and across the finish line. And there was my bestie, Marla, who grabbed my medal from the volunteer and placed it around my neck and gave me the biggest hug ever. And then I cried. :)
Here are the results:
Kudos to RNR Savannah for a well organized race and expo. I was really impressed. I can't thank everyone enough (on DM, FB, Twitter, family/friends in my life) for all the love and support through this. I was overwhelmed with texts and messages the night before and day of. And when I crossed the finished line and saw all the congrats, it got me a little choked up. So thanks!! This was an experience of a lifetime. Am I crazy enough to do it again? You better believe it! Because I enjoyed every bit of training and the marathon itself. And I am already getting messages from friends telling me how I have inspired them to run their first half or full. And knowing I have inspired someone like that is just indescribable. :)
Oh, and it wasn't until the ride home the next day that I realized the course was a little long. So where do I find a 26.4 sticker?!
Nov 3, 2012
 |
| Marla, Angie, Me, and Amanda |
So thankful that I got to experience this with my besties who were crazy enough to make this commitment with me.
Had a fabulous time shopping at the Expo! The RNR Expos know how to do it right. And this one was extremely organized! We got our 26.2 stickers, and some shopped like it was going out of style. :)
We had a wonderful dinner that night at Corleone's Italian Restaurant. Mmm...mmm...Went back to the hotel and chilled. I don't think any of us got any sleep that night. I'm not gonna lie...The nerves had started to set in a little that day, for a couple of us. I wasn't worried about the distance, but was more worried about running a race that I could be proud of...and have no regrets later. After unexpectedly setting a new sub2:00 PR at Talladega just a few weeks before, my original plan to "just finish" was no longer my only goal. I started doing a lot of calculating to see what kind of pace would get me under 5:00 and to possibly a 4:30 even.
 |
| Start line before daylight |
So on race morning, we're standing in the corral waiting to start, and I look over at my girlfriends and say, "Are we really doing this?!" It was so surreal. I was so giddy to finally experience what I had been training for! The only thing I was worried about was controlling my pace so I could make it to the finish line. I knew my friend Marla and Angie had trained at a much faster pace. They have both been running for 25 years! And I really wanted to run this with them. But I also knew I had to run my own race, and had prepared myself to split off from them, if necessary.
 |
| At the star |
Around mile 17, I got a little choked up and had to really fight back the emotions. I had been warned of this beforehand. The spectactors were absolutely AMAZING in Savannah! I have never high-fived so many people in my life. I zigzagged all over the course returning the love and high-fiving little kids. The spectators were all so happy to be there and really showed the love to us runners. And it started getting to me at that point. I was also thinking ahead of how sweet it was going to be to cross that finish line....and I had to stop all the daydreaming. It just wasn't helping me keep my emotions in check.
 |
| Self-encouragement along the course! |
At mile 23, the pain set in...from the waist down. I started getting really sore. But I never had any problems mentally. I was getting really excited to finish and kept telling myself "only 3 more miles...that's your neighborhood, Michelle! You've got this!" The farther the distance, the more excited I got.
Mile 25, my playlist decided I should hear "Hurts So Good," which I thought was pretty appropriate. And then I started seeing tons of cameramen. I hope they got good pictures because I was beaming and acting crazy! Really hogged the camera, so I apologize for any other runners around me. :) And finally, I caught a glimpse of all the spectators at the finish line, and I was living that moment I have waited on for so long. I puffed my chest out a little and those tired legs I thought I had wanted to go a little faster. The crowd was really cheering me on as I ran past and across the finish line. And there was my bestie, Marla, who grabbed my medal from the volunteer and placed it around my neck and gave me the biggest hug ever. And then I cried. :)
Here are the results: - Overall:
- Division:
- Gender:
Kudos to RNR Savannah for a well organized race and expo. I was really impressed. I can't thank everyone enough (on DM, FB, Twitter, family/friends in my life) for all the love and support through this. I was overwhelmed with texts and messages the night before and day of. And when I crossed the finished line and saw all the congrats, it got me a little choked up. So thanks!! This was an experience of a lifetime. Am I crazy enough to do it again? You better believe it! Because I enjoyed every bit of training and the marathon itself. And I am already getting messages from friends telling me how I have inspired them to run their first half or full. And knowing I have inspired someone like that is just indescribable. :)
 | |
| The proof!! |
Oh, and it wasn't until the ride home the next day that I realized the course was a little long. So where do I find a 26.4 sticker?!
