Continuing on. Here is the rest of my recap, mile by mile, of my half at the Colfax Marathon in Denver last Sunday.
In case you missed it, check out part one. Part two will take you through what I was thinking as I put one foot in front of the other for 13.1 miles.
Mile 1: Feeling a strange cramp in my tummy, but overall in good spirits. Only moderately annoyed with the guy running in front of me with cargo pants on and complaining about how much his knee hurts… to no one in particular, just complaining out loud to himself.
Mile 2: Did that amazon woman next to me really just spit right in front of me? Sick. (Checking my watch every two seconds because I was terrified to go too fast.)
Mile 3: Two Jeresey Shore dudes just sandwiched me and sped past fist pumping. Ha. Gave me a good chuckle. In case you need a visual…imagine these two running past you on either side but with cut off shirts that say “Rock On” on the back.
Mile 4: Margot and Todd from the movie Christmas Vacation just sped past while discussing how they couldn’t believe how slow they were going… “Maaaaaargooooot, why we are going slower than a 9 minute mile??” “I don’t knooooow Todd!” Again, if you need a visual… And, if you don’t get my reference at all here then you really are missing out – go rent Christmas Vacation. This couple gave me a good 1/4 mile of entertainment just thinking about the movie.
I think for the first 4 miles, I was sort of working to get my groove. I also think I started off with a group that was a wee bit too slow for me… for some strange reason, I kept getting annoyed with the runner’s around me. Oops!
Mile 5: We ran past the fire trucks and firemen and I thought to myself, ”huh, firemen are good-looking and very friendly!” (Not nearly as good-looking or as friendly as The Med Student though.)
Mile 6: We ran through the fire department and a marching band was on the other side playing the Rocky theme song. I had a completely involuntary smile on my face from ear to ear. Runner’s high was beginning to kick in. Whoo!
Mile 7: We turned the corner and there they were: The Rockies. ”Rocky Mountain High, Colorado…” Runners began cheering. It was the push we all needed. To say I was experiencing runner’s high would be an understatement. I was in heaven. About half way through mile 7 I found myself running next to a guy about my age that was handicapped. He was running for a charity and had a huge smile on his face. I was overcome with emotion and had tears welling up in my eyes. We ran next to each other for probably 1/2 a mile or so and I will never forget it. He encouraged and humbled me. I am grateful for that experience.
Mile 8-10: After mile 7, these 3 miles were just pure bliss. They flew by. I felt amazing. I had a smile on my face and was just taking in the scenery. We were running through one of Denver’s most beautiful neighborhoods. Some of the highlights: dodging a hair weave that had been run over a few million times, hearing a little girl cheer on her mom with her dad and other runners around us chiming in with a “good job mom!” after they saw her fans on the sidewalk, a man belching next to me (eeeeww.), a woman letting out a huge fart passing gas next to me, and a woman on-looker yelling out “you look great Kara!”. We had our names on our bibs so it wasn’t magic that she knew my name, but this personalized cheer made me want to yell back, “I love you!”
Mile 11: I got excited… possibly too excited. Just three. more. miles…. still. three. more. miles…
Mile 12: I crashed. My legs felt like cement. I just kept putting one foot in front of the next and praying for the finish line. I also remember wanting a hug from my mom.
Mile 13: Almost there. Almost there. Almost there. There. Medal. Pictures. Water. Bliss.
At the finish of the race, the runners were guided away from finish line by a fenced chute, across which I found T&T ready and waiting to give me oodles of much needed hugs – so close, yet so far away. All of a sudden I felt trapped! To my right was the finish line and cattle racers flowing in, to my left was a crowd of tired runners and a white fence as far as I could see. Dum. Dum. Dummmm. At one point I had the thought to just leaping over the fence to get to them… this was short lived. I was in no condition for leaping. All I knew was I needed to get on their side of the fence. It was then that Terry reminded me to go get my free banana. Naturally, the idea of a free banana calmed me down. I got my banana, bagel, and bag. The crowds began to part and I saw T&T standing at the opening of the fence. Harps began playing. Hugs. Tears. (Of course I cried… I am the most emotional person you will ever meet. I cry at commercials.) Laughter. And, more bliss.
After I got it together, I called The Med Student. It was so great to hear his voice – the only thing missing was having him there with me.
The rest of the morning was spent enjoying the beautiful weather, drinking my post-run free beer, and bathing in endorphins. A BIG thanks to T&T for making everything so wonderful. They were the perfect cheerleaders and picture takers and jacket holders! I am very appreciative to have had them there.
A perfect race. I couldn’t have asked for a better first half marathon. I will never forget it – now when’s the next race?
