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Marie: I am in the Red 10:30 group with Jeanne
and your virtual 10:20 group! Thank you for all of the pacing
and support this fall and winter!
Getting into this marathon training was not what I bargained
for when a friend called me in September and asked me to go
running at 8 am on a Saturday. I thought to myself..."this
will just get me out there on town lake and I will see my
friend each weekend." No intentions of running a marathon
at the time. Well my friend, bless her heart, dropped out
two weeks later and I became intrigued with the idea that
"anyone can run a marathon" and "it will change
your life". Well, this experience has proved both points
for me. I ended up sticking with it and meeting an incredible,
diverse group called the RED group!
Sunday could not have been a more gorgeous day. I had a lot
of adrenalin going on out there and our team kept pulling
me back from taking off on the front 10 miles. I remember
thinking on Shoal Creek that this is a ton of fun but I am
not sure if it is going to be fun by the time we get to Cesar
Chavez. I was right actually and it became a little less "fun".
At one point, my friend Caty and I decided we needed to use
the port-o pretty seriously and we could not wait for a shorter
line. This stop seperated us from the group that we really
knew that we needed for the 2nd half. We put our legs into
high gear for about 2-3 miles (up that hill on campus too)
and finally caught up to the mass of Red runners. 'Thank god'
we were thinking as we started to head down Congress! Next
thing you know, Caty is running with her father in-law who
jumps in out of the crowd and they take off! I decided to
cool it a little and found Jeanne and Dave again, my touchstones
on the trail!
Jeanne, Dave and I ran together for the 2nd half and somehow
we always end up together on the long runs. These two helped
me get through the tough spots as we passed the sweet smells
of breakfast tacos at Juan and a Million. Things began to
get really fuzzy on Riverside - right as I passed the Wall.
The wall was more of a challenge than I had anticipated but
I decided that stopping at this point was not an option. Somehow
my legs kept on going and burning all the while. We just got
over that last hill on Riverside and there is my husband and
my two dogs ready to jump in and run a few miles with us.
I could not say much to them but it really kept me going and
I felt lucky to have them by my side as always.
The most overwhelming part of the run for me was entering
Zilker Park and the crowds. I had a much more emotional response
than I expected. I just had tears in my eyes...both from the
pain as well as the pride to be there. Jeanne meanwhile is
continuing to tell me "you can do this" and I am
not saying a intelligible word back to her. She could have
taken off...she was looking so strong but she stayed by my
side and we finished practically hand in hand. I just cannot
thank her enough for being right there!
I was in a bit of a daze at the end but found my parents
and my sister and A few people to congratulate but on the
whole I did not get to hug a few Red runners in that amazing
crowd. I congratulate you all and thank you for all of the
fun and the hilarious stories and good times along the way!
Yaaaaahooooooo!
I am ready for a few light jogs on town lake for awhile but
I consider it My "first" marathon!
-Maureen
PS. Thank you Marie, Jeanne and all the coaches for your time!
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