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I started training with AustinFit a year ago- then as many of you know, two
weeks before Motorola 2002, I got a stress fracture, which kept me from
attaining my long awaited life goal of running my first Marathon... since then
I have had problems coming back due to tendonitis around my original injury.
I had started training again with friends who were running Chicago and
decided to sign up, however, two weeks before Chicago I still struggled with
tendonitis and also broke my toe! Apparently wine is not considered a proper
hydration drink. Since I had come so far trying, I wasn't going to let it
stop me.
So I went to Chicago… There was an estimated field of 37,500 runners and a
million spectators.
We started in pretty cold conditions, but the weather was dry and less windy
than we had expected.
The course was great and well organized, at the start debris from the runners
discarding garments was a bit of a hazard, but this got less of an issue as
the miles passed.
I was lucky enough to run the whole thing with my good friend, Pat Burch who
gave up his chance to complete a faster race time to experience my first
marathon with me... he is a Prince among coaches and a King amongst friends…
thank you Pat, I will never ever forget your kind gesture.
I had a sign that bore my name and announced it was my first 26.2, I am so
glad I did this. The crowd were incredible, Pat and I counted people shouting
encouragement to me…. 133 good wishes, at least came my way and I thanked
almost every single one as I passed them. I can still see some of the faces
as they were yelling at me with such passion and conviction. I was also proud
to be an English Texan!
The race was packed, we ended up starting around the 4:30 pace mark. It all
went by steadily with few mishaps, weaving through the runners seemed to
always be a factor, but we stuck to the sides which made it easier. At mile
19 my ankle twinged, Pat stopped with me every mile after that and we
stretched.. Mile 21 my quads really tightened up, so the stretching helped me
run through that too. I would thoroughly agree with Janet, that the halfway
point in the marathon is mile 20, for me in particular the last 1.2 miles
seemed to take ages.
For what it is worth…my advice to any new AustinFit runners would be to get
as much info as you can from your coaches and other runners, use their
experience to your advantage, run smart. I asked a lot of questions and
learnt a lot… not only for during the marathon, but for the run up to it and
after care too. The Saturday seminars give you what you need to know, but
keep asking.
Also, things I told myself all the way through were 1) Be present, so you
absorb every moment and 2) Do a body check often (thanks Dinty, a very
valuable piece of advice). I also set my intention to finish, never giving my
self a chance of doubting my crossing the finish line.
My special thanks to Pat Burch, Janet Pichette, Heather Boyer and Dinty Moore
for making it such a memorable trip, also to Sheila Anderson and Josolyn
Krohmer, we were so sad you weren't there in person, but glad for your
support and for being with us in spirit, to Ann at Body Therapy and last but
not least….to all the AustinFit runners for your continued support,
friendship and for willing me to get one under my belt…
See you Saturday… Emma J Tuel, Marathon Runner
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