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I started running 2 years ago as a way to lose weight. Before joining Austin
Fit 5 miles was a LONG run. I had always been told that no one in our family
has a "runner's build", but I decided to join Austin Fit anyway. I told
everyone that I was going to "do" the marathon. I never said "run" a marathon
because I thought that would be lying since, at the time, I figured I would walk
most of it.
The week before the marathon (Monday) I got the flu. I have not had the flu
in 5 years! I remained positive and told everyone that was God's way of
getting me to rest my legs and most of all my knee, which had been sore since the 21
mile run. Everyone asked me if I was still going to run. I always replied
with a confident "YES!". I was better and back at work on Thursday. I had to
force down large amounts of pasta that my body was not quite ready for.
Wouldn't you know the week I can eat as much as I want, I didn't want ANYTHING!(God
works in mysterious ways).
The morning of the race I was REALLY nervous. My sister was going to run
miles 11-16 with me and her fiancé was going to run miles 16-the finish. I had
them completely nervous also, and they told me that if I reminded them to bring
the baggies of gu, and other things I might need, one more time, they were
not coming.
The race... mile 1 my knee had me a little nervous. I was able to run it out
and it stopped hurting by mile 2. I ran with the 9:25 group until mile 11 and
that really made time fly. I couldn't believe I was already at Dean Keaton.
My sister met up with me and we ran through the crowd at the half marathon
finish. At this point my sister decided that next year she was
going to run the marathon. She couldn't believe how fast that 5 miles seemed
to go. I couldn't believe I was already at mile 16. Still feeling great! I
met up with my sister's fiancé and we ran down Lake Austin Blvd. On the way
back towards 1st I stopped at the restroom (mile 17), this took about 5 minutes.
I didn't realize that people were keeping such a close
watch on my time, but after the race many people asked what happened to me
between mile 16 and mile 20. My parents were especially nervous when they saw
the ambulance going down Lake Austin. I couldn't believe they actually thought
that was for me.
To make a long story short, I felt great the whole race. I never hit the wall
that I thought for sure I would slam into. At mile 24 I announced that I was
running the marathon again next year, and at mile 25 my running partner asked
if I was going to drink a beer. My response was that I have never passed up
beer before and I was not about to start at mile 25. We did
a toast and continued on to the finish.
The finish.... my family and friends were all there cheering me on. My
sister and my dad had of course jumped the fence the marathon had set up so that
they could reach me to give me a high five, and my sister started to run along
with me shouting "go, go, go!" I wasn't sure who was more excited, me or my
family. I crossed the line in 4 hours and 32 minutes with a great big smile
and arms in the air like a champion. I may not have crossed the line first and
the Austin American Statesman didn't print it in the paper, but I know I won
that race.
Final thoughts... I can now tell people that I "RAN" a marathon, and my
family now tells everyone that I was built "different" from the rest of them.
Thanks Austin Fit and the 9:25 group for making this such a great experience.
I can't wait until next year.
Melissa Phillips
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