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Hey Pat,
I have to give you a little "history" for my "this year's" marathon story to make sense!
My first Austin Fit experience was in '98 - '99. Long story short, got injured early in training, opted to just do the 3M half. BUT, definitely thought a marathon was in my future.
Skipped the next year. Re-joined '00 - '01. Did my first marathon (along w/the distance challenge), BUT I developed severe ITB syndrome in my right knee in early January, so I walked a lot and ended up taking 5 hours 46 minutes. And that was the year they ran out of medals, so I was one of the unlucky people who did not get a medal at the finish line. I was in so much pain, and the only thing that got me through was the thought of getting the medal, when I didn't get one, I totally broke down & bawled like a baby!
Skipped the next year (AGAIN!). Attempted my 2nd marathon in '02 - '03. Decided NOT to do the distance challenge in the hopes of avoiding injury. Was doing fine until, you guessed it, got injured 2 WEEKS before the marathon (ITB in the left knee this time!). Decided to attempt the marathon, but if my knee hurt really bad & I felt like I would do the same or worse than the first, I would just drop out. Long story short, I DNF'd. Absolute worse disappointment in my life. I felt like such a loser! Cried again at the finish (b/c I ended up walking to the finish from mile 17 (took a short cut through the hike & bike). (Didn't realize that to get picked up, I would have to wait until the LAST person came by until after I had already been waiting for an hour, so that's why I decided to hobble my way to the finish to find my hubby).
Skipped the next year (AGAIN!). Brings us to now. . . I managed to do the distance challenge again. Made it through the 22 mile training run injury free, actually feeling great! THEN came the 3M half. My old right ITB flared up again. I couldn't believe it! Initially, after the 22 mile run my goal was a 4:30. Now, I just didn't know if I would even finish. My knee started hurting at mile 3, and by mile 6 it was EXCRUTIATING. And the heat really started getting to me around mile 10. I started having to walk around mile 15. By mile 19 my knee wasn't bothering me as much b/c I developed a "new" pain that was even worse; my right ankle was really talking to me, so I wasn't noticing my knee much anymore! But by the grace of God (it certainly wasn't my strength!), I finished and I actually "PR'd"!! I finished in 4:56 (chip time, 4:59.44 clock time). I cried "a little bit" as I crossed the finish line, but this time it was pure joy! I got my medal, and I got all the goodies in the distance challenge tent as well. This was the marathon experience that had eluded me all these years. FINALLY I felt like I had a great marathon. Even though I didn't reach my goal, I still did almost an hour better than my first marathon. And I owe it all to the big guy upstairs!
I want to say a BIG THANK YOU to all the Austin Fit coaches, Carrie Sapp in particular. My husband Dan and I ran w/her and the other "south Austin fitters" and it really helped. I don't think I would have had such a good training base if it hadn't been for the hill workouts & track runs she put together for us.
Happy trails!
Chris Marquette
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