Tough run, determined finish at Flying Pig

Up up and away.
The 2009 Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon is in the history books now and my legs haven’t forgiven me yet.
I still groan as I get up, but the more I groan the better I feel because it means I worked hard Sunday.
I won’t keep anyone in suspense. My time goal was 4:15 and I ended up running a 4:21. It’s a new personal best in a marathon for me so I can’t be too upset about it, considering I earned my stripes in this one.
Particularly given the chain of events and the course.
I am a creature of habit before every race, down to how long I spend at the start line and where I fold my race clothes the night before.
I’m not one of those people who likes to spend more than 15 minutes huddled at the start. I like to get  there wait a few minutes soak up the scenery and wait for the gun to go off.
Keeping that in mind, I gave myself enough time to walk over a bridge, spanning the Ohio River, into Cincinnati and head to the start.
As I was walking over I was sweating, but figured I was just a little nervous.
I didn’t clue in to how humid it actually was.
As I got closer to the start I looked at my watch and realized I was cutting it a little close.
I was still standing at the top of the Paul Brown stadium when I heard the national anthem play. The pre-race Zen I was feeling came to a screeching halt.
I quickly stripped my outer layers off while walking. (In hindsight this probably wasn’t a good idea) and I tore down the stadium stairs, inserted myself in the only available space in the sea of more than 16,000 participants.
I felt panicked.
I looked around and nobody was wearing a marathon a bib, except for one poor guy who was trying to move in the crowd beside me. As we tried to edge closer to the front, I could see the sign for the 4:45 minutes pace bunny way up ahead.
At this point I was a little distraught.
I tried not to panic, but it took me about five miles to settle down. Just as I started to find my rhythm the monster hills at Mile 6 started.
Normally someone who looks for flat races, I had limited experience with a hilly 42.2 kilometre route.
It takes a lot of guts to run a challenging course and I managed to find some somewhere.
I trudged up them drinking water and wondering if my pace was too fast because I was feeling as if I was really pushing hard.
When I saw the clock at the halfway mark, I was very confused.
I was behind the time I wanted, but felt as if I was working hard.
So being that I was in the United States and trying convert my pace from miles to kilometres, I gave up and just ran.
It turns out while there were some speckles of rain, it was very humid out there.
I let it go and kept running enjoying the amazing crowd support along the route. Fresh orange slices awaited us at several mile markers and the spectators were really into it.
I was having a mediocre race, but they kept me going, including the state trooper in the last two miles who said, “I see you!, C’mon”
Cincinnati really embraces the weekend and treats the runners so well. I’m still sporting my temporary flying pig  tattoo on my leg with pride.
At Mile 20, my fiancée met me on his rollerblades and as he replenished my Gatorade supply the 4:30 bunny ran past me.
As my eyes welled up in frustration, he looked at me and said, “There’s no crying in the marathon. Don’t get upset, just go.”
And go I did. I was not letting that 4:30 pace bunny out of my sight.
I channelled my frustration into the back of that pace bunny’s head.
I wanted a personal best if it killed me even if it was only by a couple of minutes and even if I had to trip him on the way in. So I ran and ran and ran.
My worst fear is that he would surge ahead of me in the last couple of miles, kicking me in the guts.
It was enough to propel me to work even harder than I already was.
I didn’t feel as bad in those last six miles as I did in the rest of the race.
It was a new feeling for me as the last six miles are usually the hardest. But as I left the 20 mile marker I pretended the race was starting again.
I got in front of that bunny and made sure he was well behind me as I crossed the Finish Swine — a Cincinnati trademark.
As I came running down Pete Rose Way, I could feel the adrenalin pumping. I was hauling at this point.
It was proof to me what many before me said.
The last six miles is all guts.
In the end I beat my personal best by nine minutes and the great part about the race is it left me wanting more.
This marathoner is just getting started.

Comments

[Paul]

Great job Caroline. Now you just have to decide which marathon to do next.

Paul

[Eddie]

Way to go Bud.
I am really happy to see you did great and like i said you always seem to improve in Chunks of time as opposed to 1 minute or secs. I am really glad to have moved up the ladder and run with you and the guys as i have really improved and learnt soooo much from you and everyone else. knowing you didn't give up gives me motivation , hopefully when i hit the wall i will remember too keep pushing .Thanks in Advance for being there for us (the Newbies) this Sunday at the Mississauga Marathon.
See you Sunday at the Half Mark.