Wrightsville Beach Marathon - My First Boston Qualifier

March 17, 2018 My Race Report

It was such an amazing day. The weather was perfect, 40’s at the start, light winds, partly cloudy, and mid 60’s at the end. My training had been strong and consistent (other than the week of Christmas!). This was my first training cycle with Tom Clifford as my coach. Tom pushed me to run more weekly miles, to do more consecutive days of running, more cross training on the bike, more recovery runs on soft surfaces, more stretching and foam rolling. I did it all to the best of my ability and through it all, I gained confidence. In the last month of practices at the track, Tom gave me paces and workouts that made me believe that I was able to run the race of my dreams and achieve my Boston Qualifying time. I was practicing positive thinking in a big way, visualizing myself in the last miles of the race in every long run, hearing the crowd yell my name, pushing through the pain and fatigue to cross the line at my goal time of 4:06.

Race morning, I woke at 2:00 when the alarm went off 1 hour too early! I had maybe slept 3-4 hours, so I drifted back to sleep until my second alarm at 3:00 am. I got up, made my coffee with almond milk and sugar, cooked a bowl of Low FODMAP cream of rice topped it with strawberry natural jam, ate a banana, drank a grape juice and a glass of Osmo Preload. We dressed, fed and walked the dogs, and got on the road a little after 5:00 am. Destination UNCW, parked the truck, visited the portajohn and got on the bus to the beach. Allie and I discussed all the positives of the day on the bus ride. I was as confident for her as I was for myself. We visited the portajohns again, checked our bags, and I lined up between 4:00 and 4:15 marathon times, while Phillip, Allie, and Shawn went to their respective spots to start. I saw several of my friends but was content to run my own race. I tossed off my long sleeve tee as the race started and attempted to start the RaceJoy app as I crossed the line. It took several tries but finally it started and I tucked my phone into my Flipbelt around my waist. I had earbuds only for the purpose of hearing RaceJoy talk to me at mile intervals. I had the volume so low, I did not hear it until mile 16!

Mile 1 and 2, with my phone out of my hands, I focused on my breathing and form, and I ran with Leah until she pulled over to the first aid station. I had made a decision to carry a bottle with my hydration, so I did not have to stop or slow down. I had 16 oz. of Skratch in 3 bottles: the one I started with and 2 others waiting for me at miles 13 and 20. I also had 12 Gu Chews(1 every other mile) and 2 Glucose Gels (1 before the start and another before the the finish). I did a “warm up” mile and then tried to dial in something between 9:00 minute and 9:20 per mile. I was feeling very good as we headed into Landfall and saw several friends who were running the Half Marathon (Pam, Lynda, Christie, Casey, Kelli, just to name a few). I did not try to chase anyone else or a pace as I was feeling very good and knew that I was on track to meet my goal.

I came out of Landfall onto Military Cutoff still feeling strong! At mile 9, the half marathon runners turned right into Mayfaire and we stayed straight. The real race was just beginning! My feet and blisters were no issue, my legs felt good; I was glad that I had visited Jon Duplessis at the expo for laser and kinesiology tape on my left quadricep and laser to my left upper glutes. No pain in either spot. I was mentally strong too and was still taking in my surroundings and the other runners but was not trying to interact more than a word or two. The spectators were great and I saw so many friends along the road. We headed back toward the beach by way of the Summer Rest Trail, one of my favorite parts of the new course! There was a little water in the low spot on the trail, but I somehow managed to jump and run through it without getting my feet wet! My pace was noticeably slower here, but I was not too concerned as it was still early (mile 10-11).

I crossed over the drawbridge to the beach and saw Marie Walker on the other side, she was taking pictures as she usually does at this location and I smiled and said Hi! I had been running next to or near a guy dressed like a leprechaun for several miles and so many spectators made comments, it was entertaining me! I saw Charles Buckland at mile 12, hoping that he might be running my pace, but he slowed down considerably as I reached him, we spoke to each other and I passed him. We had trained together in the same pace group through the past 4 months, and his goal for the race was the same as mine, but he was not running that way at mile 12, so I was on my own, as before. It had gotten warm enough that I could tell I was sweating more than I was drinking, so I made an effort to finish my bottle before mile 13, where Andy had another one waiting at the Clemson aid station. I was seeing the faster runners as they were heading back off the beach after the turnaround. It was exciting to see where all the other WOL athletes were at this point in front of me. My trainer, Steven Shade was the 4:00 pacer and he had a large group with him at this point. Ahead of Steven, I saw Shawn Tunis and Tracy, Renee Zukerman, Sarah Horton, and Jack Carroll. All were running very strongly. I hit the turnaround and now I got to see the runners who were behind me.

Miles 14 to 17, on my way back off the beach- yeah! I was still feeling good, though I can tell I am not drinking enough Skratch because I’m a little light headed. I increased my effort to drink the second bottle and felt better right away. This was the part of the race that Tom predicted I would be able to start catching up to and passing other runners. Well, he was right. I was holding a pretty steady pace and passing those who were slowing down. My next big challenge was the “hill” on Airlie Road and though I might have slowed down a touch, I held onto my race pace. I hit the top of the climb with my leprechaun friend, when he said “only 8 more miles” and turned on his jets!

I knew Phillip would be waiting for me at mile 20, the beginning of the Cross City Trail. I was so happy to see him and have him join me for the rest of my run. I did not talk much because I didn’t want to expend the energy. I don’t have to think when I run with Phillip, as I can trust him to keep me on pace. I think, no, I know I would have slowed down a lot at that point had it not been for his reminding me that “every second counts” when trying to BQ! I had calculated in my head that even 10:00 minute miles for the last 3 would safely do the job, but he was not going to let me slow down. We did our loop through Autumn Hall to get my wrist band so that I could head to the campus and the finish line. I had practiced these last miles both on the trail and in my head so many times.

I was ecstatic to have Erin Greene join in with Phillip and I from mile 23-24. She chatted with Phillip that whole time which helped take my mind off what I was doing. We passed Anne Steketee twice at miles 20 and 23 and Phillip had gotten my last bottle from her. He carried it for me which was so nice. He also had a Transcend gel for me to take for the final push, and I got it down easily at mile 24. I did not want to surge too early, but tried to pick it up a little at mile 25. My plan was to have a little juice left in the tank when I turned onto the Chancellors Walk, so that I could stride strongly to the finish line. It was crazy to hear so many people calling my name. I saw Kathleen and Jeff first, then Pam, Pam and Lynda waiting for me. I think I surprised even my dearest friends and training partners!

I finished the race well ahead of my target time of 4:06, achieving a 9 minute personal record and an official tag time of 4:03:03. I won 1st place in my age division (55-59) among a field of 10 other crazy old women. It was 15 minutes faster than my first attempt at this marathon and 16 minutes faster than last year. I am learning so much about myself and what is possible with faith in God, the love and support of family and friends, and a willingness to work hard and be coached! I have finally embraced it in my mind .... I am without limits!