31st Marine Corps Marathon

31st Marine Corps Marathon

October 29, 2006 and the 31st Marine Corps Marathon have come and gone. But not a day has gone by these past 2 weeks that I haven't thought about that day and my first race.

The weather couldn't have been better and the excitment was overwhelming. Despite a delayed start we were final off and running our first marathon. We couldn't connect with Tara at the beginning of the race so Robi and I were pretty determined to stick together to be sure to push eachother towards the finish.

It was so exciting and such a rush to hear all of the cheering as we pushed off the starting line. After months of training it was almost unbelievable that we were out there running. We stuck to the advice many had given us--do the first 8-10 miles slow. The adreneline gets you pumped up, you are feeling great, and you want to run FAST! But despite all that it is so important to run slow in the beginning so you can run hard and well in the end.

Our families had scattered about to position themselves at different miles and await our arrival. We never anticipated that we would have to go to the bathroom so frequently or that the lines would be long! Our next marathon we will be much more strategic about when and where to stop. But we felt that if we didn't stop now...when would we have another opportunity.

It was great to see our families on the sidelines cheering us on, handing us kleenex for a runny nose, or some malted milk balls and pretzles to nibble on. We knew we could make it just a little further until we would see them again.

Robi and I pushed hard through Miles 17-20. We saw one of the AIDS coaches out there on the point when we were behind the pace car and he assured us that "We earned these miles" and we needed to be ahead of the pace car to be sure we would cross the bridge in time. That was enough to light a fire under us and get us moving. We were not doing as well as we had hoped to but we were able to make it to mile 20 together. That felt like enough of an accomplishment right there if you ask me! It was a bit overwhelming to be on the bridge knowing we almost didn't make it. Robi and I ran a little bit further together but her knee was not going to allow her to continue on at my pace. So for the last 6 miles we had to run solo. Not an easy feat when you are used to running in a pack or when you are in pain and just want some compainonship or maybe even sympathy. But I had to run for me. It was my marathon.

I pushed on as best I could, dancing alone to the sounds of some high school bands, music on stage at the street fair, and humor...at mile 23 I asked the Marines handing out water if I was on the right track to the starting line!

At mile 25 I was ready to walk but kept pushing forward and then at mile 26 I saw two friends and co-workers with a huge sign and "two-braids" on their heads. Across the finish line I ran but never saw my official time due to an on coming ambulance! I received my finishers medal and a bottle of water. The end of my first marathon and just feeling a little dazed.
My official time was 06:08:05. The first question I think I was asked by Phillip or my mom was "Are you going to run it again?" I honestly didn't know that I would run another marathon after that and it took several days for me to make a decision. I am getting ready to train for a 1/2 marathon in March and Phillip said he would train for that with me...but also would run the Marine Corps Marathon with me next year. So I guess my answer is yes!

Robi finished 15 minutes behind me with a time of 06:24:00. I am proud of her.

It takes a first time to do something to learn the ropes, plan a stategy, and know what to expect. I'm sure our next races will be better. But nothing can replace the feeling of running and competing in your first marathon. And ours was unique because not only were we running for ourselves but we also ran for a good cause and that feels great!

For the Spectators!

Marine Corps Marathon!!!

Cheering Guide
There are many opportunities to see me and the other AIDS Marathoners running the marathon. Here is some information from the AIDS Marathon Training Program to let you know where to cheer us!


Starting Area: Cheer us on as we line up to cross the starting line

Crossing Memorial Bridge at Mile 10: Just at Mile 10 on the North side of the Lincoln Memorial as we are coming from the Kennedy Center to run north on Henry Bacon Drive to Constitution Ave. The best cheering area is on the grass on the North side of the Lincoln Memorial. This will require you to walk across Memorial Bridge from Arlington Cemetery.

On Independence Ave. at Miles 14 & 15: A short stroll to the South side of the Mall at Independence Avenue and 17th St. will allow you to see us as we come from Capitol Hill before we head toward the Tidal Basin on Ohio Drive. After we pass, cross to the other side of Independence Ave. (along the Tidal Basin) to see us at mile 15. You can then walk along the course to approximately Mile 15.5/20 near the 14th street Bridge. We will pass back by that area again at Mile 20 on our way to the 14th street Bridge. Please note that if you stay to see us at Mile 20, you may not make it back to the Finish Line before we finish. If you want to see us cross the finish line walk back toward the finish line after we pass you at Mile 15!

Crossing back over the Memorial Bridge & The Finish!: As you walk back across Memorial Bridge heading toward the finish line you will see the runners coming across the 14th Street Bridge and heading North on Highway 110 toward the finish line. You can cheer the runners making the final push on Highway 110. After you have seen your runner finish, you can come to the AIDS Marathon Hospitality Tent just past the Finish Line (near the bell Tower) to meet up with you runner.

General Information

Please check out http://www.marinemarathon.com/page11.aspx/ for information regarding the marathon and your role as a spectator. On the website you can use the interactive course map and spectator guides to help you plan your day! I will start the race in the “Gold Wave” at 8:40 A.M. I run between a 12:00-13:00 pace.

I will be wearing a bright yellow AIDS Marathon tank so you will be able to easily identify our group. My tank will proudly say “Two Braids” so you will know it is me! My bib number is #31957. All runners are equipped with a smart chip to track our time. There are kiosks stationed throughout the course in which you can use my bib # and determine where I am on the course. For more information on this check out the official Marine Corps Marathon website.

Thank you all for your support during these past 6 months of training. I am so excited to running the marathon on Sunday and I look forward to hearing ya’ll hoot and holler as I go running by! If you want something that will be sure to encourage me on my trek through DC I’d love some pretzels that you can hand me as I run by! Tootsie Rolls, Swedish Fish, and Chocolate GU are also gladly welcomed! THANK YOU!!!!

If you have any other questions please email me or call!

Pass the Weak. Hurdle the Dead.

26 Mile Celebration Run

Saturday, Sept. 30, 2006

We all met at the East Falls Church Run Site on a cool and dark morning. Trying to stay warm was as much of a challenge as mentally preparing for our run that day. It was exciting to have all the AIDS Marathon runners in the same place and it was great to meet new runners as well.

A client from the Whitman-Walker Clinic spoke to us about the struggles he and his partner have had fighting not only AIDS but also a few legal battles too. It was awe inspiring to hear how the clinic was able to step in and assist them with their medical and legal needs. To this day he has not turned over one cent for 20 years worth of medical treatment because of the fundraising that has supported the clinic. It was great to have those thoughts running through our head as we began to run on the trail.

The day was cool with some showers throughout our run. Around mile 18 or so we all began to get a little punchy but our ridiculous banter pushed us through each mile. It was fun to stop at the themed water stops or pass another group of runners who orchestrated the wave as we passed by. It took our group about 6 and a half hours to run the 26 miles. At the end we ran in together, smiles on our faces, tears in our eyes, through the balloon archway and into the arms of our coaches putting an AIDS Marathon medal around our necks. It was an incredible feeling. Courage, accomplishment, pride, enthusiasms.

I was particularly pleased because the longest consecutive run I had completed to date was only 16 miles. Running the 26, and finishing it, has given me the confidence I needed to be able to run the marathon in a few short weeks!

Only 1 more long run left!

We'll last week I did run the two 10 mile runs back to back on the treadmill. The first 10 wasn't too bad on Thursday night. It was like watching a revolving door of people exercising...and I out lasted them all. The mother on the treadmill while her 6 year old "played" on the weight machines and elliptical that he was much to much small for. And she was a loud flat footed walker...thump thump thump thump over and over as each foot hit the track of the treadmill. The guy who came in for maybe 20 minutes, did the weight machines and left. Two young women ran for a little bit and seemed to disappear before they even had the chance to break a sweat.

I kept time by television. 1/2 hour of Home Improvement. 1/2 hour of Seinfeld. 1/2 hour of Wheel of Fortune. 1/2 hour of Jeopardy! That last 1/2 hour was the easiest by far!

Friday morning it took me a bit longer than I would have liked to get out of bed. Tired, excited for our trip to NC, excited to see old friends, anxious about having to leave Dolly at the vet. The start was a little rough because my legs were a bit stiff and tired. Somehow, I muddled through the next two hours. The local news and The Today Show to help me along.

So now I've done 20 miles-sort of. Day 2 was certainly more difficult but not horrific. I'm nervous about our trial 26 in two weeks. That will be the longest full distance I've run. Hopefully the adrenaline will be pumping and carry me through. It's a great thing to run a test run of the marathon. The crazy thing is that unlike most training programs we actually do run the 26 miles before the actual Marathon. But what a great feeling knowing that I will have actually ran 2 marathons in a year...heck in 1 month!

I'm feeling good. I'm so ready for marathon day to be here.

For someone more crazy than me....check out this guy http://www.endurance50.com/

Until next time-Two Braids

New Shoes!

Well I finally got my new shoes. They are actually the same shoe, just in a wider width. I was able to run the whole 10 miles yesterday, still in pain but not nearly as much. If last week I was experiencing pain as a 7 out of 10 this week was only a 3! I most likely have bruised or sprained my foot a little bit but that will heal over time. I can run through the pain now which is not something I was willing to do a few weeks ago.

Next week is the second to last BIG run we'll do before the marathon-23 miles. I will be out of town for a wedding-so to "simulate" the 23 I'll run 11 miles Thursday night and then 11 miles Friday morning! I just need to remember to stretch EVERYTIME we get out of the car. I'll also miss the party after the run. I've put Robi in charge of taking pictures for me.

Nothing else really exciting this week. I'll post next week after my back to back 11 mile runs!

20 miles!

Last Sunday was the 20 mile run. I was able to complete 16 of the 20 due to pain in my foot. I was afraid to keep running through the pain and then getting to the point of no return if I actually injure myself and can not continue to run. Everything else felt great. I feel that I was mentally prepared and the rest of my body felt good. I just got to the point where the pain in my foot was too much. New shoes are right around the corner and hopefully then my ailments will be relieved.


We had two guest runners at our site this week to run with Tara and I. The two women who ran with us were a sassy mother daughter pair both training for their second marathon. The mother was a powerhouse and reminded me a bit of the Energizer Bunny! We nearly needed a lasso to keep her pulled back and on pace with us. The daughter is an exuberant student finishing up her thesis work at Princeton. She chatted through most of the run keeping us all perked up and distracted from our task at hand as well.



I was able to coax Phillip and Dolly out of bed at 4:30 am on Sunday morning to come out to College Park and serve as water volunteers! It was a great thing to look forward after the first 12 miles of the run and then at the end. Dolly's main job was to be cute which she does with such ease.


Robi has been in Brazil these past few weeks and emailed to say she was successful in running 20 miles! She had this to say "I did it- I ran 20 miles! I ran for FIVE HOURS!!! Who the hell in their right mind RUNS for five hours??? I wasn´t counting on doing it here on the island, but I started to figure out that it is cooler here than in Rio AND there is shade. The places where there are nice, safe paths in Rio are always in the sun. Blech. So I ran through every alleyway imaginable -3 times- in this village, and down the path to the Black Beach about 6 times. Around the soccer field maybe another six...you get the idea. But ROCK ON!!!!!!!!!!! I did it!!! The constant drizzle was nice, too."

This week we have the option of 10 miles or 5k (just over 3 miles). Is there really a choice? Hmmmm....