April 26th. 26 point 2 miles. Age 26. Bib #26082. Nashville Rock N Roll Marathon!!!

 YAY! I successfully completed my first full marathon distance: 26.2!! :) 

 Leslie and I after the finish line! Thank you again Leslie for driving and assisting, because Lord knew I needed it! What an awesome friend!!

The Rock N Roll Series Country Music Marathon for St Jude was WONDERFUL!! The fear of crowds didn't freak me out as badly as I though it would! I mean, ten thousands and ten thousands of people! WOW!! 

Leslie dropped me off Saturday morning bright and early (around 6:00 or so) in downtown Nashville. The traffic/crowds was CRAZY, but the race does a very good job of warning you of that ahead of time and preparing you. I was in race corral 20 out of 40! The corrals (groups of people) take turns crossing the start line so you don't have too many people starting at once. It took me 30 minutes just to get to the START LINE to begin...not a predicament that I am used to at my local races ;) 

I will honestly say that the race itself for me health-wise turned out SO GREAT and I am SO THANKFUL. I usually have stomach issues due to hydrating too little or too much during my long runs, but I did an awesome job with listening to my body during the race so I didn't have that problem. I drank water/gatorade A LOT more than I usually do because I had to, and I was CONSTANTLY having volunteers pour water on my head and down my back! The race itself was VERY hot. Started out cool (60s) but went to the 80s! I felt that I was hydrating too much during the race and that I would regret it, but I guess I did a good job since I did not get a stomach cramp at all (which is a BIG deal to me because I usually do!) and I didn't have to pee...which is weird for me also, because for anyone that REALLY knows me, I have a bladder the size of a thimble! I kept thanking God throughout the race for no stomach pain along with no other pain in my body! It was a great feeling to run with so many people through the ups and downs...LITERALLY...because this race, especially the first part of it (up to mile 18) was HILLY! It was a challenge, but it kept me motivated to keep moving since I know that there had to be a downhill ;) 

I didn't have any pain whatsoever until about mile 23-24...with all the excitement, music, people, etc, I can't even remember how or what I did, but I am figuring that I just landed on my right leg in a funny way because my right shin is still hurting and is making me limp a little bit. It is slightly better today, which I am totally thankful for, but it did cause me to start walking around mile 24...especially with that last BIG HILL around mile 25 (SO CRUEL...so close to the finish line, but so far!). I finished at 4:49:24 which I was happy with considering the heat, hills, and my shin issue at mile 24. I averaged a 10:49 pace...I did AMAZING my first 15 miles keeping it very close to a 10:00 pace!!! So, I finished, and I am a happy camper!

My review of the race itself: AWESOME! 

My only "negative thing" would be the size of the race causing issues with traffic, but with SO MANY people raising money for St. Jude, how can that be a negative thing? It's just something that you just plan for and arrive at your race early for to prepare!

The course itself was a challenge with the hills. Honestly, I don't know if I would have wanted this to be a first half marathon for anyone that I know if they wanted my advice because of that, but hey, if you are that hardcore and you train hard, you can do it! I honestly don't know if I would even recommend this for a first full marathon distance either, but hey, I trained/prepared for it and I did it! ;) It is not a flat race, I assure you of that!

The volunteers, people, and bands that came out for this race were AMAZING. There were times that I even forgot what mile I was at because of all the cheering, funny signs, music, and excitement! They had a band/musician/dj at almost every mile, and even though it's the "County Music" Marathon, they have music of ALL genres! I heard pop, country, classic rock, alternative rock, gospel...it was GREAT! I was fully entertained throughout the way! I did not need to bring my own music! The volunteers at the aid stations were awesome & friendly, and there were SO MANY aid stations with SO MANY things (water, gatorade, orange juice, oranges, pretzels, gu, vasoline, suntan lotion, beer, doughnuts...you name it!!!) and SO MANY porta potties (which thankfully I didn't have to use)! This race celebrated its 15th Annual this year, and I see why...it's SUCH a thought out, well prepared for, FUN race!!! The people in Nashville thoroughly enjoy and support this race; and for such a GREAT cause (St. Jude!).

Honestly, I would love to do it again next year, whether I do the full or the half! Or maybe I will possibly do another race in the Rock N Roll Marathon Series...we will just see!

Oh, what am I training for now, you ask?

Have a great week, everyone! :)

-Holly

Twas the day before the marathon...

I took the day off so I could have time to sleep in (you know you're an adult when sleeping until 6:30 is sleeping in!) and to get packed and organized for the big day tomorrow! As a runner, I found it appropriate that this week in my class, our unit story was "The Little Engine That Could".

So, for today and tomorrow, positive/happy thoughts (as always), and I need the attitude of the Little Engine: I think I can I think I can I think I can!! :-D 26.2 miles tomorrow!

I think that the biggest challenges tomorrow for me will be the heat (high of 82 and a low of 67...few clouds) and just hydrating from that throughout the way. I have trained mostly when it was a lot cooler than this, but I did have some hot training runs which I will keep in mind for tomorrow to help me remember to hydrate/fuel in time. I feel if I keep this underway, the physiological/mental challenges of it won't be a problem because at the Nashville Rock N Roll Marathon, they have a musician/band at EVERY mile! I am really looking forward to that excitement, and it will help me forget how tired I am and how much longer I need to go! But, there are other things...

Take a Gaterade Gu everyone 5-6 miles. Drink water, but not too much. Take your Aleve before race day for some relief. Wear shorts that don't chaff. Bring BodyGlide. Wear fuelbelt. Bring compression sleeves. Do I wear a tank top or a tech shirt for the heat? Should I wear a cap or a sweatband? Are my "new" running shoes broken in well enough, because I think I REALLY wore out my old ones? The Nike Dri Shorts or the trail running shorts? Oh, wait Holly, one more thing...

I need to breathe. I need to make sure that I am not pushing myself so much that I exhaust myself in this race, but at the same time push myself enough so I don't get picked up by the pacers (there is a time limit). I need to focus on the health/important things for tomorrow. I will be posting my progress/split times on race day through facebook, and there is also an app (The Rock and Roll Marathon App) that you can actually track me through. You will be able to see exactly where I am at on the course route along with my speed (or so it says). All you need is my bib #, which is 26082. Whenever I hear a "ding" or a "beep" on my cell phone arm band on race day, even though I can't check it right in (no walking..can't stop!!) I know it will be words of encouragement! If you see me start running backwards, tell me to turn myself around! haha! :) I would love to finish around 4 and a half hours (averaging a 10:15-10:30 minute mile), but hey, for a first marathon, I think my REAL goal should be just to finish and to not worry about time!!! :)

I am leaving at 1:00 today to drive up to Nashville to head to the race expo to pick up my packet and bib number this afternoon. I get to eat dinner tonight with my awesome friend, Leslie, who is my hotel and chauffeur through my whole marathon experience! THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN, LESLIE!!! :)  I didn't have to pay for a hotel or have to worry about driving on race day, and with the size of the race (tens of thousands of people), to not worry about walking, driving, or parking is such a HUGE deal!! She's AWESOME! I am sure this whole experience will make her want to run the Rock N Roll Marathon with me next year (hint hint). :-P Poor David is so busy with grad school, and with a recent death in the family, we know it's best for him to be at home during this time. And besides, I am sure David will run this with me next year too ;)....at least the half marathon, sweetie? :-D

WISH ME LUCK! Send happy thoughts/prayers my way through this whole experience! I can't wait to write my review about this race...I feel like such a newbie and I love it!! :) :) :)

--Holly

OmG mY fIrSt bLoG lol MARATHON WHOA!

For the ones that really know me, you know that I am not THAT annoying. Hey, I kept a journal from the ages of 8 and 18, and then of course myspace was around (oh joy!) and I blogged then, so now I have decided to blog yet again. I feel like this time is for more selfish reasons...to allow me to look back on my experiences that I know that I will forget the details about.  Maybe in the process this will be entertaining and/or enlightening. So...this blog is about my FIRST MARATHON! THIS SATURDAY. IT'S HAPPENING!  

Well, I am actually going to complete my first marathon. I have actually been in a marathon before, but I could not finish because of an ear infection and the flu:( I stopped at mile 10 and called David. I felt like my world ended for 5 minutes, but then I just wanted to go to bed and have more Tamiflu. I was THAT sick and had no business running that day in December...but hardheaded Holly wasn't going to take "no" for an answer. I had to try...I did fail, but I am happy that I tried. I even remember the pacer asking me if I needed to go because "I didn't look well"...and to be honest, I was just so ungodly tired from the sickness...that's me on the far right.

I started from the bottom, now I am here. Feeling better. Leveled thyroid. Bowels that don't hate me. Almost 30 lbs lighter/leaner.  I couldn't run a minute without gasping for breath and just WISHING I was off of the treadmill with a bag of cheetos in my hand while watching Dr. Oz. I honestly cannot believe that I am this kind of person; the kind of person that thought that these "kinds of people" were insane and unnecessary: marathoners. Not a half marathon, but a full marathon (26.2 miles) at that! Here is a picture of me, April 2012, VERY upset and with the WORST stomach pain after my first 5k...3.1 miles...about 36 and a half minutes.  I remember Leonard meeting me at 2.5 miles saying "RUN FASTER you can do it...you're almost there!" and me just thinking "Quit talking to me, you nut...I AM IN SO MUCH PAIN!!!" If you have had asked how the race was right after it, I would have told you it was the WORST...I was almost in tears. I remember seeing David and telling him "I need a porta potty!" After getting in the car and heading home, I was online looking up yet another 5k to set another goal to.

Chick fil a Athens 5k April 2012---36:25

So, this Saturday, I will be at the Rock N Roll Marathon in Nashville to run my first 26.2 in support of St. Jude!! I have passed my fundraising goal, and I am trained up (so I think:-P) and ready to go. All of the Saturdays of no sleeping in & running early in the a.m, all the much cleaner eating/drinking, core/strength training, we will see how it all pays out on Saturday. With it being my first marathon, I am anxious, but not paranoid. I am planning out my Friday/Saturday of this week so I can have the best race day possible. I am trying to remember all that I have learned from fellow runners (and Runner's World :D), all the tips/advice I have received, and I am also going to remember to have FUN. The biggest challenge for me this Saturday will most likely be the mental aspect of a long distance run, not the physical. I count that as a blessing and I know I just need to keep my mind right to finish STRONG!

I will be logging my split times on marathon day via facebook through an app. At first, I was thinking "Heck no...people will not only see me at my best, but at my WORST..." but then I thought "Hey, show people the good, the bad, and the ugly about running that 26.2. Keep it real. Show them why it's REALLY worth it: your health and how you feel after it!!" :)

  Hero Dash 5k  March 2014--1st Place Age Group---26:49

-Holly