Race Report: Megh’s Orange County Marathon

Getting ready for the race was difficult for me, since I had a rehearsal until 10:00p in San Diego the night before my race.  That meant that I didn’t leave San Diego until 10:30 and had to drive to my hotel in Costa Mesa (only 90 miles).  So I checked in at midnight and was laying out my stuff (shoes, Wrightsocks… great investment by the way, Nike running shorts and sports bra)for the race and getting settled until like 12:20a.  Luckily I had all my Hammergels and stuff packed in my belt before I went to work on Saturday.  I got up 5:00 and was in the hotel lobby at 5:30a for the shuttle to the start.  I was a little anxious that morning, and really tired as it was my first day off in 2 weeks, but I good and alert which is what I hoped was going to help keep me going.

Sunday morning was a little grey and overcast and in the mid 50s which was nice.  I wish it would have stayed that way, but alas it warmed to the mid 60s and sunny by the end of the race which was a little warmer than I would have liked, but it’s southern California what can you do?

The race was scheduled to start at 6:30a and we officially started it almost 6:40a, I think.  Those 10 minutes between when we were supposed to start and the gun were the most anxiety filled of my life!  I was all ready to go and then standing and waiting in a pack of thousands of people nerves started to get to me.  But after the national anthem and 2 passes of a helicopter to take pictures we were off.  The full and half marathoners all started together which meant that the energy was great because there were just SO MANY people.

I placed myself right at the back of the first corral, since I thought I would be finishing in the front half of the 4th hour and when we got going excitement took over and I was going like a bat out of hell.  First mistake.  The first 5 felt great.  It was mostly downhill (sweet) and I was booking it and feeling really solid.  I ended up without even pushing just ahead of the 3:40 pace group.  Then my shins decided to give me trouble.  I have been working on a raked stage for the last weeks and I have shin splints so I knew that I was probably going to have trouble with them, but I was sort of hoping that it would hold off and bug me later.  That was the first time I dropped my pace, but I kept going.  Stopping wasn’t an option.  It was keep running or keep running.  As I kept running I managed to get myself through the pain and started feeling good again.

There was a large chunk of this race that was on bike trails through a nature reserve, which was beautiful, but man was it lonely.  I much preferred being out on the road where there is someone at least every little bit screaming and clapping for you to keep going.  These trails, which were paved (mostly, I’ll get to that) weren’t really even and were solid rolling hills.  I trained in southern California and south eastern Virginia… I’m not good with hills.  Right around mile 9 (I think… I was solidly in a haze by that point) there was a hill, and not a small one and I actually said out loud “You have got to be kidding me.”  It was short, but steep enough for my legs to say screw you.

At mile 12 the half marathon course broke off and we marathoners were left on our own for the remainder of the race.  I started feeling solid again at that point.  I had dropped my pace but knew that if I didn’t then I wouldn’t cross the finish line.  We ran through South Coast Plaza, yes they really took us through a mall parking lot, and it crowded with people screaming and cheering which was exactly what I needed.  We then went through another set of bike trails, my least favorite of which was UNPAVED and UPHILL.  I wanted to cry.  This was at mile 22 ish, maybe 23.  I hadn’t run on sand or dirt EVER… I mean EVER.  I wasn’t prepared at all for that and my body was not a fan.  By that point I think I was running almost all on heart anyway, so a shock like that was killer.  But I just kept going.

As I closed in on the finish line I knew I had to just keep going but thankfully the crowds picked up again and the street was pretty well lined in people.  The finish line was in the Orange County Fairgrounds so we were winding through the parking lot to scream and cheers.  That was when I found what little I had left and ran with everything I had for the last straight to the finish line.

Then I teared up.  I had done it.  In 7 months of training I had gone from not running at all to running a marathon.  A MARATHON.  It still amazes me that I did it.  I had never been happier or prouder of myself.  My friend Christine was waiting at the finish line cheering and laughing.  I think knowing she was there was what gave me the last push to get to the end.

My official time was 4:16:23.  I was 484th overall 151 in women and 13th in my age group.  I’m thrilled.  I now have a PR for my next marathon.

Unfortunately I still don’t have a running picture where I don’t look pained, but I’ll send one anyway.  Maybe the official pictures will be better

I would have never thought that I could do this.  But here I am, a marathoner and hunting for my next race.  Brandon you pushed me to do this when I doubted myself.  Thanks man!

Megh