Finisher!!

I'm still tired...and since Chris forgot to change the clock on the alarm clock - we are all up an hour earlier than needed to get the kids ready for school. SO - this might be unorganized - Sorry about that.

Heading in to the city on Saturday:
The excitement was great! Chris drove me & Yvonne to the train and while we were waiting some guy started talking to us about the marathon (He saw our Team McGraw backpacks). He had recently run the Marine Corps. Marathon and was telling us that we were going to break our goal time - boy was he wrong.
We get to the hotel - organize all our stuff for the morning. Clothes are set up & bag of crap is ready to go. We didn't think trying to get organized at 4am was such a good idea.

The pre-race pasta dinner:
Had an awesome time at the dinner. The food was awesome as was the crowd. It was great to finally meet in person all the people I've been speaking with online. Listening to all the team members share their stories about why they joined Team McGraw was inspiring. I started to cry when it was my turn so I wrapped it up quickly.

The night before:
This was rough. I really wanted to sleep well but all that nervous energy wasn't going to let that happen. I tossed and turned most of the night. I also woke up 2-3 times in a full body sweat which probably wasn't so great in terms of hydration. I decided to wake up at about 3:30am and have my coffee.

The start:
Although really cold, the village was fun. I was surrounded by thousands and thousands of people all about to do the same thing. I'm not good with maps - but I did think it was a little oddly organized. And remember - I did have a VIP pass so I walked over to the tent and went inside. Although warm, it was crowded and looked like just a place to get a bagel or muffin and sit at a table. Not my thing - so I decided to go back to my team. Oh yeah - no Edward Norton sightings :(

The real start:
We're moving our way to our corral and watching the 2nd wave cross the bridge. I was jumping out of my skin - I just wanted to get it done. We slowly work our way to the actual start line which took me a little over 10 minutes to get to there once we started moving. The bridge was COLD and very windy. My face felt totally frozen. Yvonne & I stayed together here - we started the incline with a fast walk for about the first mile. But it was so friggin cold we started to run so we could get into the sun ASAP!

Brooklyn:
The best! The energy was great! My energy AND the crowds. I was sticking to my alternating...I think the biggest mistake I made here was my speed. My runs were hitting 11:00 min/miles which was too fast...I tried to slow it down but I felt like no matter what I could not go slower than 12:00 min/miles. My walk breaks were around 14min/miles.
It was so awesome to see a few friendly faces too! Thanks MJ for the sign and cheer around mile 8 (I think??)...and it was great to see Patrick around mile 9. Also - thanks for my gatorade!
In addition to my speed mistake here - the potty mistake was huge. I had to pee around mile 6. Yes - I could've held it but I figured I better go early. I stood on line for 10-15 MINUTES!! WTF???? As I got back on my way - I noticed another bank of port-o-potties on the left that had NO line. I could have shaved all that time of waiting had I known there were potties on BOTH sides.
Oh yeah!! Almost forgot! I started listening to my ipod after Yvonne and I split up. I had it on low enough that I could still hear the crowds. I was probably around mile 4 or so when Limp Bizkit & Method Man came on....DEKALB! I actually laughed out loud! I love the word Dekalb - no idea why. And when we head into Brooklyn to hang out with Patrick & Liz we take Dekalb - which I repeatedly have to say loudly, "DEKALB!"

Queens:
Tried to make another quick pitstop - I think this was right around Mile 12 - I'm not exactly sure. Big problem here....although the line was short, the potty that opened up for me was NASTY. And I have a horrible gag reflex. I couldn't do it. I started dry-heaving and stumbled out into the fresh air without peeing. I think I dry-heaved for about 1/4 mile.
Passing the midway point was a great feeling. But I was concerned a bit since my hamstring was already a steady throb. As I was on the decline of the Queensboro Bridge I was worried I had missed John & Chris. I was bummed out and I was trying to remind myself to send a quick text at the next potty break. Then all of a sudden I saw a HUGE sign!! It was so awesome! Exactly what I needed at that moment. I stopped for hugs, gatorade and pictures!

59th Street Bridge:
Long stretch of quiet here. I saw a ton of people struggling or stopping and sitting on the divider for a break. I made a mistake here too - there is a spot where you can step up to the railing to take in the view. There were a bunch of people up there taking pics so I decided to stop and take in the view. Bad idea. Although I stopped - it felt like I was still moving and I could not get my hand to make contact with the railing. This is where the dizziness started. Dumb, Dumb, Dumb idea.
My wedding song came on and I started crying. In a good way - it was a reminder as to who this is for.

Coming off the bridge:
Within 1 minute of coming off the bridge I see a hot pink marshmallow! My family - Chris, Marley, Sean, my mom and Bill!! They were waving and taking pics and I started to make my way to them. I burst out crying - I had been dying to see my kids and there they were with signs. It was an unbelievable feeling.
5 minutes later my next batch of family! Paula, Paul, Dad, Annie and Mike! Made a quick stop to give smooches and pose for a pic and back on my way.

Loneliness:
1st Ave was not good. Really, really lonely. I realize that I was surrounded by crowds and other runners/ walkers but I was alone. The going was getting tough here. Here's where things changed. Although my hamstring was throbbing badly - this was a familiar pain. This is why I spent 6 weeks in physical therapy - the pain had gone away for most of my training but it had started to kick back up about 2 weeks ago. The other groin pain is relatively new. When I ran, I had groin pain....when I walked, I had hamstring pain. I opted for the hamstring pain because I know the feeling well so mentally, I would be able to handle it. This meant walking. So basically from mile 18 on was at a walk around 14 min/mile.
I can't quite describe the loneliness. I just felt really alone and it was a feeling that lasted with the rest of the race. Except for those few minutes that Jeff McMahon spotted me and jump on the course to walk with me for a few minutes. Again - it was great to see a familiar face. And to chat with someone for a few minutes. For those 5 or so minutes I forgot about my loneliness.

Boogie Down Bronx:
Things were getting even harder here. I started to feel really tired. I just wanted to be done. I was drinking my gatorade still and taking water at the station. Took another caffeinated GU hoping for a little boost.
Guy at the water station, "Go Kim! You don't need this exercise...you look Gooooood!" - Love the Bronx :)

Harlem:
I was DONE. Now I was getting angry. I was looking at my watch and getting mad that there was no way I was going to make 5:59:59. I was feeling a little light-headed/dizzy. I was physically exhausted. It took 2 hands to lift my gatorade bottle to my lips without it shaking. I was questioning my ability to finish. I was witnessing people throwing up on the side of the road, dropping down to the curb and just sitting, sitting down and taking off shoes to fix socks, wraps or bandages. It was not looking good here. The crowd had thinned out. The water stations were low on supplies. There was an ambulance and cop car about 1/4 mile behind me announcing they were marking the end of the police escort. I desperately tried to keep them that 1/4 mile back but they eventually caught up to me in Central Park.

Coming up on Central Park:
Someone needs to check the distance here. Why did it take so friggin' long to get to each new mile marker??? I really wanted to just stop. I was at the point that I really didn't give a shit if I finished or not. But I kept thinking about something I read recently....the memory of earning the medal is much greater than the memory of quitting. I repeated this over and over and over for the last 5 miles. All of a sudden I feel an arm around my shoulder, "Hey kid! You're almost there!!" I turned and it took a minute for mind to register that Patrick was on the course with me. He's always there when I need to vent some serious anger - sorry Patty, but you take it so well :)
2 seconds later I see my kids (and Chris, Mom and Bill). They are cheering that I'm almost done. Little did they know I wasn't sure if I was going to make it.
And then the rest of my family was at mile 25.5. They say I looked good - we are making them eye doctor appointments ASAP.
Where the fuck is the finish line!?!? The last 3/4 of mile was me repeating, "This sucks" and "Bullshit. Total fucking bullshit". I'm serious - I was PISSED off at this point.
Finally - the damn finish line. Crossed it. Yeah! Had to wait for a medal since the people in front of me had to create photo ops. I'm cold! Get the fuck out of my way! Finally get that medal around my neck - can move forward to be wrapped in foil...keep moving for my bag of snacks...keep moving. Get me out of this park. I'm FREEZING. Where the hell is Chris with my jacket?? Ahh...he's stuck in Central Park - they won't let him cross. Are you kidding me??? While he's trying to figure that out - I scope out a medical tent assuming there is a potty nearby. Yes! And there is toilet paper left! And it doesn't smell. AND for a few minutes I'm not freezing from the wind. I'm no longer dizzy but I'm scared to eat a snack because I thought my belly wasn't going to cooperate.
FINALLY - meet up with family around 60th (I had to walk there from 72nd)!! YEAH!!

My mom & Bill take the kids home....Chris & I head back to the hotel so I can get changed. It's not so easy to get back to the hotel. So crossing the finish line and getting together with the family takes 45 minutes. Trying to get back to 29th street takes even longer. There are NO available cabs. We tried in a few different spots but had no luck. Finally we just gave up and hopped on the subway. Changing into regular clothes felt great. But I kept my socks on - I was scared to see what was underneath.
We had just enough time to make our dinner reservations but that meant I had to skip the Foley's Pub after party. Team McGraw - I hope you all had an awesome day and I'm so sorry I didn't have enough time to meet up with you afterwards to celebrate!
Chinese food celebration with marathoners Liz and Naftali...along with their family & friends was fun. I was really zombie-fied though. My foot was really hurting and I was crashing. After having a little delicious salty food - Chris & I walked some more to finally get the car to make our way home.

Sleep came very easily last night. I'm sore today in weird spots. I'm hungry as hell too.
I realize what I did was a huge accomplishment but I'm really pissed that it took me so long. And I'm really pissed that I really, really struggled at the end.
I will not be doing another marathon. That is for sure. Being the cheering section works just fine for me. Half-marathons is where you will see me!
Congrats to all the participants. And thanks to all the spectators who kept me going.
Peace out.