On Thursday, I ran 3 miles once we arrived. I felt fine and didn’t feel the altitude at 4,980 elevation in Mead, Co. I took Friday off and then I ran a shake off run on Saturday the day before my marathon like I always do. This time I ran in Estes Park, where I was going to run my marathon. We got higher in elevation and could feel it in my ears as we rode up there. After my run, my nose starting dripping and I could feel a cold coming on. Geez! Go figure right before my marathon. I pick up my race packet and it’s wasn’t a huge expo. We had to go to local high school to pick it up. I started to stress because I didn’t buy any Cliff Blocks for fuel during my race and figured I could buy them there, but they had nothing! Luckily for me, we found a bike store and it had exactly what I wanted and needed! I also found out that my marathon would start at 5:05 for bus pick up time. That means I would have to eat dinner early and go to bed super early. We went to Italian place for dinner and I ate my pasta and garlic bread for my carb loading dinner with the family.
Marathon day: Eddie gave me a Sudafed for my stuffy nose and went to bed. I wake up with a head cold. I have never started a marathon at 5:30 a.m. and set my alarm for 3:45 a.m. I couldn’t sleep very well. I kept thinking my alarm wouldn’t go off or what if I get altitude sickness and can’t finish? All negative thoughts.
I didn’t let that stop me and changed my mindset to just enjoy the beautiful views and just finish. Eddie drives me to the high school for bus pick up and we say our goodbyes and he wishes me luck. The temps are in the 50s and it feels good. I decided not to wear a trash bag cause it wasn’t that cold. I still wore my leggings and long sleeve shirt and started with gloves. I hate being cold. They drive us 20 minutes up the Rocky Mountains to the start line. I asked the guy next to me, “How high is the elevation to start again?” He said, “9200 and drops to 7522 at Estes Park.” Holy crap! Here I was telling everyone that this marathon was 5500 and not high enough to get altitude sickness. I read that people get altitude sickness starting at 7200 ft. We get dropped off and take a couple of pics of the beautiful lake and mountains. I make one more stop to the restroom before I take off. It was a the kind of start that you run whenever you are ready. No corral or set time to go as usual. Nobody to cheer you on. You just go solo. So weird.
I knew then that I had to get my mind right and be my own cheerleader. I didn’t care about time as I was going in not feeling 100% and just determined to finish. The first six miles were downhill and I went fast. I felt good up until around mile eleven. My nose and head were congested and some of the hills were hard. I just decided to walk some. On our turn around the wind was in my face and it was tough to run that I felt like I was running in slow motion 😂. My nose was dripping and hard to breathe at times. "This one was a bucket list marathon run and new state for me", I kept telling myself that. The views were worth the hurt🌲⛰️🎣. Afterwards we decided to go check out a Rocky Mountain National Park to walk off my soreness. Now time to get rid of this head cold to enjoy rest of our family vacation 😬.
I later find out that I actually got 1st place in female masters division! WHOA! Totally didn't expect to place anything. For this was my slowest marathon ever. On my turn around, the wind was strong on some parts that I felt like I was running in slow motion. Add a hill to that, and forcing me to walk some. I finished in 4:26:05 at a 10:10 min/pace and came in #38 overall (out of 123) runners. It is by far the smallest marathon I have ever ran before. This is not a Boston qualifier or a certified course. It was one I read about in Runner's World Magazine. It's was named one of the top 7 most scenic half marathon in the USA by Forbes Magazine. Since I haven't ran a marathon in Colorado, I decided to on this one. I also know that it would be a tough one running in high altitude. So, decided to do it now, before I get older and maybe can't do it later.
On July 7th, I received in the mail my award plaque and a $50 gift card to In Motion Running Boulder store. I am very happy with results. It just goes to show you should always do your best and never give up. Even when your mind plays trick on you to tell you differently. Good thing I can use their online website store to use my gift certificate, cause this Texas girl sadly, isn't going to the mountains anytime soon LOL!
Now time to get ready for my next marathon. The Berlin Marathon in September. Until, next time.
Keep on running!!
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