Fast Girls Have the Best Times

I like to run fast.

This is something that I forgot over the past few months of marathon training. I focused on paced like it was nobody's business. Don't go out too fast!

All those years of speedwork, seemingly down in the drain in one summer.

Until yesterday.

Yesterday was the 40th running of the Dallas White Rock Marathon. I ran the half with Loose and Bahama Mama. Kat ran the full, her 2nd! The day started off amazing as it was much cooler than anticipated. (yay for wrong weather channel!) My local running store arranged for the Hard Rock Cafe to open early, so we arrived to breakfast, secure bag check by people we knew and best of all, real potties with sinks to wash your hands and everything! It was beyond wonderful. Beyond.

It was foggy and overcast, about 45 degrees. Perfect. We lined up, sang about rockets bursting in air and took off. Oh, there are so many details floating around my head. Like how we saw a couple that got married minutes before the marathon. Or how I ran next for a man dressed as Forrest Gump (complete with beard) and yelled, "Run Forrest, Run!" like an idiot.

I actually did a lot of yelling yesterday. Yelled for people to get our of our way on the Katy trail. "On your left!" Yelled to Bahama Mama to keep going when she glared at me as I kept picking up our pace on the last few miles. (at one point I think she yelled back "8:40!")

I ran the whole race essentially pain free. I felt strong for the first time in months. I pushed it as hard as I could the last 3 miles and wished I had pushed harder the first 10.

I was back.

And it felt good.

We crossed a respectable 2:18. Not a PR, not by a long shot, but that didn't matter. I finished strong, felt good physically and most importantly mentally. I had so many bad races this Fall. I almost forgot what it felt like to end a race breathless and elated instead of in extreme pain and near tears. I loved going fast!

After the half I collected my sign from Hubs who came out to cheer me on (sweet Hubs) and drug Loose out to Mile 24 of the full. Where I parked myself for over an hour cheering on the marathoners. Oh it felt to good to hollar words of encouragement to them. I know what it is like to be so discouraged, so tired, so weary. I know what it is like to hear your name and think, "I CAN do this." So I hollared my head off. Calling out names when I could read them, picking out identifying characteristics when I couldn't. "Go Pink, run like a girl!" "Hey Longhorn, hook 'em, there's an aggie behind you!" It was so much fun and so rewarding when they'd give you a small smile or a little wave. Or better yet, when they'd look you in the eye and start running again. I can't wait to cheer again! But I wasn't out there for purely altruistic reasons. I was there to spot Kat and run her in. I found her, tossed my sign to Loose and declared, "There's my favorite marathoner!" She told me that she really needed me so I jibber jabbered my jaw trying to keep her mind off her hurt. I think I might have a career in last 2 miles of a marathon. They don't hurt at all when you haven't already run 24!

I was so proud to see her finish her 2nd marathon. She's not pleased with her time (I know that feeling) but I'm pleased that she did it. She's a tough one.

Clearly, I only run with the best.

It was good to be back. My quads area little sore from the downhill, but in a good way. In a "I pushed myself" kind of way. And I like that.

I'm back baby! Look out 2010!