Race Recap & It’s Been A Minute
Happy Friday! I’ve honestly been putting off writing this race recap from The Cheap Marathon because this race was a huge disappointment. I was so excited to get back to a ‘real live race’ and knew I had built up so much fitness- so, what could go wrong? Well, it did not end in a PR and I walked. A lot. I also stopped to make sure a runner on the side of the race course was ok as he was lying down (he was OK- we found a spectator who was able to call the race director and the runner didn’t hit his head and was able to answer basic questions). So, I finished 20+ minutes behind my goal in 3:58 and change.
Mentally, I felt frazzled leading into the race. I didn’t feel strong or confident, but felt like ‘meh’. I think part of it was I couldn’t believe that the race was actually going to happen when training. Last year with everything getting canceled and training so hard really took it’s toll on me. I also peaked at 45 miles for the race and every other marathon since I broke 4 hrs has been above 55 miles a week for several ones. I do believe in the importance of having ‘good miles’ as opposed to ‘junk miles’, but I think it also just added to my shaky confidence leading into the race.
My life is also just busy and stressful right now. We’re in the final stages of buying our first home, thinking of moving (UGH), just got a puppy, and I’m still commuting 2.5hrs to work (staying at a hotel between my shifts). It’s been really stressful beginning a new career and rotating between a day/night shift (that’s what our hospital does for all bedside nurses), really takes its toll. So, needless to say that it’s been challenging coming into the race mentally focused and strong . It’s also been a lot moving from Colorado to Maine over the past two years and to find my running groove here. I’m looking forward to finding its place again in my life and maybe explore other activities too (….. maybe a triathlon?!?).
In hopes of making this post relatively short, here are my takeaways from the race (besides the fact that it just hasn’t been my day or year for running honestly).
The race was put on so well. I loved Millennium Running’s safety factors at the start and finish line.
The race was a 2-lap out & back on a bike path. It was very flat (boring to me HONESTLY!) and many runners who passed you did not even try to social distance. It was super frustrating (& I’m even fully vaccinated!)
The race also got extremely congested with the half marathoners joining in the second half. Would have loved to have had just marathoners one day and half marathoners the next day.
Parking was easy and portapotties were accessible. Forever thankful for the race volunteers and aid stations that they had there. Their cheers were everything those last 6+ miles.
Also, here’s a photo of Sadie because that’s really why you’re probably here for!