The road less traveled...

May 1st was the day of my first marathon. I trained for that day. I chose the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon because it was also where I ran my first half marathon one year earlier. I was mostly ready. My training had gotten me to the 20 miler! I did battle strep throat and then tendonitis, which interrupted my training right when I needed the confidence boost, but I did complete the training. The entire week before, Joe and I scoped out the weather to have an idea of what to expect...and more importantly, the proper running gear to pack. There was a chance of rain, but mostly just showers. And them temperature was forecasted to be decent, upper 50s.

We wake early on Saturday morning to make the drive to Oklahoma City. When we get there, we go straight to the expo. I got my foot taped by the K-Tape people for the tendonitis, and bought my 26.2 sticker for my car. It may have been a little presumptuous of me, but I figured it could be Joe's if I didn't make it the entire way.

After the expo, we drove the course. Now, here is where I really start to get nervous. Abilene is flat, and while the course isn't exceptionally hilly, I am still nervous that not only do I have to go 6.2 miles further, I have to climb these hills.

Later we eat dinner...pasta, of course. Then, we head off to bed around 8pm, and my mind is spinning with all kinds of scenarios...I can do this, You can't do this, You trained for this, Your foot hurts, etc, etc, etc.

We wake up in the morning and the forecast is mostly the same, but it does look like there will definitely be some light rain during a part of the course. I get out my appropriate gear. Short sleeve shirt, shorts, and a throw away jacket. Overall, I'm thinking great weather.

We drive on over to the start of the race...boom, lightening. Are you kidding me? They better not cancel this race. On the walk from the car to the start, it starts pouring. I'm freaking out now because here I am ready to do this, and I really want to do this after all of this training. They delay the start by 30 min. With all of the thunder and lightening, I keep thinking please don't let me get to half or 20 miles and them make us stop. That would be HORRIBLE!

We start. My pace is good. I feel like I'm the only one running the full marathon back there. All the full runners are at the front because they are faster. This is the junk that runs through my head. There are puddles everywhere, and it's still raining. I'm certainly glad for that jacket that I bought for $7 at WalMart to throw away. I won't be throwing it away. I need it. It's cold with the rain.

The wind is blowing hard, 40 mph. We get to the point where the half turns and the full marathoners keep going. The field thins. I still feel like I'm alone out there with the relayers. My pace is still good through the halfway point. Just before that I spot, Danielle Nicole Bell's sign. At OKC, they place banners with the names of the victims of the bombing all along the course. Danielle Nicole Bell was a child that was in the childcare center during the bombing. Obviously, we have a name in common, so I think of her, and how I am lucky to be able to particpate in a marathon.

Just after the halfway point, the sun comes out for all of 15 minutes. I almost even tossed the jacket. I kept thinking the rain was going to stop; the 2nd half will be better. But it never stopped. It rained, it thundered, there was lightening. But we kept going.

I started to lose it. My knee started hurting, it started hailing. It was the last 10K, and it just got hard....REALLY HARD. But, it's not a cardiovascular thing. It's a sheer exhaustion and your joints just start hurting. Oh...and it's cold because of the wind and hail, puddles and rain. I'm really wishing I had worn tights instead of shorts, and a longsleeve shirt, so I could ditch the jacket.

Somehow, the finish line got closer and closer though. I just pushed forward. Then, I see the finish, and pick up my feet faster and faster. I smiled the entire last stretch. I heard the announcer call my name and I put my hands up. Joe heard him say my name, and came right up.

I get my t-shirt and medal, and checked bag and start to shiver violently. We made it back to the car. I'm pretty sure I would have experienced hypothermia if we were out there for too much longer.

There are no great pictures because the weather just didn't allow. It makes me a little sad, I admit it. You talk to people about what they remember most, and it's that finish line moment. The post race adrenaline and pure happiness. I was happy. But, I must run another...because that was not what I trained for. I will likely never find a marathon that I am completely prepared for though.

Joe finished 2 hours in front of me, and said the worst part was waiting for me. He finished before the worst of the weather and hail, which, of course, makes for an entirely different experience.

Statistics say that .1% of the population has completed a marathon. But, that changes every year, and I some say that 1-2% will complete a marathon in their lifetime. I wonder how many have run a marathon in hail. Joe hasn't. But I can say that I have. I am hardcore even if it did take me 5:19 to get to the finish.