Marathon day

Race day started out at 5:30 am with Nancy being stressed.  Not stressed about the race at all, but stressed about us getting to the bus on time, stressed about getting to the starting area on time for the group stretch.  We get to the bus pickup and off we go but the driver ends up doing a loop right back to where we started out.  Folks on the bus are now a little concerned about whether the driver knows the route to the starting line.  So now the driver finds the way to the highway, but wait, we’re headed Toronto bound on the QEW.  Wha??  Ok, now everyone on the bus is getting quite concerned, as we’re headed in the opposite direction of the starting line.  We finally get turned around and headed in the right direction for the Peace Bridge.  Nancy is trying hard to contain herself as the biggest thing that drives her nuts the most is “being late” for something (anything in fact).  Finally we arrive at the starting area but we’re still sitting on the bus waiting to get off.  We can see our running group right next to the bus but they won't let us off yet.  The bus ends up driving to the other side of the starting area and we have to make our way back to our running group.  Oh, I almost forgot to mention, the whole bus ride I had a spring from the seat sticking in my crotch, just for some added fun along the way, plus the seats are made for kids so I’m crammed in the wee space with my legs bent in half almost. 

We get to the rest of our group, complain about the bus ride and start the warm up and stretch routine, drop off our bags on the bus and peel off extra warm clothes and await the start.  We plant ourselves towards the back so we don’t get caught up in the vortex of runners tearing off like jackrabbits at the start.  Nancy and I hug for a quite prayer and Christina takes some pics with her phone.  The race starts and we do a loop out and back and meet up with the Runner’s Edge cheering squad and off we go through the streets of Buffalo.  Local residents cheer us on as we run past which is loads of fun.  We meet up with Benny again about 1km from the peace bridge for some high 5s.  Running across the peace bridge was definitely the most fun part of the race as it’s a nice warm 15C with clear skies and the view is great.  Yay, back into Canada for a loop around Port Colborne with a nice cool breeze in our faces as the sun is getting quite warm.  Now we’re headed onto the Niagara Parkway for the long stretch to the finish line and the wind at our backs.  Wow, it’s getting sun is really heating things up.  We plod away and hey there’s more folks from the Runner’s Edge group cheering us on.  Coach Benny cheers from the bushes as he’s taking a leak – HA! 

Next up we cross the ½ way mark and continue to plod away making good time.  Woo, only 21.1k left.  Good Lord.  We meet up the Christina’s husband Joe as she picks up some bars, gels and body glide and tries to lube up those hard to reach areas.

Now we meet up with Jim, Janice and their son Josh along with way cheering loudly as they wish us a happy anniversary and we run by for some high 5s.  Awesome, Jim and his family are always out there being so supportive of all the runners.

At the next porta potty station we catch up to a fellow runner from our group who is struggling with sore, tight legs.  So we pick up Christina Dsalon and she joins our merry group headed towards the finish. 

The folks at the mile 15 water station are already packing up and ready to leave, but there is water and sports drink on the tables, it’s help yourself kinda style.  We’re all really not impressed as there are many more runners behind us still. 

Next we meet up with my friend Ruth from high school as she is one of the road marshals for the race.  A big hug and I introduce her to Nancy and we chat with Benny along the route once again.

We run along some more and in the distance we see Christina’s mom waving furiously and Christina starts to get emotional.  Nancy tries to remind her that you can’t run and cry because you need to breathe right now.  Her mom is a lifesaver as she has water for us.  She takes a bunch of pictures, fills us up with water and shower of praise and away we go.  She saved us a few times with water throughout the race.

Seeing as it was so warm and I don’t want to cramp up, I’ve been taking a salt packet at every 7k along with a gel, dates or a bar – I did this in the hot summer months and it worked well.  Except by about the 28k mark I’m now sooo thirsty that I can’t get enough water.  This makes things difficult as too much water in the stomach and it all sloshes around causing great discomfort, but my mouth is so dry, I can’t last more than about 2 minutes before I need a drink.  After the 30k mark things get really hard.  We’re doing the walk/run thing and everyone is starting to ache in various spots.  My calves, quads are ok, I’m just getting overall exhausted.  We pass a runner curled up in the fetal position lying in the grass.  Hmm…that looks like a great idea, just rest a while.  Onward we go into Chippewa and meet up with more Runner’s Edge folks cheering us on and more high 5s as we cross the bridge.  3k to go and we can see the mist from the Falls where the finish line is.  We get near the top of the last big hill and come across Nancy and her hubby Kim on bikes who follow us in.  Heading down the long hill and Geoff our chiropractor runs up to meet us.  Awesome, as we’re all ready to drop.  He’s great and keeps us all running with encouragement and telling us the finish line is just around the corner.  We near the line and see family and friends wildly cheering us on.  I run up to Nancy and grab her hand and with big smiles we cross the line triumphantly with arms raised.  We collapse on each other sobbing as emotions boil over.  We made it!  Friends and family come with hugs and I hug many people I didn’t even know.  Oh well, it’s all good.  We pose for numerous pictures and Christina hands us some custom made t-shirts she had done for the occasion.  Sweet! 

Nancy didn’t even notice but her mom is here, as my sister Sandra arranged the surprise.  Nancy practically runs up the race course again to find her mom, which really makes her day having her mom at the race. 

Sandra drives us to our parked car and off we go the YMCA for the best hot shower ever.  Next we all convene at Napoli’s Ristorante for the best dinner and drinks with the rest of the Runner’s Edge gang as a kind of end of race season bash.  Many thanks to Anthony, a fellow runner in our group, who has graciously opened up his restaurant and fed us all for almost nothing.  The food is sooo good, we vow to come back again and again.  More hugs and congrats from everyone as we stuff our faces with the best tasting food.

Back home for an ice bath til my legs are numb and fall asleep on the couch; so tired.   

It’s now the day after the race and I’m pretty sore all over as expected.  And as the post race blues start up all I can think of is “when can I go for my next run?”  Oddly, I miss it already.