pre-race acknowledgments

Before I write the race report, I have some acknowledgments to make about the process and support I experienced in the months of training and injury recovery leading up to the marathon. Without which, I would not have made it to the starting line.

Julie - For encouraging and motivating me to start running again. Your consistency and dedication to running is admirable, and knowing you would be waiting for me at the lake for those 6am runs was crucial for me getting back out there. Big thanks for loaning me the flotation belt for aquajogging, as well.

Katie (and Neeley) - for joining us on many of those early morning lake runs and for keeping me company for an aquajogging session. Aquajogging is not the most exciting way to spend a morning, getting to spend one of those sessions with you was a highlight!

Devon - for motivating me to actually sign up for the training and the race. I don't remember who brought it up first, but I'll accept the blame if you say it was me. We both initially wavered about whether this was "the year," but when you emailed and said "so, are we really going to do this?" that was all I needed to commit. You frequently assert that you do not love running, at all, and I realize (finally) that you're not kidding about that. So I have nothing but respect for your commitment to the process (vocal complaints during training notwithstanding). Nonetheless, it was great getting to spend more time with you and get to know you better. Here's to the 2011 triathlon season!

Christina - Devon and I fortuitously met you when we chose to deviate from the map on our first long run and you followed. You were a great training partner, and not just because you had a geekometer (GPS). I really love that I made a new friend along the way. Another committed runner, you impressed me with your willingness to go for ridiculously early or ridiculously cold runs due to travel. Especially awesome that you actually like running (and trail running) and occasionally mention Leadville. Here's to the 2011 Trail series!

Amy, my Rogue coach - I couldn't have asked for a better coach for my first marathon. Smart, talented, honest, responsive, and caring. You were available for encouragement and advice anytime I asked, and when I strained some foot muscles just eight weeks before the race, you talked me down from several mini meltdowns and helped me stay grounded and motivated. Your advice to the team regarding strategy and the mental aspect of racing a marathon was invaluable. I knew I could finish a marathon regardless of who I trained with, but you were the best person to help me achieve my time goal. Here's to the next one!

My Rogue teammates - Team in Training taught me the value of group training (best antidote to the bed magnet), and while the Rogue culture is a bit different from TnT, I really enjoyed the new friendships and the shared experience of toughing out the training. Knowing y'all would be there motivated me to show up and work hard. Speaking of hard...hardship is a great teacher, and at a low point three weeks into my injury recovery, I realized how much I missed y'all. So that Saturday, instead of heading to another long session of water running, I chose to ride the run route on my bike. It made my day to get to see you guys and offer some support and encouragement while you ran. That one morning had a lasting effect on my attitude through the rest of my injury recovery.

Alisha - for geeking out with me about running and active recovery from sports injury and for being an awesome cheering section.

Dr. Spears & my PT, Ryan, from Sports Performance Intl. You came highly recommended from the athletes I consulted when I was injured, and you did not disappoint. While PT is not the most exciting thing to do, Ryan's home assignments were effective. I didn't budget for a visit to an orthopedist and physical therapy when I signed up for this marathon thing. Thankfully the money was there when I needed it and honestly, I was grateful to discover a structural weakness early and develop and implement a plan to resolve it.

My parents - for helping to keep me in running shoes and supporting my running habit. I know you don't entirely understand all my athletic pursuits, but you support me anyway. That's love. Most of my family would only run if you they were being chased, but there's some athlete genes in there somewhere, and I thank you for those, too!

My non-athletic friends - for asking about and listening to me prattle on about my training and my injury. I know you don't entirely understand why I do this, but you support me anyway. That's true friendship.

My housemates - for letting me hog the bathtub for ice baths and mineral salt baths. Also, see above.

My A#1 training buddy, Gracie Ann - for motivating me to get out and run on those solo training days. You make the neighborhood loop more fun and remind me to stop and smell the roses and watch the monk parakeets. You could slow it down a little, though; those are supposed to be easy pace runs.

My Body - I put you through a lot in the past few years - a year of physically demanding work with Habitat for Humanity, six months of strenuous hiking followed by six months of very little activity as my body recovered from the trail. Then I asked you to train for a marathon, essentially starting from zero. A year ago my knees hurt so bad I couldn't run 5 miles, and I was still emotionally and psychologically depleted. There were times I wondered if hiking had ended my life of running. The answer is clearly no, but 2010 was definitely a rebuilding year. Starting from ground zero is never easy, but when you've been running for the better part of 25 years, it is tempting to whine about it. Just a little. There were many times I had to dig deep to remind myself that this body - these feet and legs - carried me over 2000 miles, and they could run just a little bit longer. It's never too late to experience something new, but it was strange to feel so strongly the urge to just stop. Fortunately, that feeling does not come at the exclusion of the one that says you can do one more, go a little further, keep at it a little longer. It's just new to have the competing messages. The hard reality is that hiking changed my body. I pushed too hard and my body rebelled eight weeks before the race with a foot injury. I sought help as quickly as I could, worked hard to recover, and am lucky the injury was minor.

It was a victory to make it to the starting line, but I didn't do it alone. It takes a village to raise this marathoner. Thanks for all the support y'all!