Dallas Marathon Race Report
Wow, just… wow. I was completely, yes, wowed, by how the entire Dallas Marathon turned out. How great the race itself was, and how supportive the spectators on course were. How great our spectators were. How great I felt, despite the weather not being my “ideal” race conditions. How great Gina, did, at her first freaking marathon (not really surprised there, hee hee)! Woo hoo!
Gina signed up for the Dallas Marathon on National Running Day (June 4), and I didn’t have any plans to run it with her. I was thinking we would come down to cheer, and help out with Luca, so Steve (Gina’s husband) could run the half. The truth is, Gina was having a stellar racing year, and I really wasn’t. I didn’t want to ask her if I should run it with her, and hold her back, at her first marathon. I knew that’s how it would be – our paces were WAY off (me being slower, ha ha).
But then we hung out in the middle of June, and had a great time on a few runs together (of course). And Gina asked, after that trip, if I would run Dallas with her. “Are you sure?! I don’t want to slow you down!” I remember asking. She told me not to be silly, and of course she was sure. Okay! And yay!
So I signed up on June 30th. And knew I had to get my ass in gear. Which took, um, some time for me to start doing. I didn’t start seriously training for Dallas until three months before the race – September 14th. But in that time until race day I put in 626.15 miles, ran a marathon, ran four 21+ milers, tried to average 50 miles a week, and dropped 16% of my body weight. I felt amazingly ready for race day, and felt like I could complete my number one goal, which was to be completely supportive of Gina during the race, and not have any “issues” of my own. I didn’t want to break down at all during the race. I wanted to be able to help Gina, if she struggled. I wanted the focus to be on it being HER first marathon, not a PR for me (even though I was pretty sure that would happen).
Tl;dr (too long; didn’t read): and that is exactly how it went down!
A lot of people were asking me about what the weather would be like in Dallas, for the marathon. Ha. I was trying really hard not to look. What good does a 10-day forecast do, but make me worry (especially when it changes so darn much)? The only frustrating thing with not looking (until I packed a few nights before), was that Gina and I couldn’t plan out Matchy McMatcherson race outfits. I mean, we both did not expect it to be rainy, in the low 60s, with 87% humidity. Barf, right? I had been training my long runs in the 30s, sometimes colder! Even Gina and her friends in the running club were not too excited about the warm weather conditions, and they’re a bit more used to it than me! Really though, it could have been much worse – the days before and after the race were even warmer (70s) and so sunny. The race weather turned out to be not so horrible. Sure, we had sweat running down our faces in the first few miles, but the wind (10-20 mph) actually cooled me down. As did the rain. And thank HEAVENS it was overcast.
So obviously, we wore tanks and shorts (in black – we went full ninja). No need for the arm warmers and gloves and hat I brought “just in case.” Ha ha. I wore my Nathan backpack, too. And was completely surprised I drank the entire two liters of water in it (along with 16 ounces of Vitamin Water) by mile 16! Craziness. Bringing the backpack was a smart move. And yay, that they actually allow you to wear them!
The race starts out in downtown Dallas, and goes through commercial areas, then through some swank neighborhoods, back through commercial, back through swank neighborhoods, along a lake, on to a path, through swank neighborhoods, and back downtown. That description makes it sound incredibly boring, but I enjoyed the variety. I was a little concerned about the out and back portion along the lake – I just don’t dig seeing people going the opposite direction on a race, and wondering how long it will be until I get to turn. But it worked out alright.
Doesn’t your house have a statue like that in the front?
I asked Erica how hilly the race is, as she’s run it a few times, and she said it wasn’t too bad. The course changed a little since she ran it, and another blogger I read (Pirate Bobcat) posted that the course was hilly and he felt bad for the people doing the full (he was doing the half, which drops off the full course at mile 9.5ish). Hmm. I compared the elevation map to Milwaukee, and they looked really similar to me. Milwaukee didn’t feel that hilly, so I just made sure to run hills once or twice a week (as part of my runs, not hill repeats). And the hills didn’t bug me at all on this course. Score!
So enough generics. Let’s talk about the actual race! We arrived early enough to find a good parking spot – about an hour and a half before. We met up with Gina and Steve’s running club, and it was really fun to see them wishing all their friends good luck and hearing everyone’s goals! I also met Amy‘s mom and sister, who recognized me in the hotel lobby! Ha ha, I totally had pre-race runner brain, and was not making the connection that they were her mom and sister – it was so nice of them to say hi! I kept pretty quiet before the race and tried not to get too pumped up – I wanted to save my energy for the course. I also tried to go poo three times before the race with no luck. Sigh. You know what that means!
This race is fairly big – maybe 20K runners in the half and full? There were three corrals, and we were in the middle one, which closed twenty minutes before the race start. The race announcer did a fantastic job getting everyone pumped up and introducing the elites there (Deena, Meb, Ryan and Sara Hall). Fireworks went off to signal the start of the race at 8:05, and we started around 8:10! Not too bad!
Steve was running the half and was in our corral. We ran the first few minutes with him then went ahead. We had a 9:45 minute mile/4:15ish race goal, and Steve had a 2:20 goal. Gina and I kept the 4:15 pacer in our sights!
The first few miles were mostly flat and we were chatting away. And like I mentioned before, already sweating like crazy. I had lubed up big time (ha ha) and wasn’t worried about chafing (didn’t at all) but gah, that feeling of sweat dripping down your head! Right away, I said to Gina “let’s not talk about the weather.” I knew I just had to keep pushing through and NOT dwell on it.
Surprisingly to me, the humidity and mist was making the roads slippery. There were times I was worried about slipping, and was no where near a water stop (where you’d think it would be slippery)! Luckily I never did!
The first few miles were pretty chill, minus coming up on railroad crossing gates that were coming down! It must have been a joke, because they went right back up. I was not ready to stop that early in the race (nor was I planning on it…)!
Steve and Steven mapped out spectator spots the night before the race, so I knew we’d see Steven, Gina’s dad and his wife, and Gina’s brother and his wife and daughter, and Luca, around mile 6, 14, 17, and at the finish. I sent Steven a Glympse so he could track me on the course, and had my phone on me so we could text. Right before mile 6 I got a text that they were up ahead, on the left!
It was really exciting for us to see them! Gina’s SiL and her dad’s wife had made a “touch here for power” sign that was a huge hit!
They also had “smile if you have to poop” sign (foreshadowing for me, ha ha) and brought Gunther!
It felt like we passed by them so quickly! Gina’s dad ran with us for a minute, which was really cool!
Gina’s Dad on his way back from his run.
They also saw Steve at this spot!
And on we went. We had a little boost from seeing them, and kept chatting. I tried hard to look ahead for turns so we could run the tangents as best as possible, but really early in the course, we had already added on two tenths of a mile. Darn! Probably didn’t help that it was a bit crowded. Not too crowded to keep pace, but crowded enough that you couldn’t just run tangents without running in to someone.
I welcomed the half split at mile 9.5! I also hoped to see a porta pottie there. Um, nope. Sigh. We kept running, and I told Gina I had to stop at the next one and for her to go ahead and slow down so I could catch up. The night before we had talked race strategy and I told her that may happen, so I was happy we had a plan.
We kept going and ran through a gorgeous neighborhood with a boulevard between the homes. Two men dressed as devils were on either side (The spectators were SO fun! Lots of music and costumes! One person had a “touch here for power” sign and some sort of device in their pocket that they would have make a “beep” noise each time someone touched their sign!) I asked “is it this way to hell?” Ha. They laughed. And I knew the answer was yes. I was still clenching my gut at that time and feeling sick to my stomach. I looked to the other side of the street and saw a “mile 22” sign. “We won’t be back here for 11 miles?” I thought. I almost told Gina not to look on that side of the road, but just hoped she wouldn’t see that (she didn’t, phew).
I finally saw a porta pottie with only one guy waiting at mile 11. Yay! Unfortunately, runners came up and jumped in when it was my turn to go. Ugh. One finally opened close to me and the guy coming out said “you don’t want to go in there.” Ha ha. I told him I had to go. Right meow. I can hover. I laughed when the guy went in after me and was like “ewwwww.” I did NOT leave that mess, dude!
I felt so much better (and lighter) after my pit stop! It took me just a few minutes to catch up with Gina (10:22 minute mile followed by a 9:17, ha ha). She had previously told me she was a feeling quiet (but didn’t mind if I talked) so I was trying to come up with things to say. I encouraged her to get some love from Hello Kitty:
And we had fun running by the Dolly Parton cross dressers in the Dolly Parton “hills.” One told me to touch his water ballon “breast.” I sure did! Ha! (Sorry, no photo!)
But we both started to get really quiet and I could tell Gina was feeling a bit meh. Around mile 13 I announced I was bored. How rude, right?! Poor Gina said she was sorry she wasn’t talking and that the course was boring but it was neither of those! I felt bad I couldn’t come up with anything to talk about. Darnit! We talked too much before the race (kind of hard to cut back talking with your bestie).
Luckily, I had a text from Steven saying exactly where to find them around 14.
We enjoyed seeing them, and they handed me a new Vitamin Water. My vest felt heavy again! Ha ha. Groan.
Gina was jokingly saying this is going to be her new Facebook profile photo. Ha ha.
At that point we were in the out and back portion by the lake. Every now and then I’d see runners going the other way (Gina actually saw people she knew! Fun!) I just kept looking for the turn around and was sooooo happy when I saw it (and when we turned)! At 16, Gina told me her legs were tired and her phone (in her hips-sister) was bugging her. I told her to ignore her legs and focus on pumping her arms to keep her legs going. “Your arms aren’t tired, right?” And I told her to give me her phone, and that we’d drop that, and her hips-sister, with our crew at 17.
The night before the race, when Gina and I talked about our game plan, I asked if she wanted drill sergeant Kim or nice Kim. She asked for nice Kim. Sorry, Gina! You got a mix!
The second picture is because I know you guys want to see my janky supination.
Gina felt better after ditching her stuff (still had her hand held), but was still struggling (the wind from the lake was really bugging her so I ran between her and the lake to try to block a bit of it (plus, it felt good to me – I teased her for not “sharing” it)). So she got my logic speech: 1. You can do this, you trained faster than this, 2. This is supposed to hurt, you’ll be proud you pushed through, 3. You want to make YOU proud (and your husband and son, family, and friends), 4. You only get to do your first marathon once, 5. Pain is temporary, glory is forever, and so on.
The truth is, I knew exactly where she was. I bonked at mile 16 at EVERY marathon until Milwaukee this year. It. Sucks. More than anything, I wanted that not to happen to her during her first marathon! I felt sad it was.
We left the lake and got on a trail (there were speakers along the trail and they played my power song (I also heard it at the start and later on the course)! This trail also had Jell-O shots. And beer. And the second clif station. Needless to say, I was digging this trail. But I don’t think Gina was. Her legs were still hurting her. She wanted me to go ahead. To PR. “I saw what you wrote on the banner!”
There was no way I was leaving her. I knew we were a bit off pace (we’d lost sight of our pacer around mile 14/15), but I knew we’d still have a good time and I’d PR. Also, I knew if I left her, she’d slow down and walk more and be upset about it later. “Remember how upset you were about that rough 16 miler?!” I said to her. “I DON’T want you to feel that disappointment after this, because you can’t just go redeem a marathon like you can a long run.”
Yes. I was that annoying. I was also the walk break police. “You only get 30 secs!” “Your 30 secs are up!” “Nope, you don’t get to walk again for 3 minutes.” Hey, to my credit, she had told me she wanted to walk as little as possible.
Around mile 18, it started to rain harder (it had misted on and off before). The rain felt gooood. It cooled me. It took away some humidity. I filled up my bladder and put my visor on (had it hooked around my backpack until then) to keep water out of my eyes.
We finally got off the trail and had to do some neighborhood running before starting to go back to Dallas. Gina’s back started to hurt her, which really worried me, after that back pain I’d been having, but she pushed through.
I congratulated her when she hit her new PDR (20.01!), but we were mostly very quiet. Ahh, the long end of the marathon miles. We passed that 22 mile sign from before and saw the devils again. That made me happy because I knew we were almost to the last straight-away on the course. No more looping and as we got closer, I could even see the skyline, where the finish was.
Gina continued her walk breaks and I’d slow and run ahead (and she’d catch me). She tried telling me again, to go ahead, at mile 23. “After being together this long?! No way.”
Focusing so much on her really made me completely ignore my body. Not in a dangerous way – I followed my fueling plan and checked my posture a lot. Just that I didn’t even give my body a thought as to whether it was in pain. I didn’t allow it. The 9:45 pace was still attainable, and when Gina would get back to me after a walk break, I’d push us back to it (I also kept us around it at the beginning instead of not going too fast). And Gina could run it just fine.
At mile 24, the rain picked up. Not a downpour (that happened two minutes after we finished!!!), but enough that it was getting tricky to text Steven through a wet plastic bag! I let him know we slowed and would finish in 4:20. It was really important to me to see him at the finish, since it upset me so much when he missed me at Milwaukee.
At 24, I also welcomed Gina to the “longest two miles of her life.” Ha. I felt great, but I’d be lying if I said the last 4 miles of marathon don’t feel long! I was happy to hear “Thunderstruck” again! I chatted with other runners (as I did in other parts of the race). We saw a “touch here for power” sign on the other side of the road and didn’t feel like running over there, so another runner did and transferred the “power” to us with a high five. How fun is that?!
I encouraged Gina to finish strong. I quite often told her to fake it for the camera and “look strong for your family” and “they say smiling makes you feel happier!” It was so fantastic to see the mile 25 sign, and to know our spectators were at 26.1. When we saw them, I just lit up! They were so excited for us! And I could just feel the electric energy of the crowd and felt so proud I got to run Gina’s first marathon with her!
I grabbed her hand and we ran toward the finish line, with an official time of 4:20:36! A new PR for me by four minutes and twenty seconds, and a SPECTACULAR first marathon time for Gina!!!!!
We got our medals, and the finisher bag (I really like the medal and shirt!).
Then the pouring rain started. We waited for an official picture, walked and got our food and finisher bags, and went to gear check. Then the happy/overwhelmed waterworks started for Gina. No surprise there! She worked so hard, and through A LOT!
We found our (soaked!) spectators quickly, and they had nothing but wonderful sweet things to say to us about how proud they and impressed they were, and how much they enjoyed the day.
Our spectating crew, from L to R: Steven, Susanne, Joe, Luca, Colette, Eliana and Anthony
One of the best parts after the race was sharing our stories with each other – how much they loved having people touch their sign, how they laughed when someone confusingly called Gunther a deer, their parking adventures, the different runners they saw, how Luca was giving out high fives, but pulling his arm back to do them higher and confusing the runners (hee hee)… really, spectators work so hard! And Gina’s family was so awe-struck, and so sweet and welcoming to me (I had met them before, but this was Steven’s first time! They said they loved having him lead the spectating way!). I immensely appreciated having them there, and was so happy Steven helped them and still took photos!
It just makes me laugh to see the kids walking, and Gunther in the stroller!
And Gina’s Dad’s wife, Susanne, is such a sweetheart. She gave me this bracelet the night before the race for good luck, and wrote a really nice letter to me and Steven!
After the race we split up – most of the spectators went home to dry off, and the runners (Steve enjoyed the half, and took selfies at every mile, ha ha, see below) and Steven went to Red Robin. We loaded all the photos on to my computer that night and played them over Apple home share so everyone could see them. And ordered a ton of Chinese food and had Gina and Steve’s good friends come over (they brought champagne and cookies!) and Gina’s training partner, who also ran the marathon. It was a perfect way to celebrate a spectacular day.
One of Steve’s mile marker selfies!
Phew. This is so hella long but I wanted to remember the details of the day!
I’m so proud of Gina. I told her I don’t know many people who’ve run their first marathon in the 4:20s. And really, keep in mind, she really only started distance running this year, and ran her first “half” in February. She’s done A LOT this year. I told you she was on fire!
I do hope she’s not disappointed in her performance. The struggles she went through are SO typical, and she really powered through them. We only lost a bit of time in the second half, and ran strong strong strong. Our last half mile was at 9:00 minute mile! Gina has speed in her! And she already is talking about her next marathon and knows what she wants to work on – more endurance. She trained well for this one, and included two 20s (and cross and strength training), but would like to do more, and longer, next time. I wonder if I’ll get to be a part of next time?!
As for me, I’m extremely pleased with how this race turned out. I met my #1 (support Gina) and #2 (PR) goals. The heat and humidity didn’t phase me (WHAT?! So shocked by that.). I never felt tired. I never felt sore. After the race, my legs were good (tender quads, but they’re fine). It was my blistered toes that bugged me (from the rain). I feel like I trained right for me (high mileage, easy miles) and like my fueling was right. I… just can’t believe I’ve had my two best marathons this year. I actually never thought, during this race, “I’m never doing this again.” I thought, “When’s the next one?! This rocks!”
Themocracy
Congrats to both you and Gina! It’s always great to read marathon experiences. You should have Gina do a guest post about her experience! So proud of both of you.
Thank you! Maybe she will! Or write one on her blog. I at least suggested she write down her thoughts so she can reflect back for the next one 🙂
Girl, you rock! That humidity would have done me in. Great race recap. Awesome, awesome, awesome.
Thank you! I am really surprised I did okay in the humidity!
LOVE. All of it. It just makes my heart happy.
And I’m pretty sure you (or someone like you) should run my next marathon with me. Of course, you/her/they have to wait for 2016. Ha! What an unbelievable gift you gave Gina!
Aww, thank you!!! 🙂
Oooo, are you already targeting something specific in 2016? Veterans?! Jk 😉
Vets. Obviously … not.
I am thinking Marine Corps though I am discouraged by the lottery system. Otherwise, it my Twin Cities. I want to do a bigger race, maybe a weekend away sans kids.
P.S. I never said congrats on the PR! Way to go. I’m glad you felt strong. I had similar feelings when I ran with Kim in October. Focusing on her made it easier to run.
Is that lottery difficult to win? I haven’t heard and my only experience is with NYC. I’ve heard that both those races are fab, though!
Thank you! And yes! That is a good feeling for a race, right?!
That’s awesome that you not only got to help a good friend rock her first marathon, but you also set a PR! Plus, it sounds like you could probably be even faster next time!
Yes! Two awesome things rolled in to one!
I do think so! The pace felt easy. Maybe 4:10, next time?!
You look so happy in all your pictures…definitely no death face ha ha! Sounds like you had a great solid race. Such a good friend to Gina and what an amazing time for her first marathon. Wanna come coach me through my next one?!
Ha ha, there were a few official pics that have a bit of death face. It was right at mile 22 and I was like, man, these four miles are gonna feel loooong. Then “crap, a photographer!” ha ha
I think that is just a great marathon time too, especially for her first!
Sure, which race are we doing? 😉
I managed to smile for most of mine but yeah there were a few were it was obvious I was hurtiin lol. I donno !! I MIGHT be moving further north in the next year so maybe when I forget this race . I think I’ll need drill sargent kim tho!!!
Ha ha ha, they always manage to get a few!!!
How far north are you moving? 🙂
What an awesome race report! Huge congrats to Gina for finishing her first marathon so strong and with such an awesome time, and congrats to you on your PR!
I can’t believe how much you accomplished during your 3 months of training – that’s more than my 2014 mileage goal lol. And I loved all the pictures of Gunther. He’d be pretty cool to spot at a race.
Thank you! 🙂
LOL! Yeah, that was a lot for three months – I hope 2015 is more balanced, for me. What do you have in mind for 2015?
Steven thought I should write a spectating report from Gunther’s POV. lol
Congrats on the PR! Congrats on the awesome training! 50 mile weeks! Woohoo! So impressed. It has been far too long since I ran 50 miles in one week. Some day i will get back there! You are looking really good! keep up the great work!
Thank you thank you!!! How has your running been? I miss hearing about it!
Congrats on the PR! And you sound so wonderfully supportive of your friend during her first marathon 🙂 So impressive.
Thank you! 🙂
What a fantastic day!!! Congrats to Gina on an AMAZING marathon debut, and congrats on a fun race and a PR! I loved reading all this! (It didn’t even feel long because it was so fun to read!)
Thank you! And I am happy it was a fun read! 🙂
Awesome job supporting Gina to a speedy 1st marathon and congrats on the huge PR! Yes the weather was not ideal (why can’t all marathons be run in the low 40s?), but you guys powered through it and did phenomenally well! It is fantastic that you guys had such a great support crew. Congrats again! 🙂
Thank you! 🙂
Sigh, I know. Imagine what I could have done in low 40s! Hee hee! It could have been much worse, weather-wise! 😉
Dammit I HAVE TEARS. <3
This – seriously all of this – makes me so happy! So happy you could be there for Gina and that my biggest fear for you (stupid heat) never manifested itself at all. I don't think I have ever read a race report of yours where you sounded happier…your excitement and pride and happiness just jumps right off the page!
And Gina!!!! GINA!!! Omg girl I and so freaking proud of you! What an amazing first marathon capping off an amazing year of running for you! CONGRATULATIONS!
And you PR'd!! CONGRATULATIONS!
And so many exclamation points!!!!!!!!!!!! But I can't help it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(ps I sort of love drill sergeant Kim. sounds like you knew just what she needed when she needed it. you are an AMAZING support runner. you should be just as proud of that as you are of Gina and your new PR. not everyone can do what you did for her that day. Love you!)
Awww 😀 Sorry for the tears! 😛
Thank you for sharing in my happiness! I really appreciated your support and encouragement while I was training for this – it meant a lot to me. You have always been such a supportive friend and I am so grateful for it 🙂
And I am pleased that my happiness reads through! I truly felt that way! It was such a great day!
Thank you for the congrats! I am so proud of Gina. What a stellar year! 🙂
I am proud of being able to support her! 🙂 I really didn’t want to crap out, myself, hence all the training. And I am so happy that didn’t happen, so I could focus all on her 😀
Love you!
How cool you PR’ed and on a boring course (maybe that’s the key, you want to be finished faster)! 🙂
Ha ha! Sorry to be confusing! The course wasn’t actually boring, I was just bored with myself, for not having any thoughts to share in my head. LOL!
Yay!! What a great report 🙂
You were cracking me up with some of your comments: “Is this the way to hell?” and being the walk break police…hahaha
Hee hee hee. I am sure there are some other gems I left out… and probably are not appropriate for sharing! 😛
WOW what a great recap and PR for you both! That is an awesome time, and even more so for her first marathon!
Thanks! 🙂
Ah man, so much awesome in this recap!! Congrats to Gina on no longer being a marathon virgin, and to you being such an awesome pacer and even PRing!!
That sign Ginas family made was awesome! And so cute Gunther got to come out and spectate 🙂
Maybe the “heat” affecting you is all in your head?? He he you did awesome especially considering you’ve been training in much cooler temps. You’ve got more PR’s in those legs!!!
I’m just so happy for you gals on rocking this race!!! Almost makes me want to sign up for one now 😉 almost.
Thank you, thank you! 🙂
I loved the signs, too! They were such good sports! It’s so nice to have the spectators be in to it, and treat you like royalty! 🙂
Ha ha. You know, I don’t think it is. Had it had been sunny… I would have been toast. Not trying to doubt myself, I just know how I am in the sun!
I do think I have another PR in me! 🙂
Congratulations!! This seriously sounds like such an excellent experience from top to bottom, and I’m so glad you got a PR with Gina by your side 🙂 (Also, that bracelet is AWESOME. I love it!)
Thank you! I am so happy we got to run the whole thing together, and that we had the same finish time!
Thanks! Have you checked out Alex&Ani bracelets? So many fun ones! The message on this one works for running and life! 🙂 A good reminder on my wrist 🙂
That’s a crazy good time for a first marathon. My first was 5:23, back in the day.
Also, yay for a PR! Maybe you are actually a warm weather runner now?
I thought so, too! Mine was in the high 5:00s! (Stupid hot Chicago!)
Hee hee, I am still a cold weather runner… maybe just getting better at the warmth? That would be nice! 🙂
Your report has me in tears!! What an awesome experience to share together! You both worked so hard and OWNED IT!
All those 0400 wake up calls and getting our there for Gina worked
Aww, thank you!!!! 🙂
And thank you SO MUCH for all of your help with my training. I doubt I would have got as many miles in if it wouldn’t have been for you. And it definitely would NOT have been as fun.
NOW! We train for WI!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😀
First, congrats on the PR. You totally earned it! Secondly, congrats on rocking it as a pacer. Would you like to come pace me in New Zealand in March 🙂 Third, what a fun experience to share with your BF and her whole family!
Thank you!!! Oh gosh, I sooooooooooooo wish!
This is just so amazing. Every little teeny tiny bit of it. I’m over the moon happy for you and your friend too. 4:20 for a first-timer is CARAYZAY!
Thank you so much! 😀
Awesome job! You rock! Non-time goals are always a good thing for the PRs!
Thank you! 🙂
Wow, what a thorough recap! I’m so glad you two had a good time and such a great race. I know the conditions were tough out there, way to push through. I really hope I didn’t scare you too much about the ‘hills’. I take it they didn’t bother you too much. Maybe they weren’t as bad as I thought. Also, I agree completely with the crowd support!!! It was awesome! I had so much fun. I’ve run this race before and there was not nearly the support as this year. It was awesome. Again, congrats! Sorry we didn’t get to meet up.
Oh, no, you didn’t scare me! You DID make me look at the elevation map, which was great… as I hadn’t at all. So thank you for that! 🙂 And I think I just did a decent job with hill training.
The crowds were sooooo great! I am happy you had fun! Can’t wait to read your recap!
And we’ll have a chance to meet! That was my third trip to Dallas in 2014! I will be there again! Maybe we can go on a run with Gina!
What an amazing recap and congrats on not only getting an awesome PR but being able to be there with your friend is something she (and you) will remember forever, that is so awesome!! Congrats to both of you!!
Thank you! I do think we will remember it with a warm heart, forever! 🙂
This was an awesome recap! How amazing to run w/ a buddy during their first marathon AND PR. Great work! I can’t even imagine how hard it must’ve been to train here in the cold and then run in warm sticky weather. Congrats!
Thank you!!! 🙂 I was so worried about that weather shift, and for the life of me, do NOT know why it turned out okay! I must have a guardian race angel!
Holy awesome. Great race recap. Congrats to you both.
Thanks!
Woooo hoooo!!!! What a great race report. You look sooo happy in all of the pics. I love it. That last one of you at the finish line is pure joy! I’m so proud of both of you!
I didn’t realize Dallas was such a big race and had elites! Very cool!
Thank you!!! 🙂
Yeah, I didn’t realize, either! Some of them were announced pretty late! Meb and Ryan ran on some relay team, then Ryan someone paced Sara for a new half women’s record? Maybe? I am not sure what Deena did! Wish I could have met Deena and Meb! 🙂
I’ll never be able to express how much it meant to me that you were with me for my first half and first marathon this year! I truly realize how lucky I am to have you in my life to constantly keep moving me forward! I started running because of you and it blows my mind that I ran a marathon with you. It’s been a few days and I still don’t think I can process the awesomeness in its entirety. I wish everyone could have seen you doing so amazing! I feel so privileged that I got to witness your remarkable race. I wish my training translated slightly better on the course and that I didn’t act like such a toddler at times, but thank you. Thank you for the pep talks, thank you for drill sergeant Kim and thank you for always being so willing to be there for me. You never hesitate! You and Steven are so special to me and my family and to have you both there with me was like Christmas and my birthday rolled into one! I’m happy you were happy with marathon. I feel so content about it all and I know I owe a lot of that to you! Love you!
Aww, your comment kind of made me tear up, and I don’t know what to say. I DO have to say, it’s been so selfishly rewarding to me, to see you thrive and succeed so much in running. I love bragging about you, and telling people how far you’ve come, and how much you truly love the sport. I love seeing that passion in you (and really, it could be a passion about anything, but that it’s running is even more awesome, hee hee).
I was honored to run your first “half” (:P) and full with you! I kind of can’t believe we ran a marathon together, either. It’s like, we signed up for it, trained separately, then all of a sudden, the day was there! 🙂 Like, oh, nbd, running a marathon today 🙂
Ha! I am happy someone was with me to see that I can run a marathon and not feel like caca. And the way you felt on course is TOTALLY normal and while I was hoping you wouldn’t hit that spot, I was happy I could be there and tell you it would be okay, and you’d be happy you pushed through it. I am so proud of you for how you hard you worked, at the race, and leading up to it!!! Thanks for letting me be bossy during the race, and with your training. It means a lot when you ask my opinion and value it 🙂
We think of you guys as family too, and are so grateful for our time together, and especially this big moments! Love you (all)! (oops, y’all)
SO freaking awesome for so many reasons!! Fabulous you stayed together and you coached your bud through the rough moments. That is a serious impressive time for a first marathon,and how wonderful you felt so great when you finished. 🙂 The pictures are great and that is a really cute bracelet. Congratulations to Gina on her first one!!! Congrats to you on the PR!!!
Thank you!!!!
Congrats!!
Thanks!
Kim, what a great recap. Glad you had a good time. It was so neat to meet you and Gina. A big congrats on your PR!
Thank you! It was so nice to meet you, too! Did you have a fun race?! 🙂
Amazing race! You guys are both incredible. What an awesome first marathon time (and to run with your best friend!) And a fantastic PR for you. So cool!
Thank you!!!! And I know you know first hand, what a treat it is to run with your besties! 😀
It does not surprise me one bit that Gina spanked her first marathon. WHen I saw how well she busted out the Soldier Field 10 I could tell that girl’s got talent!
So happy for both of you! Congrats again!
She sure does!!!
Thanks! 🙂
Way to go! Congrats on toughing it out – sounds like you had a really, really solid race. That is so fantastic.
I also like the way the thoughts go in a marathon (or distant event) – from “I’m never doing this again” to “Sign me up now!”.
Thank you!
Ha ha. Yeah! I usually have A LOT of “never again!” I was surprised I never did for this race!
Okay, first this: “But in that time until race day I put in 626.15 miles, ran a marathon, ran four 21+ milers, tried to average 50 miles a week, and dropped 16% of my body weight.” <– Holy crap! You really nailed it!
I'm surprised at what an "official production" this race was, and not in a bad way. You really have it down: how to pace, how to meet up with spectators, how to fuel during the race! It's so awesome! Gina was really lucky to have you as a pacer, and I guess you feel lucky to have run with her while she did her first marathon, right? Even though it sounded like some struggle-face in the second half, you did such a good job of being positive and pushing her through (because you knew how much she wanted to succeed); that part made me smile because I can totally identify with that inner-battle. I usually wuss out and think I can "redeem" the bad race with a long run (OMG! I do this so much!)–maybe I need you to pace me, too!! 😀
Thank you! 😀
Marathons ARE a production with so many moving pieces and factors that can totally eff you up – you totally have that right! And I think that is why they are so hard!!! I do feel lucky I could run with her for her first marathon! 😀
We should run SF together! Ha ha, after doing one half, you’re probably like, meh! 😉
CONGRATULATIONS on an incredible race!! I loved reading this recap and am so proud of what you’ve accomplished this training season and especially this race! A great way to end 2014 indeed 🙂
Thank you! 😀
Congrats to you and Gina! What a great post. I’ve said it before and I will say it again but I need to run with you. You are an awesome pacer and I would vote for the drill sargeant Km.
Aww, thank you!
Congrats on the new PR and congrats to Gina on a great first marathon! You sound like you had a great time!
Thank you! 🙂