This was near the same point a couple years back when Will encountered me the same way. I didn't know him so well, but had walked with him once or twice before state volkssport association meetings. He is a friendly guy and had come upon me around Mile 21 and greeted me and started to chat. My exact thoughts were, "S***, he wants to talk to me!" While I would normally very much enjoy talking to Will, I was in no condition to do so at Mile 21. Thank heavens he took no insult and we have gone on to form the core of a very friendly walking team.
At Mile 22 our group dispersed. Will took off at a run. I slackened my pace and dropped back. Nancy and Rachel kept their paces but separated. There is a very long downhill on Greeley and I really feared for my ilio-tibial band, which gets painful and irritated on downhills. I discovered my body wanted to jog down the hill and I let it do so. At other times I was going more like an 18 minute mile pace. Looking at the time, I was amazed to discover I would probably finish in my usual 7 hours.
I put on my headphones and book on tape, appropriately Jonathan Franzen's "How to be Alone." Miles 23 and 24 and 25 really seemed to fly by. I was feeling stronger than I have ever before at this point in the marathon. In part that is due to to cool, pleasant weather - often this is a very hot part of marathon. We had kept at the moderate pace throughout and that helped save stamina for the end. My muscles felt good in general and the pain I had felt at Mile 13-17 was mostly a memory.
What hurt were the blisters - I had a heel blister from the previous weekend that was reforming under the blister bandage, and I felt a new one on my heel. I have discovered over the years that no matter what I do on the course, the bandage doesn't want to stay put, so I just walked through the blister pain and tried to ignore it. Blisters heal.
The Steel Bridge came up, and I was over it into the final mile and headed up Front Avenue. From here I can count the blocks to the finish. Despite the painful blister squish with each step, it went fast. About 6 blocks from the finish I could feel the blister pop, brief intense pain, then it subsided. Lisa, a former team mate, greeted me, she was volunteering for the event.
Normally I start crying about 2 blocks from the finish. This year I felt much less drained and emotional. I crossed the finish line with a hobble and a smile. Will cheered me from the finish line, wearing his Finisher shirt. I got my medal and space blanket and headed down the food row, selecting sports drink and a bag of Doritos and munching two Oreos. I got my Finisher shirt and encountered Rachel and Nancy at the photography line, right behind Krista and Tom. We got photos together and separately.
This was Nancy's first marathon and Rachel's first in 10 years. Our friend Michele provides massage at the volkssport finish table. Rachel went first and almost passed out - she was dehydrated. I got a leg massage and then summoned Nancy to the table. Will came back to join us and he also got a massage.
We picked up our checked clothing, made sure Rachel was rehydrating and recovering, and headed to the cars. Will drove Rachel and I while Nancy got a ride with her husband. All stopped at Starbucks for a creamy drink.
At my place we all convened for showers, foot soaks, foot massage, and I grilled filet mignon for the gang. We laughed and shared tales, and my husband and Nancy's fetched things for us. It was marvelous end to a triumphal day.
Next: Lessons Learned
