Montana - Race Day

I signed up for the Missoula Marathon as a way to get back into running. I needed a workout goal after having Charlie. It was perfect to incorporate a marathon with a trip home to Missoula. Training was tough though. I went back to work full-time in February and Charlie didn’t start sleeping through the night until the end of May. During the week I would run on the treadmill in the basement after Charlie went to bed. Saturday mornings I did the Bagel Runs. I would usually meet Adam and Charlie at the second water stop (7miles) and they would finish the run with me.

I was a little worried about the elevation during the race. Missoula has an elevation of 3200 feet. I went for a short run on Saturday morning and felt fine. I spent Thursday and Friday at our family cabin at Georgetown Lake which is at 6500 feet. I was hoping this short time at the cabin would help me adjust to the elevation.

I woke up at 4 am on the day of the race. I got dressed, had a Luna Bar for breakfast, woke up Charlie and got her ready. Adam, Charlie and I left my parents house about 4:50. We drove into town, picked up my sister and then dropped me off to take the shuttle bus to the race start (the race is a point to point). Adam was running the half with Charlie so my sister drove them to the starting line. Both the half and the full started at 6 am but from different staring points.

Once I arrived at the race start I stood in line for the bathroom, checked my bag, and headed to the starting line. It was about 60 degrees outside and the sun was starting to come up over the mountains. It was perfect weather for a marathon.

I started running with the 5 hour pace group. There were about 10 of us and it was a great group of people. I knew I would not be able to stay with them the entire time because I trained using the Galloway method (run 12 minutes walk 2) and had injured my hip 3 weeks before the race. My plan was to stay with them until I met up with my sister. Once she dropped Adam and Charlotte off she was getting on her bike and biking towards me. I was still with the pace group when I saw her at the 10 mile mark. At about 11.5 miles I had to let the pace group go. This was difficult because I would have loved to finish in 5 hours. However, I knew it was not meant to be. I had a small pity party and then decided to enjoy the rest of the run. I was still feeling good at this point. I just needed to start incorporating walk breaks into my run.

Around mile 13 was the only hill on the course and it was substantial. There was a small breeze going up the hill and it was shaded. This was so nice because the course was starting to get hot. The view from the top of the hill looked over the Clark Fork River. Even though I grew up in Montana I found this view breathtaking.

Prior to meeting up with my sister a race volunteered asked her to escort a hand cyclist up this hill. As she was riding along side of the cyclist, he told her he suffered a heart attack on the hill during the marathon the year before. He had actually died on the course and had to be revived. He pointed to the exact spot on the hill and said, “That’s where I died.” When my sister told me this as I was running up the hill it really put things into perspective for me.

My sister rode with me from 10 miles until the end. It was great because she kept me company, handed me gels when I needed them, and held my hand-held water bottle. She had her cell phone with her so I was able to know when Adam and Charlie finished their half. She was also able to call my parents and give them updates on my progress. Around mile 15 I asked Heather for a gel. She gave me the gel and also gave me a small index size card that read, “I'm petrified of nipple chaffing. Once it starts it is a vicious circle... you have sensitive nipples, they chaff, so they become more sensitive, so they chaff more. So I take precautions.”(Quote from the television show The Office). Heather told me she had more of these cards. They really brightened my mood and I was looking forward to them! About the 23 mile mark she gave me a card that read, ““Finishing that 5K was the hardest thing I ever had to do. I ate more fettuccini alfredo, and drank less water than I have in my entire life.” (Again,from The Office) I love this quote! My sister also made Charlie outfits for the race. On one t-shirt she wrote on the front, “My first half marathon” and the back read, “GO DAD 13.1” On the other shirt she wrote, “I ♥ My Marathon Mom” and the back read, “GO MOM 26.2”.Yes, my sister is pretty awesome.

Once Adam was done with his race he got on a bike and met me at the 20mile mark. I was still feeling pretty good but could tell I was beginning to unravel. The course was getting really hot. I think the temperature was only 85 degrees but if felt much warmer.

At mile 24 I ran past the house of a friend from high school. There were three of my friends from high school with their families cheering everyone on. One of my friends, Kenda, is currently training for the Lake Stevens 70.3 and had run the half that morning. She told me she broke 2 hours (her goal). I was so happy to hear she did so well!

Kenda and her husband Pete met up with us on their bikes at the 25 mile mark. This was right in front of Hellgate High School, the high school Kenda and I attended (yes that is the name of my high school). Kenda told me I had four more turns and I could see the finish line. I was ready to be done with this race!

Throughout the course there were signs with Chuck Norris’ picture on them with different sayings. At mile 25 the sign said, “Chuck Norris never ran 26.2 miles therefore you are tougher than Chuck Norris!” My favorite sign read, ““Chuck Norris visited the Virgin Islands. They are now called the Islands.”

Just before the 26 mile mark the race course turns onto Higgins Street. The course runs over the Higgins Street Bridge (which crosses the Clark Fork River). At the beginning of the bridge I saw my cousin and her 2-month-old baby (I had no idea they would be there). As I ran over the bridge to the finish line I continued to see people I knew - my aunt, cousin, another aunt, my uncle, and two other cousins (again, I didn’t know they were going to be there). Finally I saw my parents and Charlie along with some other friends. It was so cool to see all these people and it meant so much to me that they came to watch me finish.

My only goal for this race was to finish. I am not a fast runner but I love running. I didn’t know how I would be able to balance training, being a first time parent, and working full time but I did it. I feel like I have a pretty good balance right now and I was able to achieve my goal. I may never be Boston bound but I really enjoyed training for and running this race.

The Missoula Marathon was named the best overall marathon by Runner’sWorld Magazine readers in 2010 and I would have to agree. It is small and very well organized. The course itself is beautiful and relatively flat. Missoula is a great town and a great host. I hope to do this race again.

Here are a few pictures from the day:

The Missoula Marathon logo.

Adam and Charlie running!!!

Part of the course - so beautiful!

Again, this course is so scenic!

The Clark Fork River

Mile 21 marker

Charlie waiting for me to finish.

The back of Charlie's shirt (thanks to Orpha and Paul for taking these pictures!)

Finally!!!

So glad to be done!

Our finishing photo

I love this picture!!! So cute!