Marine Corps Marathon Race Recap

 

on the way to Iwo Jima

  

ready for 0775

I did the Marine Marathon in 2012.  I absolutely loved it!  It was not an easy course but it was beautiful.  Fast forward to 2015, Chris and his group are training all Summer to run this Fall marathon-suddenly it’s 48 hours and counting.

We drove up on Friday morning with our two youngest.  Even though I couldn’t run, I was there to support Chris.  We made it to our hotel late and strategized how we would get to the new expo location, Washington Convention Center.  Metro obviously.  Next morning, early rise and ride on the Yellow line to Mt Vernon Square.  Got there after 10, tons of people already-oh bother.  And having a scooter and disabled leg not helping with trying to get around people, who occasionally were rude and ran into me.  Brooks MCM store was like a Disney ride from nightmareville.  Purchases totaled amount of a car payment-ouch!  Then on to see the other offerings.  We saw 26.2 with Donna booth-awesome booth babes.  Hyundai booth had a cute free photo opportunity, Dunkin Donuts had cool giveaways but no donuts(?!), lots of cool races from all over the country, and tastes of healthy products.  I thought the Armory seemed bigger, so I wouldn’t rate it as wonderful.  3 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️stars.

Time to rest up for the race.  Weather forecast rain and 50’s for the start.  Day of the race and Chris was up and out by 6:30 a.m.  We watched the start of the race and that’s where our outlooks diverge.  Me & the boys got to the Mall at 11:00 and began cheering for the 4:45 pace runners-cowbell please.  I could not track Chris-Facebook alerts did not happen with MCM app(epic fail).  I got updates from another friend until I signed up for phone text updates.  I knew Chris had a little way to go so we went to the Air and Space Museum.  Around 1:15p.m., we looked down the road and who should we see coming towards us…Chris!!  More cowbell!! He spotted us and we gave him a hug.  He did not look happy & said he was severely cramping.  There were not a lot of people out there and the Marines were packing and cleaning up.  Uh oh.  Still he kept running.  We stopped for lunch-hot dog stand!  Afterwards, I tried to find the Smithsonian Metro when I noticed the ambulance and row of buses-go forward and investigate.  Yep I saw Chris.  He was being picked up and having to ride on the “straggler bus”.  

Chris told us to go on to Roslyn and he’d meet up with us.  An hour later he was there and was extremely angry.  

Some of the things he experienced…

Started 25 minutes after race began-no cannon, no announcement.

Bag check for runners and spectators ?!  I thought that’s why runners had clear bags.  

At the sweeper buses, runners told they were too slow to run MCM.

Buses rode around and around and around-come on!  Drop them off already!

Buses nearly running into or backing up into runners still on the course-are you kidding me?!!

Buses in the Finishers Chute-WTH?!

Buses not dropping off people to meet up with their family  in the meet up area-come on-no wanted a medal they didn’t earn you dolts.

I am so disappointed that Chris had such a bad experience with a large marathon.  On a good note, the rest of his group beat the bridge and finished!  

What did we learn?  I don’t know yet but stay tuned. 

It’s about the journey not just about the destination,

Mercedes

 

Training for a Fall Marathon( my husband’s perspective)

My husband and his Jax Galloway running group-No Pressure- are doing the Marine Corps Marathon this weekend.  Here are some Chrisisms from his training.

10.  It’s hot in Florida during the summer and I have another long run?

9.  4 a.m. Is my new training run time.  After all it’s Summer in Florida.

8.  Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate…we’re sweating salt.

7.  Okay what can I use for fuel?  Tailwind?  BCAA?  Stingers?  How ’bout breakfast at Starbucks instead?

6.  Sun is not our friend, shade and a breeze are.

5.  Wear a shirt even though it’s wringing wet.  You do not want to see me in a singlet. 

4.  Neighborhoods are better than busy roadways-usually shade.

3.  Why am I doing this?  Oh yea, cooler Fall temperatures make me faster.

2.  My wife did this to me…

1.  Ooh rah!  We’re ready.

  
It’s about the journey not just about the destination,

Mercedes

Why I’m Fundraising for 26.2 With Donna(aka the baking runner)

  
I began running 26.2 with Donna , the only marathon that raises money to fund research and help local women and their families with expenses who are fighting breast cancer, in 2011.  I was in the early stages of my running and didn’t think I could do marathon.  I trained with the Jacksonville chapter of the Galloway training program and did my first marathon in 4:30.  It was an empowering experience!  I’ve gone on to do 8 more since then.  I’ve become a group leader and now I help prepare other run/walkers to run their marathons whether it’s their 1st or otherwise.

  
For the last three years I’ve been a Donna Ambassador because I’m a vocal voice in social media promoting this marathon and the Donna Foundation.  What does that mean?  I tweet, I forward posts, I share pictures and information, and I fundraise.  Why?  I believe strongly that breast cancer needs to be erased from existence.  Mayo Clinic doctors are working tirelessly to find a cure.  The Donna Foundation funds women and their families when they are encountering financial hardship.  I have seen firsthand how thankful these survivors are and seeing the dedication of those Mayo Clinic doctors is inspiring science.  Without our efforts, some of these things I just wrote wouldn’t happen.  Every dollar makes a difference no matter how small.  This year I have a lofty goal, $2,141.60(the date of the marathon-catchy).  I am going to reach that goal!  I am small change compared to some other fundraisers.  I have no companies dying to give me a check or a cool event that draws people with deep pockets or a social media phenom with thousands of followers.  I am fundraising by measuring, mixing, spooning, sprinkling, and baking delicious love with my homemade chocolate chip Coffeecakes.  I bake and bring these loaves of confectionary goodness to all my Galloway Saturday group runs.  Each week I have such generous runners who keep my fundraising goal get a little bit closer.  I am blessed and thankful for their love of the cause.  I even have other runner friends who are willing to donate their culinary goodies to help.  Wow!  One dollar at a time…we can get there!

It’s not just about the destination, it’s about the journey,

Mercedes

Is My Cranky Showing?

As you know I broke my fifth metatarsal last week.  Good news, no surgery or cast.  I have gotten rid of my uncooperative crutches that were making my arms ache and have gotten a knee scooter.  I have a houseful of attentive and caring kids and husband, a classroom of sweet 1st graders, supportive BRF’s, understanding co-workers, and even most of my extended family is being wonderful.

My life is full.
Then why am I so grumpy lately?

I snap at my kids at school, I’m surly & disagreeable at home, and I feel like a hydra of negative adjectives from day to day.  What is going on?  I don’t sleep well and wake up unrested, I eat unhealthy foods even though I know better, and just feel so disconnected with everything lately.  I feel like I’m running on slo-mo time, and everyone is passing me by.

I don’t miss running.  Really.  No I mean it-I Don’t Miss Running!  Really.  Yesterday I cheered on my Jax Galloway friends in from their 6 mile bridge run.  They looked beautiful-effortlessly.  My friends Julie, Connie, and Andrea were running the Chicago Marathon today & I felt happy and proud of them but run it-nah!  I really don’t miss it.
Oh who am I kidding…I am off for 8 weeks.  Do you know how long that is?  Perspective- 2 months, 60 days, 1440 hours, 86400 minutes.  That’s a crazy amount of time for an active person.  I love it when people say that the time will pass quickly-it feels like forever.  Do you know I even dream about running?  I dream I am running down Riverside Ave, I am running effortlessly.  It’s beautiful.  That’s how I like to think about it.  I miss it like an old friend.  I miss it like a friend who is too busy to call me anymore and I feel sad.  I feel betrayed.  I feel angry. I feel all those negative emotions sometimes.  

When I am at my lowest, I think about my mom.  My mom at one time was super active.  She told me about roller skating down steep hills or balancing on bridge railings, dancing until early morning with her mother chaperoning, walking all over NYC-so much energy!  Then, her health got in the way and she sits all day now.   My mom sitting?!  My mom-how is that possible?  She’s not that old!  So different from her mother or my Dad’s mom even.  Those ladies kept active until well into their 90’s.  Those women are my heroes.  They had physical setbacks but that didn’t stop them.  That Didn’t Stop Them… 

Not letting my foot control my life

 I will be back.  8 weeks is a sliver of time.  Things could be worse…setbacks happen.  Roll with the punches and go with the flow.  After all tomorrow is another day to change the cranky to positive.  

It’s not just about the destination, it’s all about the journey,

Mercedes

Race Recap of Jax Marine Corps 1/2 Marathon 5k

Well as you all know I broke my foot this week.  I couldn’t run this race so I was there as a spectator and Donna Ambassador fundraiser-Coffeecake4Cancer.  The race started at 7 a.m for the 1/2 and the 5k-the weather was suppose to be runner perfect with the lows in the 60’s.  When we were crossing the Matthews Bridge, I could see the mist and  feel that crisp Fall air-and I wasn’t running?!  We got to Metropolitan Patk, I was glad I wore my yoga pants-there was a slight chill.  Since I wasn’t running, I knew I was going to be chilled.  We made our way to the Jax Galloway tent and saw a couple of my group leader friends.  I set out my Coffeecakes and hoped for a sell out.  My friend Julie is tapering for the Chicago Marathon and ran the 5k( she was 4th in her AG)-they ran out of medals so she donated hers.  Really?  Again?!  Our Jax Galloway runners were running in memory of Staff Sgt. David Wyatt( his parents run with Jax Galloway), who was murdered in a mass shooting in Tennessee, so we had name tags and patriotic ribbons.  We cheered in people from our group and others we didn’t know.  There was plenty of refreshments for runners.  Many ran PR’s including my own sweet husband Chris who ran a 2:56!  So happy for him and everyone else!    The cons I heard and saw firsthand-running out of water on the course, breaking down the finish line while back of the packers are finishing(time limit is 4:00-they were starting at 3:30), people taking cases of water and bananas and finisher glasses-really people?!    

Pros- they did not run out of medals!! Or beer!!  We cheered on the last runner and I was Sold Out of my delicious Coffeecake!  

Next year people, I will be back on those streets!  Congratulations all!

 

Woohoo!! Chris & his PR

  

Jax Galloway Rocks!

  

Boys & their toys

  

Coffeecakes4Cancer satisified customer

Remember it’s about the journey not just about the destination,

Mercedes

 

10 Things You Should Never Say Out Loud To An Injured Runner

 

Ugh! Not rockin’ this look.

 
Never been injured?  Lucky!  For those of us who have, well let’s just say it’s tough on your psyche.  Then you have people come up to you and say some of the most negative ignorant comments. Have you been guilty of one of these?

1.  What did you do now?

If I have crutches, obviously I did something but to act like I’m always hurting myself?!   It makes the runner want to bang you over the head with one of their crutches.  Instead say, wow!  How can I help?

2. So does this mean you’re not running with me on Saturday?

Sounds sympathetic right?  No.  Selfish and unfeeling?  Yes.  Your runner friend would love to run and continue with his or her training plan but it’s not happening.  Don’t be a Debbie Downer instead say, how about we do some strength training until you’re 100%.

3.  Well that sucks!

Ya don’t say.  As an injured runner who feels ready to cry, tell me something I don’t know.  Instead, say at least you get to catch up on some sleep.  Think of me at 4a.m. on Saturday.

4.  Running is such a bad sport for you, why don’t you take up another less strenuous activity?

Really people?  You’re messing with my 1st love next to my husband and kids!  Instead say,  in 12 weeks you can start training for a 15k!  Goal!

5.  You’re breaking bones,damaging tendons and joints you should stop doing it.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.  Tell it to the hand.  You are my newest ex-friend.  Running or negativity?  Running all the way!  Injury short lived.   Negativity bringing me down-’til I stop calling you back!

6.  You’ll save so much money now!

Yeah, not…signed up for some of these races months ago.  Injured runners are very goal oriented and we’ve been training & we’re now sidelined.    Dark cloud… Instead, how about we volunteer for one of the races & you’ll at least feel part of the running action.

7.  Are you going to start your diet now?

Seriously?  I’m already depressed and you’re making me think of food?  Injured runners usually know they can’t eat all those calories when they are in training for an event.  Instead say, I have a great new recipe for low cal chili!   We can cook it and then store it in single serving containers for some lunches or dinners this week.

8.  Stop checking all these runner blogs or runner related groups it just get you depressed.

Talking to other sympathetic runners keeps you sane and provides great advice for injured runners.  Encourage don’t discourage!

9.  Wanna catch up on Orange is the New Black?

No!  That’s why I run…I’m outside enjoying the weather, the scenery, the groups of people who are simpatico.  I do not want to be a couch potato!  Suggest a walk(if able), go to a garden, go kayaking, anything but staying inside.

10.  You are such a grouch now! 

Yep.  Running makes me happy!  Mundane does not.  I miss it just like you miss painting, reading, or any other extracurricular activity.  Understand and sympathize, don’t judge.  

Injured runners get better, so be supportive , patient, and understanding.  Runners who are injured, hang in there.  Things will get better and hopefully those non runners will understand-finally!

Remember it’s about the journey not just the destination, 

Mercedes