Four Marathons... Six Days... One AMAZING Dream

When my rockstar marathoner friend Gail told me that she had signed up to run five marathons in five days, I thought she was crazy.  How is that even possible?!  When she encouraged me to join her, I thought she must be out of her mind.  No way I could do something like that!  I had never even run two marathons in a month, let alone in a row.  But she had me thinking... 

After a few weeks of turning it over in my mind and going through all the "what if's", I decided to see what I was capable of.  I had already registered for the Sugarloaf Marathon in northern Maine the day before the challenge was scheduled to start, so I decided to add two marathons after that.  Before I knew it, I was signed up for Sugarloaf on Sunday; Portland, Maine on Monday; and Nashua, New Hampshire on Tuesday.  Yikes.

Fast forward to this Sunday, where I had the race of my life at Sugarloaf.  Even though I was trying to hold back to conserve energy for the two marathons to follow, I took 16 minutes off my PR and finished feeling stronger than ever.  I also found myself enjoying every minute of the breathtakingly scenic course.  It was a perfect day.  Stayed tuned for my Sugarloaf Marathon race recap later this week!

After finishing at Sugarloaf, I embarked on the 133 mile, 2.5 hour drive down to Portland for marathon #2.  As I would soon find out, the driving time after a marathon was almost as much of an endurance event as the race itself.  My gas pedal leg and lower back were not impressed by this idea at all!  But on the winding mountain roads through some beautiful countryside, this first drive passed relatively quickly.  That evening, I began what became a nightly ritual of hotel hot tub soaks, foam-rolling, laying out race clothes, and getting breakfast ready for the 3 AM wake-up call.  With back-to-back marathons, it was all about staying organized, and I had packed a different duffel bag for each race, in addition to a suitcase for contingency supplies. - rain gear, first aid supplies and blister treatment, cold weather clothes, and much more.

Preparing for these races was no joke!

It was lucky that I had packed extra race-day clothing options, because when we arrived at the Back Cove in Portland for marathon #2, it was 33 degrees with 25 mph winds.  The shorts, singlet and arm warmers I had planned on were clearly not going to cut it.  I decided to start the race with a fleece-lined tech jacket that I could take off once I warmed up.  It was a nice thought at the time, but it quickly became clear that I was not going to warm up.   The cloud cover was thick and the winds were brutally cold.  Even with my jacket on, I just couldn't get warm.

Even my car's rubber ducky mascot was glad to be inside!

For the first few miles of the race, I felt as good as could be expected.  I could feel the muscle fatigue from the previous day's hills in my quads, but I was settling into a good rhythm.  The course's seven 3.6 mile laps on a dirt path around the bay made for a predictable, flat run.  But then there was the wind.  As the morning wore on, the wind only got stronger, to the point where I literally held onto a fence several times because it felt like I would be swept off my tired legs.  Running into the wind felt like I was on a treadmill - expending a ton of energy, but getting nowhere.  And I was cold.  And miserable.  And everything hurt.  

This is my "not having fun" face!

By mile 11, I had all but talked myself into dropping down to the half marathon.  I was mentally and physically exhausted, and being out there for another several hours felt insurmountable.  It was then that I saw my amazing runner friends at mile 14.  They were a lap ahead of me, and although they looked almost as miserable as I felt, seeing them gave me the mental boost that I desperately needed.  Seeing the familiar faces got me out of my own head.  I pushed myself to refocus, and I started to believe that if I wanted to finish, I had it in me.  And if I wanted to quit, I could do that too.  It was my decision.  

I decided to buckle down and try for one more lap to get to mile 18. I pushed myself to focus on the positives. The bay we were running around was beautiful. The other runners were incredibly supportive. I had some amazing people in my life including my crazy runner friends who inspired me and believed I could do it. And I had already come 34.2 miles over two days at that point. As one of my favorite Tom Brady quotes goes, "we haven't come this far just to come this far."  That quote became my race mantra, and it kept me pushing on.

By mile 18, not only had my mindset changed, but I could feel a physical difference in my body as well. Yes, I was still in pain and tired and cold, but I felt strong and capable. I dug as deep as I could, and finished the last 8 miles at a SLOW pace, but with my head held high. With every step, I felt like I was accomplishing something that I hadn't truly believed I could do.  

One last shuffle across the timing mat!

In the end, for me this race taught me a lot about myself, and about the power I have over my own outcomes. It was all about believing I could.  Yes, I had a lot of physical obstacles in this race - the brutally cold conditions, the strong winds, and a lot of muscle fatigue - but none of those were insurmountable.  It was my mind that was giving up, not my body.  But once I locked it into my head that I was NOT going to quit no matter what it took, my body followed.  I learned that I was a lot stronger than I would have let myself believe.

Car keys in hand... get me the heck outta here!

All too quickly after a much-needed hot shower, a 105 mile drive, and a lot of celebratory pizza with my runner friends, my alarm was going off at 3 AM the next morning.  Marathon #3 was at Mine Falls Park in Nashua, New Hampshire, through some beautiful dirt trails along the Nashua River.  It was a scenic course, and the 50-degree, sunny weather made for ideal conditions.  I was ready for redemption!  

What a difference a day makes!

Unfortunately, although I was mentally in much better shape than the previous day, my body was starting to feel the effects of having run 52 miles in the prior two days.  For the first half of the race, my GI system decided to revolt against yet another marathon, and I threw up every cup of water or gel that I tried to get down.  My legs were equally unhappy with this crazy plan, and I stopped several times to stretch a tight left hamstring and an aching right Achilles.  Three marathons in three days is no joke, let me tell you!

By somewhere around mile 12 though, my body had worked out its issues and realized that yes, we were doing this again... whether it liked it or not!  My legs started loosening up, and my stomach settled down, and I actually started feeling pretty good.  I was amazed that with each passing mile, my body felt stronger and stronger.  I was doing it.  I was accomplishing something that several months earlier (and even the day before) had seemed totally impossible.  I felt on top of the world!

My last two laps of the 5-mile looped course averaged a 9-minute pace - almost a half marathon PR for me, which after three days of marathoning, felt pretty darn good!  For that last half of the race, I ran with a huge grin on my face, knowing that I was reaching my dream with each passing step.  My body was capable of some pretty impressive things.   Who would've thought I had this in me?!

Cheesy grin all day long... check!

It was shortly after finishing that I started wishing that I could keep going.  Dumb, I know.  But I felt SO good.  The feeling of accomplishment and pride was incomparable.  I was having the time of my life with my runner friends, and we were living our dreams together.  It was a perfect day and a near-perfect race, and I felt like I had another one in me.  I had to head home for work the next day, but I decided that I would attempt a fourth marathon two days later on Friday.  It was my runner friends' final marathon of the 5 in 5 challenge, and I was thrilled to not only be there to support them, but to finish my own challenge as well.

So two days later, there I was driving to western Massachusetts for one last overnight stay before the Old Colony Marathon in Westfield.  With newly packed duffel bags and freshly laundered running clothes, I settled into what had become a familiar routine of hot tub, foam-rolling and race-day preparations.  And once again, 3 AM came all too quickly!  But this last morning felt different... gone were the pre-race nerves of the previous three marathons.  Today, I had no expectations for myself.  I was out to have a good time.  We were running our victory lap.

Good-looking Colonials in our matching tanks!

And what a perfect day it was!  This course consisted of 1.8-mile loops around Stanley Park, a beautiful privately-owned garden and arboretum, complete with its own Carillon tower with bells that tolled each hour, a small Japanese garden and teahouse, and even a covered bridge.  The weather was 70-degrees and sunny, and the course was almost entirely flat.  Talk about a dream run!

I started off feeling stronger than I had for any of the previous three races.  Both my legs and my mind knew what was coming, and I was ready.  Positive mindset, locked and loaded!  One of my incredible runner friends was on the course supporting us, and we passed him a total of 16 times as we ran loops around the park.  The power of that kind of encouragement was unbelievable - seeing him each time put a smile on my face and kept me focused on my goal.  The shorter laps also meant that I caught several glimpses of my rockstar runner friend on her 5th race in 5 days.  She looked SO strong, and I knew we were doing it!  

Seeing the bell tower meant I was close to the timing mat and my runner friend!

While Marathon #2 for me was all about mental strength and learning that I had the power over my own outcomes, Marathon #3 was more of a physical challenge - of overcoming the pain and full-body fatigue of 78 miles of running, and proving to myself that my body is capable of hard things.  In turn, Marathon #4 for me was less about what I had inside of me, and more about the incredible people I have around me.  

As part of Colonial Road Runners, my running club in Southeastern Massachusetts, I have been blessed to meet so many incredible runners and friends.  They have pushed me and made me into a faster and stronger runner, and have taught me so much from their years of experience.  But even more, they have welcomed me into their amazing circle and supported me through some tough challenges.  All throughout the week, my close friends and fellow Colonials had sent us their support through text messages and Facebook posts, and reading their words of encouragement and celebration was just the spiritual fuel I needed to keep at it.  That, combined with my runner friend alongside me, and her incredible husband supporting us out on the course, made me feel like I could accomplish anything.  

Literally smiling for 26.2 miles... my face was sore!

Running Marathon #4 for me was not about what I could do alone - it was what I was capable of doing because so many incredible people were there to support me through it.  I realized that without my runner friends' encouragement and belief in my ability to do this long before I believed it myself, I would have never crossed the first starting line.  And without their support throughout the journey, I wouldn't have had the mental and physical strength to persevere.  After 104.8 miles, I came to truly understand that when our bodies and our minds have nothing left to give, it is then that we draw strength from those around us.  That strength is built upon the support and love of those closest to us, who believe in us when we have trouble doing it ourselves.  It's what keeps us going through the tough times, and what makes celebrating the victories all the more special. 

So.  Much.  Love.

A day later and after 104.8 miles, I am left with an infinitely deeper belief in my own abilities to surpass difficult obstacles and to conquer seemingly unreachable goals.  This week allowed me to realize that I am capable of doing some really tough things, and that I am stronger than I ever would have thought.  But even more so, I am left with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the love and support of the incredible people I have in my life.  I can't thank my incredible runner friends enough... your passion for this wonderful sport convinced me to embark on this seemingly impossible journey, and your unceasing encouragement saw me through the last finish line with a smile on my face.  We are only as strong as the people we surround ourselves with, and I am truly blessed to be inspired by the very best.  From the bottom of my heart... thank you.

Linking up with Holly from HoHo Runs and Tricia from MissSippiPiddlin for the Weekly Wrap!

 

Coastal Delaware Marathon: Race Recap (Part 2)

If you missed my Coastal Delaware Marathon Race Recap Part 1 with my pre-race travel adventures, catch up here first!

Okay, so yesterday I left off with a whirlwind tour of Washington DC, Gettysburg and rural Maryland.  Well, before I knew it, after a fabulous breakfast with mimosas downtown, I headed off solo to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.  Once again, I had no idea what to expect as a result of my total lack of planning for this trip!  I knew Rehoboth was a 3-hour trip from Frederick, but I underestimated what that actually meant.  What started out as an adventure turned into its own marathon of sorts as I struggled to stay awake throughout miles of flat, rural farmland.  I learned quickly that past Annapolis, there is pretty much nothing between Maryland and Rehoboth Beach, which is on the complete opposite side of Delaware.  Fun times.

Never so happy to arrive in the middle of nowhere before!

When I finally arrived in Rehoboth Beach, I couldn’t wait to catch my first glimpse of the ocean!  I had booked a hotel room overlooking the boardwalk as a pre-marathon splurge – mostly because I couldn’t imagine going to a beach town and not staying on the beach.  It proved to be the best decision of my trip!  My room at the Atlantic Sands hotel was like a dream come true.  The view from my balcony overlooked the beach below, and I could hear the waves crashing on the shore from my room.  Perfection.  I also loved being able to walk out of the hotel to all of the nearby shops and restaurants – literally everything was walking distance.

View from my hotel room balcony... not too shabby!

To get the lay of the land, I decided to walk to the marathon expo at nearby Dewey Beach (nearby in runner terms, meaning about 2 miles away).  It was a lovely walk, with a mile on the boardwalk in Rehoboth, another half-mile along the sand, and then the remainder along Route 1 in Dewey.  I really need to learn to take it easy before a race!  I enjoyed catching a glimpse of two of the mile-markers for the marathon on my way back to the hotel.  I envisioned myself running strong and soaking up the sun past these miles the next day.

Ready to run!!  Let me at it!

On marathon day, I woke up bright and early once again (4:30 AM somehow seemed pretty tame compared to my previous 3 AM wake-up call!).  The start line was just a few miles away at the Delaware Seashore State Park, and parking was plentiful, which I always appreciate.  I had about an hour to relax in the car, visit the porta-potty, and watch the sun rise over the beach. It was 48 degrees and sunny at the start - chilly in my shorts and singlet, but I knew I would warm up quickly once I got started.  Perfect running weather!

Sunrise over Tower Beach at the marathon start

The marathon started right on time at 7 am.  I appreciated that the marathon started separately from the half marathon, which kicked off at 7:30 AM, and the 9K which began at 8 AM.  The staggered start meant that I didn't spend the first few miles dodging other runners and was able to get to my target pace almost immediately as we headed from the Delaware Seashore State Park into downtown Dewey Beach.  I was feeling strong as we passed Dewey Beach, where the race would finish, and crossed the bridge over Silver Lake, a beautiful residential community on our way to Rehoboth Beach.  By mile 3, we were running on the boardwalk along Rehoboth Beach, with great crowd support and a beautiful view.  I was feeling strong and loving every minute!

We ran right past my hotel along Rehoboth Beach!

The course continued along the boardwalk past mile 5, where we entered Cape Henlopen State Park, an extensive nature reserve bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay on each side.  From here, the boardwalk turned into a packed gravel trail until mile 8.5, where we ran on a paved bicycle path through the park until mile 12.  Here, we encountered the course's only three hills (only about 50 feet of elevation each - other than that, the race was wonderfully flat!)  The three miles of gravel trail were challenging for me, since I had only trained on roads and packed dirt.  I found my feet slipping slightly back with each step forward, similar to the sensation of running in sand, and by the end of these three miles, my quads were burning from the control it took to push forward.  Note to self... train on terrain similar to the race course!

aOn the elevated boardwalk leading to Cape Henlopen

My second wind came when we reached the city of Lewes, a small residential community between the state park and Rehoboth Beach.  This part of the course was four miles alongside a paved road - not overly scenic, but refreshingly similar to my training, so I was able to settle back and refocus.  I repeated my mantra, "Trust your training" as I passed the halfway point right on my target pace.  I was starting to pass runners who had passed me earlier in the course, and this rebuilt my confidence after the challenge of the trails.

Suburban bliss... there's no place like home!

I knew there was another short portion of trail coming, but I hadn't paid much attention to this part of the course map, so I wasn't sure how long the trail would last.  I was praying it would be short!  As the course turned back to packed gravel after mile 16 on the Junction and Breakwater Trail, my legs started to fade.  This was probably one of the most beautiful parts of the race, following a section of the former Penn Central railroad, and crossing through a shady pine forest, sprawling farmland and a coastal marsh - but I can't say I was really at a point in the race to appreciate much of it.  Instead, I spent  the next three miles wondering when the trail would end, and we would get back to paved roads.  Three LONG miles was the answer to that question.  Again, note to self, actually read the course map!

It really was beautiful, I shouldn't complain!

Just after mile 19, we crossed into downtown Rehoboth on our way back to the boardwalk.  This part of the course had beautiful ocean views and incredible support at the aid stations.  It was the friendly encouragement of the volunteers that got me in the right frame of mind again, and as my legs adjusted back to the paved surface of the course, I worked to push back to my target pace, after having slowed by almost a minute per mile on the 3 miles of trails - yikes!  

Back to the ocean and the pavement!

Surprisingly, the last six miles passed quickly, as we turned back onto the boardwalk at Rehoboth Beach, which at that point in the weekend was familiar to me.  As I passed the landmarks from my exploration the previous day - first my hotel, then the downtown shopping area, and then the residential part of the boardwalk leading to Dewey Beach, I knew we were getting close!  We turned off the boardwalk at Mile 23 and crossed the Silver Lake bridge again to the most enthusiastic group of volunteers and yet.  It provided a much-needed boost of energy as I tried to push the pace and focused on picking off runners one at a time to pass.  At this point in the race, it was all mental for me, and this helped to make the miles go by for me while still feeling surprisingly strong. 

More views from the boardwalk - the dunes were incredible!

Before I knew it, the course emerged from a residential area into downtown Dewey Beach, where we ran along Route 1 for about a quarter mile before making the final turn.  The finish line was in sight with less than 100 yards to go, and I still felt great!  One final push to the finish line, as I heard my name over the loudspeakers, with an enthusiastic, "She's still smiling!" by the race announcer. 

Thankful for a strong finish (and a great finish photo!)

I collected my medal and a water bottle, and then headed straight to gear check, where I couldn't wait to take off my running shoes and slip on the recovery flip flops that I had remembered to pack.  The race finished right on the beach, and I was more excited than ever to feel the sand between my toes!  The after-party offered pulled pork sandwiches, potato salad, grilled chicken and chocolate chip cookies - and obviously I had to sample it all!  The race also provided free beer tickets, and I have to say, I wasn't sad about laying on the beach and drinking a beer after 26.2!  

Pretty freaking perfect

The medal was stained glass with a painted version of Tower Beach, and it reflected the sun just perfectly as I laid near the ocean.  I could have laid there in the sun all day!  At that point it was 58 and sunny, and although I was tired after an early wake-up and the miles I had traveled since then, I felt remarkably good - the strongest and most limber I've ever felt after a marathon.  It was exciting to feel my hard training this year pay off - not necessarily in a super fast race (this was only my 3rd fastest marathon) but from such a strong finish and a relatively pain-free experience.  I had a smile on my face for 26.2 miles, and I can't ask for much more than that!  Thank you Coastal Delaware for an incredible race and a fabulous getaway to one of my new favorite beach destinations!

Linking up with Running with Spoons for Thursdays are for Thinking Out Loud.

Coastal Delaware Marathon: Travel Adventures (Part 1)

When I registered for the Coastal Delaware marathon a few months ago, I knew nothing about Delaware… including where exactly to find it on the map!  Which is why when my best friend since kindergarten informed me that she lived only an hour from the Delaware border near Baltimore, I was psyched.  I decided to make a long weekend of it, and to explore the mid-Atlantic states while I was there.  

After landing in Philadelphia at an ungodly hour on Friday morning (I had to leave my house in Massachusetts at 3:15 am), I picked up the rental car and drove down to Washington DC for some quick sight-seeing.  My friend was getting out of work at 1 pm, so I had some time to self-entertain in the morning.  Totally winging it, I parked near the Capitol building and followed the signs to the National Mall.  I had visions of a leisurely walk by the monuments… until I realized that I was embarking on a 5-mile adventure.  Who knew all those famous sights were so far apart?!  Oops… planning fail!   

Exactly as far away as it looks!

So my leisurely walk turned into a bit of a power walk around the National Mall… from the Capitol building, past the Smithsonian, over to the Washington Memorial, past the White House, along the Reflecting Pool and to the Lincoln Memorial.  Several miles later, I was sweating profusely in the humid 70-degree DC sun.  So much for taking it easy before the marathon!  I can’t complain though… it was beautiful and inspiring and totally cool for a spur-of-the-moment adventure.

Not bad for a one-hour sprint around the city!

Finally back to the Capitol building area (after forgetting where I had parked my rental car, and what my rental car looked like), I headed west to the small town in Maryland where my best friend had moved after attending veterinary school.  We’ve known each other since kindergarten, and although we don’t have the opportunity to see each other much anymore, every time we meet up, it is like we were never apart.  Along the drive, I was mesmerized by the green, lush rolling hills of farmland and fields of horses and cows grazing near red-painted barns.  It was beautiful.

This field makes me want to frolic!

My friend could tell I was easily entertained by the farms and cows (which incidentally, as a vet, she saw every day) so offered to take me on a scenic drive of the area.  We drove up into the mountains of western Maryland to the nearby national parks, and then across the border to Pennsylvania, which was only about ten miles north.  Who knew all these mid-Atlantic states were actually so close together?!  Apparently my geography is not so good!

Barns, fields and cows are my favorite!

We ended up in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and by accident happened along the Gettysburg Memorial self-guided auto tour, which sounded like a fun adventure.  It ends up there is quite a bit to see in Gettysburg, throughout 20+ miles of beautiful countryside and various memorials where battles were fought.  The auto tour took us through the Gettysburg national park, using an online visitors’ guide to point out the historical significance of the battlefields and memorials we passed.    

Field and mountains - sensing a theme?!

We got out several times to climb observation towers, where you could see the rolling farmland below for miles around.  It was pretty incredible to think about the scene of 93,000 soldiers covering that same terrain during the battle.  It was also pretty fascinating to see the memorials dedicated to the different battalions from all over the United States that  fought in Gettysburg – as far north as Maine and as south as Florida.  I couldn’t imagine riding on horseback from Florida to Pennsylvania!  I also loved the miles of rolling country roads through the park - so much so that I am thinking the Gettysburg Marathon may be the latest addition to my race wish-list! 

Loved the historic wooden fences - so rustic!

 That evening, my friend took me to Frederick, Maryland – a small nearby city with a cute downtown area of restaurants and shopping.  It was quite a contrast to the totally rural farmland just a few miles away, and I loved the quaint storefronts and outdoor seating at each restaurant.  After dinner, we took a walk along the canal in Frederick, where they have live bands and activities in the summer.  I have to say, I fell in love with Maryland on this trip… both the gorgeous, peaceful rural scenery and the charm of the small southern towns.  I could totally see myself there one day!

And a covered bridge... my day was complete!