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Date/Location: |
5/22/2021 Granite Bay, CA |
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Distance: |
26.2 M Run |
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Time: |
4:22:55 |
The last few days have been tough trying to physically prepare for this family supported event. I was sick and not sleeping well, but at least I was sleeping a lot. I wake up with fresh legs but my head and upper body still feel tired. Troy and I pray in the morning asking for wisdom on whether to do this marathon today. We feel it's His will to go out and attempt the distance. Troy, and Ariel a little later, will be following me on their bikes. Jenn Biddle will run the first half and Annabelle Laputz will be running the next 10 miles.
Troy and I meet Jenn at Skyridge School for the start. We pray together for the day ahead. It's really hard to know what is going to happen. My goal is to go just under 9min pace or about 4 hours.
Ready, set, go! Troy leads the way as we head out. Around Skyridge School and through the neighborhoods we begin. Then over to Indian Hill.
The first 3 miles I'm averaging 8:53 pace. So far so good! Jenn and I catch up on life and enjoy the quiet of the morning together with Troy. Ariel joins up with us on her bike and helps Troy provide aid to us. We head over to Railhead Park, make a pit stop, and then continue towards Placer HS.
At Mile 6, I'm averaging 9:16. I'm not too concerned about being behind. I feel good and my spirits are high. It's fun showing Jenn some hidden trails she's never been on before.
We wind our way over to the Hamilton's house were Tobi Hamilton is finishing up a chalk sign on the road that says "Go Robin". So sweet! I stop and get some bananas and blueberries at their aid station. Wyatt Hamilton jumps on his mtn bike and follows us.
We climb up to a high point on Lincoln Way and meander back down. Wyatt keeps Jenn and I engaged with his science project. He studied the affects of ultra-racing on the mind and how it can deplete it, making it hard to concentrate for months after. Boy, my brain feels depleted just being a mom and triathlete. Jenn and I joke about the affects of motherhood on our brains.
At Mile 9 I'm averaging 9:19. We run over to the Placer track and do a lap around. We say goodbye to Wyatt as he heads home to get ready for his last track meet of the season. We wish him well. Then off through Placer HS and past the Glass Family's House. It's starting to get hard now. Jenn is such a great help in keeping me going. Troy continues to lead us well and Ariel is a great support. I seem to be dropping oranges every time they are offered but Troy and Ariel keep smiling.
At Mile 12 I'm averaging 9:21. I am feeling the pressure of trying to meet my goal. I start to cry and Jenn prays for me. As we climb the stairs into the backside of our neighborhood Jenn says she's going to pray me all the way up. I am so grateful for the encouragement to stay focused on Christ!
At Mile 13. we pull up to my house and Annabelle Laputz joins us. She's a high school senior who has been running with us since last summer. We've seen her really blossom and grow this year! Jenn decides to continue on so now I have 2 runners and 2 bikers helping me!
We run over in the Skyridge neighborhood and run into another runner friend, Adam Peterson. He's walking his pups and joins us for a jog. It's nice to have the distraction, because this just keeps getting harder!
At Mile 17, my average is 9:33. Jenn wraps up her run here and I thank her for the help. Annabelle continues to power on with me. My pace has really slowed down. I ask Annabelle to run 9:30 pace to see if I can keep up. I am able to for a time. We run by the Nickel's house and Jeremy shouts "good job!".
We head over to the pool where Anna is swimming time trials with Ellie and Ben Nickel. As I run by I can see the meet hasn't started yet. Anna runs over with Ellie, Ben and mom, Karen. Karen would probably be running with me if she wasn't volunteering at the meet. I smile through the pain but I could try harder to be joyful. I am thinking a lot about the misery of this event now.
At Mile 19, my average is down to 9:45, 14 min behind my goal! I run by the Lane's house. They are in my Bible study. They are in their yard cheering and waving. That is really thoughtful. I wave back and say thanks. I try to smile. A little down the road I stop and start walking. This is so hard! I know I'm focusing too much on the negative part and that's not honoring to God who got me this far. I start running again. I ask Annabelle to try to get me to a 10 min pace for the next few miles. I do pretty well until I start climbing up towards Indian Hill. Annabelle is super encouraging and up-beat. She assures me that I'm doing well under the circumstances and that we all have tough days.
After the Indian Hill loop, we run back into our neighborhood. Annabelle breaks off. She's done her job getting me through 10 miles, and back to a high point on the course. the I thank her for the help.
At Mile 23, at the top, my average is now 9:59. If I can keep this average, I would be happy with that! I basically have mostly downhill left so it seems possible. Troy and Ariel meet me in the car now. Jenn is here too in her car with little Jake. I'm finishing in the lower China Bar parking lot but for now I continue onto the old course of the Auburn Triathlon.
At Mile 24 I'm still at 9:59! I see Troy and Oscar coming at me in the distance. I'm happy to see them but it also brings a lot of emotion. Suddenly Oscar darts in front and I have to stop or fall over him. So frustrating.. But I should be grateful I'm almost done. There have been so many times I wanted to stop but I knew I had to get this done so I won't have to do it again. Troy is right in that this "agony" is going to help me in the race to come. I go by and Troy, Ariel, Jenn & Jake follow again in the cars.
I'm so close!! At Mile 25, I'm still at 9:59! Troy and Oscar join me again. Troy tells me how proud he is of me. We do an out and back and then meet everyone in the parking lot. I tell Troy to get ready to catch me because I don't know if I can stand at the end. I finish at the car and look up to God. I suddenly feel lightheaded and start to stumble. Jenn catches me and Troy supports. I'm done! And it's 9:59 pace, 4 hours and 22 min! Thank you Lord. What an awesome support crew! That was so hard. The hardest thing I've done since my family supported my Ironman last summer. So glad to be done!