My Last Marathon

[maillotpois]

Seven years ago, I participated in my first marathon with the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program. It hurt. I am just not a runner. In spite of that, I did a few more marathons, because I didn't own a bike yet and didn't know any better. When I got a road bike in 2001, I adopted the motto "Running Sucks" and swore never to do another marathon or run at all unless being chased by wild dogs.

Well, this summer I was hospitalized and ordered off the bike for 6 months. My work as a coach for TNT's cycling program had brought so many wonderful people living with leukemia into my life, that I felt I had to do "something" and raise money for TNT. While my cycling motto may be “Running sucks”, I promise you that it does not suck nearly as badly as living with leukemia. So I signed up for the Nike Marathon in San Francisco, as a walker. I signed up right after having dinner with my honored patient friend Dennis, who's been dreadfully sick with CML early this year and had to be isolated from contact with people and who had miraculously started feeling much better and is able to go out to dinner and ride his bike.

So yesterday I did the Nike Women's Marathon. It was a great day - cool and foggy. I started at 5:30 a.m. with other walkers and walked 98% of the marathon. There were a couple of times I ran a little to loosen up.

The race started in Union Square. The first 8 miles were dark, and I saw the sun rise over San Francisco as we climbed through the Presidio. The crowds on the sides of the road were fantastic. I swore that next year I will definitely be out there cheering people on - it made such a HUGE difference. There were bands of all sorts along the course - high school marching bands, a flute ensemble, salsa bands, random collections of musicians. There were also lots of booths with music playing and people riding the course with music players on bikes. The music really helped! There were also cheerleaders and a church gospel choir.

Walkers got an early start, and at mile 9, the elite runners started catching and passing us. It was fun to see these talented little muscle-y people running by and we cheered them on. 15,000 people did either the marathon of 1/2 marathon - people from all over the world. I met some wonderful Canadians and Puerto Ricans on the course.

The course went out and back the length of Golden Gate Park - it is great to have such a green and wooded place right in the middle of a big city. There are waterfalls and bison here. Some women from South Carolina spent some time trying to figure out if there were really bison there - it was so foggy that the bison were like giant mist creatures.

Leaving Golden Gate Park, the half marathoners were done, and split off the course. That was tough - knowing that you could just stop then and have a half done, and knowing that there were still about 10 miles to go (the half marathoners had taken another short cut in the park). I met my friend Arnold at this point who walked with me for a while - he was waiting for his wife, my training partner, Carolyn who was doing the 1/2. She planned to finish her 1/2 and then ride her bike out the course to find me.

The last 10 miles were tough - but like so much of the course, they really brought back memories of when I trained for my first marathon in San Francisco in 1999. I had been over those roads so many times before, often with a jogger stroller with the PP who is now 10. That brought back some amazing memories. My friend Carolyn caughter me at about mile 20, and it was great to have someone to talk to. I really envied her bike!

I had kept up a steady pace of 15 minute miles until the last few miles when aches and pains got the better of me. The last 2 miles was in the fog along the Great Highway - you could just barely see the closest wave break, but no farther out and the gray ocean melted into the fog. It was pretty amazing. Again, the spectators were thick on the course and so encouraging.

Approaching the finish line I stopped to have my face licked by the most wonderful black lab puppy on the side of the road. Rejuvenated, I ran the last .2 miles - fast!! I ran in with a TNT coach from Canada who was just great - for the whole last mile, TNT coaches were streaming out against the flow going out onto the course to encourage their runners and run in with them. I'd forgotten how great that was and how much that support meant. I'll definitely be coaching again for TNT next year (CYCLE). At the finish, handsome men in tuxes gave everyone a Tiffany necklace, which I am wearing right now! My final time was 6:37 - slower than a lot of centuries I have done! But I did it, and I don't feel too badly today.

For my run, I wore a tank top with the names of my honorees on green ribbons pinned to the back. I used a Camelback with pictures of my honorees Dennis, Larry and Phil (as well as an okapi - that one's for me!) on it. I will attach a picture tonight as it has SK's dad's name on it as well and some other TE folks' honored patients.

My honoree, Dennis and his wife Aggie met me at the finish with a dozen roses! It was so touching. Before I saw him, I'd been complaining good naturedly about how I was going to track him down and kick his butt for "making me" do this stupid marathon - and then he brought me flowers! It was so sweet.

So that was my last marathon. I swear.

But I'm glad I did it!

[mtkitchn]

Wow Sarah, what an awesome accomplishment considering what you've been through this year! Congratulations! I'm glad it went so well for you!

[yellow]

Glad it went well. Just finishing was always my goal.

Now, you can focus on your relationship with Coach Troy.

[chickwhorips]

good job doing the whole thing.

you swear its your last one, but i don't know....

[btchance]

Awesome job, and for a great cause. But never say never - it might come back to bite ya!

[salsabike]

My God, what a wonderful story. Thanks, MP.

[snapdragen]

Thanks MP! If Bob were here he'd give you a big bear hug!

[Tri Girl]

Wow- great race report! It gave me warm fuzzies reminding me of me doing that race last year for TNT. Thanks for taking me back!
Sounds like you had a great race!!! You did a wonderful thing for so many others, and even tho you swear it's your last- you never know....
And walking it in 6:37- impressive!!!! I walked it last year (because I injured my knee 3 weeks out and couldn't run) and I finished in 7:15- so you must've been smokin' walking out there!
Congrats!!!!

[colby]

Awesome race report, MP! Great job for a great cause.

The black lab might not have been a wild dog chasing you through the marathon, but at least he kept your dog theme going

CONGRATS!

[SadieKate]

Now, you can focus on your relationship with Coach Troy.

Yeah, now you can do something really fun!

You know how I feel about your walk/stagger/magnificent sprint effort. Sniff.

[Aggie_Ama]

What a great report. I have warm fuzzies! Thanks.

[Deborajen]

What a wonderful story! I've heard several stories about Team in Training. It's a great program - It does so much good for so many people.

Good job finishing. You walked it in 6:37? I'm impressed!

Deb

[KSH]

WOW! Fabulous race report! Thanks for sharing!

Sounds like you had a good solid marathon... and for a great cause! GREAT JOB!

[Lise]

MP, I've been so focused on my work and love lives that I've barely been here. Just read your wonderful race report. Thank you so much for posting it. What a way to end your marathoning career! (((MP))) L.

[LAB]

Absolutely, positively, awesome! Great job Sarah and a wonderful story!

Questionable last marathon....