This Post is Long...(but so are marathons)

I decided very last-minute to run the Niagara Falls International Marathon.  I had been thinking about this race since September, but wasn't sure whether I would run the half-marathon or the full.  I had an amazingly perfect long run on Thanksgiving weekend that made me want to push for just one more marathon before this season was over.  I kept that to myself though, as I hate creating all kinds of pressure for myself when I go around telling people all about my upcoming race (and, people must be sick of me going on and on about it by now, right?).

Papa, the boys, and I headed down to Niagara Falls on Friday after school to pick up my race kit.  We did a 'drive-by' sighting of the falls, as it was chilly outside, and we were hungry for dinner after I went into the the expo (solo--Papa and the boys waited in the car).  The expo was not busy on the Friday night, and I cruised through my customs check (I had to show my passport) and kit pick-up.  Unfortunately, the expo had a terrible atmosphere, due to the horrible lighting in the Skylon Tower.  It was like I was walking through a haunted house or something?! (Halloween on the brain?)

The exhibiters were similar (but on a smaller scale) to the Scotiabank Expo last weekend, so I didn't feel the need to hang around.  The race shirts were handed out at the exit, which was different than most races (I actually thought that maybe they just weren't giving them out?).  I like the shirt.  It is a long-sleeved tech shirt that fits nice.  I will probably wear it this winter.

We did a little bit of shopping, ate dinner, and headed back home to bed.

Elliott and Milo enjoying the post-kit-pick-up shopping

I wish I could say it was a wonderful weekend of weather for a race.

But it was not.

When we woke up on Saturday (thankfully not race day) to lots of wind and rain.  I told myself to have faith in the weather forecast for Sunday morning.  Mix of sun/clouds with a high of 7C.

Other than frantically sewing Halloween costumes, I tried to keep Saturday fairly low-key so I would be nice and rested for Sunday's race.

The race was set to start (on the American side) at 10am.  But, due to the logistics of getting shuttle buses, etc. I had to be in Niagara Falls by 7am.  (kind of like Boston--hurrying for shuttles super-early for a fairly late race)!

I was up and eating oatmeal by 5:15, so I could be on the road to Niagara by 5:40am.  The rain had died off over night, so at least it wasn't pouring.  It was very cold though.  I wore a few layers to keep me warm until the start.

I triple-checked that I had everything.  Phone: check.  Headphones: check.  Garmin: Check.  Passport: check.

I arrived at the hotel (for the shuttle) and parked with no issues.  As I was gathering my things I realized that yet again, my Garmin had frozen.  This happened last week also.  This flung me into a full-on panic.  For the 5k race I was mad, but I knew it would be ok, but for a full marathon, I knew it would drive me crazy, not having a clue about my splits (or even overall time).  Runners are an amazing crowd, but constantly asking someone else out on the course would not win me any friends!
I sent Papa a text, and he told me to try resetting it.  I followed his instructions, and plugged it in.  It worked.  Yahooooooo! Back in business.

The hotel lobby had lovely clean washrooms, and I had time to visit them (twice) before the shuttles arrived.  I lined up in the "Full Marathon" shuttle lineup, and found a seat on the bus.  I chatted with a lovely woman named Liz, who was from New York.

One of the coolest parts of this race, was that the starting line is at the Albright Knox Gallery in Buffalo, NY.  They open their space to runners before the race starts (although we had to use porta potties outside) so it was nice and relaxing to look around (what a bonus for everyone at the race, but especially an art teacher like me).

Runners taking over the Albright Knox Gallery

Me, staring at the man beside me, who had brought an entire bowl of cornflakes, milk and all!

Before long, it was time to say goodbye to my warm clothing at the baggage bus.  It was very well-organized, and I knew my stuff (warm clothes, an extra banana and water bottle) was in good hands :)

I shivered my way back inside the gallery (which was quite crowded at that point) to enjoy the last few minutes of warmth before heading to the starting line.

This was going to be my very first ever marathon listening to music while running.  I made sure my ipod had my playlist all sorted while I waited.  I also checked my Garmin 10 more times, just in case.

I saw an incredible amount of people wearing jackets.  I had decided long-sleeves were plenty warm enough for me, and now I was questioning my decision.  What else, but panic in the last 10 minutes before a race?!  That's typical, right?

I lingered as long as possible, then headed down the roadway to the start.  We listened to both National Anthems, then the gun went off!  Only 26.2 miles between myself and the finish!!

The first couple of miles were uneventful.  They went by very quickly (mentally).  I saw my bus-buddy Liz, and wished her a good race, and tried to fall into a good pace before the Peace Bridge back into Canada.  My music was actually nice.  I liked having it to entertain me.  *but, I had chosen a lot of very upbeat songs, which are not my usual style.  I kept praying that no one around me could hear Britney Spears blasting in my headphones, as I would be super-embarassed about that.

I caught up to the 3:30min. Pace Bunny just before the bridge.  There was a large crowd of runners with him, so I knew it would be a good place to tuck into, as the crowd would hopefully cut the wind up on the bridge.  (Is that part of the Pace Bunny's job? To cut the wind?)

After the bridge, the sun started to come out, and I actually took off my gloves.  I (smartly) decided to hold onto them though, as I knew the wind might be strong later, and shivering hands do nothing for holding water/gatorade cups!

By mile 7, the crowd around the bunny seemed to be sticking together, so a few of us were chatting.  I met Kirstin, who is also a teacher in the same school board as me.  She had the perfect pace-keeping abilities, so I tried to stick with her.  We trudged through some relentless wind for miles and miles.  Her and I tried our best to find some big, running men to tuck behind, but as she said, "marathon running men are just too skinny!" We took turns drafting each other, and, although those miles had the potential to feel long and terrible, they seemed to just fly by.  I also took one of my head phones out of my ear, and it was actually the best combination of music/real world.

At about mile 22, I lost Kirstin and the tiny pack of runners around the pace bunny.  I slowed at a water station, and just didn't have the will to push myself back up to them.  The wind was getting stronger (how that was possible is beyond me, as it was already strong!) and I just resigned to keeping a consistent strong pace, even if it was a bit slower.

Although I have never eaten one in a race before, I was really excited to see them handing out orange slices at one of the water stations.  I almost cried when I dropped it.  Maybe I will get a chance to try one in another race someday...

With just over a mile to go, I saw a woman running the opposite way, yelling, "keep it up! every second counts!!"  It was Nicole Stevenson!  I love her encouraging words.  So many words that she told me 2 years ago still sing in my head while I am running, my favourite being, "fast and light".

I really needed those words to get me to the finish.  I pushed along, praying for the finish.

As I ran toward the line in that last couple hundred metres, I reminded myself to smile.  Sure, it wasn't a PB, but it was a dang good effort.  I had a very enjoyable race, despite the conditions.

I came though the finish and they handed me a paper-jacket (not real paper, but that crazy papery/fiber stuff) to warm up.  I had to get them to open my water bottle for me as my gloves were causing me problems using my fingers.

I saw Kirstin and the Pace Bunny, and they had finished strong!! (around 3:30-3:31--amazing!)  I headed through the shute to grab food.  All I wanted was a meal.  I was so hungry.  And frozen all of a sudden.

I was getting colder by the minute.  I tried to make it my mission to find the baggage bus, but I couldn't figure out where to go.  I started to walk past the massage tent.  It looked so much warmer in there.  They weren't busy so I signed up.

They took me to a table, and more than one of the women asked if I was ok.  I told them I was freezing, and they got me a blanket and started massaging my legs.  I love it when they ask if there is anywhere that feels tender.  "Ummm, my legs?" of course!

After a couple of minutes, they asked me if I still felt cold.  They had put a blanket on me, but I was shaking so bad from the cold.  I just couldn't get warm, and my head felt really dizzy.  They told me that I didn't look good, and that I should go with them (to the ambulance people).  What?  Oh, no.  I am not that bad!  They told me my lips were blue and I needed to see someone medical.  Fair enough.  I am going to guess that they had more brain power than me, especially at that point!

Off we went to the St. John's ambulance.  How embarassing, really.  They helped me walk there, too (which I needed) which also added to my slight humiliation :(

The lovely people at the ambulance put me inside (where it was so nice and toasty) and gave me oxygen.  They took my blood pressure (which seemed high for me 100/60) and tried to get a pulse.  Apparently I am a zombie, because it took them about 15 minutes to find a pulse.  They tried many methods and they kept telling me it was because I was super-healthy.  You bet.  That's why I was in an ambulance, right?

My ambulance buddies, thinking I am nuts for taking their photo, I am sure.

The bonus was that I was allowed to keep the warm wooly blanket they gave me.  I probably wouldn't have left the warmth of that ambulance without it, honestly.  I have never felt sooo cold!

When I took out my phone to take my new bestie's photo (the ambulance guys with the blankets--you make friends with the people that have the goods, seriously) I realized that I hadn't checked my phone since the finish.  Ooops.  Papa had left countless text messages wondering what happened to me.  He had seen my finish time on Sportstats, but grew very worried when I wasn't responding to his texts.  After Boston, we kind of feel worried about finish lines...

I called him right away, and calmed his worries.  Yikes.  I won't do that again.

They released me and I made it my mission to find the baggage bus and the shuttle back to the hotel.

My medal.  My warm clothes.  Together at last!

The results...

Time: 3:34.09

Overall: 126/1100

Gender: 18/482

Category: 3/74

I made it home to lots of hugs and kisses (from all of my boys) and was glad to be warming up.

It was an awesome race, ambulance and all.  (I am not sure which is more embarrassing, being in the port-potty when the gun went off, like at Lehigh, or being in an ambulance after finishing?)

I decided to try something new later that day.  Before dinner, I put on a different pair of running shoes and went out for (another) run.  This time it was just 4-5km.  My legs weren't sore (yet) so I thought it was a good chance to shake them out before sleeping all night (where they would cease up).

*after the last marathon I ran in September, when I got in the car right after running for a 9-hour-drive, I am willing to try anything to avoid that pain the following day!!

My run felt fine, and I was hoping that it would work.  I did some major foam-rolling when I got back also.

I woke up the next morning with zero complaints!  It worked!!  I will do that after every marathon from now on, if possible!!

Seriously.  You should try it!

Happy Running!