STATE 2: Virginia: Marine Corps Marathon 2014

Marine Corps Marathon
Background:
I joined a running group, the DC Galloway Marathon training group, and worked my way up from 6 miles to 7 miles to 9 miles, all the way up to 26.0 (deliberately).  It was great to make friends and have that social event to look forward to bright and early every Saturday morning!  A million thanks to Floyd, Liza, Melanie, Sam, and Tip - training friends who kept me motivated!
Race day:

The race morning was so exciting - thousands of runners demonstrating remarkable patience as they made their way onto and off the Metro!  No pushing, no sticking feet out to keep the door open.. amazing!  I loved all the parachuters, the helicopters, the anticipation, all of it!  I was super nervous, but well-prepared.
Course support:

I was happy to see my aunt at each of the spots I'd mapped out for her.  Marine Corps is an easy race to "spectate" with minimal walking for the one doing the spectating.  I saw her at mile 1 in Rosslyn, mile 10-11 as we came out of Rock Creek Park, again at mile 16 down by Lincoln after Haynes Point, and at the crucial Beat The Bridge Mile 20.
Race memories:
I was pretty sore by mile 16-17 but wow, running the mall and the monuments was amazing!  My heart started pounding with the drummers at the Beat the Bridge point!  The 14th Street Bridge went on forever.  I was hurting by mile 21 but at mile 22, I started seeing people I knew and getting/giving hugs.  Halfway through mile 22 I got hyper.  I was hugging everyone, including the Galloway group that was there cheering for us in Crystal City.  Mile 24 they added Munchkin donuts to the mix and I was on a serious sugar high!  That lasted until about the last corner before going back onto 110, where a fan had an appropriate sign "The End is Near!"  Then it got HARD.  Headwind, the prospect of running what I had already run before, and being doggone tired... but I kept going. I was checking texts to see Rob's progress and was elated when he finished, so I hurried up to join the party!  

I went up the last hill, turned the corner, and was so happy to hear my aunt yelling my name - she'd made it all the way down to the finish chute area!  That was just awesome!  I finished with happiness in 5:51 and became a MARATHONER!

I got my bib!

Rob, likely regretting his statement that this is the one marathon that if someone got into, he'd train and do with them!

Training buddy Tip. She's a sweet machine!

Still smiling at mile 11

Too much fun!

Heading out to Haines Point

More fun with friends!  What a gorgeous day!

I beat the bridge! I've got this!

Already hyper at mile 22, then they added donuts at mile 24!

Triumpant!

Calling everyone I knew!

Marine Corps 17.75K

Fast forward two years.  I moved cross country and after volunteering at the 2013 MCM, decided to try to do a full marathon.  Naturally, after finishing the Disney Princess Half Marathon of 2012, I stopped running once again!  So I was starting from scratch.  I trained on my own over the winter for this thing called the Marine Corps 17.75K.  By finishing this race, you get an automatic guaranteed entry into the Marine Corps Marathon.  It was pretty exciting and a bit intimidating.  I really wanted to finish!  I left Mom sleeping at the hotel and headed out in the dark towards Quantico and eventually to this Prince William Forest area.
This race was hard since it was hilly (mile 5!) and not all on pavement.  I was still doing treadmill training at this time so the uneven ground was not fun.  I don't like getting sticks and twigs in my shoes!  Afterwards, my quads really hurt from the downhills, but I got it done!  When I got back to the hotel, I immediately registered.  Mom was with me and expressed shock that I actually had to PAY to enter a marathon.  She knew I'd really lost my mind at that point!

I have no idea what my time was for this one.  No medal, just that "Access Granted" slip and a coin

 Early Race Morning

 Oh my goodness, I did it! (I also wish I would have kept that shirt)

 Posing with Marine mascots

Laying in the grass afterwards, feeling happy

Florida: Disney Princess Half Marathon 2012

After running the first race, I promptly quit running :-)
Then I decided I wanted to go back and do it again.  I don't even think I had the goal of improving my speed. I just wanted to go back!  This time, my aunt went along and I was determined to take more time than the previous trip.  It was nice having a cheering squad!

This time, the race was noticeably more crowded and there were more men, but it was still fun and I knew better what to look forward to.  I didn't stop for quite as many pictures since some things were the same as the previous year.
I had a costume made by a friend who is an amazing seamstress but it just didn't quite work so well for me that day.  I don't have a lot of pictures from this one.  They were on my computer that was stolen so I'm glad for these printed ones I was able to scan in.  It was COLD that morning so I was wearing Velva's ChEAR squad blanket until I finally had to give her that and go to my starting corral. Unfortunately she was never able to see me on the course but it was still nice to have her there and share the weekend!
Post-race, we did the parks and walked another 13 miles!  I think she walked a hole in her new socks!  I could barely walk the next day but it was great.  Post race meal: Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom

Time: 03:04:52

STATE 1 - Florida: Disney Princess Half Marathon 2011

Disney Princess Half Marathon 2011 (click link for photo album)

This is the link to pictures from my very first half marathon ever.  I decided to do one after being inspired by some coworkers who were avid runners.  I wanted to find a race that wasn't too intimidating, and I came across an ad for this and it sounded perfect!  I'll run for a tiara medal!  I loved the fact it was mostly women, the time limits were very generous, and it just sounded fun.  Whimsical, even!
A friend bought me the book "Half Marathon-You Can Do It" by Jeff Galloway, which also introduced me to the run-walk-run concept.
I flew down on a red eye flight from Seattle to Orlando, getting there Saturday.  I went to my very first race Expo - very exciting! - and then I had just enough time to go to Animal Kingdom.  I headed back to the hotel, had a quick pasta dinner, and then did my best to fall asleep, knowing the 3AM Eastern Time wakeup was going to be no fun at all for this WA girl!
I was pretty proud of my costume: a pink Sparkle Skirt and a matching pink shirt!  The expo gave me so many ideas for future costumes!
I honestly can't remember that much about the race, other than the fact it was exciting and so new and novel.  My heart was ready to burst with happiness when I ran down Main Street and then through Cinderella's Castle with the trumpeters playing and announcing the arrival of the princesses.  It was so much fun to look at all the other runner's outfits and just be a part of the Run Disney magic :)

Finish time: 3:21:43  Note: I stopped for every photo opportunity ;-)

Post race: I went and did Magic Kingdom and stayed out for the extra magical hours, then came back to the room, passed out, and got up at 5 to go to the airport to fly home. It was a bit of a breakneck speed trip and I don't recommend that, but one nice thing about going alone is there is always room for single riders!  It was very efficient!