The Long Beach Marathon is always in October and this would be my 4th time on the start line. I run this marathon on behalf of Kool n Fit and enjoy spraying down the runners either at the expo or after the race!
RACE MORNING:
I was up at 4.30am, the race started at 7am but traffic can be really bad with 20,000 runners and cyclists all vying for parking. My friend Angelica picked me up at 5am and we arrived at Long Beach with 40mins to find parking and a toilet!! Thank goodness for the Renaissance Hotel on Ocean Blvd!! As they allowed us to use the bathroom and use their parking I really did not mind paying for hotel parking as the car would be safe, the toilet was clean and we were near the start of the marathon. I put on my Polar heart rate strap and sprayed my chaffing areas with Trislide which I had purchased at the expo I had nothing to loose as I usually chaff in a marathon around my sports top and heart monitor
MARATHON:
As we approached the start line all I could see was a never ending road of runners, oh boy I thought just like last year I am going to be the last runner over the starting mat behind, joggers, walkers, half marathoners and full marathoners’, luckily Angelica had other ideas and I followed her over the start line into the elite running group and made my way into the back of the first wave of runners. The National Anthem was sung beautifully by a vocalist the last words of advice spoken and the gun went off, yeah!! Suddenly I was crossing the green timing mat I made sure my Brooks shoe hit that mat to record the beginning of my 26.2 mile journey!
Even though I had started fairly near the front I still had walkers and joggers in front of me, so I dodged and weaved my way around until I could run without bumping into other runners. I had decided to run my own race at my own speed. I had my pink fuel belt which held coffee Hammer gel, and electrolytes, not that it was a hot day it had been raining in the early hours of the morning and was perfect weather for running as it was in low 60s… But wanted to prevent cramps and also even put on a little Ocean Potion in anticipation of glorious sunshine!! Every mile marker I would hit my Polar Monitor for my mile split, I actually felt quite good and I started people watching, wondering what other athletes were wearing shoe wise.
There was definitely some fashion statements out there, As I was running I was seeing hair styles from the 70s! Shorts that were so short I wondered whether they were legal! I saw inspirational messages written on runners’ backs, I saw ALL shapes and sizes on the course tackling the miles.
Long Beach is extremely special to me as along the course we pass several landmarks that make the miles go faster!! I see The Aquarium of the Pacific and have spent many an hour in that building, I passed the Ferry terminal to Catalina Island, then at around mile 6 the run takes my Brooks shoes on to the beach. I smell the Ocean and feel refreshed I know at mile 9 or so the course goes back onto the road but not before 2 miles of beach which I remember running in an Aquathon on July 1st 2007, I remember this date and place as it was my wedding day and I competed before I walked down the aisle!! At mile 10 the road divides and the half marathoners go straight and the full marathoners go to the right. I think of the Sabrina 16mile run in Puerto Rico, and visualize the start of that race as I now have 16 miles left, I opt for being sprayed at the Kool N Fit Spray station and have taken my Hammergel and endurolytes at Mile 6 and mile 12, I still am feeling good and am smiling as I am doing sub 8 minute miles and wondering how long that will last!!
At around mile 16 the run takes me into the Long Beach University grounds, here different student groups are out in force with banners, water and lots of enthusiasm to pump up the runners!! The energy I take I am taking water at every mile and now at mile 20 gosh only 6.2 miles left I dare not look at my Polar Monitor. I smile at other runners and exchange high fives with runners in the opposite direction, another woman runs past me I say good job, I stay focused looking ahead, picking out bright colored clothing to run to and pass, there is a slight elevation gain around mile 22 feels good to use different muscle groups, I am getting excited the finish line in near, I pass a group of elderly people in wheel chairs every year I see this group out side their home bungled up watching the runners. I run over to them and say how great they are to be out here, then I am back on the road with Half marathoners again only 3 miles to go, oh my gosh keep moving forward, at mile 25 I see a man collapse onto the road, several runners help him to his feet. Only 1.2 miles left, I ask if he is okay he wants to keep running but he looks ashen and cannot walk by himself. I hope I make the right call he needs medical assistance and I tell the other runners he needs to lie down on the grass and get help. I continue on thinking about this runners’ predicament and what he could have done to have prevented this total melt down. One more turn I see the finish chute, I quicken my step my eyes are WIDE with dis belief as I read 3 hours 26 minutes, my smile is so big the announcer makes a comment of how happy I am beaming!! Suddenly I am crossing the finish line, a beautiful medal is put around my neck and I burst out crying!! I look down at my Ravennas and quietly say thank you for looking after my feet! I call my husband I still cannot believe I ran 3 hr 26 minutes!! He asks why you crying and I told him they are tears of JOY!! I had finished 8th in 45 to 49 F age group and 35th female overall!!
My friends are still running so I offer to help Ralph at Kool n Fit spray down runners, so for 90 minutes after taking recoverite I help at the spray station listening to runners who just ran their first half or full marathon, seeing their happiness and fatigue. When we were already to leave, we made our way back to the hotel and can you believe it the concierge wished us safe travels and never charged for parking !We were all totally elated and will definitely stay at that Hotel next year !I spent the afternoon helping my husband at a Mountain Bike Race at Bonelli.
What a great day, full of surprises and good memories for next year!! I also never chaffed and due to good Hammer Nutrition I also never ran out of fuel or hit the wall!! And the good thing is; it is Breast Cancer Month and so when the year of 2010 ends I will have raised $16,500 for the AVON Crusade against Breast Cancer making a total of $75,000 since November 2005!!
