Ann Arbor Probility Marathon

Running with a hemoglobin of 9 makes you learn to run a little different. Different running and different goals is what really took the reigns over competing, racing or trying to leave everything on the course. 

I got my blood work back a couple weeks ago. Anemic, like I didn't already know. I can't sleep, my legs are restless, I chew on ice all day long with intense cravings and I have horrible fatigue. 

My blood work explained a lot. My vomiting at every race, my breathlessness, racing heart and premature exhaustion when running or racing comes with this theory: 

With a low hemoglobin you have a decrease in your oxygen carrying capacity. Therefore, when you have a increased demand your lactate threshold is lower since you have a decreased oxygen supply to a already starved cell. 

This is why I believe I am vomiting at marathons with a average effort level. 

This is also why I chose to run my own race and set these three goals:

1. TRY not to VOMIT...No matter what, keep my heart rate down, focus. 
2. Sub 4 hour Marathon. 
3. Negitive split

(Knew that if I took it easy the first half I could pick up the pace the second. I also knew keeping my pace down would prevent me from going into my reserves prematurely and this would keep from heaving in a garbage can. I just really needed to focus on my heart rate and my breathing. 

Ann Arbor Marathon:

Distance: 26.2

Elevation Gain: 844

Start Time: 7:30am

Hills, Hills soo many Hills X 2 because you had to do the course twice if you were running the marathon.

Two loops, 26.2 miles...YEAH...see those hills?!

I got tangled in with the 4 hour pace group. (A 9.09min/mi) I thought "Hmm, this will be great, I will let them set the pace, let them do all the work and just tuck in." 

EH..NO! 

The first 4 miles are HILLS. This pacer was running sub 9 minute miles, I had miles in the 8:30's. I heard whispers from runners confused on his pace. I heard one of the runners repeatedly say, we need to bring it down...but he never did. 

My decision was finalized when I over heard him say "...we can just slow way down and cross the finish line at 4.00.00." The pacers have a contest who can get closest to their pace group. Then a couple of them laughed and even joked about "Whats the prize? A Lamborghini?" 

I didn't think it was funny. I looked at my watch, slowed myself down from a 8:30min/mi and reminded myself  "I am ultimately responsible for MY RACE." 

I was NOT going to burn myself out like a rookie, trashing my legs the first 13 miles. 

AFTER the first 5....

The first 5 miles, Lacey was in front of me about a tenth of a mile, Andy was just a speck and I was feeling great after 5 miles of Ann Arbor rollers. The course started to flatten out and the landscape began to change from city to a park setting, with the Huron River on one side of us. It was so pretty. 

The aid stations were incredible giving out water, Gatorade and Gu's. 

I ran on sidewalks, roads, through paved trails in parks and even a trail at mile 10. The trail winded into a woodsy areas hiding the HILL of ALL HILLS. 

All I could do was LAUGH. It was so insane. When you thought it was going to plateau, it actually winded and went up MORE. 

I was so happy I was with Christina and Antonio, some local runners. We made jokes and gutted ourselves up and out without stopping. I knew when I hit this hill again at mile 23 it was not going to feel the same. 

AFTER the first 13...

I could see Laceys pink Carhart hat bobbing just a little bit in front of me. Then I saw Andys familiar neon yellow windbreaker cheering me on. He jumped on the course for a minute to check on me. I was feeling great, he was exhausted and peeled back off after a few words. 

2hours..That was my goal for the first 13.1. I was ON. I nailed it.  

Between the hills and not getting proper GPS in the city it was hard to keep pace, I had to go mostly by feel and time. 

Somewhere around mile 15, we were running on the sidewalks off a huge highway.  The uncoming cars had a stop light. In my usual obnoxious self,  I tried to get the cars hyped to honk at us. In full energy mode I spotted AUSTIN in the last car! He rolled down his window and we shot virtual high fives at each other. I almost started crying I was so surprised and excited. LIKE..HOW does this happen?! All of Ann Arbor, all the road closures and I see MY SON! I twirled around feeling my running skirt floating in the air like a dancer "THAT'S MY BOY! THAT'S MY BOY!" 

I never lost that JOY. 

From 15 to Finish.

I never lost my JOY. I never got nervous, I never got scared I wouldn't meet my goals. I Praised GOD. I praised Him for every perfect detail. 

By the grace of God HE kept me strong. 

After the second GU, I knew not to take anymore. I could gut out the last 10 miles on an empty stomach. 

Goal number 1, Don't Vomit. 

BREATH. Relax, Smile, cheer on the runners, and thank the volunteers. 

I kept waiting to hit "the wall". Antonio was ahead of me and stopped. I yelled, "are you ok?" 

He replied "Yeah, I am getting me some drugs." 

I was wondering if it was salt tablets, Mortin or some kind of nsaids, "Oh, whatcha got?" 

"Advil, you want some? He responded digging them out of a ziplock bag. 

"AHH, YES...." I quickly answered as he was handing out 2 Advil.

I couldn't take them without water so I palmed them and kept going. He stayed back to give Christina some as well. 

I knew that I couldn't stop long, I felt good and stopping too long could really be a game changer. 

That hill was daunting me. I would be hitting it at mile 23. I walked through almost every aid station. This calmed me down. 

At mile 22, I was still running flat and I could still see Lacey just a little bit ahead of me. I could also see the 4 hour pacer, for the first time! And I was on target for a 3:53 marathon. He had slowed WAYY down and only 2 people were with him. 

And then I turned into the woods, there she was....THE FINAL HILL. 

I was now with the pacer. I was running alongside them. We all tackled the hill. About half way in I took a 10 second walk break and they passed me. In that 10 seconds, I gave more thanks to God, took a couple deep breaths, relaxed and felt the tune of the music in my ears. I took off again passing them at the top of the hill, "GREAT JOB!" I yelled, hearing them all cheer me on as I broke off. 

That wasn't the end of the hill, the 3rd portion of that hill is out of the woods and on the road behind the hospital. 

I had a mile and half to go. I skipped the water station, walked for 5 seconds and looked up at Laceys pink hat and just focused. 

"I can do this, I can do this.." I heard my thoughts, they were positive. I clenched my fists and pumped my arms up the rest of that hill. 

My legs were tight and throbbing. But I never hit a wall. I had a mile to go. I was breathing, I was calm, and I was so excited I didn't pee my pants or puke! 

Last mile, down hill?! Wonders never cease, I picked up my pace and took that last hill like it was my first. 

Austin was at the finish line with his dad. I smiled bigger. 

Christina, Lacey and I all placed! WTG girls!

BOY Wonder! Happy Momma!

With a FULL smile I crossed that finish line strong and fast. And without my face in a garbage can! 

SO much swag! 

I hit all my GOALS! REMINDER......THIS WAS PART OF MY ULTRA TRAINING FOR MY 100k IN JUNE!

Third place in my age group!

CONGRATS TO ALL THAT RAN ANN ARBOR! Half Marathoners; Andy, Holly, Brad and Full Marathoners, Lacey, Christina, Antonio, Doug and all those unnamed, WTG! Congrats!

Anita