Friday March 12, 2010  
The fantasy is simple: pleasure is good ... and twice as much pleasure is better. That pain is bad ... and no pain is better.

But the reality is different. The reality is that pain is there to tell us something. And...more
Grey's Anatomy
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Katie Runs the San Diego Marathon

After 6 months of training, 2 injuries, $2500 worth of fundraising, and 20 years of wondering if I actually had it in me ... I set out to run my first marathon. There were so many people in the race that it took a full 5 minutes before I actually reached the starting line from where I began in the middle of the crowd, but I finally did. Then, it was another 5 hours 23 minutes before I would actually cross the finish line ... but I did it!

The first 17 miles literally felt like they flew by, and I enjoyed perfect running weather (heavy clouds and sprinkles), dozens of bands playing music along the way, the camaraderie of fellow runners (especially the 3300 other Team-in-Training participants), and my dear family cheering me on from their bikes which they rode along part of the route!

But around mile 18, life turned very sour as my stomach refused to digest the 3 large bricks that someone decided to stick in there. I pushed through to mile 22 where I almost gave up, and fought idealism to let myself finish the race at a pace that acknowledged my body's limitations.

I'm very glad I did it, and although I'm not exactly racing out to sign up for my next marathon, there is a half-marathon this Fall that sounds about my speed ...

My team and I, at the TNT Pasta Party the night before the race. TNT is Team in Training - a branch of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I trained with them for this marathon, raising $2400 towards research into a cure for bone cancers. My local chapter (with whom I trained each week) was the Yorba Linda chapter, but there were hundreds of chapters present at the marathon.
Me in all my race get-up. All of the TNT runners had purple singlets, and it was obvious on race day what a majority role TNT takes in this marathon - purple was everywhere!
I decorated the back of my singlet with the names of 2 kinds of people that I wanted to honor with my race: near the top, I put the names of loved ones who've fought cancer (Taylor - my honored teammate, Gayle - my stepmom, Barb Meece, Jon Peske, Steve Barber and Anni White - all friends), and near the bottom the names of some of my greatest donors in the fundraising efforts (Doug & Marion Lee, Charles Wisdom, JAC & LeAnn Redford and Monica Romig).
Me, Alondra and Elizabeth at the start line (you can see the fashionable trash bags many people wore in the chilly early morning air so they could be tossed off once the runner warmed-up - I unfortunately forgot mine at the hotel! =( ).
There were 11 wheelchair competitors. How amazing! They started 5 minutes before the rest of us. The 1st place wheelchair completed the 26 miles in 1 hr, 42 minutes!!
The start line.
Here are the elite female runners. I love the average color of skin ... I have so much admiration for how Africans dominate in running! The first place female finished in 2 hrs, 30 min!! And she's not even a distance runner, by trade - she's a sprinter. Dude.
The male elites (first place was 2:09!!). Then ... in the middle ... you see the Elvises. Don't ask. My guess as to why they are allowed to actually stand in FRONT of the elite runners, is that it has something to do with this being the Rock 'n Roll marathon. But I wouldn't want to smell those polyester suits at mile 20 ...
And we're off!!
... and here's all the rest of us normal people. =) There were so many runners that I didn't actually cross the start line until over 5 minutes after the gun went off!
Mom P & Joe watch the start, ready to bike to the first point along the route where they will cheer me on. I had a terrific bike squad ... Mom, Sher, Dad G, Erica & Justen, and Peckhams all biked around to various points along the course to cheer me on.
The first 8 miles of the marathon took us through downtown San Diego, which was really fun.
My best cheerleaders. Man, if you think the marathon looks exciting, try running past these guys at mile 7 - they were yelling and cheering so loud it pumped my adrenaline for the rest of that mile! =)
At about mile 5, I was feeling wonderful! (plus I was really excited to see familiar faces in the crowds)
Nemo
The bike squad caught me again at mile 7.
Hugging my sister!
Sher got in and jogged a bit with me at mile 7 - fanny pack, jacket, cell phone and all! The funny thing about his cell phone is that a lot of the marathoners actually DID carry their cell phones with them, and I heard several different racers talking on their phones during the run!
My dad rode his bike alongside the route for several miles between 7 and 12 or so. That was a lot of fun.
Taking aid ...
... and then movin' on.
Do you see me? I'm the one in the purple top.
We got to run on the 163 freeway, which was a lot of fun.
Apparently, my husband and brother got the same feeling about the freeways, and they lived it up on the off-ramps...
Dying a slow death in mile 20 and 21 ...
The story here is sorta funny ... this was at mile 21, right about the time I was most miserable. I had just been laying on the side of the road, face in the dirt, trying desperately to stretch out my cramping abdominals. Then I got back in there, and here's this professional camera suspended over the road and I know they're taking race photos. So I decided to gear up and cheer because I was still in the race ... but as you can tell, I didn't have much steam left in me to look enthusiastic ...
Mom Peckham waiting for me at mile 22.
Erica cheering from the bridge over mile 22.
Justen almost got his throat slit by this dude, but luckily his bike helmet was able to deflect the blade.
This is what 22 miles feels like when your stomach isn't agreeing with you...
Yeah, my face didn't really change for that whole mile ... it was pretty bad. I don't know if I'd call it hitting the wall, but it was more like someone smeared my face up the side of the wall.
THE FINISH LINE!!! Notice who's beside me? My wonderful husband joined me at mile 22 for moral support. He started walking that stretch with me, and ended up coming with me the whole way! It absolutely transformed the marathon experience for me, and spoke volumes of his love for me. I'm so glad I crossed my first marathon finish line with my best friend.
After I finished, passed out, and came to again. I didn't really pass out, but I entered this semi-conscious state and I was certainly way past exhaustion.
Mom G & Mom P
Dad

Recent photo comments

My finisher's medal and race number.

katrina: wow, you look beautiful even after all that! we love you and we're proud of you!

Lem: Katie, this is an awesome feat for an awesome cause. I'm proud to say I know you.

Melissa j: I am just in awe of the spirit of perserverance God has given you Katie. What an incredible day for such a worthy cause, and surrounded by such a loving family. You truly are blessed!!! Way to go!!!

Rachel Loth: what a special day - you are so amazing Katie! Looking at these picts you had a great support team too :) Great job!

Erica cheering from the bridge over mile 22.

Erica: Find Frica

At about mile 5, I was feeling wonderful! (plus I was really excited to see familiar faces in the crowds)

Erica: Sorry Kate, you're not at the finish line yet!

THE FINISH LINE!!! Notice who's beside me? My wonderful husband joined me at mile 22 for moral support. He started walking that stretch with me, and ended up coming with me the whole way! It absolutely transformed the marathon experience for me, and spoke volumes of his love for me. I'm so glad I crossed my first marathon finish line with my best friend.

Katie: love the zoom lens in his left pocket (and who knows what else in his other ones ...)

Dying a slow death in mile 20 and 21 ...

Katie: man ... i can't believe the guy next to me is smiling in a sweatshirt ...

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