The Great HOGG Race

“The race is a celebration of the training.” –Jerry

I sure did celebrate my training in this race. At 5:05 am on March 28th my alarm on my cell phone went off. I didn't need it though. I had been awake since 4:55. I was so excited about the race! I had laid in bed waiting on the alarm so as to not waste any energy that I might need during the race. I had been tapering for three weeks (a 45 mi week, then 35, then 15 prior to the marathon). I had been carbo loading for the past three days (I gained 3 pounds). I was ready!

I got up and ate some oatmeal and drank a little Gatorade. I checked the weather for the billionth time in 24 hours and decided to wear a long sleeved shirt and tights. I started the race with heavy gloves that I shed after two miles and a jacket that I shed after ten. The morning started off really cold and warmed up to around 40 °F by 11 am. The worst part, and the reason I was obsessed with weather.com, was the wind. It was around 15 mph at the start of the race, and got up to 20-25 mph for the second half.

Ben & I left our apartment to pick up B & V. B was running the race with me and V is his girlfriend who also happens to be Ben's sister. We picked them up, but realized the course map was on our kitchen counter. After getting that, we were on our way to the race. We arrived in the tiny town of Lamesa around 7:10. B and I picked up our race packets and started getting ready for the race. I jogged for about a quarter of a mile, took a puff of my inhaler, and then everyone started lining up for the race. I think the gun went off a little before 8 which is when the race was supposed to start. So, we were off! I tried hard to stay slow for the first few miles. Luckily I was borrowing a Garmin Forerunner 305 from Jerry. I had it set to only show my current pace, lap time, and lap distance. I also was wearing my heart rate monitor to keep track of my effort. I ran the first two miles in 8:46.44 and 8:52.20, respectively. I decided it was time to pick it up. I could afford it because my heart rate was pretty stable in the high 160s and my goal was 8:23 pace. From mile 3 to mile 10 I stayed around 8:20-8:25, but my heart rate was climbing. I was instructed to not let it go past 175. I was getting pretty close.

A little after mile 10 a car pulled up beside me. It was Lee & Jerry! I hadn't expected Lee to come to help pace me, but it was a nice surprise. They talked to me from their car for about 100 yards and then Jerry took off to park the car. Lee was dropped off to run with me. We slowed down a bit to get my heart rate under control. Jerry met us around mile 12. Miles 10 through 20 were a breeze. You might even say they were even more than that; how about a gust? Jerry and Lee blocked the wind for me and they agreed with me that the course was pretty hilly. Jerry stopped at one of the rest stops and then spent a few more miles catching up. The funny thing is that one portion of the course is an out-and-back, but Jerry went all the way to the turn around point. There was another marathoner between Jerry and us, so I assume he didn't want to freak that runner out by "cutting the course." These miles were all run around 8:30 pace.

At mile 20 Jerry asked was the total time was. I said "Two fiddy." Jerry said, "Two fifty?" I said, "No, two fiddy." I don't think he got it.

This is where we started to pick up the pace. We knew the last 10K could be finished in approximately 50 minutes. We all knew that my goal was within reach. The next four miles were awesome. I ran one at 7:58. The slowest in this section was 8:10. Then it hit. The dreadful disease I've battle my whole life.

Asthma.

I could barely breathe. I wanted to cry. My legs felt fine. My lungs didn't. We slowed down. We only slowed down to around 8:30, but that did the trick. I got my breathing under control. At this point though, I couldn't go much faster.

Jerry went to get his car while Lee and I finished the last 3/4 of a mile. We turned the corner to finish on an uphill grade against the wind. Lee was acting as my rabbit, but I wanted to beat him. He said he would keep his pace and if I passed him that that was all me. I dug deep into my energy reserves. I was almost finished! I looked at the Garmin and it showed I was running 8:16 pace. I looked up and saw a woman running from the building to the finish line. She was holding a clipboard. My time almost didn't get recorded. I ran as hard as I could and I crossed the finish line. "3:39:12!" said the woman with the clipboard. I did it. I achieved my goal. I ran a BQ. Jerry told me that on a less hilly course, with no wind, at sea level, I can take 10 minutes off this time.

I can't wait until Whiterock.

Out of the seven marathoners, I finished second. The first guy finished just 13 minutes ahead of me. I was the first out of two women, so I got a plaque!

Race post script:

Ben and V gave me Gatorade at three different points in the race. They really helped me stay energized by doing this for me. The last two times I got the drink, Lee and Jerry carried the bottle for me. They really helped me the whole time. I appreciate all these people who supported me so much during the marathon.

Also, B finished the race as well. But, as Ben says, the first marathon teaches you to respect the training plan. B ran the first 15 miles and then walked the rest. That sounds a lot like the Austin marathon last year with my brother. B finished on a knee that had been bothering him for a few weeks in 5:49. He is planning on running a half before his next marathon. I think he'll wait about a year before he runs this distance again.

After the race, I got to keep the Garmin for a week. I loved it. I ran with it almost every day, and even walked some of my regular courses to measure them more accurately. Ben saw how much I used it and liked it and he surprised me with one of my own just yesterday. I had hoped that he might do that, but I did not think he would. This is such a big purchase and such a running specific piece of equipment that I figured he'd have me pick it out and get it for myself eventually. Needless to say, I was extremely surprised and excited. I've already run with it and I look forward to a lot more runs with it.