St. Luke’s Marathon Wrap-Up: An Everyday Adventure

Yesterday, Sunday, April 25th, 2022 I ran my 3rd half marathon. I choose the St. Luke’s Half Marathon because it was local (as in 10 miles away) and I wanted to challenge myself by participating in my first non D & L Trail Half Marathon. I was really happy to be participating in the St. Luke’s run yesterday since the race was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. At the starting line, the organizers spoke passionately about how happy they were to be back after a three year absence.

How I Got Mixed Up in All of This

Let’s be honest though, this past winter was the first time I ever thought about running this race. It always sounded too intense for me in the past. Not that anything about it was that much more intense than the other half than I did. It just wasn’t on a trail like the other one. Some of it is on roads. Also it was sponsored by a running club, which I guess scared me a little.

You see, when I first signed up for the D & L Half Marathon in 2019, I thought it was going to be one-time deal. I planned to do it to celebrate turning 40. I didn’t know that it was going to turn into my “thing”.

Obviously, not that many good things came out of 2020. It did help my running though. One good thing that did come out is that I started training a bit more seriously because I had extra time. I started running 4-5 times a week instead of 3. At a few points in 2020 and 2021, I began trying to go on month-long “streaks” where I would run a mile every day. I even finished two running “streaks” in 2020. It helped me relax and sleep better. It seemed to be the cure for my insomnia.

In terms of long term running gains though, running during that period helped me tame my running imposter syndrome a little. I felt less like an imposter because there was nothing to train for. It allowed me to think of myself merely as a person out for some exercise. I felt freer to indulge my training interests without wondering what other people thought of me. So in that sense, I am grateful for the past two years of weirdness.

Back to my story about the D & L Half marathon. . . .

When I registered for the D & L Half again during the summer of 2021, I thought I was just registering to see if I could run a cleaner race than I did the first time. I had some baggage about my first attempt. I finished but I didn’t feel as awesome afterwards as I thought I would feel. I decided that the second time would be me making things right.

When I ran it faster (well, faster for me) the second time and I was satiated for a minute. “Yay, satisfaction”, I thought. My cup was full. I had made things right. But because I am a human being and I am never quite satisfied, this happened. .

The ladies in the changing tent after the race were talking about what race they would be training for next and I thought, “Yeah, what race am I going to do next?” I decided that I wasn’t done with half marathons.

I believe it was December when I decided to register for this race. It was Mr. Katie actually who first put the idea in my head. We were thinking about events that we might want to do in the future. I said, “I am a one half marathon a year kind of girl.” He asked me why. I told him that it was because of the amount of time the training involved. He told me he thought I should do it because I liked training and it gave me a goal. So I think I registered the night we had that conversation. It was on!

And here is a picture of me at the starting line yesterday.

The weather was lovely as I lined up with the other runners before the race.

The Actual Race

The weather on Sunday was warmer, in the 50’s and 60’s, than it had been for most of the past spring with bright sunshine. I found much of the course to be delightful with many bands playing live music along the course. Spectators along the course lightened my mood and helped me to relax. Some of specators had cute cheers or encouraging signs that helped move me along.

I stayed with the 2:30 minute pace group for the first 4.5 miles and then found myself falling further behind them as I began to have toe pain and the bright sunshine started to affect me. Somewhere near the beginning of mile six, near the start of the Little Lehigh Parkway section (which turned out to be the best section), I stopped. The only place to sit was on a sewer cap thing. I took off my right shoe and examined my 3rd toe because it was feeling very painful. I thought it was blister but I think my toe was just squished. I loosened up my shoe laces and pulled apart a blister dressing that I had applied before the race to my big toe and gave some of the material to the hurt toe. (Note to self, keep a band aid on my person in future races for these kind of situations. )

The 3-4 minutes I spent working on my toe helped me cool down. The first stretch of the race was definitely the hottest part. Right before I stopped to fix my toe, I was starting to have doubts about whether I would be able to finish. I was feeling a little woozy and the hurt in my foot felt like waves that I couldn’t stop.

My foot ministrations must have done something because after that, my foot pain cleared up for the most part. I did continue to feel more jittery than I had felt on my practice runs, but I took walk breaks when I needed them and ate my energy goo and in general, I felt as though I could continue.

It wasn’t the cleanest or the least problem free run I have ever completed but I finished and I did have some fun during the race. The music played by some of the bands helped move me through tough spots when I started to wonder if I would be able to continue on.

I fell in love with a group of young men who looked like they were on a dance squad or sports team who cheered runners near the edge of one of the trickier transition spots. Their wacky and surprising antics made me feel cared for and got me out of my head.

There were several groups of encouraging fans who came to cheer in more than one spot along the race route and I am so grateful for them. They kept me going. A running and drinking club called the Hash House Harriers had trays with Dixie cups full of beer that they offered to runners along the route. They told me I had to take one because my shirt said “No Regerts” and I couldn’t not take one if since I had that shirt. So drank one. I would have had regrets about not taking another cup of beer for the road but my shirt told me I can’t have any regrets so I don’t have any regrets. It was awesome awesome to drink a little tiny beer with less than one mile left to run before the finish line.

I am the most grateful though for my adoring family who came to cheer me on at the finish line. I know that they walked far, as the designated parking lot was not terribly close to the races’ finale and waited about a half an hour to see me which is huge when you are little (or are the parent of little people).

Here we are reunited. I saw them just as I was about to cross the finish line. It warmed my heart.

Here we are all together.

Also, for those of you who are curious, I didn’t get picked up by the shame van or the broom wagon, as one of my sister’s told me it is called at bike events. I finished in 2 hours 41 minutes and 19 seconds(?). But even if I had exceeded the 3 hour limit, I would still have felt proud of myself for finishing.

The sky’s the limit . . sort of. But I am a lucky lady. I thank my husband for encouraging me. He has also taken-up running himself. He is sometimes even more intense about his hobbies than I am and his interest in running has pushed me harder than I might have pushed myself. I am thankful for all of his support.

I am also thankful for my boys for cheering me on and being understanding when I take them to Kids Corner at the YMCA. They have been such good boys and understanding of the time I have needed to prepare. Also thanks to Kids Corner at the YMCA for their friendly childcare and all family and friends for their kind words of support! Thanks to everyone who check on me after the race to see how it went.

Here is a closeup of my medal for finishing.

That’s about it. I plan to take the next week off from running and will do some heavy recuperating. I don’t know what my next event will be yet but I assure you, that there will be one.

I hope all is well with you,

Katie

How to Subscribe to this blog!