I ran anywhere 6-10 miles Monday-Wednesday, then Thursday Jason and I
did our long runs up to 20 miles, and then Saturday I would do a short 3 miler
as fast as I could run it. The Phoenix
marathon was scheduled two weeks earlier this year and we didn’t start training
any earlier so I was nervous we wouldn’t get all our long runs in but we did.
We went up in mileage quicker than normal and it went great. Then my dad died.
I didn’t run at all for two weeks after we found out. I was so extremely
depressed, shocked, and in a confused fog. I didn’t shower for a week after- it
didn’t even occur to me to. All self care went out the window and I just
grieved and ate the unhealthy food that was brought to my family. I honestly
didn’t have that much of an appetite for a while so I didn’t overeat at first-
I would skip meals and forget to eat which I don’t normally do. I knew I still
wanted to run a marathon soon though and that thought nagged at the back of my
mind. I had trained so hard and didn’t want the training to go to waste and I
felt like I was just undoing all my training in those weeks. It’s not really
something I should’ve been worrying about right after my dad died but I did.
After the funeral life went somewhat back to normal (or new normal) and I
started running again. My muscles felt tight and weak but it felt good to get
moving again. We decided to sign up for the Lost Dutchman marathon which was
the following Sunday- and so we had a week to prepare. I ran a little that week
and tried to loosen my muscles up and get them working again. I felt pretty
good but I didn’t feel as great as I did before- so I was pretty nervous for
the race. We signed up knowing very little about the marathon except that there
would be some hills and it was going to be more difficult than the Phoenix. We didn’t train
for hills at all so that made me nervous. I planned on running it without
worrying too much about my time- I knew I was no longer going to get my best
time.
The morning of the
race we drove out to the rodeo grounds where the buses were at. We met Jason’s
brother Brendan there who was running the race with us too. we took the bus to
the starting point out in the desert right by the Superstition mountains. As we
pulled up we could see all the little campfires to keep the runners warm which
is always such a cool sight.
I stole some of these pics from their Facebook page- they had a drone so there's some really cool shots.
There are only 400 runners allowed in this race
compared to a couple thousand in the Phoenix
marathon. I could immediately tell these were more serious runners because
overall everyone looked more in shape than those in the Phoenix. The Phoenix just had more diversity in size but
probably because there are a lot more people- but it is also an easier
marathon. By the time we used the port a potty (with no lines!! The Phoenix lines are
ridiculous and we always end up starting late because of them), stretched, took
off our warm clothes (I just wore pjs and a jacket over my running clothes) it
was time to get to the starting line.
It was such an incredible start. The first 8 miles were on a dirt road and the sunrise was so stunning on the Superstition Mountains. There was even fog on the mountains which is my favorite. I started out running with Jason and Brendan but after about mile 3 Jason fell behind and Brendan ran ahead and I didn’t see them again. The beginning of a marathon is so exciting and you have all this adrenaline along with everything looking so pretty in the early morning light.
After 8 miles we were on the road and ran through some neighborhoods. The
entire course was much more beautiful than the Phoenix and although we ran on the road the
mountains or desert were often to the side of us. There were definitely way
more hills though. A lot of little hills, but at mile 15 there was a pretty big
one and I was getting a little worried. I knew I would finish the marathon but
was afraid I would end up walking a lot because of all the energy I was
expending on the hills. I still wanted to break 4 hrs and it seemed like I
wouldn’t be able to because the hills were slowing me down. I took my energy
gels about every 5 miles and they handed out bananas pieces and oranges about 3
times the whole race. I feel like the oranges helped me out more than the
bananas but they had more bananas this time. There was a pretty big downhill at
about 16 miles- which during a long race is hard on your thighs and you have to
use energy to keep yourself from going too fast. The miles were actually flying
by pretty quickly and I think because I have done so many marathons they go by
quicker now (also I am running faster than I used to). At about mile 18 1/2
there was a long uphill and I could see runners on the other side of the road
going the other way so I knew I was turning around at some point. I saw Brendan
way ahead of me on the other side. It was uphill till about mile 20 where the
turn around point was. I was so happy that it was finally downhill and I was
expecting it to be downhill the rest of the way. I was wrong. There were little
hills the entire rest of the race – and hills become significantly harder at
that point. I took an extra gel and pushed myself to keep going. I kept thinking
about my dad and how he would be proud of me. I pushed myself harder because of
him. I was actually running by myself a lot of times in the race which never
happens during the Phoenix.
I would get to a small group run with them for a little bit then pass them up.
Or people would pass me up. I got to mile 26 finally and the road turned for
the last .2 miles. I saw Loretta, Ben and their kids cheering me on at the
corner. Then Brendan comes running up and started taking pictures of me as I
neared the finish line- and he said wow! You did really good! Then I cross the
finish line and am exhausted and exhilarated. There were way less people
cheering at the finish line (and on the sidelines the whole race) – and I did
miss all the people a little bit. But at the end honestly I feel so gross and
am so tired that I don’t really like all the people watching me cross the
finish. They said my name on the speaker as I crossed and it always feels so
amazing.
Loretta and Ben came up and congratulated me, and gave me some chocolate milk they brought (they missed church to be there and Loretta even had to get a sub for Sunday school. I was so glad they were there). Normally Brin and her family are at every marathon cheering me up but they had to miss this one. Her and my siblings were doing a 24 hour bike race called El Pueblo. I missed seeing them there! And my mom normally comes to but she had to be at church. I was very glad that Loretta and her family came though. I ended up finish at 3:52. My best time was last year at 3:48 so I missed it by four minutes. I know I would have got my best time at Phoenix – maybe even by 10 minutes or so. But I am still proud of my time especially at such a difficult race. It is now my second best marathon time. I was 5th/22 in my age division, 25th/150 for females, 74th/328 overall.
I stole some of these pics from their Facebook page- they had a drone so there's some really cool shots.
It was such an incredible start. The first 8 miles were on a dirt road and the sunrise was so stunning on the Superstition Mountains. There was even fog on the mountains which is my favorite. I started out running with Jason and Brendan but after about mile 3 Jason fell behind and Brendan ran ahead and I didn’t see them again. The beginning of a marathon is so exciting and you have all this adrenaline along with everything looking so pretty in the early morning light.
Loretta and Ben came up and congratulated me, and gave me some chocolate milk they brought (they missed church to be there and Loretta even had to get a sub for Sunday school. I was so glad they were there). Normally Brin and her family are at every marathon cheering me up but they had to miss this one. Her and my siblings were doing a 24 hour bike race called El Pueblo. I missed seeing them there! And my mom normally comes to but she had to be at church. I was very glad that Loretta and her family came though. I ended up finish at 3:52. My best time was last year at 3:48 so I missed it by four minutes. I know I would have got my best time at Phoenix – maybe even by 10 minutes or so. But I am still proud of my time especially at such a difficult race. It is now my second best marathon time. I was 5th/22 in my age division, 25th/150 for females, 74th/328 overall.
We hung out and
waited for Jason to finish and he crossed at 4:34. he never trains as much as
me so I always beat him. I’m proud of him though and I think it is so cool that
we can run marathons together. Not very many couples can say that! It's his tradition to cross the finish line carrying a QT Dr. Pepper. Normally our brother in law Steve hands it to him at about 26 miles then it looks like he was carrying it the whole time.. Steve was at the bike race so Ben and Loretta had brought him one. It was priceless as he crossed the finished line and the announcer said "Jason Rowley! It looks like he made a quick stop at the QT along the way!" and people started laughing. The video footage of it is hilarious and the best part is the guy falling on his knees after Jason crosses with his QT drink. He looks like he's about in his late 30's or older- but we looked him up atnd he's only 19.
We took some pictures then went to get the free food at the expo. They had significantly less food and overall it was much smaller than the Phoenix. At the phoenix they give you Kneaders French toast, chocolate milk, free drinks, BBQ sandwiches. Here they had bagels, yogurt, and some cookies. The Phoenix also has a backdrop to take pictures and a bell to ring if you beat your personal record. Here though the backdrop was the beautiful desert landscape with the mountains in the back so this race definitely wins! The Phoenix ends in a parking lot and it is not very photo worthy. They had a donkey here with a very tall western guy – because it’s the Lost Dutchman marathon. Of course I had to pet the donkey and get a picture with it.
It was a difficult marathon but I am so glad I did it. I was so sad to miss the Phoenix but this one was so beautiful and a great experience. I am glad that I was able to run it in a decent time after grieving and being sedentary for over 2 weeks. I kept saying that I knew that my dad would still want me to run a marathon and not waste all my training because of his funeral. I am glad that we found a marathon a week later that wasn’t sold out. It all worked out and I think aided in my healing process from my dad’s death. I’d like to think he was there cheering me on or helping push me up the hills or to cross the finish line.
We took some pictures then went to get the free food at the expo. They had significantly less food and overall it was much smaller than the Phoenix. At the phoenix they give you Kneaders French toast, chocolate milk, free drinks, BBQ sandwiches. Here they had bagels, yogurt, and some cookies. The Phoenix also has a backdrop to take pictures and a bell to ring if you beat your personal record. Here though the backdrop was the beautiful desert landscape with the mountains in the back so this race definitely wins! The Phoenix ends in a parking lot and it is not very photo worthy. They had a donkey here with a very tall western guy – because it’s the Lost Dutchman marathon. Of course I had to pet the donkey and get a picture with it.
It was a difficult marathon but I am so glad I did it. I was so sad to miss the Phoenix but this one was so beautiful and a great experience. I am glad that I was able to run it in a decent time after grieving and being sedentary for over 2 weeks. I kept saying that I knew that my dad would still want me to run a marathon and not waste all my training because of his funeral. I am glad that we found a marathon a week later that wasn’t sold out. It all worked out and I think aided in my healing process from my dad’s death. I’d like to think he was there cheering me on or helping push me up the hills or to cross the finish line.
