I've decided to conduct this blog as a candid Q & A with myself. It will be just like what I would've told the reporter who called me if I had been thinking straight after the race. Enjoy!
What was your plan going into the race?
As always, I wasn’t completely satisfied with my training. One of my fall goals was to run a 50K in under 4 hours, which I did, but I was concerned that I didn’t have enough fast running under my belt to achieve my other fall goal – a marathon in the 3:08s. I would have been completely satisfied with anything in the 3:10s and I thought that was probably the best I could hope for.
If you planned on a 3:10, why were you running so fast at the beginning?
That’s a great question! Saturday night, I watched my beloved Baylor Bears play Oklahoma State in Stillwater where they had not been victorious since the 1930s. When our second string quarterback went down with an injury, I told myself that if Baylor could pull off the win with a third string QB, I would go all out on Sunday morning because anything is possible!
Baylor did win and I went all out. In retrospect, going all out in the second half would’ve been a wiser choice, because by mile 22, I thought I might die. At least I had a bicycle escort with me who could’ve sought medical attention for me if I went down. Seriously, this is the first time I’ve ever been in a race and thought, “I don’t think I’m going to make it.” But I did make it and learned a valuable lesson – be bold and courageous…within reason!
I ran a 3:08:40, a new PR, but it hurt! It still hurts!!!
How did it feel to be in the lead during the race?
I was only in the lead for the last 10K of the race, but I only knew I was in the lead for the last two miles. The very helpful spectators along the course kept telling me I was in fifth once the marathon course split from the half-marathon course. At mile 18, I caught and passed one lady, and by mile 19 I could see a lady running with a bicycle escort. I assumed she was in third place and that the top three all had bicycle escorts. I decided to try and pass her by mile 20, which I did as we ran through the beautiful campus on University of Tulsa.
I need to give a shout out to my phenomenal bicycle escort, because she tried her best to block the wind that was coming from every direction! I wanted to hurry because she probably felt like she was barely moving, but at the same time I felt like I was about to die as I previously mentioned. Anyway, there was a long stretch of the course where we passed marathoners going the other direction, and one of them yelled that I was in first. I said, “First, third, whatever,” and my cyclist said, “No, you’re in first.” I couldn’t believe it! Even though I’d been feeling really good about being in third, I decided to try and speed up so I wouldn’t get run down.
The most memorable part of the race was when I picked up a motorcycle escort for the last mile. I felt like the president with my own motorcade! He was going too fast for me to keep up with him but I tried my best! When we reached the Center of the Universe Detour, I wondered what my escort would do if I suddenly veered off and ran the extra .3, but I didn't want to push my luck.
My biggest regret is that after I broke the tape, I didn’t keep it. The race organizers didn’t need it anymore and it would’ve made a beautiful sash!
Do you plan to return next year to defend your title?
Absolutely not! I enjoy quitting while I’m ahead. In all seriousness, that course was probably my least favorite of any race I’ve run. There was too much concrete and a lot of uneven roads, plus the million turns! Immediately after the race, I wouldn’t have called it hilly, but my quads disagree. I will say that the organization of the race and all the volunteers were fantastic. I’m glad I did it once : )
What was your plan going into the race?
As always, I wasn’t completely satisfied with my training. One of my fall goals was to run a 50K in under 4 hours, which I did, but I was concerned that I didn’t have enough fast running under my belt to achieve my other fall goal – a marathon in the 3:08s. I would have been completely satisfied with anything in the 3:10s and I thought that was probably the best I could hope for.
If you planned on a 3:10, why were you running so fast at the beginning?
That’s a great question! Saturday night, I watched my beloved Baylor Bears play Oklahoma State in Stillwater where they had not been victorious since the 1930s. When our second string quarterback went down with an injury, I told myself that if Baylor could pull off the win with a third string QB, I would go all out on Sunday morning because anything is possible!
Baylor did win and I went all out. In retrospect, going all out in the second half would’ve been a wiser choice, because by mile 22, I thought I might die. At least I had a bicycle escort with me who could’ve sought medical attention for me if I went down. Seriously, this is the first time I’ve ever been in a race and thought, “I don’t think I’m going to make it.” But I did make it and learned a valuable lesson – be bold and courageous…within reason!
I ran a 3:08:40, a new PR, but it hurt! It still hurts!!!
How did it feel to be in the lead during the race?
I was only in the lead for the last 10K of the race, but I only knew I was in the lead for the last two miles. The very helpful spectators along the course kept telling me I was in fifth once the marathon course split from the half-marathon course. At mile 18, I caught and passed one lady, and by mile 19 I could see a lady running with a bicycle escort. I assumed she was in third place and that the top three all had bicycle escorts. I decided to try and pass her by mile 20, which I did as we ran through the beautiful campus on University of Tulsa.
I need to give a shout out to my phenomenal bicycle escort, because she tried her best to block the wind that was coming from every direction! I wanted to hurry because she probably felt like she was barely moving, but at the same time I felt like I was about to die as I previously mentioned. Anyway, there was a long stretch of the course where we passed marathoners going the other direction, and one of them yelled that I was in first. I said, “First, third, whatever,” and my cyclist said, “No, you’re in first.” I couldn’t believe it! Even though I’d been feeling really good about being in third, I decided to try and speed up so I wouldn’t get run down.
The most memorable part of the race was when I picked up a motorcycle escort for the last mile. I felt like the president with my own motorcade! He was going too fast for me to keep up with him but I tried my best! When we reached the Center of the Universe Detour, I wondered what my escort would do if I suddenly veered off and ran the extra .3, but I didn't want to push my luck.
My biggest regret is that after I broke the tape, I didn’t keep it. The race organizers didn’t need it anymore and it would’ve made a beautiful sash!
Do you plan to return next year to defend your title?
Absolutely not! I enjoy quitting while I’m ahead. In all seriousness, that course was probably my least favorite of any race I’ve run. There was too much concrete and a lot of uneven roads, plus the million turns! Immediately after the race, I wouldn’t have called it hilly, but my quads disagree. I will say that the organization of the race and all the volunteers were fantastic. I’m glad I did it once : )