This morning was the first Ann Arbor Marathon. I had originally wanted to volunteer/check it out in some capacity, but with this past week being so crazy, it just wasn't feasible. I had forgotten about it until last night, and when I set out on my run this morning, I wondered if I would cross paths with the course at any point. A favorite run of mine is through the Arboretum, which is just .5 miles from my apartment, and I learned quickly after I set out that it served as the first leg of the second half of the marathon. WOOF.
Now, this totals THREE races that I have crashed, but the other two were more intentional. Two years ago, I happened to run the course of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, which was amazing (and not obvious - there were thousands of runners jammed into those streets!). Several months later, I had the honor of running one of the last miles of the NYC Marathon with Sindy. It was so many things, but one of them was guilt ridden. Knowing what I look like after 13 miles, I can't even imagine what mile 24 would look like (think uncanny side-by-side between me and the crypt keeper?), so I felt terrible when sideliners were telling me to "keep it up!" and that I "look great!" (because yes, I take those things very personally when I am running a race and people say them to me!). It was such a cool experience to run with my running guru, especially on such a milestone run for her, but I felt deceitful that these people thought I had run 24 miles!
Anyway, today was quite a challenge (I use that word verrryyyy generously). I just couldn't win! When I gave encouragement to another runner actually running in the marathon, I felt like a jerk for breezing past them. When I ran past the water stations because it wasn't for me, I looked cocky for not needing water on a hot and humid day (I was saved a teeny bit on this one because I had my own water bottle - phew!). At the top of a hill, three volunteers were cheering me on and I finally had to come clean to someone, because I felt like a fake! Yes I did look good...I had been running for 10 minutes. Yes I could keep it up, because 1.5 miles = halfway.
If nothing else, it reminded me of how fun and exciting races are and that I don't need to just wait for 13.1 miles to run them.
I don't know why I just saw this!! You were integral in getting me through mile 24 and to the finish line. For that reason you are allowed to crash any race that you'd like while still looking good. It was so nice of you not to repost the pic of me looking like the crypt keeper at mile 24. See you on November 4th, same place, hopefully an earlier time?
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