OTQ 2:41:48

Two days post race, it has not sunk in yetI still believe I’ll wake up and the race hasn’t happened. 

That this is too good to be true.

That a sub 2:45 race was just a bit too far out of the ballpark.

But it did happen.

I just qualified for the Olympic Trials.

I just ran a 2:41:48 marathon.

I just ran and ran and ran.

I’m going to Atlanta.

What just happened?

It’s still hard to put this into words. What I’m feeling. What I’m not feeling.

A lingering soreness. A lingering elation. 

I fucking did it. But did I really do it?

That thought roams through my mind.

I fucking did it! But did I really do it?

Yes. Yes I did. Didn’t I?

Maybe if I relive the race, if my sister keeps reminding me, if I look at the photos, it will sink in. I’ll start to cry. I know I will. My strongest emotions are the ones I experience while running, because of running.

I burned the boat, and by golly I flew.

Prerace 

I was fortunate enough to be included in New England’s Finest, an elite start corral. A few other women and I decided to run together, having the same goal of qualifying for the trials.

6:15 pace was agreed upon. Not too fast, and giving us some leeway under that 6:18 pace needed for the standard.

Miles 1-8

The gun went off, and we stuck to that plan, actually running under our goal. I tried to keep us honest, as did another woman Heidi. Nothing crazy, we just want the standard.

She, I and another women, along with 3 men clipped off a brisk pace together for the first section. I was fortunate to have elite bottles of Nuun, which I tapped a gel to at miles 8, 16 and 22. I also had two spare gu in my shorts.

I took my first one at mile 5, and took a cup of Nuun at every aid station, spaced about 1.5 miles apart. My nutrition mindset was the more the better, similar to my food mindset through this training cycle. 

We got to mile 8.5 and I grabbed my first bottle, ripping off my gu from the side. I didn’t notice this, but I accidentally also ripped open the gu. I only noticed once I felt something running down my hands and flinging off hitting me in the face. I did my best and tried to eat it off my hand. 

Miles 8-14

There were some rollers, but having a pack and a common goal kept my breathing even and body confident. Our miles were still a bit under pace, but I wasn’t that worried. Taking in hydration and calories kept my mind clear and body moving. We talked a bit, mostly encouragement.

Having watched the course video, I knew that miles 14-22 were an out and back. I remember the biker saying that if we could just get into a rhythm there, it was pretty flat.

Miles 14-22

I found my stride at mile 14 and tried to put away any thought. Just keep moving. I remember actually smiling here and thinking damn I love running. At this point we had lost most of our group, just Heidi and I continued to run together. We had been chasing Kate Pallardy all race, her being about a half mile ahead most of it. 

At around mile 15 we caught Rachel Schilkowsky, last years winner. She wasn’t having her day, but she encouraged us to work together. Oh boy we planned on that! I told Heidi that we should wait until mile 20 to go after Kate if we had legs. Until then, keep running our race, our goal was the standard. Nothing crazy.

Miles 22-23

I took my last gu and few sips of Nuun. The standard was just within our reach. 4 miles left. 4 miles left of our season. Is it possible? Don’t get emotional now, you’re not done.

Mile 23

Only a 5k left. 3 miles. Now or never. Kate was just ahead of us. We chipped away at her. It was time to go. “I’m gonna get her, only a 5k. Let’s go.” I told to Heidi. 

The boat was burned. Time to fly.

Mile 24-26

I caught Kate. I passed her decisively. “Let’s fucking go!” I told her. She told me to go and she’d try but there wasn’t much left. We’re ultrarunners, we don’t need much left to hit it.

I sprinted with Kate right behind me.

She caught me at mile 26. She passed me.

Mile 26-26.2

Don’t you fucking give up. I don’t care if she passed you, do NOT give up. Sprint!

I gave it all I had. I sped up. I sprinted. I flew.

She beat me by a few seconds, on the last .2 mile uphill.

Finished. 3rd Place. 2:41:48. Olympic Trials Qualifier.

See you in Atlanta.