Forgive the lengthy pre-Marathon reflection, but I feel my story may encourage someone contemplating and training for a Marathon. I trained well under the Hanson's plan in October and November, checking off all the boxes as a good OCD runner. However, at the end of October after doing my fourth half marathon for the year, I ended up with IT band issues that caused some lost days.
December started off okay then BAM, upper and lower respiratory infections back to back mid/late December halted my running. I thought I was back on track but still on antibiotics. I went for a long run of 16 miles with MRTT friends and made it through 7. I was going to finish when I got home but the IT band totally debilitated me on the tread mill, even with trying to push through it!
New Year’s came and I had to miss my first ever race, The hangover classic, due to a GI bug! The next week I was back on the treadmill and still having twinges of IT pain when running. I was feeling really depressed at this point. I began to think this Marathon was not going to happen in 5 weeks. I scheduled an appointment with a Sports Chiropractor, Dr. Bowling. He was awesome! He not only helped physically but mentally as well. I noticed his 3 Boston Marathon medals hanging when he was working on me. I knew he would understand my frustration. I had taken my checked off training plan and shoes with me. He looked at them and said you’ll do fine and other encouraging words that gave me hope for this Marathon. I was afraid this knee would rear up again and I would be a DNF, but that did not happen.
December started off okay then BAM, upper and lower respiratory infections back to back mid/late December halted my running. I thought I was back on track but still on antibiotics. I went for a long run of 16 miles with MRTT friends and made it through 7. I was going to finish when I got home but the IT band totally debilitated me on the tread mill, even with trying to push through it!
New Year’s came and I had to miss my first ever race, The hangover classic, due to a GI bug! The next week I was back on the treadmill and still having twinges of IT pain when running. I was feeling really depressed at this point. I began to think this Marathon was not going to happen in 5 weeks. I scheduled an appointment with a Sports Chiropractor, Dr. Bowling. He was awesome! He not only helped physically but mentally as well. I noticed his 3 Boston Marathon medals hanging when he was working on me. I knew he would understand my frustration. I had taken my checked off training plan and shoes with me. He looked at them and said you’ll do fine and other encouraging words that gave me hope for this Marathon. I was afraid this knee would rear up again and I would be a DNF, but that did not happen.
Sunday February 11, my First Marathon at age 50 in beautiful Melbourne Florida.
Temp that morning was 72 and rose to 80’s and 92% humidity to starting out. It was hot to start
but no sun so compared to what was to come. The start was a piece of cake! Oh, and most importantly
I was able to poop before I left home. If you’re a runner you will appreciate that!
Temp that morning was 72 and rose to 80’s and 92% humidity to starting out. It was hot to start
but no sun so compared to what was to come. The start was a piece of cake! Oh, and most importantly
I was able to poop before I left home. If you’re a runner you will appreciate that!
The first 10 miles were okay. I had trained with Hansons without intervals, but when I got to Florida
the week before I ran my ALL TIME longest run with a MRTT sister here of 15 miles with intervals.
It felt good again to run/walk. I felt like I would need this for the marathon so I set my Garmin for a
1-minute run and 30 second walk. I used intervals mostly during the beginning then felt so good I
would miss some of the walk breaks and run.
the week before I ran my ALL TIME longest run with a MRTT sister here of 15 miles with intervals.
It felt good again to run/walk. I felt like I would need this for the marathon so I set my Garmin for a
1-minute run and 30 second walk. I used intervals mostly during the beginning then felt so good I
would miss some of the walk breaks and run.
I was feeling really good with fresh legs and was enjoying the beauty of the water along beside me and
the bands and spectators along the way. It was wonderful! Along about MILE 10 my pace was NOT
matching my math of 5 miles/hr and finish in 5 hours and a few minutes. There was a man and women
I had been following and she was coaching him. They were doing intervals and taking ALL the walk
breaks. I had been focusing on keeping up with them and passing them at times but by MILE10 they
were too far ahead . So, I focused on where I was and the beauty and entertainment and how I was a
5K away from being half way done.
the bands and spectators along the way. It was wonderful! Along about MILE 10 my pace was NOT
matching my math of 5 miles/hr and finish in 5 hours and a few minutes. There was a man and women
I had been following and she was coaching him. They were doing intervals and taking ALL the walk
breaks. I had been focusing on keeping up with them and passing them at times but by MILE10 they
were too far ahead . So, I focused on where I was and the beauty and entertainment and how I was a
5K away from being half way done.
My funniest moment was at about MILE 10 when some fast runners were passing me out of nowhere.
My first thought was “man I have not seen no one running in a while until now. I must really be faster
than I’m thinking .” Then, I proceed the fact they were in elite attire and the half started 45 minutes
after I started!
Then at about MILE 12 as I started up the second bridge I noticed a man down and trying to get up and
appeared to be fighting a leg cramp and people standing around him. I was on my way to him when 2
volunteers passed me and picked him up under his arms. He was and older man drenched in sweat and
no shirt. He was trying to get loose to keep running and could barely stand. The volunteer had to make
him drink some of his water. I told him to take my chew and quickly put it in his mouth, and that it was
margarita flavored. They had him at that point and he was taken care of but he was still weak. I left some
more chews and Gu with them for him. I continued on up the bridge to finish the half portion.
appeared to be fighting a leg cramp and people standing around him. I was on my way to him when 2
volunteers passed me and picked him up under his arms. He was and older man drenched in sweat and
no shirt. He was trying to get loose to keep running and could barely stand. The volunteer had to make
him drink some of his water. I told him to take my chew and quickly put it in his mouth, and that it was
margarita flavored. They had him at that point and he was taken care of but he was still weak. I left some
more chews and Gu with them for him. I continued on up the bridge to finish the half portion.
After passing the half way mark of 13 MILES I was feeling pretty good but then the sun was fully out and
I was running along the HWY and river with NO shade! I could feel the sun draining me. I made sure I had
stopped at all the water/Gatorade stops and took one of each. I had a self-talk of how I had hydrated well
the days before the race and I had plenty of gu and chews in my pocket that I was using faithfully about
every 3-4 miles.
I was running along the HWY and river with NO shade! I could feel the sun draining me. I made sure I had
stopped at all the water/Gatorade stops and took one of each. I had a self-talk of how I had hydrated well
the days before the race and I had plenty of gu and chews in my pocket that I was using faithfully about
every 3-4 miles.
At about MILE 16 my first Angel was waiting on me at the water stop! She asked if she could pour water
on my towel and back. I said oh please and God Bless you! The towel was the kind that keeps water in it
and you wear it around your neck. I had it tucked under my bra straps and draped over my back as a cape
to keep me from burning. I remembered to use sunscreen that morning so was hoping it was still working.
Shortly after this water stop there was a female runner and she was leaned over the guard rail puking
profusely; her hubby or BF was beside her. I felt so bad for her and said a prayer for her and myself and
reflected on my Bible verse I had written on my left arm Isaiah 40:31. This was the point of feeling like I
was the only one left running as it was so lonely. There were so many Angels of friends and family sending
me many encouraging cheers on race joy and making me smile and stay encouraged that I did not feel
alone. At that point as I knew others were cheering me on and watching me on the map.
on my towel and back. I said oh please and God Bless you! The towel was the kind that keeps water in it
and you wear it around your neck. I had it tucked under my bra straps and draped over my back as a cape
to keep me from burning. I remembered to use sunscreen that morning so was hoping it was still working.
Shortly after this water stop there was a female runner and she was leaned over the guard rail puking
profusely; her hubby or BF was beside her. I felt so bad for her and said a prayer for her and myself and
reflected on my Bible verse I had written on my left arm Isaiah 40:31. This was the point of feeling like I
was the only one left running as it was so lonely. There were so many Angels of friends and family sending
me many encouraging cheers on race joy and making me smile and stay encouraged that I did not feel
alone. At that point as I knew others were cheering me on and watching me on the map.
At MILE 19 and 20 and crossing that mountain, I mean Florida bridge! I mostly walked up the bridge
and ran down it. This is where I met the second Angel, Beth. I noticed she was walking and running too.
I started a conversation with her. She said this was here third Marathon. From then on, she hung in
with me . She was full of insight on what was to come with my mental and physical mood the next 6
miles. MILE 24 and multiple gus and chews and now nerves of the finish line all I could think of was
please don’t let me poop on myself right now- there are no more port-a-potties! She was right about
that second wind about MILE 25 we made it to the top of the final bridge. I could see two of my MRTT
friends (my third and fourth Angels) I had just meet a couple weeks before. They had run the half and
were watching me on the map. They came to bring me in. When Beth and I started down the other side,
we picked up the pace and could see the end about a half mile ahead. Half way down I wanted to stop
for a 10 second walk. My feet were killing me and she said, NO you are almost there, come on your going
in strong. I saw my husband waiting to take a picture and was headed for what we thought was the finish
line as it was the starting line. They collapsed it as we came in front of it and I was saying out loud nooooo!
I thought I was pass the time limit at that point. My MRTT friends were behind me and said keep running
its over there. Seher got behind me running and pushed my back along the way and said finish strong
you got this! I pulled some last-minute adrenal out and finished strong and felt as elated with joy as a
mother that just gave birth! I forgot about the mental and physical pain I had just came through and was
elated to be a MARATHONER! My friends that brought me in were so happy for me. They kept
congratulating me on being a marathoner! I was so amazed when I posted and looked at Facebook at the
many post and write up with MRTT sisters following me in KY! This is definitely a memory I will never
forget! Thanks to my MRTT family of sisters that have encouraged and motivated me to do something I
NEVER thought possible.
and ran down it. This is where I met the second Angel, Beth. I noticed she was walking and running too.
I started a conversation with her. She said this was here third Marathon. From then on, she hung in
with me . She was full of insight on what was to come with my mental and physical mood the next 6
miles. MILE 24 and multiple gus and chews and now nerves of the finish line all I could think of was
please don’t let me poop on myself right now- there are no more port-a-potties! She was right about
that second wind about MILE 25 we made it to the top of the final bridge. I could see two of my MRTT
friends (my third and fourth Angels) I had just meet a couple weeks before. They had run the half and
were watching me on the map. They came to bring me in. When Beth and I started down the other side,
we picked up the pace and could see the end about a half mile ahead. Half way down I wanted to stop
for a 10 second walk. My feet were killing me and she said, NO you are almost there, come on your going
in strong. I saw my husband waiting to take a picture and was headed for what we thought was the finish
line as it was the starting line. They collapsed it as we came in front of it and I was saying out loud nooooo!
I thought I was pass the time limit at that point. My MRTT friends were behind me and said keep running
its over there. Seher got behind me running and pushed my back along the way and said finish strong
you got this! I pulled some last-minute adrenal out and finished strong and felt as elated with joy as a
mother that just gave birth! I forgot about the mental and physical pain I had just came through and was
elated to be a MARATHONER! My friends that brought me in were so happy for me. They kept
congratulating me on being a marathoner! I was so amazed when I posted and looked at Facebook at the
many post and write up with MRTT sisters following me in KY! This is definitely a memory I will never
forget! Thanks to my MRTT family of sisters that have encouraged and motivated me to do something I
NEVER thought possible.
Barbara Fallis, Marathoner
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