I Did a New Thing: I Ran A Marathon!!

On Saturday, March 16, 2024, a dream that I have had for a few years finally came to fruition: I ran a marathon!!! 🏃🏾‍♀️

Writing this sounds SUPER crazy. Me?…Running a marathon??…26.2 miles???…It doesn’t even feel real.

I first posted about my running journey in 2022, when I started the Fleet Feet Training Program, in which I ran my first half marathon. (I have run five more half marathons since.) Initially, my goal was to go for the full, but I thought a half would be a nice start.

Fast forward to 2024, and my dream of running a marathon re-emerges. Last year, I thought about giving the full a try, but my mind and spirit was occupied by other things.

I saw an ad for an upcoming Fleet Feet Training Program for the Run the Rainbow race that I had run the half for last year, but this year they were adding a full. I knew I wouldn’t be able to participate in the training program because of my schedule, but I unofficially set the Run the Rainbow marathon as my goal in my head.

While my head was all about running, my body had not quite gotten on board. I had to get used to consistently running again, because it had been awhile since I had done that.

I was finally in somewhat of a groove. I wasn’t AS consistent as I wanted/needed to be, but I was running.

February had arrived and the marathon was a little over a month away, but I hadn’t signed up for it yet, nor had I really physically prepared for it; however, I had signed up for the Blues Marathon (Half), which I ran last year.

The Blues went well! I even managed to shave about 7 minutes off from my finish time from last year!

After I sat for awhile to gather my life, as I was leaving, I ran into one of the Fleet Feet Training Program pacers. We talked and she mentioned that she was pacing the *early start marathon for the Run the Rainbow. (* The early start marathon was the full marathon, but for people who would be over 6 hours completing.)

I know this may sound crazy, but my face lit up. I knew this would be a perfect way to get started with a marathon. I definitely wanted my first one to be no pressure and with someone who I knew could encourage me.

I left that conversation basically verbally committing to signing up for the early start marathon.

I had heard of runner’s high before, but that was my first experience with it. That is the only explanation I can give for committing to run a marathon that was 3 weeks away, without even truly training for one.

Reality was beginning to sink in. A couple of days later I was starting to have second thoughts. The longest mileage I had run was a half (13.1 miles). Was this really realistic to attempt a marathon in 3 weeks? I messaged my Fleet Feet friend who I spoke to the day of the Blues, and she encouraged me again and said that she would make sure that I made it across the finish line.

That was just what I needed to hear. I signed up that night, the deadline to get my participation shirt.

I had 3 weeks to prepare, and in my mind I could do at least one long run to test to see how well I would do. Well..my intentions were good, but it didn’t happen like I imagined.

Marathon training is a TRUE commitment, and I didn’t have enough time like I thought I would to attempt a longer mileage than 13.1 going into the race, but I was praying that my strength training, half marathon preparation, and nutrition/hydration would help propel me across the finish line.

It’s finally race day and I am up at 2:45am to get myself together. The race started at 4:30 am. smh…Getting up was clearly the first challenge. 😂😂

I got to the race location and was excited, but I was trying to find out where the other early morning crew was because I didn’t see anyone. I thought I saw some people, but they turned out to be people leaving the club. That’s how late/early you know it was.

I finally found my crew of people. It was probably 10 of us in all: 10 other people who were just as crazy as I was. I felt like I had found my tribe! And that’s what it felt like the first 20 or so miles. We were all together, running our intervals, and doing well.

Though I hadn’t run past a half prior to the race, I felt really good the first like 18 miles. After that I started to slow down a little.

By mile 22, I had gotten really far from my group and even almost cried. I was thinking, “Oh my goodness I can’t believe I’m really doing this. I’m almost finished.” While also thinking, “I can’t believe I signed up for this. This was crazy.”

When I made it to mile 24, I gave myself a pep talk and continued to shuffle along, picking my running up a little more. At mile 25 I could feel it. I knew that I was so close.

My favorite moment before I crossed the finish line, when I was a little over a half mile out, 2 of my Fleet Feet Pacers came where I was to run with me to the finish line.

I finally made it to 26 miles and I saw the race volunteers guiding me to the finish. It was just a right turn, left turn, and finish. I could feel it!! Then…I finally did it. After 6:30:30, I had finally crossed the finish line!!

Something that I had only THOUGHT about doing, finally happened! I DID IT!!

At that moment, I didn’t fully realize what I had accomplished, but once it hit me, one week later, I was just so amazed.

I am thankful to be able to accomplish such a major feat and I am thankful for the amazing people who encouraged me along the way. It was such a great experience, and I couldn’t ask for a better first marathon experience.

This is your message: You can do hard things! You might just need a person or two in your corner, who is going to push you past what you think you can do, but YOU CAN DO IT; I DID! (If a marathon is a thing you want to do. Don’t be like me. Plan ahead so that you can train. 😂)