background:
back in january we got a flyer in the mail for train to end stroke to train for the san francisco marathon. its always something i had thought about doing and thought would be fun, so chris and i decided to sign up. i definitely wouldn’t have considered myself a runner then at all. if i ran, it was on the treadmill and usually no more than 3 miles, so this was going to be a whole new adventure. on february 9th we ran our first mile of training, and from there the schedule continued to build. towards the end, after some research of my own and help from my blogger friends, i decided to alter their schedule to a more typical schedule i have seen, which i am very glad about. overall the team training was very rewarding, we raised over $4600 for the american stroke association, and i met a couple of great friends who i will continue to run with. since february i have now ran over 700 miles, a couple 5ks, a half marathon, and now a full marathon!! i would consider myself a runner now and am definitely going to continue with the running and marathons. i had no idea when i signed up 6 months ago it would lead to this passion and addiction for a sport i used to hate when i was younger.
marathon-eve:
i woke up at 8 with a solid 10 hours of sleep. i don’t know how i managed to do that but i was so glad i did. i was sooo excited to get into the city and get the race weekend started! my mom had arrived the night before (i made my first lasagna for dinner and it was yummy!), so she joined chris and i for breakfast that morning. i had a delicious veggie omelet with a side of fruit and 3 pieces of toast. yum. we got back home, got ready, packed up the car and loaded up the dogs to drop them off at “camp” for the night and we were on our way! we got to the city around 11am and headed straight to the expo since the hotel check in wasn’t until 3 and i wanted to try to avoid too much walking around. the expo was really cool with so much stuff! we picked up our bibs and shirts and walked around a bit. it was abnormally warm in sf that day and the expo was in a tent so with all the people squeezed in and the heat outside, it got to be a little much. i had hoped to stick around to hear dean karnazes speak and to meet up with laura but that didn’t work out. i was hot and hungry and didn’t want to walk around anymore, so we left. but not before i got to meet GB at the running skirts booth (who is also my idol… i hope i can run as fast as her someday!! she ran the 2nd half). it was so awesome to meet her and she gave me a little pep talk and some confidence for the next day. thank you GB!!!
we went and got some very large sandwiches which i did not hesitate to eat the entire thing. then we headed back to the hotel to check in and relax before dinner. i fell asleep for a few minutes but didn’t want to take a nap for too long so i could sleep that night. we got ready for dinner and headed over to palomino in sf to meet up with some of my friends who came to the city to cheer me on this weekend. we had a very nice time and i ate some yummy pasta and a few pieces of bread – carb loading check!
we were back at our hotel before 8 and i wanted to try to get to sleep, but that didn’t happen, but at least i was resting. we kept talking about the seinfeld episode where jerry has a marathon runner staying at his apt who ended up oversleeping, so we set the alarm, my cell phone and had a wake up call. good thing too because the alarm was actually set for 3:45PM not AM – ahh! i was asleep by 9:45 which ended up being 6 hours of sleep. i was definitely running in the last dream i had before i woke up.
race day:
i woke up and layed in bed for a few minutes and then finally looked at my phone and it was 3:40 – 5 minutes until the alarm went off! so i just relaxed until the phone call finally came and then i was UP and getting ready. i made my english muffin with peanut butter and had a half of a banana and drank some water (i drank a TON of water on saturday too). i finished getting ready and before i knew it, it was time to go!
me all ready to go!
we met my friends at 5am near the start line, so we left the hotel about 4:45. there were lots of runners out getting ready and it was pretty cold and very dark at this point. we hit the porta potties right away which took a while and the first wave went off while we were in line. i wish i got to see them start, i am sure they were speeeeeeeeeedy.
me and my running girls before the race!
runners getting ready
race time:
we headed over to our wave about 5:45 but we found a spot a bunch of people were jumping in, so we joined them. the let the 4th wave go and we were already right at the start line before they let the 5th wave in – oops 
that meant we were pretty close to the front of the wave. i knew this would also mean that i would be getting passed by a bunch of people starting out too fast, so i mentally prepared myself for that. the countdown went to zero and we were ready to go!
(all my mile splits are from my garmin… they are a little off from the actual race splits since G said that i ran 26.52 miles)
i really tried to keep it slower, but the first couple miles were some of my fastest, but they were also the easiest. we started just south of the ferry building and ran along the embarcadero through pier 39 and fisherman’s wharf, then up our first hill which wasn’t bad. mile 4 was along the marina, and then mile 5 was the biggest hill of the marathon (or so they say) which i had been a little nervous about. it was pretty much an uphill climb the entire mile with a couple of short plateau spots. it didn’t phase me though and i was up and over it in no time – yay! i had planned on taking 2-3 luna moons every 4 miles, so at mile 4 i ate 2 moons, and continued this for the rest of the race. i drank from my fuel belt every so often and got water from a water stop because i wasn’t sure if i was going to get a refill on the bottles i was carrying.
mile 1 – 9:15, mile 2 – 8:49, mile 3 – 9:08, mile 4 – 8:56, mile 5 – 9:07
after the hill was a little more climbing to get to golden gate bridge. the bridge had a bit of fog but wasn’t anything abnormal. there were a ton of people and you had to do quite a bit of weaving to get around people. we ran over to the turnaround and then circled back across the bridge. the way back was SO windy – i had to hold my visor on at one point and i could feel it blowing me around a little bit. i love running on the bridge though, the views were amazing and the cars were honking lots at all the runners and cheering. it was about mile 9.5 when we were off the bridge, and there was another tough hill. personally i think this one was tougher than the one at mile 5. mile 10 was a very steep downhill through the presidio on lincoln avenue. the views of the ocean were amazing but the steep decline was not. i had run this part on my first 20 mile run so i knew it was coming but it still didn’t feel very good.
mile 6 – 9:41, mile 7 – 9:04, mile 8 – 9:04, mile 9 – 9:06, mile 10 – 9:15
we then entered residential neighborhoods heading towards golden gate park. mile 11 was pretty easy, but then mile 12 was hill after hill getting into the park -ekk. it was tough. just when i thought they were going to be over we would come over a hill and i would look up and see 3 more to climb. mile 12 was tough. just as i entered golden gate park i saw my mom and my 2 friends on the corner with their big signs cheering and yelling. it was so awesome to see them and it made me smile. i had given my mom 2 extra water bottles for my fuel belt hoping that i would see her and somehow get them from her. when i looked at her she was holding the camera and then i see a woman behind her holding my 2 bottles! i took one out and she handed one to me, then she handed me the other and started running with me to get the other one out of my belt. she was so awesome and i had never even met her before!! i thanked her as i continued to run by and was happy to have them full so i didn’t have to stop at the water stops if i didn’t want to.
mile 11 – 8:53, mile 12 – 9:26
me just before i get into gg park
miles 13 through 19 were all in golden gate park. i had run through here on my last 20 miler so i knew what to expect. rolling hills, but nothing too bad. i hit the half way mark (based on the marathon split times) at 2:02:20. i was feeling pretty good, a little tired, but just kept charging through. i saw my mom and friends one more time around mile 16 and then i saw chris just before mile 18 (he did the half). it was so good to see him and he asked how i was feeling and i said good! and kept on going.
mile 13 – 9:31, mile 14 – 9:05, mile 16 – 9:24, mile 17 – 9:40, mile 18 – 9:10, mile 19 – 9:14
around mile 16 in ggp – if you look close you can see the big smile on my face
after we left golden gate park we got onto haight street. i had thought that there wouldn’t be too many bad hills through here since the 2nd half is often called the easier half, but i was wrong. they weren’t as bad as the couple hills in the first half but there were a lot of them and a lot of downhills too. i just remember thinking, are these ever going to end?!? we entered the mission district about mile 21 and then continued along 16th through mile 22. one thing that was a little frustrating was by this point the 2nd half runners were in full swing and the leaders were FLYING by. it was a little disheartening being at miles 21 and 22 and having these people run by so fast. i had heard about this so knew it would happen but still didn’t make it any easier it was kind of fun to see the pack leaders though, the first 2 that ran by were almost touching shoulders they were so close to each other. i also saw GB run by twice (once in GGP – they had a different course for the first couple miles and once around mile 21-22 for me). as i entered into unchartered mileage territory for me, i stayed mentally strong and just focused on each mile. my legs were tired but were doing ok, i was just ready for the hills to be done. mile 22 was the last noticeable hill and i was happy they were over. miles 23 and 24 slowed down a bit but i stayed focused and picked it up for the last 2 miles… i was ALMOST there! we hit AT&T park at mile 25 and i knew i was so close to the finish line. there were a lot of people who were starting to walk in the last few miles, and i still had yet to walk and there was no way i was going to now! i hit mile 26 and knew i was soooo close to i really picked up the pace and gave it everything i had (even chicked a guy!). i heard my name and lots of yelling with about .1 to go and i looked over to see my 2 friends in purple shirts with signs screaming at the top of their lungs. this REALLY made me pick it up and i gave it all i had to the finish line.
mile 20 – 9:21, mile 21 – 9:18, mile 22 – 8:54, mile 23 – 9:26, mile 24 – 9:32, mile 25 – 9:19, mile 26 – 9:16, last .52 (per G) – 4:27 (8:30 avg pace)
garmin stats: 26.52 miles/4:04:34/9:13 avg pace/2,771 calories burned!
sfm stats: 26.2 miles/4:04:35/9:20 avg pace… 1st half 2:02:20, 2nd half 2:02:15
my marathon medal was placed around my neck and i picked up some much needed water and snacks and headed out to find my people! my mom and chris came rushing around the corner and i started crying the second i touched chris. all i said was “that was so hard!” but i did it and i was a marathoner finally!!!
we hung around and met up with the rest of my friends and got to see my other 2 runner friends come through the finish.
talking about how freaking hard the course was
me so happy and excited
i have the best hubby even though he wont smile for the camera
best mom ever!
i have the best fans ever!!
we ran our first marathon!
i am pretty sore all over, but tomorrow i have the day off and am going with my marathon friends to get a massage – cannot wait! i am so excited and proud of myself. this was a really tough course and i am really excited about my time. i am also really excited that i ran the WHOLE THING. i walked maybe 2 steps so i didn’t choke on one of my waters, but i wouldn’t even classify it as walking. i also stayed really strong and focused the whole time and didn’t get to meet “the wall”. i hit all my goals: finished, stayed consistent (couldnt be much more consistent), had a GREAT time and ran the whole thing. i also came pretty close to my time goal! i had a great time and can’t wait to do it again! CIM here i come
Awww…congratulations!! That is so inspiring and awesome! Amazing job! : )
CONGRATULATIONS ARON! You did so amazingly well and I’m really bummed I didn’t get to meet you in person to congratulate you.
My Garmin clocked the course at 26.52 also. What was most annoying was that at my Garmin’s 26.2… it was literally the SECOND my clock hit 4:00:00. So if the course had been exactly accurate, I would have been exactly 4 (or probably less b/c I would have sprinted the last few yards before). Next time I’ll get it!
I’m heading to the airport in a bit – will try to write my race report then.
wow…this was amazing to read. great job. sounds so incredibly tough…i can’t even imagine, but it was exhilarating to read from beginning to end. thank you.
Great race report! Sounds like you had an amazing first marathon – great job!
CONGRATS CHICA!!! Holy Mother you did FANTASTIC!!! ;D ;D And an excellent race report. What an awesome awesome job!! ;D ;D
Congrats again! The report is great and you look so happy and strong in all your pics!
Great report!! You were flying and look awesome in every picture!! Okay, now I’m crying…I’m just so happy for you!!
Welcome to the Marathon Club and enjoy your “time off”….
Well Done!
Awesome race report! You did a great time and rocked!! I love all the details and the purple outfit. Way to go MARATHONER!!! Next one in December huh? Sounds great!! Boston qualifier!! Walk down stairs backwards to help with any pain!!
Again, great job. Your race report makes me want to go outside and run!
Enjoy your massage, it is well deserved.
I think Boston is in the near furture.
awesome! hope my next marathon is as strong as your was! great report, congratulations! enjoy these few days of pain…it’s the BEST kind there is!
I got chills reading your race report, so inspiring! You must be so pround of yourself, totally awesome! Enjoy your massage today!
CONGRATS!!! What a great race report! You did an awesome job and really worked hard to make it through to the finish.
Your report basically sums up why I need to run another full marathon soon!
YAY, you did it! I was so excited to get on here today and read how it went! Congrats! I’m a big fan of being a consistent runner, so that’s awesome you were able to stay so consistent throughout the race. I’m so glad it was a good day for you!
Way to go! Great report, too…now it’s on to the next one!
Wow. Great job!
Reading your report is so inspiring, especially the fact that you can’t wait to do it again!
Hope you’re resting up, giving the old legs lots of love, and enjoying the feeling of having finished so strong!
Enjoy your massage. YOu definately deserve it. You did soooo great.
Congrats!!!
Great job, Marathon Aron!!!!
You did an amazing job and all your hard work and training paid off.
YAY!!!!
Congratulations! Terrific debut marasthoner time also. Usually, the biggest time improvement comes between the first and second ones as you are able to apply the lessons leanred. BQ next? Well, just enjoy this one for now. You paced that out real well with nice consistent splits. Very impressive.
ohhh TEARS!!! I feel like I held my breath reading that whole thing – man girl, you are one tough cookie. You ALMOST make me want to run a marathon – HA!
Way to go girl, I’m so proud of you -this is such a milestone in your life, you’re an amazing person!
Congratulations, well done. Excellent race report.
Aron, you did it! You ran a GREAT first marathon, and SF was NOT an easy course to get a 4:04 on. You had pretty much dead even splits… perfect! Congratulations!!! Keep up the great training, stay healthy and the CIM will be FAST and furious for you. I can see you BQing there this year if your training goes well and race day weather cooperates. Keep up the fantastic work! And it was so nice to meet you at the expo. Thanks for coming up and saying hello!
Congratulations on an incredible debut martahon.
I can’t believe your first and second half times are so close, that is amazing!! Your report was great and really described the course well. I have done the second half before and those downhills are steep and so brutal for full-marathon runners. I am so impressed that you ran the whole thing! You were so consistant, so strong, and so amazing. You are awesome. Love the pics!! Enjoy the glow and can’t wait to “share” the CIM training experience with you. 
ps I totally also ate half a pizza Sat. after my race!
Congrats! You are a marathoner! Doesn’t it feel great?
I loved all your pictures and your race report was so inspiring (it totally made me feel like I was right there with you).
Enjoy a little recovery time before you start up the engines for Healdsburg. I’m excited to meet up!
Congrats! Awesome job!!! and fantastic splits
Your report makes me sad I’m not running a marathon this year.
Yeahhh you did it and with a great time too!! The hills in SF were killing me when I did the Nike run… guess Kansas is flatter than I think!
Wow I am so happy for you!! I thought of you while I was out there running. I knew you were somewhere way ahead and I was hoping you were having a great race, I’m so glad you did!
GREAT JOB!!!!!
A million congrats to you! YOU DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!! And that is such a great time. I love the report!
Heheheh I clicked on this from your half post. I LOVE reading peopel's first Marathon experiences…your sounds much better than mine