Absolutely incredible.
If I had to sum it up, there it is.
For those that dislike long, drawn out recaps (because this is what this is 🙂 ), I finished in 4:57:58. Not a PR unfortunately.
And for those who don’t mind details….
THE EXPO
We arrived in D.C. Friday afternoon, and we immediately went to our hotel, dropped off our stuff, and got on the metro to the expo.
I walked up to it slowly as I knew that my marathon weekend was just about to begin! To say I was excited is an understatement!
Eeep!
Once inside, we were met with tons of vendors. We decided to get my bib first and then look around.
Cheesin’ real hard!
Bib in hand, we made our way to the Brooks gear. There were so many super cute t-shirts, jackets, hats, socks, shorts, you name it! I wanted EVERYTHING. My husband decided I had to have this jacket
Oh just me and my jacket in front of the White House…nbd.
and then I also got a few things for my family–and of course a shirt for my ex-Marine dad
Port-a-Potty VIP: All this means is that I spent too much money at the Expo.
We walked around a bit more just kinda relishing it all in. I did see the big poster challenging runners to “beat Oprah!” Lol! In 1994, Oprah finished MCM in 4:29! I’ve been coveting a 4:30 marathon since running my first–(I’m gonnna get you Oprah. Someday. But I’m gunnin’ for you.)
Afterwards, we went back to the hotel and got our rest on. The next day, Saturday, would be spent touring D.C. I knew I should save my legs and not walk too much but I was in our nation’s capitol! There is so much to see! I ended up walking about 4 miles going to different monuments and museums (more about this in another post) but managed to get back to the hotel relatively early to rest.
RACE DAY
I had been debating what to wear as it was chillier in D.C. than what I was used here in the desert. But ultimately I decided to stick with what I had trained in: shorts and a cap sleeve. I threw on some arm sleeves to help with the cold.
Except, it was freezing that morning. Like holy cold freezing temperatures freezing. Now I know you’ll probably read other recaps and people might not comment on the weather that morning, but for this Arizonan, it was freaking cold. I was a grumpy, shivering runner up until the start. I kept cursing myself for not being prepared with a warm throwaway. And it seemed like eternity for the race to near its start time.
When it finally came, I positioned myself in the 4:30-5:00 estimated finish corral and finally allowed myself to soak the atmosphere in. The National Anthem was sung and the tears began to well. Aircrafts flew overhead and the tears began to fall. Parachuters dropped with huge American flags and by then I was mess. All before the gun had even shot off.
Where’s Helly?!? 🙂
My husband kissed me good luck and then it was go time.
I had studied the map and knew the first part was going to be hilly. I made sure to not start out fast and just maintain a steady pace. I was pleased to see the first mile tick off 10:30something. The next two miles were around the same and then there was a crazy 9:19 mile four that I think was on a downhill. I regrouped and by mile 6 I was riding a steady 10:15ish minute/mile pace.
I kept it that way through miles 7, 8, 9, all the way to mile 13.
My husband had met me a few times along the way and praised me for keeping pace and told me to keep it going, I was doing great.
And then I got to mile 16.
It was like dejavu from my first marathon. Mile 16 I started feeling a cramp in my quad the size of a golf ball. It really felt like a hard ball was in my quad. I had prepared myself for this to happen; it was like I knew that at mile 16 shit would start to hit the fan.
But I kept telling myself, “Become one with the pain. Become one with the pain.” Do you have a mantra you repeat? This is the craziness that I was telling myself at mile 16 lol!
I kept running and hoping that it would go way but it didn’t. I started to see my pace slow down. Considerably.
The goal was to get to mile 20 without stopping. If I could just get myself there and then see that I only had 6.2 miles left, maybe somehow I could convince myself I could keep going.
I made it to mile 19. I texted my husband that I had stopped as I knew he’d be waiting for me at mile 20. When I caught up to him, he reassured me that I was fine. But I was fighting tears and trying to keep myself together and keep going but I just couldn’t. I felt like such a failure.
I saw the 4:45 pace group run by and then I just let myself cry. Any chance of a PR was fleeing right before my eyes.
But my husband reminded me what this race was all about. Definitely not me. He told me to look around–I was in Washington freaking D.C. running the Marine Corps Marathon! He said he’d be at mile 24 and to keep going til we met again.
So I mustered up whatever energy I had and started running. I could feel the cramps, by this time they were everywhere–quads, hamstrings, calves, and each step I took was extremely painful. I decided to walk/run it the rest of the way; the last thing I wanted was to injure myself or even worse, DNF.
When I reached mile 24, I took off my water pack and handed it my husband. He said to finish strong, only 2.2 left.
Nearing the end, the crowd was getting louder. I could hear Mary J. Blige blasting from a speaker and I sang along as I ran/chugged along. The last small bit was an uphill battle, literally, but as I ran to the finish the emotions came rushing back, this time not from disappointment at lost time goals, but from pride and happiness at having been able to cross that line. A Marine put a medal over my head, saluted, and thanked me and I sobbed , “No, thank you!”
It was over.
Looking back, even now just 3 days later, I don’t remember so much the pain or the frustration of time goals. All that I recall are things that make this race so special, the things that made me want to run this race so bad in the first place. The people being so kind; the awesomeness that is running past places like Arlington Cemetery, Lincoln Memorial, The White House; the mile stretch where you ran past pictures of fallen soldiers (I was bawling through it); the seemingly non-stop crowd support; the faces of Marines and volunteers at aid/water stations so encouraging–those are the memories that I’m choosing to keep.
The race was most definitely hard; it was the most challenging I’ve faced yet, but the Marine Corps Marathon is more than just a course– it’s 26.2 miles of transfiguration, of renewal, of gratitude to those who experience pain beyond what one may ever experience during a race.
That’s what I’ll never forget.
———————————————————————————–
Thank you guys SO much for your words of encouragement. I was truly overwhelmed by your kindness via my Instagram and Facebook page before, during, and after the race. I’m so thankful to be a part of a community that is so supportive and so positive.
There were some other major highlights of my Marine Corps Marathon weekend that I’ll be sharing with you in the next couple of days. Here’s a teaser–I got to meet a certain somebody in person! 😀
❤ helly
yay! so proud of you. i’m sad i missed you on sunday but what a great race. i know you didn’t pr but mcm is tough and you did it! hope you enjoyed running through my town 🙂
I definitely enjoyed everything about DC! You guys are such nice people 🙂
Awesome recap!!! You are *so* right! Sometimes it’s worth abandoning out time goals to savor the experience and this one certainly is ALL about the experience!! Congrats on another marathon finish!
Absolutely! the experience is one I’ll never forget 🙂
Yay! This race recap was amazing! I can only imagine what that must have been like. You’re totally right, forget about a PR, you got to be a part of something so incredibly special and I’m so glad you had a great time 🙂 Big congrats!
Thank you! Yes, I totally felt I was a part of something much larger than just a race 🙂
Well done! Great recap and thanks for sharing. It sounds like you had quiet the experience – way to keep going 🙂
Thank you! xoxo
Gah!! Now I’m really upset I didn’t get a chance to meet you because we were standing in the same area!!!! It was a tough race but I love running with DC as my backdrop. Hope you had a good time in our city. Congratulations!!
I had such a great time in DC. I’m sad I didn’t get to meet you–we were so close! Congrats to you marathoner!!
Congratulations on completing your second marathon!!! I loved reading your recap. I also LOVE your new jacket. I actually saw in on instagram over the weekend and almost commented about it, not realizing that it was brand new. It looks great on you!
I love my jacket! I love it even more because my husband chose it–he has great style 😀
Congrats Helly!! You did it! You rock!! I love the “Where’s Helly?” picture. I found you! lol Congrats again, you are a huge inspiration!!
Jajaja!! Yeah my husband took that pic! It was SO crowded!
Thank you! ❤
What an amazing race! Your recap brought me to tears. And I always cry during the anthem. I can’t imagine the emotions you were feeling. That’s great your husband was there each step of the way. Can’t wait to hear your next recap!
Thanks Courtney! ❤ I always cry during the anthem too and it was especially poignant that day
First of all, congratulations! It’s so awesome that you pulled through even though you were in pain. Secondly, can we talk about how gorgeous you look after running 26.2 miles? I run 2.6 miles and I’m a red, sweaty mess!
You are too sweet!!! ❤
go Helly go Helly GoGO go Helly! Congratulations, amazing, and good for you for pushing through all the cramps in a smart and safe way. I remember being handed the medal last year and telling them thank you as they congratulated me, and that was always one of the most lasting impressions of the experience–their gratitude for us supporting them. Mind blowing. #SWIRLON #SWIRLSISTER!
Helly, it was so great to finally meet you. I wish we had had more time to hang out and really chat!! I’m sorry your run didn’t go as you had hoped, mine didn’t either. I got the same Brooks jacket too 🙂
Great recap! You are awesome, have a great attitude and are very lucky you have an amazing support system! I can only hope to be as fast (and as positive) as you one day! 🙂
So sorry you didn’t get that PR you wanted – but wow what a weekend! You’ve wanted to run this race for so long to experience everything it has to offer, and you did! Big bucket list check!!
Way to stick it out and finish the race, you did so much more than many other people can say. There’s always next time to kick Oprah’s butt 😉
Congrats!! Those later miles of a marathon…brutal.
Serious and major congrats!!! I know I’ll be rereading this recap for inspiration as my race draws near!
PR or no PR, it sounds absolutely incredible. I hope to make it to the MCM Marathon someday. Congrats!
What an awesome job through adversity! It sounds like an incredible race. Well done!
CONGRATS CONGRATS CONGRATS!!!! You did amazing and you look so cute in your little pink jacket in front of the White House!
I’m sorry that you had to deal with so many cramps during the race, that truly stinks, but you are such a champ for battling through and finishing strong!!!
This is the best recap EVER EVER EVER! I am so freaking proud of you. You are a MARINE CORPS MARATHONER. Your dream race. It’s amazing and so are YOU. ❤
Yayyyy congrats!! I actually thought of you that Sunday morning and how “cold” it must have felt for Ms. Arizona. So glad you were able to visit DC and meet your BRF! Hope recovery is going well.
Congrats, congrats, congrats! This makes me want to run this even more. Great job with all of your hard work. Amazing!
Congratulations on a great race and pushing through all the uncomfortable cramps. That does not sound like fun!
It sounds like such an amazing race to run- your recap did it justice!
Do you get cramps in training? I know my husband used to cramp really badly swimming and other than salt and the typical things people suggest someone recommended magnesium. It seemed to really help him!
Congratulations again! Hope you aren’t too sore 🙂
Congrats! It sounds tough but you got through it!
Yay congrats!!!! This sounds like such an amazing race! You did a great job too! And I can’t wait about you and Salt finally meeting up!
Nice job! Way to keep going when things got tough! Sounds like an awesome race.
It’s recaps like this that swing the pendulum towards making MCM my first full! Of course, I’d probably spend the ENTIRE course bawling my eyes out. 🙂 Congratulations on an awesome race girl! 🙂
hi helly! i also ran on sunday, and i’m from about 10-20 minutes outside the dc border so it’s always fun to read recaps from people who came from out of town. my friend and i were just saying last night it reminds us of all we take for granted living here. the smithsonian museums never end and i’m so glad you took some time to see them — when i go out of town and visit a museum that charges admission i’m in shock until i remember not everywhere is a smithsonian 😉
i completely agree with you that MCM is more than a race. it’s why i chose it for my first marathon, because no matter how it would go, i knew i would be a part of something much bigger than me, something really special. my mantra was a lot like yours — mile 16 was when my wall set in, and every time i thought “this sucks” i followed it up with “but is it worth quitting? no.”
congrats on your achievement and i’m so glad you had a great experience in DC 🙂
Awesome job 🙂 Congratulations on your finish! My hubby and I drove by the massive crowd on 395 about 4 and half hours in and i remember thinking how hot it was by then. I guess it did feel different then the desert.
*than 🙂 darn typos
Yay!!!!!!!!! What a great recap! Congrats on your race – marathon #2!! And so glad that you and Salt finally got to meet in person.
Great recap lady! I am SO proud of you and PR or not, you did great and pushed through when it got tough! You are amazing!
Congratulations! I got to relive my race as I read through your recap 🙂 I missed my A, B, and C goals at Marine Corps (my second full) but yet I still had an amazing day. What a race! It’s so neat running through the DC area and all of the service men and women are so inspiring.
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