Run Blue, Run!

…er, maybe that should be lurch, shuffle, stagger, stumble, teeter, totter, waver, wobble, creep, scoot, skip, hop, gallop, and limp, Blue. Still, I’m going with Run.

So I flew out Saturday afternoon and The Jonnie greeted me like some domestic diva with enough food to feed a small village. Lasagna, angle hair pasta with sauce made fresh from the tomatoes in her garden, steamed vegetables, a salad with about 67 ingredients in it, garlic seasoned bagels, baguette. It was truly a feast. I could hardly dent it.

After a restless nights’ sleep, in which I dreamed that during the race I realized I’d forgotten my running shoes as well as my bib, I woke up tired, but looking forward to the moment I’ve been preparing so many months for. We got to the venue, parked, and made our way to the corals.

I should comment here that I had very high hopes. After giving my knee a rest all week, I figured I’d at least get a few miles in before the ITB Syndrome caught up with me and forced me to walk a bit. I guessed at worst, I’d only be able to run about 3 or 4 miles, with secret hopes that it’d be more along the lines of at least 8. That is what I was realistically hoping for. My fantasy was that I’d be able to run the entire 13.1 miles without any kind of serious injury or pain.

But apparently it wasn’t meant to be. We started out in the crush of over eighteen thousand runners, which The Jonnie referred to as “being in a mosh pit”, just walking along till things started to thin out a bit. Before we’d even reached mile 1, I noticed there was some discomfort on the outside of my right knee. I enjoyed another mile or so of complete denial…thinking that it was just warming up and would go away. But by the 3^rd mile, I had a sinking feeling that this too, wasn’t going to pass. I prayed a lot in my head this whole time, hoping for a miracle. I was limping along hoping there’d be a first aid station soon, but by the mile 5 water station the pain was pretty acute with no first aid in sight. I asked them if there was anywhere I could get some Advil, and a lovely volunteer named Tiffany working the water table gave me some from her personal cache…which I was very very grateful for. It probably enabled me to carry on.

Mile 9 was where we encountered the First Aid station. They taped my leg up…which also made a slight difference in the pain, and I limped along our merry way, inspired by the drugs and knee tape and the gorgeous ocean, birds, and other runners to skedaddle as fast as my little knee would let me. 10, 11, 12 and all too soon, 13 miles passed. I couldn’t believe how fast the whole thing went! Factoring in potty breaks, medical stops and water stops, and considering the pain I felt with every step, I didn’t fare too badly. We crossed the finish line when the official clock said 3:06. So I walkedskippedgallopedhobbledlimpedandbumbled my way over 13 miles in less than 3 hours. Physically I felt great. My lungs and heart could have gone another 13, but my knee is protesting with every step now.

The weather must have been special ordered, because it was simply perfect. No clouds, no wind, cool temps, and the sun low on the horizon. The Long Beach Marathon has to be one of the prettiest races anywhere. It starts out downtown on the shore, takes you up and around the Queen Mary, and wraps back around Shoreline Village, then down the coast along the beach. The split for the half/whole marathon takes the 26.2 runners over to the Cal State Long Beach campus, and then back to the finish line on the shore where we started.

It was so exhilarating to be there! I kept feeling amazed with how many people were behind us…even people who seemed to be running. I tried my best to speed walk and scurry as fast as I could manage so that The Jonnie could at least jog slowly. I know it’s kind of a strain to reign in when your body really wants to go faster. But she never once complained about my injury or pitiful speed. She stayed with me the entire time, and it was a joy to experience my first race with her by my side.

I was frustrated by my inability to run…I mean, really disappointed. I’d love to be in a race someday where I could actually go! It was inspiring to be there with so many people from every walk of life. And I confess, I got choked up by the event just like I do when I watch races. I’m not sure exactly why, but it just does something to me to see so many people running. Thank goodness for sunglasses!