Yup…..… I really went through with it and with no training. Crazy I know and looking back I can see that, but at the time I was excited and eager to participate. The race started super early, 5 am on Sunday December 13th, and, as I lived far away, I spent the night at Yukari’s. We woke up at 4 am (ugh) and when we arrived there were soooo many people that my sleep addled brain kept telling me this was going to be like the zombie apocalypse. It was so scary having all those people around me, really close around me, and it just freaked me out to be packed together like a sardines. The start of the race is signaled by fireworks and I love fireworks. They are fascinating and beautiful and I couldn’t stop watching them. We were all running, but having all those people running around me made feel like I was in the middle of a stampede and if I didn’t start paying attention I was going to be trampled on. Every time we passed a water station I refused to stop because I just knew that if I stopped for a drink that would be it and I wouldn’t want to run anymore. For the first few miles I felt like I was dying and really didn’t want to continue. What the hell had I got myself into? Who was I kidding? What mile are we on now? I had to push myself and remind myself not to give up. Around the 10th mile there was a camera crew that was following one of the female runners and as they passed me all I could think of was ‘I hope I’m not in that video’. I looked bad, I didn’t just feel like I was dying I looked like I was dying. It seemed like every one who passed me was having an easy time, enjoying a little exercise, but not me. I was huffing and puffing, sweating, and wearing a nasty grimace on my face. You know it’s really sad, not to mention embarrassing, when 70-80 year olds are over taking you. Don’t get me wrong I am happy for them and hope to be that active when I get to their age (well at least still walking), but did they have to overtake me? While I was running I was bargaining with myself - just one more mile then you can stop - in a vain effort to keep myself going. At around mile 13 I told myself that if I walked for a little bit my body might relax some and recoup, and I would be able to finish the race. As I was walking I realized that perhaps this was not such a great plan and that there was an excellent chance that I would never (and I mean never ever) run again. I panicked and started running right away, but found I had to periodically stop and walk. I followed this process, run-walk-run, for the next few miles. The drink stations further down the course supply you with energy packs containing food and drink, and they also have cold sponges that you can use to cool yourself down as you run. When I reached Hawaii Kai I thought it was really funny that there was a line of runners who had stopped and were waiting patiently to have their pictures taken on the bridge with the run rise behind them. I also really appreciated the fact that their stopping had allowed me to catch up a little, every little thing helps. With just about 4 miles to go, I see my roommates at one of the corners there to cheer me on. It was great to have that extra encouragement, they kept yelling to keep going and that I only had 4 miles to go. Unfortunately I was literally dead by this time, I could feel my feet burning and it felt like they were bleeding. I had very little left and so, for the most part, I just walked the last 4 miles. I did throw in a short run every once in a while and when I got to the last stretch I told myself I had to run across the finish line. Easier said than done, that stretch to the finish line just seemed to be getting longer and longer. I think someone might have been moving it! At the finish line I just stopped on the red mat, I couldn’t believe that I had actually done it, I mean did I just finish a marathon? My roommates and most of the people who knew I was running the marathon had told me I wouldn’t be able to finish it……Well guess what? This girl just proved you wrong (actually this girl just proved herself wrong too). My roommates met up with me after the finish line and we found Yukari. I was feeling really nauseated afterwards and didn’t even eat any of the free food offered, which is very unlike me especially when they are giving away malasadas. We walked around for a little bit and my roommates left. Yukari and I got our free shirts and then watched me running through the finish line on the Jumbo Tron, which was hilarious. I looked completely confused. When we got back to Yukari’s I took my shoes off and my feet were swollen and painful. Actually I think they were growing even bigger as we looked at them because I couldn’t get my shoes back on. Also my toenails were coming off, not a pretty sight, especially when you consider I literally live in flip flops. I tried taping them down, but that didn’t really work. In the end I walked around for about 7 months with really ugly toes nails until they finally started to look normal again. I also couldn’t walk down any stairs without my legs giving out :! Opps 2015 Honolulu Marathon:
Bib #: 5748 Place: 13731 TIME: 6:48:45 Gender Place: 5790/10207
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Victoria VerleysenI love traveling the world Archives
October 2016
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