#nash2012

My trip started out with my cabbie hitting something on the highway which resulted in a flat tire about 5 blocks from where some of the internet were eating dinner.  I opted to get out of the cab and walk, because we were crawling at a snails pace in the middle of a busy road (seriously, this crap only happens to me).  I thought for sure I had brought the NOLA curse with me to Nashville.  All I could think of was the curse was going to cause GI issues in everyone and dehydration would set in.  In my mind, the world was ending.  In reality, it was a frakin' flat tire, and I probably could have changed it...but I was on vacation.  Not a good samaritan 

I met some of the internet at a place as they were finishing up desert.  Never mind I ate scarfed down pretzels for lunch (too lazy to pack a lunch, FTL) and that was the only thing I ate all day (oops).  I decided to have some beers (1 1/2) to bring up my calorie and carb intake for the day.  Proper fueling, right? Rightish.  After introductions (I got to meet Jason!), Jammy Pack showcasing, and [Michael]asking if we could chuggle at our table, we got froyo, or everyone else did and did some minor mooching. (Now that I think about it, that was double desert for some.  WAY TO GO!)  Thanks, Smit! Once again...few calories for tomorrow.

Anna let me sleep on her couch.  Claire made me a almond butter and banana sandwich in the morning. I could say I had a crap race time because I was under fueled, but that would lying to the internet face, and I gave up lying for May.  Race day was here and I was woefully undertrained. More like inappropriately undertrained (hell, most things are inappropriate about me). We met people in the corral, Tory and Tridad and began the run.  I started with Chris, Danielle and Jonathan, but after a mile I knew I was in for something I wasn't ready to handle.  Jonathan stayed back with me as the others took off.

Here is the part where I tell the world how great of a person Jonathan is.  Not only did he take part in beers, mimosas, bacon, Krispy Kemes, bananas, Jammy Pack Epicness, and all around fun, he did it with enthusiasm.  He didn't leave me.  I know at one point I was saying "leave me, man"  "I'm dying, just go".  But, he didn't.  He stayed with me, chatted, laughed, and was positive. And aside from the pain and the sunburn, I had a blast running ::cough:: walking/eating/drinking the race with him, even when mimosas were a bad choice.  We ran the last 1/2 mile in (that distance was a bit generous...) and finished together.  Thank you, Jonathan.

As for the rest of the weekend, I was so happy to see old friends and meet new ones. I finally ate at Waffle House.  I got a chicken sandwich and made friends with the truck drivers. I ate more dairy in two days than I have in 5 years.  I found out that I would like my last meal to be Golden Grahams soaked in melted cake batter froyo - A big weekend for self discovery.

That's all I have.  I'm sick of working on this thing.

I got to Centenial Park shortly after 6 a.m. and meandered around for a few moments and stretched. Then I  waited in line for the port-a-potty and met a legally blind woman who is running her first marathon. She trained with her dog, but due to the heat he was not running with her on Saturday.

I got to my corral shortly before 8 a.m. and my corral left the start line shortly after 8:15 a.m. The first few miles were not too bad. As usual, my body hates me for the first mile but then it goes along with the program and goes into autopilot. 

Then I hit Music Row and the heat finally caught up with me. I absolutely thought I was going to die several times throughout the run. My body was freezing, but I was dripping sweat. My side started cramping and someone said to take salt to prevent cramps. Today, this sounds crazy but on Saturday I thought absolutely nothing of opening up two salt packets, dumping one on my tongue and the other in a cup of water at the aid station. It was a matter of survival. 

I know I saw several great signs, lots of enthusiastic cheerleaders, but for the most part the route was a blur. I remember bits and pieces of it like it was my own episode of The Hangover. 

When I got to the split around the Farmer's Market I saw the temperature was already 80 Degrees. I knew I had to finish somehow. My walk periods got longer and my runs were much shorter. One lady beside me took her shoes off and walked in her sock feet the rest of the way at that point. 

By the time we started winding through downtown, most of the people had slowed to a walk. But once I hit the bridge, I started running because I wanted to run across the finish line AND finish in less than 3 hours. I did both! Unfortunately, my husband who was waiting just across the finish line did not see me come across. I was too focused on finishing to send him an update. My last update was at mile 11. I could barely type the numbers at that point and cell service was crappy at best.

My official time is 2:57:30. I really wanted to run in 2:30-2:35, but I will take it.