The Great NYS Marathon 2024

My marathon recap

It was freezing cold Sunday morning 37°F and it didn’t really start to warm up until around 11-12 noon. I didn’t sleep great due to race nerves. 😳 I had so much anxiety over this race even though I trained hard for it and had a goal. I was to run with my friend Jennifer for the first 13 miles but then I couldn’t find her in the sea of people at the start line. I ended up right next to my coach Lauren and had no clue until she said 👋. She almost had me in tears. I was so overwhelmed to see her. She gave me the biggest hug and wished me well and she moved up to the faster paced people. 

The race started and I was doing really well in a group of faster runners to start, but then I had to tell myself slow down it’s not a 5k it’s a marathon. Slowed down my pace and at mile 2 the worst thing that could have happen happened. That feeling of needing the bathroom ASAP! I thought to myself there will be a porta potty along the loop. I had no luck. I held it until mile seven, the first porta potty in sight. I had 6 miles of hellish extreme abdominal pains. I kept a really good pace for 7 miles. Even though my stomach was bothering me the tracker app was saying you’re on track for 4 1/2 hours. I finished every mile and was feeling so proud. I was running off pure adrenaline but after that 7 miles everything went to shit. 

My stomach was not right after that.  Thought that once I used the bathroom I’m good to go. Nope my body had completely different plans. I saw Coach Jared around mile 9. He came to check in on me. I was so happy to see him. So grateful for him and Lauren. I was so happy they were out there. It was the mental boost I needed. I kept going at a slower pace; sometimes I had to stop and walk for a bit and run again. By the time I got to the 13 mile marker I literally wanted to quit. My upper body was frozen. It was so cold out there and every time wind came off the lake it was so chilly. I was definitely not having a good time.

I was so happy to see my husband at the 13 mile marker. I changed shirts and put on a thermal. Also changed sneakers which my husband put on my feet and tied for me. My body was just a disaster at that point. Took me a few minutes to change. With a change in shoes and a warmer shirt I was feeling pretty good and getting back into it. I finally caught back up to a few runners and then disaster hit. A car was in the path that was for us runners. I jumped up on the sidewalk and when coming off the sidewalk behind the car my feet went under me. I almost took a face plant., but was able to catch myself. My two big toes took a really bad bang and I could feel my toenail lifting off. The pain in my toes was horrible. I had a sweeper on a bike behind me counting how many people were left. She asked if I was ok. I said I’m ok are you picking me up? She was like no there are still people behind you. That was my mile 17 marker. I started freaking out a bit in my head thinking like why a sweeper so early?

I struggled along the with my sore toes and my upset stomach. My stomach was so off for 24 miles. I felt like puking a few times. I stopped all gels at my 16. My stomach couldn’t take it anymore. I stopped all salt tabs at close to mile 18. Everything I took in was making it worse. Tried Gatorade at two stations. Stopped at every water station all the way until the finish line.  Water seem to help me better than anything else. Any time I got to water station I was so happy for the water. Two water stations were completely out and I thought I was going to have a meltdown. My mouth was so dry and I got so unbelievably happy when I arrived at a station with water. I’m truly grateful for all the volunteers who stayed out there at the water stations ready for us to run past them for water or Gatorade. Extremely friendly and cheering us on. The volunteers deserve a medal too!

I was close to mile 22 and who comes along in a 4 wheeler? A sweeper! Pulled up along side me for a chitchat, asking me how I’m doing. Wanted to know what mile I was at because he wasn’t sure what mile he was at. Told him getting close to mile 22 and I had better days. We chatted for a bit and I asked him if he was there to pick me up. He wasn’t, he was just strolling along counting. He’s like you want to know how many people are behind you? Lol 😂 I told him you’re not picking me up. I’m going to make it to the finish line. I’m just a little slow at the moment. He said not to worry you have plenty of time you’ll make it there. I made it to the 22 mile water station and he was hanging out there. No water or gatorade he said not to worry there’s plenty at the next station. 

I finally made it to mile 23 and WATER and Gatorade.  I was so happy to see water. I could’ve cried. Called my husband to let him know, even though I knew mentally he knew where I was because he was tracking me the whole time and sending me cheers. 

I knew then I was close to finishing. 3 more miles to finishing I pushed my mind the next 3 miles. Had two last hills to climb which I walked up because my legs were just shot at that point. Last damn hill at mile 26; made it up and knew the finish line was around the corner. I started to get extremely emotional. I couldn’t help myself and then started to sob and the tears just came flowing down. I was a total mess when crossing the finish line. The volunteers at the event were hands-down amazing. There was one particular volunteer who was so helpful. I met her the first time when I went to pick up my bib and we went over the course and sections that my husband would be able to meet me that wouldn’t be barricaded off.  She was even there to answer my and my husband‘s questions after I ran the 5K. She remembered my husband because at the 13 mile marker she said I remember you from yesterday and told him where to stand and meet me. When I was coming up to the 13 mile marker I saw her coming to get my husband‘s attention that I was coming. She was there at the finish line even before I got to the finish line. She was asking my husband how I was doing and where I was. She was extremely sweet and so friendly. Definitely somebody you want to see at the finish line. I’m so incredibly grateful for the volunteers. They truly never get enough credit.

That’s my marathon story. I’m still mentally processing everything I put my body through. I wanted to quit so bad but I also wanted to finish just as bad. Sometimes our mind makes us push through our pains.